Onstage and Backstage Podcast

With the Grateful Dead's farewell concert upon us, Tony Sclafani, author of The Grateful Dead FAQ, talks about the band's musical and cultural impact with Brian Noonan on WGN Radio in Chicago.     About the Book In Grateful Dead FAQ, Tony Sclafani examines the band's impact and influence on rock music and pop culture. This book ventures into unexplored areas and features a host of rare images, making it a must-have for both Deadheads and casual fans.               Tony Sclafani is a journalist and regular contributor to NBC Online. He has also written for the Washington Post and its free daily, Express, as well as Relix, the Village Voice, Harp (now Blurt), the Washington City Paper, Hittin' the Note, Pop Matters, Record Collector, and DC Magazine. He is a longtime fan of '60s psychedelic music and the Grateful Dead. He lives in Washington, D.C. He website is tonysclafani.com. WGN Radio is dedicated to being the #1 source of Chicagola

Max Mobley, author of Rush FAQ, talks with Mike Hsu of WAAF about his new book!      About the Book Rush FAQ documents the amazing story of the world's greatest Canadian prog rock power trio, from its origins in a church basement in Willowdale, Ontario, to its induction ceremony at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Covering 40 albums, 10 DVDs, thousands of mesmerizing live shows, and millions of rock's most loyal fans, the story of Rush is as epic and unique as its music. Rush has been maligned by the press for decades, and misunderstood by a legion of mainstream rock fans and rock glitterati. And yet only the Beatles and Rolling Stones have earned more gold and platinum records. Few artists, if any, have been as influential as Rush's three virtuoso – bassist-keyboardist-vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer-lyricist Neil Peart.               Max Mobley is a music ind

Brian Solomon, author of Pro Wrestling FAQ, talks with Nick Digilio of WGN Radio about his new book!      About the Book Sport? Entertainment? Art form? Perhaps a bit of all three, with a certain intangible extra something thrown in for good measure, making professional wrestling a truly unique entity unto itself. From its origins in carnivals and sideshow attractions of the 19th century, right up to the multimillion-dollar, multimedia industry of the present day, and all the bizarre, wild, and woolly points in between, Pro Wrestling FAQ delves into the entire history and broad scope of one of popular culture's most enduring yet ever-changing spectacles.               Brian Solomon is a former editor and writer for WWE, having worked on such publications as WWE, Raw, and Smackdown!, which he launched during his surreal seven-year tenure with the company. He is the author

Susan Masino, author of AC/DC FAQ, talks with Stephen Foster of BBC Suffolk about AC/DC and her new book! Listen here or visit their website!     About the Book AC/DC FAQ spans AC/DC's 40-year career, starting from the band's inception in 1973. This book covers everything from their early days in Australia to their first tour of England and the United States. It also includes personal experiences, stories, conversatoins, and interviews by author Susan Masino, who has known the band since 1977.               Susan Masino has been a rock journalist for more than 30 years and has written six books, including Family Tradition: Three Generations of Hank Williams, published by Backbeat Books, and The Story of AC/DC: Let There Be Rock, which has now been published in 11 languages. She also appears in the Van Halen DVD The Early Yearsand the movie AC/DC: Let There Be Rock. She lives in Madison, Wi

Dara Crockett, co-editor of Guitar Player: The Inside Story of the First Two Decades of the Most Successful Guitar Magazine Ever, and guitarist Craig Chaquico talk with Jim Rose of 102.7 about the new book!    About the Book Guitar Player: The Inside Story of the First Two Decades of the Most Successful Guitar Magazine Ever is a refection on Guitar Player's often pioneering early days, from its 1967 founding through its 1989 sale by founder Bud Eastman and editor/publisher Jim Crockett. This book looks at the magazine's evolution from a 40-page semi-monthly to a monthly exceeding 200 pages, with a gross yearly income that grew from $40,000 to nearly $15 million.               Dara Crockett is a freelance writer, photographer, teacher, and artist manager. When she's not surrounded by music and words, she is out in nature photographing the beauty of Southern Oregon. She lives in Ashland, Ore. 102.7 The Dr

Brian Solomon, author of Pro Wrestling FAQ, talks with Pat McNeill of PWTorch Livecast about his new book!      About the Book Sport? Entertainment? Art form? Perhaps a bit of all three, with a certain intangible extra something thrown in for good measure, making professional wrestling a truly unique entity unto itself. From its origins in carnivals and sideshow attractions of the 19th century, right up to the multimillion-dollar, multimedia industry of the present day, and all the bizarre, wild, and woolly points in between, Pro Wrestling FAQ delves into the entire history and broad scope of one of popular culture's most enduring yet ever-changing spectacles.               Brian Solomon is a former editor and writer for WWE, having worked on such publications as WWE, Raw, and Smackdown!, which he launched during his surreal seven-year tenure with the company. He is the author of&nbs

Susan Masino, author of AC/DC FAQ, talks with Nick Digilio of WGN Radio about AC/DC and her new book!      About the Book AC/DC FAQ spans AC/DC's 40-year career, starting from the band's inception in 1973. This book covers everything from their early days in Australia to their first tour of England and the United States. It also includes personal experiences, stories, conversatoins, and interviews by author Susan Masino, who has known the band since 1977.               Susan Masino has been a rock journalist for more than 30 years and has written six books, including Family Tradition: Three Generations of Hank Williams, published by Backbeat Books, and The Story of AC/DC: Let There Be Rock, which has now been published in 11 languages. She also appears in the Van Halen DVD The Early Yearsand the movie AC/DC: Let There Be Rock. She lives in Madison, Wis. WGN Radio is dedicated to being the #

Craig Hopkins, author of Stevie Ray Vaughan - Day by Day, Night after Night, talks with Rick Holter of KERA News about Vaughan and his recent induction into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame!      About the Books Stevie Ray Vaughan - Day by Day, Night After Night: His Early Years, 1954-1982:      In a day-by-day format, Craig Hopkins presents an unprecedented celebration of this wonderful artist. This book is the first installment of a two-volume account of Vaughan's life. With this work, Hopkins delivers one of the most detailed biographies of any musician. This edition covers the complete history of Vaughan's roots, from his childhood to just before his first major release. Filled with testimonials from those who knew him best and from fans everywhere, along with facts about tour dates and recordings, stories about his bands and life on the road, rare artistic and historic photographs, and more, this lavishly illustrated book is the ultimate collector's item for an

Andy Propst, author of You Fascinate Me So: The Life and Times of Cy Coleman, sits down with James Marino, Peter Filichia, and Michael Portantiere about his new book!     About the BookHe penned songs such as "Witchcraft" and "The Best Is Yet to Come" (signature tunes for Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, respectively) and wrote such musicals as Sweet Charity, I Love My Wife, On the Twentieth Century, and The Will Rogers Follies - yet his life has gone entirely unexplored until now. You Fascinate Me So takes readers into the world and work of Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning composer/performer Cy Coleman, exploring his days as a child prodigy in the 1930s, his time as a hot jazz pianist and early television celebrity in the 1950s, and his life as one of Broadway's preeminent composers.               Andy Propst (New York, NY) is a journalist and author whose career has encompassed work wi

Susan Masino, author of AC/DC FAQ, talks with Stone and Double T about AC/DC and her new book!      About the Book AC/DC FAQ spans AC/DC's 40-year career, starting from the band's inception in 1973. This book covers everything from their early days in Australia to their first tour of England and the United States. It also includes personal experiences, stories, conversatoins, and interviews by author Susan Masino, who has known the band since 1977.               Susan Masino has been a rock journalist for more than 30 years and has written six books, including Family Tradition: Three Generations of Hank Williams, published by Backbeat Books, and The Story of AC/DC: Let There Be Rock, which has now been published in 11 languages. She also appears in the Van Halen DVD The Early Years and the movie AC/DC: Let There Be Rock. She lives in Madison, Wis. Real Rock Radio 104.9 The X is a rock station that signed on

Getting Started with Music Production author Robert Willey chats with John Mlynczak of PreSonus!   About the BookGetting Started with Music Production (Hal Leonard Books): Getting Started with Music Production is for anyone interested in developing a more efficient and creative approach to music production, and it's structured so thoughtfully that it can be used as a textbook for a modular, activity-oriented course presented in any learning environment. As an added bonus, the text and accompanying examples are built around the free version of Studio One from PreSonus, so no matter what their musical or technical experience level, students don't need to purchase expensive recording software to benefit from the presented material. The fundamental concepts and techniques delivered in this book apply seamlessly to any modern DAW.            Robert Willey: (Muncie, IN) is director and associate professor of music media and industry in

Andy Propst, author of You Fascinate Me So: The Life and Times of Cy Coleman, chats with Joe Dziemianowicz of the Joe D Show about the upcoming book and the new musical On the Twentieth Century!     About the BookHe penned songs such as "Witchcraft" and "The Best Is Yet to Come" (signature tunes for Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, respectively) and wrote such musicals as Sweet Charity, I Love My Wife, On the Twentieth Century, and The Will Rogers Follies - yet his life has gone entirely unexplored until now. You Fascinate Me So takes readers into the world and work of Tony, Grammy, and Emmy Award-winning composer/performer Cy Coleman, exploring his days as a child prodigy in the 1930s, his time as a hot jazz pianist and early television celebrity in the 1950s, and his life as one of Broadway's preeminent composers.               Andy Propst (New York, NY) is a journalist and author whose care

Tom Wheeler talks with Jeff Floro and Scott Sill of The Flo Guitar-Enthusiasts, an LA Talk Radio Show. In the podcast, the hosts and Wheeler talk about all things guitar!   About the Book The Fender Archives (Hal Leonard Books): Welcome to The Fender Archives – part history, part archive, part scrapbook, and part treasure chest. You are invited along on a research expedition, a sort of archeological dig through several sites: file folders in Fender's offices; the family archives of Don Randall; author/curator Richard Smith's collections; the photo galleries of John Peden and Fretted Americana; jammed metal cabinets in a sweltering warehouse near the Corona factory; and the home of the late Bob Perine in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, just blocks from the beach where he and Ned Jacoby took now-iconic photos of high school kids, surfboards, palm trees, and chrome-clad rocket-ship guitars in Shoreline Gold and Daphne Blue and Candy Apple Red.          

C. Eric Banister, author of Johnny Cash FAQ, talks with Patrick Phillips of "Pop Culture Tonight" about Johnny Cash's musical legacy and Banister's book.      About the Book Johnny Cash FAQ celebrates the musical genius of Cash and takes a look at every album Cash released, the stories behind the hits, and how he sustained a fantastic nearly 50-year career.               Eric C. Banister is a freelance music journalist who has been a fan of Johnny Cash for as long as he can remember. He runs the website, Music Tomes, where he interviews other music journalists and reviews books about music and musicians. He lives in Scottsburg, Ind. Pop Culture Tonight with Patrick Phillips is a 30-minute syndicated radio show broadcast from Austin, Texas.  Learn more here. About this PodcastA performing arts podcast, Onstage and Backstage features authors who write about theatre, music, film, or television with guests of the