Black Sabbath

Referenced in 40 episodes

#260: MMMBappe

June 26, 2026

Scott discusses the 2022 World Cup, criticizing American fans for chanting "USA" and mimicking White Stripes songs instead of singing in unison like other countries, while declaring his support for Argentina and Messi. The hosts engage in their regular segment debating best and worst album covers, with Scott criticizing Aerosmith's "Get a Grip" and David Lee Roth's "Eat Them and Smile" as worst covers, while Gabe defends iconic covers like The Clash's "London Calling" and The Beatles' "Abbey Road." Scott also praises the recent Toadies tour, particularly highlighting exceptional shows in Yonkers, Boston, and Cincinnati, while expressing frustration with Enjoy the Ride Records' unauthorized vinyl release of Local H's "As Good As Dead.\

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#233: Road Report #21: Pack Up the Dog

September 11, 2025

Scott Lucas and his band Local H are on a two-month tour with Everclear and Sponge, traveling in a sprinter van with a crew that includes their dog Karen. They discuss life on the road, issues with merchandise sizes, their viral TikTok hit covering "Shock the Monkey", and the polarized reaction to their album Refisted. The hosts also debate the best John Hughes movies, with Scott advocating for Weird Science as the ultimate depiction of the 15-year-old boy psyche.

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🎸 Replacements

#231: Art Alexakis

August 20, 2025

Art Alexakis, frontman of the band Everclear, joins the Lifers podcast to discuss his life and career in music. Alexakis talks about growing up in Los Angeles housing projects, discovering rock and roll at a young age after family tragedy, and his path to getting sober and starting Everclear in Portland in the early 1990s. He shares stories behind the making of Everclear's breakout album Sparkle and Fade as the band rose to fame.

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#230: Randy Jackson

August 14, 2025

Randy Jackson, guitarist and vocalist of the rock band Zebra, discusses the band's origins in New Orleans in the 1970s, their move to New York and rise to success in the early 1980s with their self-titled debut album produced by Jack Douglas, and the ups and downs of their career on the Atlantic Records label. Jackson reflects on Zebra's musical influences, touring with bands like Cheap Trick, and the loyalty of their fanbase as they celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2023.

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#228: Larry Karaszewski

July 31, 2025

Larry Karaszewski, the famous screenwriter known for films like Ed Wood and The People vs. Larry Flynt, joins the Lifers podcast to discuss his career and love of cinema. Karaszewski talks about growing up obsessed with movies, meeting his writing partner Scott Alexander in film school, and how they transitioned from writing "crappy comedies" to revitalizing the biopic genre. The discussion covers many of Karaszewski's films as well as his passion for screening and championing obscure and orphaned movies.

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#227: Ozzy

July 25, 2025

Ozzy Osbourne, the pioneer of heavy metal music and reality television, died at age 76 after being treated for Parkinson's disease in recent years. The podcast hosts discuss Ozzy's life and career, from his working class upbringing in Birmingham to his success as lead singer of Black Sabbath and later as a solo artist known for his rock and roll excess. They also share personal stories and memories related to Ozzy's music and choose their favorite Ozzy and Black Sabbath songs.

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#225: Fig Dish Promotional Obligation Part 2: The Revenge

July 11, 2025

Blake Smith, Rick Ness and Mike Willison of the band Fig Dish discuss the inspiration, recording process and marketing of their 1995 debut album "That's What Love Songs Often Do" with Scott Lucas and Gabe Rodriguez. The band shares anecdotes about working with producer Lou Giordano, their expectations for the album's success, and the record label's reaction upon delivering the finished album. Thirty years later, the band reflects on their mixed feelings about the album as they prepare to re-release it on vinyl and play anniversary shows.

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#214: Tim Hunter

April 4, 2025

Tim Hunter, director of River's Edge and episodes of Twin Peaks, Mad Men and Breaking Bad, discusses his career and the current political climate in this episode of the Lifers podcast. Hunter compares the blacklisting of his father during the McCarthy era to "Gestapo tactics" and a "blacklist of thought" under Trump. The hosts and Hunter also debate their favorite uses of heavy metal music in films.

