The (unofficial) Lifers Database

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Band

Rage Against the Machine

Referenced in 9 episodes

Episode 187 cover

#187: Album Imploder: Whatever Happened To PJ Soles? (Side 1)

September 6, 2024

Scott Lucas of the band Local H discusses the writing and recording of their 2004 album Whatever Happened to PJ Soles? with two of the album's producers. They go in-depth on the creative process, influences, and production techniques behind each song on the first half of the album. The band aimed to create an ambitious, experimental rock record that was "handmade" with analog recording methods and a wide variety of sounds.

Episode 183 cover
🎸 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.

Episode 173 cover
🎸 Replacements

#173: Jonny Polonsky

May 31, 2024

Jonny Polonsky discusses his musical journey from growing up in Chicago to becoming a professional musician in LA. As a teenager, he made home recordings that he sent to Frank Black of the Pixies, which led to getting signed to Rick Rubin's American Recordings label. Polonsky has since worked as a solo artist and played with bands like Puscifer. His new album Supernatural Radio is coming out on Loose Groove Records.

Episode 104 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#104: Dee From Radkey

February 10, 2023

Dee discusses Radkey's musical influences like Nirvana, Weezer and the Ramones, and how the band started out playing shows in their hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri. He talks about Radkey's experience opening for major acts like Fishbone, the Foo Fighters, and Jack White, and how those opportunities came about. Dee also touches on challenges the band faced with their record label wanting to change their sound and bring in outside songwriters, which Radkey resisted in order to maintain creative control over their music.

Episode 62 cover

#62: Road Report #9

April 22, 2022

Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez and Ben Reiser discuss their favorite movies and actors while on the road for their band Local H's "LIFERS" tour. They debate the merits of films starring actors like Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Aniston, Molly Ringwald and Kurt Russell in a free-flowing conversation typical of bandmates killing time together on tour. The discussion reveals the hosts' different tastes in movies and serves as the inspiration behind the band's latest t-shirt design.

Episode 60 cover

#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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#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.

Episode 34 cover

#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.

Episode 12 cover

#12: A Massive Overestimation Of Consumer Curiosity: The 3x5 Tour

April 30, 2021

In 1996, the bands Local H, Limblifter and Stanford Prison Experiment went on the 3x5 Tour, where three bands played for $5 to attract music fans. Despite expectations of label and media support, the shows were poorly attended and the tour became emblematic of the over-estimation of consumer interest by record labels in the 90s alternative rock scene.