The (unofficial) Lifers Database

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Band

Metallica

Referenced in 67 episodes

Episode 260 cover

#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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#253: In The Weeds In The Woods

April 24, 2026

Scott hosts from the North Woods with poor internet connection while Ben and Gabe join remotely to discuss the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, where Scott won their prediction contest with Iron Maiden, Ben scored with Joy Division/New Order and Oasis, and Gabe picked up points for Billy Idol and Phil Collins despite initially choosing the latter under false pretenses about Genesis not being inducted. They also debate the merits of the new 45 RPM vinyl pressing of Local H's "As Good as Dead" 30th anniversary edition, announce an upcoming Toadies tour (with one cancelled Asbury Park date), and rank their favorite weed songs including Paul McCartney's "Let Me Roll It," Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35," and Afroman's "Because I Got High.\

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#251: In a Van 2: Diesel Boogaloo

March 27, 2026

The podcast finds Local H on tour with their rental van having broken down into "limp mode" near Nashville, forcing them to switch to a downgraded vehicle and losing items including a fart machine in the process. Scott discusses selling merch, responding to Facebook complaints from concertgoers about sound levels and his allegedly "off putting" demeanor, and the tour's stuffed pizza adventures with extra sauce and giardiniera. The band is currently opening for Filter and Finger Eleven, playing casino venues, and Scott reveals their upcoming Daytona Rockville Festival appearance will be a pre-show kickoff event rather than a main stage slot.

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#241: Tha Caterer III

November 28, 2025

The episode features guest Josh Caterer from the band Smoking Popes. They discuss his band's upcoming shows with Scott Lucas and the band Menthol, reminisce about touring together in the 90s, and play a game called "What's the Best" about the best guest spots on songs.

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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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#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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#219: Deanna Belos #3

May 15, 2025

Deanna Belos, lead singer of the band Sincere Engineer, discusses her new documentary "No One's Gonna Do It For You" which covers the first 10 years of her band. The documentary was made to catch up new fans on the band's history and origins, and features interviews with band members about their experiences. Belos also discusses her solo European tour plans for October and an upcoming July show in Elgin, Illinois.

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🎸 Replacements

#216: Donita Sparks

April 26, 2025

In this podcast episode, Donita Sparks from the band L7 discusses her musical career and influences. She talks about moving from Chicago to LA, forming L7, and the band's rise to fame in the early 90s rock scene.

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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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#212: Dag Juhlin

March 21, 2025

Dag Juhlin discusses his music career, including playing with the band The Slugs, joining Poi Dog Pondering, and recently touring with "The R.E.M. Experience" tribute shows featuring Michael Shannon and other musicians playing R.E.M. songs. Juhlin reflects on what keeps him passionate about making music and his aspirations to continue creating and writing in the future.

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#211: Road Report #23: The LIFERS movie tour edition #1

March 14, 2025

Scott Lucas is on a movie tour screening the Local H documentary "Lifers" in theaters across the country. He shares stories from the road, including screenings in St. Louis, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Portland. Lucas and his co-hosts also discuss his upcoming fall tour with Everclear and Sponge.

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#192: Road Report #22: The Last In Line

October 11, 2024

Scott and Gabe discuss their experiences on the current tour, including meeting fans, playing shows at high elevation, and visiting unique venues. They debate favorite movie topics like RoboCop sequels and the films of Francis Ford Coppola and Todd Phillips. The conversation also covers Scott's upcoming movie screening in Chicago and his hopes to show the film in other cities.

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🎸 Replacements

#185: Johnny Wator

August 23, 2024

Johnny Wator, longtime Chicago musician and founder of Daredevil guitar pedals, discusses his experiences touring and playing in bands like The Last Vegas and The Evictions. Wator and the hosts have an in-depth discussion about 80s hair metal bands and songs, debating their favorites from that era of rock music.

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#184: Metallica vs. Seinfeld

August 16, 2024

Scott and Gabe compare the setlists from the two Metallica shows they attended in Chicago over the weekend, debating which one had the better song selection. They then discuss their top 3 favorite Seinfeld episodes, with Ben picking "The Strike" (Festivus), "Serenity Now", and "The Opposite", while Gabe chooses "The Butter Shave", "The Marine Biologist", and "The Gum".

