The Local H Lifers Database

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Person

Al Jourgensen

Referenced in 7 episodes

Episode 249 cover

#249: Balthazar De Ley

February 26, 2026

Balthazar De Ley, founding member of Menthol and former Hum guitarist, discusses the Champaign music scene's evolution, the band's major label struggles with Capitol Records, and his current work building and repairing guitar amplifiers after spending a decade with Smashing Pumpkins. The episode includes a "best debut records" segment where the hosts and guest debate classic first albums from Jesus and Mary Chain, Violent Femmes, Iron Maiden, and others.

Episode 78 cover
🎸 Replacements

#78: Brian St. Clair

August 12, 2022

Brian St. Clair, best known as the drummer of the rock band Local H from 1999-2013, discusses his music career on the Lifers podcast. He talks about his time in bands like Triple Fast Action and Rights of the Accused, touring with acts like Ministry and Liz Phair, and recording the album Here Comes the Zoo with Local H and producer Jack Douglas. St. Clair also admits to an incident involving defecating in a hotel room and letting a bandmate take the blame for years.

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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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#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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#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.