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#210: Michael Christopher and the BEST?!? Best Picture

March 7, 2025

Michael Christopher, a senior writer for Vanyaland and contributor to various music and entertainment publications, joins the Lifers podcast hosts to discuss the Oscars, with a focus on the best Best Picture winners of all time. The group each shares their top 3 picks, which include Rocky, No Country for Old Men, The Departed, Schindler's List, and Unforgiven.

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#176: John Haggerty

June 21, 2024

John Haggerty discusses his influential guitar playing with the bands Naked Raygun and Pegboy, the 1970s Chicago punk scene, and his upcoming show at Metro. He also shares his favorite guitar solos of the 1970s, heavily favoring classic rock and metal.

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#172: Big In Japan

May 24, 2024

Scott is traveling in Japan with his wife Justine after a rough experience in Bali. He discusses the differences between the two countries and his initial impressions of Japan. The hosts then play a game called "What's the Best Song that Starts with the Chorus?", debating and comparing various song choices that fit this category.

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#167: Jake Burns

April 19, 2024

Jake Burns, lead singer of the punk band Stiff Little Fingers, discusses the band's early days in Northern Ireland during the Troubles in the late 1970s. He talks about the influence of The Clash on Stiff Little Fingers' songwriting, getting support from BBC DJ John Peel, and the band's decision to participate in Rock Against Racism concerts. Burns also explains the factors that led to Stiff Little Fingers' initial breakup in the early 1980s before later re-forming.

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#158: Nick Miller

February 16, 2024

Nick Miller, a legendary Chicago concert promoter, discusses his decades-long career booking shows for acts like Cheap Trick, Bruce Springsteen, and Jeff Beck. The hosts and Miller share stories of their most memorable concerts, including seeing the Replacements, Depeche Mode, and Metallica early in their careers. Miller recounts his unconventional start in the music business and reflects on how the Chicago music scene has evolved over the years.

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#147: Michael Tedder

December 1, 2023

Michael Tedder discusses his book "Top 8: How MySpace Changed Music" and shares his thoughts on selling out in the music industry. The guests also play a game picking their favorite songs from 2003.

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🤘 Iron Maiden

#146: Jess Margera

November 24, 2023

Jess Margera, drummer of the band CKY, discusses the early days of the band and how their unique mix of music and skate videos helped them gain a following. He shares stories of touring with Guns N' Roses in their "weirdest period" and reflects on the challenges of the music industry and staying creative during the pandemic. The hosts and guest also banter about their favorite songs with "black" in the title to tie into the Black Friday theme.

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#144: What’s The Best?!?: Green Day

November 17, 2023

The episode discusses the band Green Day in honor of the 30th anniversary of their album Dookie. The hosts share their favorite Green Day songs and debate the band's merits, with some praising their catchy pop-punk songwriting while others find the music less compelling.

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#143: Freddy Herrera

November 10, 2023

In this episode of the Lifers podcast, Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez, and Ben Reiser interview guest Freddy Herrera, the bass player from the band Everclear. Freddy discusses his musical journey, from starting out playing punk rock in California to eventually joining Everclear in the 2000s. The group also plays a game where they each name their picks for the best bass performances and bass lines in songs, with selections ranging from the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" to Iron Maiden's "Killers".

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#126: AC/DC, America & Rick Froberg

July 14, 2023

The hosts discuss their Fourth of July experiences, touching on politics, favorite foods, and reflections on the holiday. They then pay tribute to musician Rick Froberg, who recently passed away at age 55, by sharing memories and discussing his musical legacy and impact. The hosts wrap up by debating and ranking their favorite AC/DC songs, with passionate arguments made for tracks spanning the band's discography.

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#123: 123. LIFERS LIVE!!! - In Chicago with Josh Caterer

June 23, 2023

Josh Caterer of the band Smoking Popes joined the Lifers podcast for a live episode in Chicago. They discussed the band's history, Caterer's songwriting process, and funny tour stories. Caterer also played a few acoustic songs for the audience.

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🤘 Iron Maiden

#118: Jerry Newbrough

May 19, 2023

Scott Lucas and his co-hosts Gabe and Ben interview Jerry Newbrough, an old friend of Scott's who he was in his first band with called the Family Cruisers back in the 1980s. They reminisce about playing music together, the punk rock scene in Madison, Wisconsin, and Jerry's experiences working at the legendary music venue OK's. Though Jerry no longer plays music publicly, he explains that quitting the music business allowed him to regain his pure love for music itself.