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🎸 Replacements

#183: Dave Rockland

August 9, 2024

Dave Rockland, who has worked at Jam Productions in Chicago since 1994, joins the hosts to discuss his experiences in the Chicago music scene over the past few decades. They reminisce about memorable shows and albums from 1993, the year Dave moved to Chicago, including Nirvana's final Chicago shows, Liz Phair, The Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream, and Quicksand opening for Rage Against the Machine at Metro.

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🎸 Replacements

#182: Jim DeRogatis

August 2, 2024

Jim DeRogatis, a veteran music critic, joins the Lifers podcast to discuss his career, the R. Kelly case he helped expose, and his favorite drummers. DeRogatis shares anecdotes about interviewing Kurt Cobain, touring with the band Wire, and turning down an opportunity to participate in the Surviving R. Kelly documentary.

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#181: The “Stick To The Music” Episode

July 26, 2024

In this episode, the hosts Scott, Ben, Gabe and Steve discuss politics and whether it should mix with music and entertainment. They debate online arguments about fascism and share their views on the upcoming US election. Each host also picks a favorite piece of political art, including songs, movies and books like One by Metallica, All the President's Men, and Idiocracy. Overall, they explore the intersection of politics and pop culture.

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🎸 Replacements

#170: 170. QUITTERS - Tim Edwards

May 10, 2024

Tim Edwards, former booking agent for the band Local H, discusses his career in the music industry and his decision to quit booking bands in 2018. He shares anecdotes about booking shows for Local H, including an infamous college frat party gig that went disastrously wrong.

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🎸 Replacements

#168: Scott McCaughey

April 26, 2024

Scott McCaughey discusses his long career as a musician, from founding the Young Fresh Fellows in the 1980s Seattle music scene to collaborating with R.E.M., Robyn Hitchcock, Wilco and many others. He shares stories about touring, songwriting, recovering from a stroke in 2017, and his tendency to write songs about other bands and musicians. Throughout the free-flowing conversation, McCaughey reflects on his prolific output and enduring passion for making music.

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🎸 Replacements

#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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🤘 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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🎸 Replacements

#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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🎸 Replacements

#137: Marc Solheim

September 29, 2023

Mark Solheim, the talent buyer for Riot Fest, discusses what goes into booking and organizing the annual music festival in Chicago. He shares behind-the-scenes insights on securing major headliners like The Cure, curating each day's lineup to have a certain theme and aesthetic, and some of the logistical challenges in the days following the festival. The hosts also do a "What's the Best" segment focused on everyone's favorite songs by The Cure.

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🤘 Iron Maiden

#125: 125. LIFERS LIVE!!! - In Madison with Cathy Dethmers

July 7, 2023

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser of the Lifers podcast recorded a live episode in Madison, Wisconsin with special guest Kathy Dethmers, who opened and ran popular music venues O.K.'s Corral and High Noon Saloon. They discussed the history and impact of those venues on Madison's music scene, Kathy's experiences as a venue owner, and played a few humorous games like Iron Maiden vs Replacements trivia and Cards Against Humanity.

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#116: Michael Alago

May 5, 2023

In this episode, Michael Alago discusses his music industry career, from working at the Ritz in the early 1980s to signing bands like Metallica and White Zombie at Elektra and Geffen Records. He also talks about his friendships with artists like Cyndi Lauper, Eric Bogosian and John Lydon of Public Image Ltd.

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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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🎸 Replacements

#108: Aly Jados

March 10, 2023

Aly Jados, singer and guitarist of the band Blood People, discusses her musical background growing up in the Chicago suburbs. She talks about her experiences auditioning for American Idol in front of Steven Tyler, making it to Hollywood before being eliminated. Jados also shares stories behind the Blood People name and the band's songwriting process as they work on a new album.

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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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🎸 Replacements

#103: Gene Ambo

February 3, 2023

Gene Ambo, a renowned Chicago music photographer, discusses his decades-long career shooting iconic metal, punk and hardcore bands at venues like Metro in Chicago. Ambo talks about his beginnings sneaking cameras into shows in the early 80s, building relationships with bands and magazines, and how the music photography scene has evolved over time. He also shares stories of memorable shows he's shot, from Metallica to Danzig, and reveals plans for future photo book projects focused on the hardcore and hip-hop scenes.

