SR013 - Part 1: Erik Winger Joins the Shaffer RULES Madness

In Episode 13 - Part 1 of the Shaffer RULES Podcast, Corey and Brian kick things off with original music, new shades, new kicks, sponsor shoutouts, and the official "Pour of the Week," featuring Buffalo Trace bourbon. The guys also give some love to Dubby Energy and Maono, including the wireless PD200W microphones and headphones helping power the podcast.

This episode takes its usual unpredictable path through reseller life, bulk finds, Fitzgerald’s store closing, hats, socks, Funko Pops, Shaffer RULES Podcast stickers, Elk Brewing, karaoke nights, old local bars, and the newly established Shaffer RULES Podcast, "RULE of the Week": Never assume a woman is pregnant!

The highlight of this episode is a call-in conversation with Erik Winger, a musician originally from Kittanning, PA, now based in Orlando, Florida. Erik joins the show to talk about performing as Peter Criss in KISS Alive: The Tribute, including recent shows, full-stage tribute performances, pyro, fire breathing, blood spitting, and what it takes to keep the classic KISS experience alive on stage.

Erik also opens up about his own music career, including his solo albums, songwriting process, and the long journey of finishing creative projects. He shares how his first album began years before it was completed, why it was eventually shelved, and what pushed him to finally return to the recordings and finish the project. The conversation gets into recording studios, creative momentum, working with talented producers and engineers, writing across different musical styles, and the pressure of following up a first album with new material.

The guys also get into the wild new world of AI-generated music, including Erik’s experience running his original song “Bones” through Suno. Erik talks about using AI as a creative tool to reimagine a song in different styles, how quickly Suno generated fully produced versions, and where he draws the line between inspiration, experimentation, and claiming ownership of music created by artificial intelligence. The conversation also includes Brian’s hilarious early attempt at using AI to write a love song, which somehow turned into an accidental Ed Sheeran situation.

From KISS tribute stories to original songwriting, AI music, unfinished albums, wedding songs, music history, reseller chaos, and small-town memories, this episode has a little bit of everything — exactly how the Shaffer RULES Podcast likes it.

Grab a drink, hit that Dubby button, and enjoy another ridiculous, honest, and music-filled ride with the Shaffer RULES Podcast.

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