#35 - What Makes a Great Drummer (with Ira Elliot from Nada Surf!)

You always hear about one-hit wonders . . . well, what about two- or three-hit wonders? This week the Modern Musicology team (Anthony Williams, Stephanie Seymour and Rob Levy) talks about those acts that made it beyond one hit. But what makes a two- or three-hit wonder? Some bands had a handful of singles and that was it for them, never to be heard from again. But then a massive band with a huge album catalog like Deep Purple, Judas Priest and Pink Floyd also only had a couple of Top 40 hits. And what about bands that were massive on MTV but didn’t get much radio play? We cover it all! We talk about such diverse acts as Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Skid Row, the Hooters, the Motels, the Knack, Fine Young Cannibals, Men Without Hats, and many more! Remember "Jackie Blue" by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils?? We sure do! What band is your favorite two- or three-hit wonder? Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ Find more about us: Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

10 Apr 20231h 4min

This week we have the privilege of speaking with two original members of the band Heart -- bass player Steve Fossen and drummer Michael Derosier! Steve and Mike played on the first six Heart albums, from 1975 to 1982, and can be heard on hits like "Crazy On You", "Magic Man", "Dreamboat Annie", "Barracuda", "Love Alive", "Straight On", "Dog and Butterfly", "Even it Up", and more! They recount stories of the band's origin, recording some of the band's biggest hits (and a couple of deep tracks too!), going from playing clubs in Vancouver to stadiums all over the world, and some of their adventures on the road. We are then joined by Steve's wife, vocalist Somar Macek, to talk about their current band, Heart By Heart, which is resurrecting all the great music from Heart's iconic original era!  You can learn more about Heart By Heart at www.heartbyheart.com  What's your favorite Heart song or album? Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ Find more about us: Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

3 Apr 20231h 10min

This week we had the extraordinary honor of chatting with the legendary Tony Levin! We talk with Mr. Levin about the imminent release of the new Peter Gabriel album and his preparations for the upcoming Peter Gabriel tour. He then regales us with stories from throughout his impressive career, from his early days studying jazz and classical to his most recent tour with his own band, Stick Men. Along the way, we hear about his invention of Funk Fingers, getting kicked out of Buddy Rich's band, the challenge of playing with three drummers at once in King Crimson, meeting David Bowie in his underwear, composing a song using the name of every drummer he'd ever worked with, being produced by Daniel Lanois, and much more. He also talks about his writing and photography.  You can learn more about Tony, check tour dates, and see his newest photo project at www.tonylevin.com Did you enjoy this interview? Are you stoked about the Peter Gabriel tour? Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ Find more about us: Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

27 Mars 20231h 21min

This week we're excited to welcome Gary Clark to the show! Gary began his career in the late 80s as frontperson of the Scottish band Danny Wilson, writing and singing the band's 1987 international hit "Mary's Prayer." Throughout the 90s and 2000s, he recorded one solo album and two albums as a member of King L and Transister, while also songwriting and producing for many other artists, including Natalie Imbruglia, Liz Phair, Lloyd Cole, Mel C, The Veronicas, McFly, The Wanted, Demi Lovato, and many more.  In 2016 he wrote or co-wrote the original songs for John Carney's film Sing Street. His song "Drive it Like You Stole It" has won multiple awards and just placed at #11 in Rolling Stone Magazine's Best Songs by Fake Artists list. He's won multiple songwriting awards, and his songs have appeared in a wide variety of TV shows and movies like There's Something About Mary, Charlie's Angels, Grey's Anatomy, Teen Wolf, and Pretty Little Liars. He was executive music producer / composer on two seasons of Amazon's Modern Love. He teamed up again with John Carney to create the songs and score for Carney's latest movie Flora and Son, which previewed at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival to rapturous reviews. He's currently the composer and co-lyricist of the forthcoming Nanny McPhee musical with Dame Emma Thompson.  We hope you enjoyed this discussion with Gary Clark! Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ Find more about us: Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

20 Mars 20231h 19min

This week Alan and Stephanie -- joined by Steph's husband Bob Perry -- chat with Theresa Kereakes, one of the 150 or so core members of the original LA punk rock scene. Theresa began taking photos at a very young age, and by extension, she chronicled the early LA punk scene with her camera. Her famous photos were used on many of the punk albums from that era and have been shown all over the country in an exhibit called Unguarded Moments: Backstage and Beyond. They also appear in three coffee table books: Punk 365, The Official Punk Rock Book of Lists, and a history of the Bomp! label and magazine. Join us as Theresa brings us back to those early days of the scene with some wildly entertaining stories and insider details that you've never heard before. She tells stories about her encounters with Billy Idol, Joan Jett, Blondie, The Bangles (when they were still called The Bangs), The Go-Go's, X, The Ramones, The Damned, and many others.  Find her incredible photos on her Instagram account @punkturns30 We hope you enjoyed this discussion with Theresa Kereakes! Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ Find more about us: Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

13 Mars 20231h 17min

As a bonus this week, we present to you a 10-minute off-the-cuff and unedited discussion about the sexism on the Sunset Strip hard rock scene in the 80s and in the music industry as a whole. This discussion was taken from our interview with Tom Beaujour, co-author of the book Nothin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion.  Pick up a copy of the book by Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock HERE.  Were you (or are you still) a fan of 80s metal? Who were your favorites? What bands did you see live? Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ Find more about us: Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

10 Mars 202313min

Get out your Spandex, your hair spray, and your earplugs! We're talking all about the rise and fall of the 80s metal scene with TOM BEAUJOUR, co-author of the book Nothin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the 80s Hard Rock Explosion! Hear stories about the early successes like Van Halen and Quiet Riot that paved the way for the metal wave; bands that made it big from the Sunset Strip scene, like Motley Crue, Guns 'n' Roses, Winger, Ratt and WASP; some of the bands that were active on the scene that never quite broke big, and even some of the older bands like KISS, Ozzy and Alice Cooper who were inspirations for these younger bands but now had to compete with them for album sales and concert audiences.  Pick up a copy of the book by Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock HERE.  Were you (or are you still) a fan of 80s metal? Who were your favorites? What bands did you see live? Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ Find more about us: Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

6 Mars 20231h 7min

This week we take a look at celebrities who aren't immediately thought of as musicians that make records. Sometimes they're schlocky crap, but sometimes the celeb has legit musical talent and sustains a whole successful second career. We cover everything from Shatner and Hasselhoff to The Bacon Brothers, Clint Eastwood, Patrick Swayze, Katey Sagal, Scarlett Johansson and cast members of Stranger Things, Saturday Night Live, Starsky and Hutch, and The X-Files. But FIRST we react to the big Rolling Stones / Beatles news of the week!  What's your favorite (or least favorite) song by a non-musical celebrity? Let us know! Drop us a line at modernmusicology1@gmail.com or leave a comment wherever you find our episode! And don't forget to rate us on your favorite podcast app! Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernMusicology Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmusicologypodcast/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ModrnMusicology Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk-MlcGy5u3fK1j4bVty1Kw Modern Musicology is part of the ESO Podcast Network. https://esonetwork.com/ Find more about us: Rob Levy: https://kdhx.org/shows/show/juxtaposition Stephanie Seymour: www.therearebirds.com  R. Alan Siler: www.kozmiccreative.com  Anthony Williams: https://watchers4d.podbean.com/

27 Feb 20231h 10min