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🤘 Iron Maiden

#96: Katie Augustyn + Here Comes The Zoom

December 16, 2022

Scott Lucas recently completed the Here Comes the Zoo 20th anniversary tour with Local H, which ended in Canada. The episode features calls from fans who attended shows on the tour, sharing their experiences and favorite moments. Katie Augustyn, the organizer of the annual Katie's Kids benefit concert at Liars Club in Chicago which Lucas performs at each year, also joins the podcast to discuss this year's upcoming event.

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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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#94: Road Report #16: Charlotte Rambling

December 3, 2022

Scott, Gabe and Ryan discuss various topics including the U.S. World Cup soccer team's performance, the movie Ghost, and their favorite Christmas songs. They also listen to humorous songs like "PPAP (Pen Pineapple Apple Pen)" and "Poopoo Peepee" and debate the merits of different novelty magazines from their youth.

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#89: Road Report #14 : Slurry Road

October 28, 2022

In this episode of the Lifers podcast, Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser discuss Rod Stewart's disappointing concert performance, share stories from their recent show at The Metro in Chicago, and debate the best rock and roll voices of all time. They also talk about the new Halloween movie, reminisce about seeing actor Udo Kier at a film screening, and answer listener questions about their favorite venues, songs, and black and white movies.

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#83: Road Report #10

September 16, 2022

Scott Lucas and Gabe Rodriguez of the band Local H discuss life on the road while touring to support their album Here Comes the Zoo. They reminisce about pulling a trailer, popping tires, and the long drives between cities. The band is currently traveling as a three-piece with Dave Lugo. Scott and Gabe also discuss the writing and recording of the 25-minute epic track "What Would You Have Me Do?" which closes out the album.

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#82: Eddie Applebaum

September 9, 2022

In this episode, Scott Lucas interviews his long-time band manager Eddie Applebaum. They discuss how Eddie got into artist management, his experiences working with local H on albums like Here Comes the Zoo, and a harrowing incident where Scott got lost in Russia while on tour. Eddie also shares his perspective on the current state of the music industry and the challenges new artists face in building a passionate fanbase.

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#81: Paul Massaro

September 2, 2022

Paul Massaro discusses his experiences working as a live sound engineer and tour manager for bands like Local H, Cheap Trick, Mastodon, and Andrew WK. He shares wild stories from the road, including getting kicked off the Ozzfest tour after Brent from Mastodon insulted another band and trashed a bathroom, and an infamous incident where Paul destroyed a hotel room after partying too hard. Paul explains how the grind of constant touring and partying eventually led him to stop working on the road so he could focus on his family.

Episode 76 cover
🎸 Replacements

#76: Max Crawford

July 29, 2022

Max Crawford, a multi-instrumentalist who plays trumpet, works the scoreboard at Wrigley Field, and has been a bartender at Metro in Chicago for 30 years. He has played with bands like Poi Dog Pondering and Wilco, and shares stories about his music career starting in Austin before moving to Chicago. Some of his favorite shows he's seen at Metro include Prince, Bob Dylan, and Tom Jones.

Episode 75 cover
🎸 Replacements

#75: Louise Post

July 22, 2022

Louise Post, lead singer of the band Veruca Salt, discusses her early music influences, the formation of Veruca Salt, their rapid rise to fame, challenges the band faced, and her current solo project. She reflects on the ups and downs of her musical career and feeling creatively liberated working on her upcoming solo album.

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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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#63: Daniel Knox

April 29, 2022

In this episode, Scott Lucas and Gabe Rodriguez interview Daniel Knox, a musician and former projectionist at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. They discuss Knox's work putting together David Lynch film festivals at the Music Box, his thoughts on Lynch's films, and his own music career which was kickstarted after Lynch highlighted Knox's organ playing before a screening of Inland Empire. Knox also shares behind-the-scenes details on Lynch's creative process and the relationship between Lynch and co-creator Mark Frost on the Twin Peaks series.

