The (unofficial) Lifers Database

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Band

The Ramones

Referenced in 39 episodes

Episode 222 cover
🎸 Replacements

#222: Ben Kweller

June 20, 2025

Ben Kweller discusses his new album Cover the Mirrors, which he wrote after the tragic death of his 16-year-old son. Kweller opens up about the emotional songwriting process and how the album helped him grieve and realize the fragility and importance of life. He also reflects on his early musical roots, the formation and dissolution of his teenage band Radish, and going solo.

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#217: Ooh, Baby!

May 2, 2025

Scott and Justine Lucas recently had a baby girl named Scottie Rose. Scott discusses the challenges of new parenthood, including lack of sleep and an overabundance of unsolicited advice, while sharing candid thoughts on his evolving relationship with his newborn daughter.

Episode 216 cover
🎸 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.

Episode 208 cover
🎸 Replacements

#208: Steven McDonald

February 14, 2025

Steven McDonald, bassist of the band Redd Kross, discusses the band's 40+ year career from their early days in the LA punk scene opening for Black Flag to their recent reunion, new album and documentary. He shares colorful anecdotes about the challenges and adventures of being a "lifer" musician.

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#207: Tom Rodriguez

February 6, 2025

In this episode, Scott Lucas and Gabe Rodriguez are joined by Gabe's brother Tom to reminisce about their upbringing and discuss notable bands featuring brothers. They talk about Gabe and Tom's band Good and Plenty from the early 90s, the brothers' shared love of music growing up, and pick some of their favorite brother bands including ACDC, Van Halen, The Bee Gees, and The Kinks.

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🎸 Replacements

#196: Jesse Malin

November 8, 2024

Musician Jesse Malin discusses his music career, from early punk bands to going solo, as well as challenges he's faced including a rare spinal stroke he suffered in 2021. Malin talks about his friendships and collaborations with Bruce Springsteen, Joe Strummer, and Martin Scorsese. The episode closes with Malin and the hosts each sharing some of their favorite songs by The Clash.

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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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🎸 Replacements

#180: Vic Bondi

July 19, 2024

Vic Bondi, punk rock veteran of bands like Articles of Faith and Jones Very, discusses his 40-year music career, the Chicago punk scene in the 80s, and his viral essay "The Last Fourth of July". Bondi expresses deep pessimism about the direction of the country, predicting the U.S. will become a fascist one-party state under Trump, and voices concerns about climate change going unchecked by Republicans. The hosts and Bondi also discuss their favorite 70s punk songs from bands like the Ramones, Sex Pistols, Television and Blondie.

Episode 176 cover
🎸 Replacements

#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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🎸 Replacements

#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.

Episode 164 cover
🤘 Iron Maiden

#164: Doni Blair

March 29, 2024

Donnie Blair, bassist of the Toadies, discusses his musical journey, from discovering punk and metal with his brother Zack, to playing in bands like Hagfish and Only Crime. He shares stories of touring with Bad Brains in the '90s, the ups and downs of major label deals, and how practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has impacted his life. The hosts also engage Blair in a game of "What's the Best" focused on Iron Maiden songs.

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#156: 156. QUITTERS - Starring Freda Love Smith!!!

February 2, 2024

Freda Love Smith discusses her new book "Quit Everything", which explores her experiences giving up alcohol, sugar, caffeine, social media and other vices. While not a self-help guide, the book examines the role of addiction and the challenges and benefits of quitting things in midlife. Smith also talks about drinking songs and the sometimes problematic ways alcohol is romanticized in pop culture.

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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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#138: We Are 138!!!

October 6, 2023

In this episode, Scott Lucas, Gabe Rodriguez, Ben Reiser and special guest Herb Rosen discuss and rank their favorite songs by the punk band the Misfits, in honor of the podcast's 138th episode (a reference to the Misfits song "We Are 138"). They each take turns picking songs in a draft-style format.

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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.