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#113: What's The Best?!?: U2

April 14, 2023

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser continue their discussion from last week's episode on their top 3 favorite U2 songs. The hosts share their picks, with songs like "New Year's Day", "One", "Bad", and "Sunday Bloody Sunday" making their lists. They also discuss U2's evolution over the years and ability to reinvent themselves on albums like Achtung Baby.

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🤘 Iron Maiden

#107: Jim Rota

March 3, 2023

Jim Rota, member of the band Fireball Ministry and producer who has worked on Dave Grohl's documentary projects, discusses his career path from getting a record deal in the late 90s to working in TV and film post-production. He shares stories of touring with bands like Dio and Motorhead, meeting Dave Grohl through mutual friends, and pioneering digital workflows on films like The Chronicles of Narnia. Rota emphasizes the importance of authenticity, building genuine relationships, and encouraging the next generation to pursue their passions in music and film.

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#106: What’s The Best?!?: Covers

February 24, 2023

The hosts discuss and play their top 5 favorite cover songs, with picks ranging from The Specials covering "A Message to You Rudy" by Dandy Livingstone to Cheap Trick's rendition of "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino. They debate what makes a great cover song and whether the covers are better than the originals. No songs were picked by more than one host, highlighting the wide diversity of opinions and tastes when it comes to great cover songs.

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#105: Walter Schreifels

February 17, 2023

In this episode, Walter Schreifels discusses his musical journey from Gorilla Biscuits and Quicksand to CIV and Rival Schools. He reflects on the challenges of making music in the major label system in the 90s and the creative process behind Quicksand's 2017 reunion album Interiors.

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🤘 Iron Maiden

#97: Kyle Stevenson

December 23, 2022

In this episode, Kyle Stevenson, current drummer for the band Helmet, discusses his musical career journey from attempting film school to playing in various LA-based bands in the 1990s and 2000s. He shares anecdotes about challenging tours, including one with the band Filter, and reflects on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Helmet's recent touring attempts. Throughout the conversation, Stevenson and the hosts also exchange humorous stories of their experiences playing music and touring together.

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#95: Road Report #17: Holy(sm)oke(s) Mass.

December 9, 2022

Scott, Gabe, and Ryan discuss their experience visiting a cannabis dispensary in Holyoke, Massachusetts while on tour. They sample some of the products and discuss the differences between CBD and THC. The band also performed shows in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, with some former podcast guests in attendance.

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#87: Mike Alonso

October 14, 2022

Mike Alonso, drummer for bands including Flogging Molly, Electric Six, and Five Horse Johnson, discusses his long music career touring and recording with various rock acts. Alonso shares anecdotes about touring with bands like Dio and Motörhead in the 90s, his love of horror movies, and the importance of playing with great musicians who inspire him to keep performing.

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#74: Michael McMahon and the Paqui Chip Challenge

July 15, 2022

Scott Lucas and Gabe Rodriguez from the band Local H are visiting Scott's father-in-law Mike McMahon in South Carolina. They discuss Mike's first concerts seeing AC/DC and Ted Nugent in the late 70s. Scott tries an extremely spicy Paqui chip challenge, which causes him intense pain. Mike talks about his career as a police detective in New York and South Carolina. The group also discusses recent Def Leppard and Motley Crue concerts, favorite sea creatures, and answer fan questions about upcoming Local H plans.

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#72: Matt Walker

July 1, 2022

Matt Walker, a prolific drummer who has played with bands like Filter, Smashing Pumpkins, Cupcakes, Morrissey and Garbage, discusses his music career. He talks about growing up in a musical family, early bands he played in, almost touring with Nine Inch Nails, the ups and downs of playing with Smashing Pumpkins and Cupcakes, and his long stint drumming for Morrissey. Walker also shares stories of encounters with musical legends like David Bowie, Chrissie Hynde and Bono.