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#61: Gwen Ihnat

April 11, 2022

Gwen Ihnat, a longtime writer for The A.V. Club and other publications, discusses her career in music and pop culture journalism. She shares anecdotes about interviewing musicians like Tom Jones and Liz Phair, accidentally misquoting Phair's lyrics in a review, and her experiences working at The Onion and A.V. Club offices in Chicago. With The A.V. Club moving to Los Angeles, Ihnat reflects on this end of an era and what the next chapter of her writing career may hold.

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#60: Joe Shanahan

April 1, 2022

Joe Shanahan, owner of the Metro and Smart Bar in Chicago, discusses the venues' 40-year history. He shares stories of booking and befriending influential artists like REM, Nirvana, New Order and Gang of Four in the 1980s and 90s. Shanahan also talks about his own battle with cancer and subsequent activism to support cancer research.

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#58: Blake Smith

March 18, 2022

Blake Smith, formerly of the bands Fig Dish and Caviar, joins the podcast. They discuss the Chicago music scene in the 90s, touring mishaps and pranks, and the ups and downs of being in major label bands during that era.

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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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#56: Happy Anniversary!

March 4, 2022

Scott, Gabe and Ben celebrate the one year anniversary of their Lifers podcast by discussing listener feedback on favorite moments and guests from the past year. They reflect on how the podcast has evolved, their own rapport and dynamic, and memorable interviews with musicians like Justine Frischmann, John McCauley, and Scott's dad. Despite not having a clear mission, the hosts agree the podcast works as an entertaining hangout capturing the experience of friends casually discussing music and life.

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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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#48: Greg Corner

January 7, 2022

Greg Corner discusses his experiences growing up as a metalhead in the Chicago suburbs, playing in the band Kill Hannah, and navigating the major label music industry in the early 2000s. He also recounts how he transitioned into DJing, eventually playing Barack Obama's 50th birthday party fundraiser in 2011. Throughout the conversation, Greg and the hosts share stories and opinions on various music and pop culture topics.

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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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#44: Kellii Scott

December 10, 2021

In this episode of the Lifers podcast, drummer Kellii Scott discusses his musical journey, from starting out playing along to KISS records as a kid to delivering cocaine in LA to make connections in the music scene. He talks about joining the band Failure, recording the album Fantastic Planet in Lita Ford's house, the band's breakup and eventual reunion years later, and his current prolific output recording drum tracks remotely for many artists during the pandemic.

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#42: A LIFERS Thanksgiving

November 26, 2021

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser host a special live Thanksgiving episode of the Lifers podcast. They discuss their Thanksgiving plans, answer listener questions, and bring on several fans as guests to chat about topics like the upcoming Lifers movie, Scott's gorilla suit, and everyone's favorite bands.

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#39: Road Report #8: LIFERS Re-Tour Final Three (part one)

November 6, 2021

In this episode, the band Local H performs the first two of three final shows on their tour with Radkey at Shank Hall in Milwaukee. Fans share personal stories and memories of seeing Local H over the years. After the second show, frontman Scott Lucas reflects on the performances and tour with Radkey member Dee Radke and podcast host Ben Reiser backstage.

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#35: Matt Garcia

October 8, 2021

Scott Lucas and Matt Garcia discuss the early days of their band Local H, including their influences from metal and punk music that shaped the band's heavy sound. Garcia, who was Local H's original bass player, left the band in the early 1990s due to personal struggles and the challenges of the rock and roll lifestyle. Though Garcia has some regrets, he is ultimately happy with his decision to leave and has gone on to have a fulfilling career as an artist in Portland.

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#34: Road Report #6: Pizza Party in El Paso!

October 1, 2021

Scott Lucas, Ryan and Gabe Rodriguez are on the road in El Paso, Texas during the Lifers tour. They discuss the shows so far, driving through Texas, and sampling local Mexican food. Gabe is working remotely from an Airbnb in Florida while waiting to move into a new house. The conversation touches on 1990s Internet message boards for the band, a blizzard adventure Ben had in 1996, and the anniversary of Cliff Burton's death. They call their friend Herb to reminisce about old tour stories. The episode wraps up with a call to their tour manager Janine and the arrival of a pizza they ordered from a local place called Grimaldi's.