Episode 125 cover
🤘 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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#120: The No Fun E.P. Imploder and more Kyle Kinane

June 2, 2023

Scott Lucas discusses the making of the Local H EP "No Fun", released in 2003 after the band left their record label. The EP was a pivot to a more immediate, stripped-down sound influenced by garage rock revival bands of the early 2000s. Lucas reflects on the EP 20 years later, feeling the songs still hold up well, especially the title track "No Fun".

Episode 117 cover
🎸 Replacements

#117: Tommy Stinson

May 12, 2023

Tommy Stinson, founding member of The Replacements, discusses his early start in music, playing bass in The Replacements from age 11, the band's trajectory and breakup, and his later work with Guns N' Roses and other projects. He reflects on the music industry, learning experiences, and his continued passion for making music despite the challenges.

Episode 111 cover
🎸 Replacements

#111: Mike Zelenko

March 31, 2023

In this episode, Scott Lucas interviews Mike Zelenko, drummer of the Chicago band Material Issue. They discuss Zelenko's musical background, the formation and early days of Material Issue, and the new documentary film about the band called "Out of Time".

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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.

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.

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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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#86: Kevin Seconds

October 7, 2022

Kevin Seconds, frontman of the influential hardcore punk band 7 Seconds, discusses the band's 40+ year history, from their early days in Reno to their recent successful tours and reissues. He reflects on the band's musical evolution, challenges faced over the years, and the dedicated community of fans that have supported them throughout their career.

Episode 70 cover
🤘 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.

Episode 69 cover
🎸 Replacements

#69: Pete Beeman

June 10, 2022

Pete Beeman, drummer of the band Killer Hill, discusses his musical history including playing in the bands Guzzard and Burning Brides. The hosts and Beeman have an amusing debate about favorite bands and movies, and whether one's favorite has to be considered the objective best. They also discuss Killer Hill's heavy metal sound and Beeman's experiences touring with bands like Mastodon.

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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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#52: Dave Brooks

February 4, 2022

In this episode, guest Dave Brooks discusses his experiences growing up immersed in the New York City music scene, from hanging out at his father's Harlem jazz club as a kid to later playing in bands and working as a sound engineer. Brooks shares stories of crossing paths with famous musicians over the decades and reflects on how the NYC venue landscape has evolved, expressing concern about rising rents forcing out iconic clubs.

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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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#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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#25: Dave Pirner

July 31, 2021

In the podcast, Scott Lucas from the band Local H interviews Dave Pirner from Soul Asylum. They discuss the 1980s Minneapolis music scene that Soul Asylum emerged from, Pirner's creative influences and approach to songwriting, the challenges of sudden fame in the 1990s, and Pirner's move to New Orleans to recenter himself. Lucas and Pirner also share their frustrations with people refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19, forcing them to postpone touring plans.

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#24: Hey, Killer/Side 2

July 23, 2021

The members of the band Local H reflect on the writing and recording of their 2015 album Hey, Killer. They discuss the creative process behind specific songs, the production techniques used in the studio, and their thoughts on the album's lyrical themes of death, religion, and personal choice. The conversation also touches on the largely positive critical reception to the record upon its release.

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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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#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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#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.

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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.

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#6: Josh Caterer

March 19, 2021

Scott Lucas interviews Josh Caterer, lead singer of the band Smoking Popes, about their upcoming album The Hideout Sessions which releases on March 26th. They discuss the album's mix of classic American songbook covers and reinterpreted Smoking Popes songs, Caterer's songwriting influences, and the ups and downs of the band's career. Caterer also shares plans to record another live album called The Space Sessions in May.

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#5: An Utterly Incoherent, Impotent Frankenstein of Half Baked Ideas

March 12, 2021

In this podcast episode, Scott discusses the song structure of the Genesis song "It's Gonna Get Better" with guests Ben, Gabe, and Steve. They analyze whether the song has a chorus, verse, or bridge, and compare the album version to a longer live version which clarifies the structure but makes the song less interesting to Scott.