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🤘 Iron Maiden

#70: Gary Kessler

June 17, 2022

Gary Kessler, nicknamed the "MacGyver of Liars Club", discusses his experiences working at the iconic Chicago bar and his DIY approach to artwork, merch and interior design. Kessler reminisces about his time in the band American Motherload and his battle with cancer in his late 20s.

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#3: Ben's Bits #3 - Backstage Bootlegs, Berwyn, Birthday Bash, and Bogus Boobs

March 16, 2022

In this episode, Scott and Gabe discuss a story of fans creating fake backstage passes from a photo posted on Instagram to get into a Metallica show. They also talk about upcoming shows for Scott's band The Married Men and Herb's upcoming birthday bash at the Liars Club.

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#57: Keith Smith

March 11, 2022

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser interview their high school friend Keith Smith, who is in the Christian metal band Oblivion Myth. They discuss Keith's musical journey, his faith, and reminisce about the metal and hard rock scene they grew up with in Zion, Illinois in the 1980s and early 1990s.

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#49: Joe Dapier and The French Dispatch

January 14, 2022

In this podcast episode, Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser discuss the movie The French Dispatch and other pop culture topics with their guest Joe Dapier, who was the drummer for the band Dovetail Joint. They debate the merits of various Wes Anderson and Woody Allen films, reminisce about the 90s Chicago music scene, and argue about Led Zeppelin songs.

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#47: Page Hamilton

December 31, 2021

Page Hamilton, guitarist and vocalist of the band Helmet, discusses the band's early days playing in New York City in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He talks about the influence of jazz and classical music on his guitar playing, getting signed to Interscope Records amidst a major label bidding war in the wake of Nirvana's success, and briefly playing guitar with David Bowie in the late 1990s.

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#43: Steve Tulipana

December 3, 2021

Steve Tulipana, owner of Record Bar in Kansas City, discusses his experiences as a musician and venue owner. He talks about discovering punk rock, starting bands like Season of Risk, opening for bands like Fugazi, getting signed to and dropped from a major label in the 90s, appearing in the movie Strange Days, and eventually opening Record Bar to support the local music scene. Despite setbacks, he's kept going and adapted. He also discusses challenges venues have faced during the pandemic with restrictions and getting government aid to stay afloat.

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#41: Matt Radke

November 19, 2021

Matt Radke, the father and tour manager of the band Radkey, discusses the band's origins, their DIY approach to the music business, and their recent successes touring with major acts. Radke reflects on how he passed his own musical interests and influences on to his sons, who then taught themselves to play and started the band after being inspired by the movie School of Rock.

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#38: Road Report #7: A Day Off in NYC with Justine McMahon

October 29, 2021

Scott Lucas and Justine McMahon discuss their day off in New York City, which included seeing the movies Possession and The French Dispatch. They also reminisce about Justine's bartending days at NYC music venues like Trash Bar and Mercury Lounge, and humorously debate topics like tipping etiquette, pineapple on pizza, and the Ozzy vs Dio eras of Black Sabbath.

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#21: Herb Rosen

July 2, 2021

Herb Rosen, owner of Liars Club in Chicago, reminisces about his time playing in punk bands Rights of the Accused and Beer Nuts in the late 80s and early 90s. He shares wild stories from life on the road involving drugs, nudity, and pranks. The conversation also delves into Herb's love of KISS, a serious motorcycle accident he survived, and an upcoming variety show he hosts on Vans Channel 66.

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#18: James VanOsdol

June 11, 2021

James Van Osdol, a Chicago radio veteran, talks about his love of music, experience working at Q101 in the 90s during the rise of alternative rock, and witnessing the slow evolution of the station's format. He discusses his new project called Phonation, a vinyl record that will feature short clips from various Chicago-based podcasts representing the breadth and diversity of the local podcast scene.

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#15: Kelly Wey

May 21, 2021

Kelly Way, who has worked at the Metro music venue in Chicago since 1995, discusses her experiences in the music industry, her love of booking and promoting bands, and her extensive volunteer work rescuing and fostering dogs. She shares stories of memorable shows at Metro by bands like Foo Fighters and Nick Cave's Grinderman, the challenges and rewards of the past pandemic year, and her passion for helping animals in need through the MCP dog rescue organization. Throughout the casual, humorous conversation, Kelly's enthusiasm for music and animal welfare shines through.

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