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#33: Wes Kidd

September 24, 2021

Scott Lucas interviews his old friend and bandmate Wes Kidd about their wild times touring together in the 90s in the bands Rights of the Accused and Triple Fast Action. They reminisce about crazy pranks, trashed hotel rooms, getting beat up by gangs of kids, and disastrous major label debuts before Wes reveals what he's up to these days managing bands like Old 97's. Despite the painful memories, Scott and Wes share laughs over their unhinged youthful hijinks.

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#30: Road Report #3: Waiting For Scott

September 3, 2021

Scott Lucas of Local H joins the podcast late after a long night selling merchandise on tour with Soul Asylum. Before Scott arrives, co-hosts Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser discuss the podcast with Ryan Hembree, Lucas's bandmate, covering topics like tour life, food options, and fandom. The conversation turns to Lucas being perceived as bullying Rodriguez, which Lucas plans to address further in a future episode.

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#29: Road Report #2: Three Days of the Wyndham (In West Virginia with Jeneen Anderson)

August 27, 2021

While stuck in a hotel in Charleston, West Virginia for three days due to show cancellations, Scott Lucas and Ryan Smith from the band Local H discuss their current tour, music, and movies with their tour manager Janine Anderson. Janine shares stories about working her way up in the music industry as a woman tour manager, dealing with difficult people along the way, and learning to navigate the job with more confidence over the years. Despite the challenges, Janine expresses feeling lucky to work with the band and crew she currently tours with.

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#27: Road Report #1: Pre-Opening Night Jitters (LIFERS re-TOUR Week #1)

August 13, 2021

Scott Lucas and Ryan Harding of the band Local H discuss going back on tour after a 17-month hiatus due to the pandemic. They talk about the challenges and uncertainties of touring again, including opening act cancellations, potential shutdowns, and venues requiring proof of vaccination. Despite the difficulties, they are eager to get back on the road and play shows again.

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#23: Hey, Killer

July 16, 2021

The Hey, Killer album by Local H touches on themes of religion, blues, and death across its 11 songs. Recorded in 2015, it was drummer Ryan Harding's first album with the band. The album artwork depicts a sinister figure flashing devil horns, representing a cross between serial killer Richard Ramirez and a character from the Ghost World comic. The songs range from hard-rocking, Metallica-esque riffs to more introspective tracks reflecting on tragedy and the meaning of life.

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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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#20: John McCauley Part Two

June 25, 2021

John McCauley discusses his early years working at a movie theater, his love of horror films like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the moment he decided to pursue music seriously despite naysayers. The conversation touches on his move from Nashville back to New England with his family, his musical tastes and influences, and funny tangents about movies and pop culture. Throughout, McCauley displays a laid-back, humorous rapport with the hosts.

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#19: John McCauley Part One

June 18, 2021

In this episode, Scott Lucas and John McCauley from the band Deer Tick discuss McCauley's musical career and influences. They also touch on McCauley's experiences playing with the surviving members of Nirvana.

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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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#16: Troy Van Leeuwen

May 28, 2021

Troy Van Leeuwen discusses his music career, from starting as a drummer and learning guitar at age 13 to playing in bands like Failure, A Perfect Circle, and Queens of the Stone Age. He talks about enjoying the role of being a multi-instrumentalist "secret weapon" in bands rather than the frontman. Van Leeuwen also shares anecdotes about the intense touring lifestyle with Queens of the Stone Age and the bands' evolutions across different album eras.

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#14: How To Fuck Up An Interview With Rick Froberg

May 15, 2021

In this episode, Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser interview Rick Froberg from the bands Drive Like Jehu, Rocket from the Crypt, and Hot Snakes. They discuss the two Drive Like Jehu albums and debate which one is better, with Rick preferring the second album Yank Crime over the self-titled debut. Rick also shares stories about the early San Diego music scene, getting signed to Interscope Records, and the differences between his various bands.

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#10: Michael Shannon

April 16, 2021

In this podcast episode, Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser interview actor Michael Shannon. They discuss Shannon's theater work in Chicago in plays like Killer Joe and Bug, his transition into film, and his experiences working with directors like Martin Scorsese, William Friedkin and Curtis Hanson.