Today’s guest came to my attention through a friend. Welcome guitarist Darren Michael Boyd. Technically, he’s a multi-instrumentalist but let’s keep things simple for the introduction. He first came to my attention through Astrid Young and her cover of Hell Hole for the Teen Cancer America Spinal Tap Tribute. He released a new album last year but that's just the latest in a string of solo albums in addition to the other bands he plays in and contributions he makes. He talks about his early days, touring as a teen (one stop turned out to be the scene of a murder). Darren talks about shifting from bands to a guitarist-for-hire role. He also talks about why he started writing and releasing solo albums and the difficulties of being an independent artist. He’s got a great live band but Darren is still getting used to being out front. He talks about the Spinal Tap project and how he got involved. He also tells me how he got started in the reptile business. Be sure to pick up his music at darrenboyd.com and follow him on socials @darrenmichaelboyd. Follow us @PerformanceAnx and grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. You can also send money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy Darren Michael Boyd on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest really didn’t have a choice in what he did. Rock and roll chose him. Please welcome Dizzy Reed to the podcast. You may know him best as the keyboardist and second longest tenured member of Guns N’ Roses but that’s not the beginning (or end) of his story. From learning to play organ from his grandmother to his first gig playing Smoke On The Water on an unusual instrument, all the way to meeting GNR and releasing two solo albums and everything in between, Dizzy has some of the best stories I’ve heard. He talks about perfecting the after-party and being a part of The Dead Daisies and Hookers & Blow to play some of his favorite covers. We talk about the four songs Guns has never played live, improv Christmas songs, and meeting Ronnie James Dio at the mall. He also tells me the story of how he got the nickname Dizzy, playing with Spinal Tap as The Legendary Wheatabix, and the career he MIGHT have chosen, had not rock and roll chosen him. And I want to wrap up with a thank you to Jason Achilles for connecting me with Dizzy and introducing him to the Teen Cancer America Spinal Tap project. And a special thank you to former guest Timothy Reid (no relation) for technical audio assistance on this episode. I owe you one! Go to dizzyfnreed to pick up the limited vinyl version of his latest solo album, go see Guns N’ Roses on tour, and give man a follow @dizzyfnreed.     Follow the show @PerformanceAnx, grab our merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Or just send money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And I thank you for choosing US and Dizzy Reed of Guns N’ Roses on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is an entrepreneur par excellence. Welcome the founder of Rhino Records and Shout! Factory, Richard Foos. We go back to Richard’s early days and find out how music became so important to him. He talks about his early attempts in the record business and how that eventually evolved into Rhino Records. He then tells how Rhino Records, the record store, became Rhino Records, the record label. We talk about how Rhino singlehandedly created the reissue market, how it evolved to include bonus material, and how they find that stuff. He sold Rhino and used the same formula with his next venture, Shout! Factory, but turning the focus to TV and movies, including my favorite, Mystery Science Theater 3000. He sold Shout! Factory and is now focusing on nonprofit work and a possible podcast. Keep an ear out for it! Follow us @PerformanceAnx and check out performanceanx.threadless.com for our merch. Or just send some money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety so I can buy coffee. Please enjoy this chat with Richard Foos on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is special. And he has special things. Welcome Dan Cuddy to the podcast. Dan plays bass in The Special Pillow. He used to play bass in Hypnolovewheel. He’s here to talk about Hypnolovewheel’s new compilation, Parallel Universe. It’s a great mix of their music and it has a bunch of really cool songs that are previously unreleased. And of course we talk about Dan’s career. Where did he start? How did Hypnolovewheel start? What’s behind the name? How did it all end and The Special Pillow begin? Also, what’s so special about this pillow? But, of course we get sidetracked with Hypnolovewheel’s place in the Marvel Universe, how they confused prospective drummers, some tour stories (including some strange touring matchups) and more. We also talk about cassettes vs CDs vs vinyl. It’s gripping stuff. Check out Parallel Universe on Bandcamp and streaming platforms. Follow the band @hypnolovewheel & @thespecialpillow on Instagram. Follow the show @PerformanceAnx. Grab some merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or send funding to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now grab YOUR special pillow and check out Hypnolovewheel’s Dan Cuddy on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So my guests today are just the epitome of cool. They spearheaded the lounge-style music revival of the 90’s. Welcome Ben Daughtrey and Jonathan Palmer of Love Jones to the podcast. The band has just released their fourth album, The Greatest Show and it’s definitely the band’s sound, distilled into six tracks. Before we dive into how the album came to be after a 15 year hiatus, we talk about how they became a part of Tool lore, opening for the band for the legendary show at the Church of Scientology’s Celebrity Center.  Ben & Jonathan also discuss their thoughts on the band’s trajectory; what went right, what went wrong, and two breaks of over a decade each. They discuss the birthday party that reunited the band, the writing process for the new album, and the song on the new album that was inspired by both Blondie and Philip K. Dick. Go grab the album at love-jones.com. Stream it on your favorite platform. Follow them @lovejonesband on Instagram. Follow us @performanceanx. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or just send money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. So grab a beverage and chill out with me, Ben, & Jonathan of Love Jones on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest made me feel…liked. I was fortunate enough to talk with actor French Stewart. And it wouldn’t have happened without the kindness of two wonderful people, Laurel Green and Matt North. Thank you both so much. French’s story is wild. His acting stems from a mix of a high school elective and having a con man for his biological father. He had no idea he was going to college, let alone for acting, until his mom told him so. But his talent shone through and soon he was in LA doing Professor Bodywise’s Traveling Menagerie. French reveals how he got his SAG card, got fired from that job, rehired, pulled over in the Flintstones mobile, and got fired again. He did a lot of work prior to his big break, like the Stargate movie, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, and Glory Daze. But he tells me the special something that got him the part of Harry Solomon on 3rd Rock. He has a ton of great stories from all of his roles and he was happy to share them, including some of the roles he was offered that didn’t exactly stretch his acting chops. But he’s so much more than a comedic actor who only does variations on the Harry Solomon theme. If you want proof, check out the Jennifer Lynch movie Surveillance, his work with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, his guest spot on Psych, or one of his most recent films, Bob Trevino Likes It. That movie is something special. So follow French on Instagram or Facebook. He’s pretty easy to find. Follow us @PerformanceAnx. Pick up merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or just send money through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And I hope you enjoy this episode with French Stewart as much as I did on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest has made a career playing with some of the most avant garde musicians in the world. But he didn’t start off with music in mind. Welcome drummer Bob Bert to the podcast. He grew up in a house that wasn’t super musical. In fact, his father, Angelo, was more into sports than music. He was so into sports that he won the Heisman trophy in 1943. But Bob had other ideas. Bob played some drums but was more interested in fine art, eventually printing for Andy Warhol. His music career began when his wife volunteered him for an impromptu gig. Bob talks about how he got the Sonic Youth gig, was fired, and then rehired. He talks about some other projects he was in and how Thurston Moore named one of them. Bob discusses his time in P***y Galore, Chrome Cranks, Jon Spencer & The Hitmakers, Lydia Lunch, and more. Bob has released his first true solo album called Beach Bongo Bloodbath. And the consensus is…it’s a fun album. It’s a mix of covers and originals and highlights Bob’s singular take on music, like his guitar-free version of Mountain’s Mississippi Queen. It’s out on Bar None Records. Find it, buy, it, stream it, whatever you need to do. And follow Bob @therealbobbert on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx and grab some merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Or just slide us some money at ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now please welcome Bob Bert on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is almost like talking to myself from a parallel universe. Welcome Cento Threeo’s Don Cento. Don’s been creating music for decades in all kinds of ways, all kinds of styles, and in all kinds of roles. He played guitar about as seriously as any teenager until he ran across a flamenco guitar player who performed at his school. That changed everything.  When he was considering colleges, there was an odd coincidence that set his path in motion. And it turns out that a relative ended up working at that same college a few years into Don’s time there! He really had no plans after college but ended up falling into a graphics design career due to the needs of the bands he was in. He’s learned a lot from every band he’s been in. He talks about those bands, different genres, and how all of that has helped him in his career. He has formed a cool band called Cento Threeo and their debut album is about to come out. It’s called Halfway To Mellowtown and is filled with exquisite music. Don reveals the thought behind the band name and the reason they spend two whole days recording the album. So go check it out, order it on bandcamp, stream the music, and support awesome music like Cento Threeo. Check out centothreeo.com for more info and social media links, even though they’re pretty easy to find. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or just send some money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And now, may I present Don Cento of Cento Threeo on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest began his career as a musician but worked his way behind the scenes, managing some of the biggest tours on the planet. Welcome Larry McNeny. He’s just released a book about his career as a tour manager called Blood, Guts, and No Glory. Larry discusses his early aspirations to become a rock star, his encounters with musicians including Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and the Bee Gees, and his work managing tours for various bands. He detailed his experiences managing Eric Clapton's early tours, including memorable moments like touring Europe on a train with Eric Clapton and Muddy Waters, working behind the scenes for The Band’s final show, which became The Last Waltz. He also shared stories about managing the Bee Gees on their world tours, working with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne (including planning their Maui wedding).  Larry also talks about his philanthropic work, his many writing projects, and a whole lot more. This ais a fascinating look behind the scenes of some huge tours of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. And I want to thank our mutual friend, the incredible Mr. Simon Davies, formerly of Teen Cancer America, for connecting us. Check out Larry’s book on TCU Press. Find him on Facebook, Find us @PerformanceAnx of socials. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. Send money through ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now grab a glass of Courvassier and get ready for a sampling of touring stories from Larry McNeny on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This guest is NOT a musical chameleon. He’s a Johnny Iguana. And he’s the keyboardist/pianist for Chicago’s The Claudettes. They have a jaw-dropping new album coming out in June.But we start by talking about his early work. He’s got an unusual reason for starting piano lessons. Johnny talks about early bands and how he began playing for one of his heroes. He reveals why he left that gig and how he started The Claudettes. He tells me how the band got their name, working remotely for a high profile company for two decades before it became cool, and playing with two singers before Rachel Williams joined the band. Johnny talks about scoring for the hit show, The Bear, the importance of chord changes and we answer the age old question of “What makes post punk different from punk”? Give them a follow on socials. Go to theclaudettes.com for more information and links and preorder the new album, Garage Glamour. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com or just send money to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. And prepare to be blown away by Johnny Iguana from The Claudettes on Performance Anxiety; part of the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices