This interview really doesn't need much of an introduction. It was conducted on March 5th, 2008 and I'm really proud of it. I'm not joking when I say that if you like either "Skid Row" or "Slave to the Grind" you'll love "Angel Down." Baz is a maniac in all the best ways, as evidenced here. Enjoy! -DJ
Interview: The Red Chord
Mike Keller of The Red Chord was kind enough to take some time out of his day to talk to me on Wednesday, February 27th. I fucked up the date and I was planning on editing it out, but ultimately decided to leave everything in. I don't know what's up with all the background noise... I tried a few new things in the studio which I guess I'll never try again. Anyway, Mike was a very cool guy and I really enjoy this interview. -DJ
Interview: Return to Earth
Return to Earth is Bald Freak Records' founder Ron Scalzo's new project with guitarist Brett Aveni and Chris Pennie (Dillinger Escape Plan/Coheed and Cambria). Their first album Captains of Industry is front to back one of the best pop/rock records I've heard in years. THIS INTERVIEW IS VERY NOT SAFE FOR WORK OR EVEN FOR CONSUMPTION BY THE ELDERLY/UPTIGHT. That said, everything is in jest for the sake of humor. ENJOY -DJ
SAR Exclusive - Presidential Candidate Roy Verspoor II
I got a chance to sit down with presidential hopeful Roy Joseph Verspoor at his cottage on eastern Long Island. He was very amiable and, as you can tell by the following interview, he has a lot to say about the political environment... in 2024.
Scott Hendrick
Scunty D of Skeletonwitch called me from Ohio after their tour with Dying Fetus. Their new album rocks and I’m dying to see their live show (which I hear is brutal). The guys are currently on tour with The Red Chord and Job for a Cowboy and are making the massive mistake of not coming to New York.
Joel Stroetzel
Joel Stroetzel of Killswitch Engage was even nicer than Dez Fafara which was a little bit more expected. He and his wife were very welcoming and he was unbelievably interested in what I had to say (shocking…).
Dez Fafara
Dez Fafara of DevilDriver was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Please ignore the joke I ripped off of Opie & Anthony. Other than that, please enjoy a really great interview.
Operation Annihilation: Shadows Fall
I got a chance to hang on the Shadows Fall tour bus and talk to Brian and Jason for a bit. We talked about the Red Sox, TV shows, and what their critics have to say about the new album (which rocks). -DJ
3 Inches of Blood October 28th
I got to interview guitarist Shane from Canada's reigning king's of Beard-core, 3 Inches of Blood at their recent Operation: Annihilation date on Long Island. We talked metal, drugs, facial hair and pretty much anything awesome you wanna think you might hear in the following 8 minutes. Quit school. -DJ
Joey Belladonna 10/18
I got to talk to Joey on the phone on the 16th of October. He's a really cool laid back guy (yeah, a metal dude from New York who's not a total douche, go figure!). We talked about his upcoming tour, his solo records, and a few things surrounding the on going drama that is Anthrax. -DJ
Rusty Cooley - October 11th
Outworld's music is both mindblowingly fast and brutally heavy and that is in no small part due to the guitar wizardry provided by Houston's own Rusty Cooley. While we're waiting for a new album and impending tour, I got to talk to him on the phone for a few minutes about all sorts of things including their self-titled 2006 debut, guitars, and not football. - DJ
Cold War Survivor - September 29th
New Paltz - a hippy paradise, alive with a raging "funk/jam" scene. Ugh. I spend 9 months a year with these idiots and finally have refuge in Cold War Survivor. They are what American metal is all about. War themed lyrics, badass riffs, breakdowns to rip your head off… what more could a boy ask for? Plus, they gave me a CD and a cup coolie. - DJ
Brian of Shadows Fall Sept. 18th
I got the opportunity to talk to Brian Fair from Shadows Fall before their gig in Poughkeepsie on 9/13. Unfortunately, due to some taxi issues I had to miss the show and an opportunity to talk to the rest of the guys. BUT I did get this great 10 minutes with Brian. Topics: Red Sox vs. Yankees, Wayne Static's hair, Limp Bizkit's awful covers. Be sure to check out Threads of Life, Shadows Fall's latest release.
- DJ
Swashbuckle - September 12th
Ahoy Mateys! Ahead be a quick interview I conducted with Swashbuckle, the best shanty core band this side of the Mason-Dixon. The Admiral and Co. put on one of the best sets of the show and made it clear that even though they dress up and talk like jackasses, their shtick is legit.
LOCOBAZOOKA!
Dick and I drove all the way to Massachusetts on Sunday to attend LOCOFEST 07. We were blown away by a few bands and completely and utterly under whelmed by even more. Among the best bands there were NJ's Swashbuckle and of course Ron Thal. Alice Cooper put everyone to shame and I think I put it best while waiting for Heaven and Hell when I said "How could you possibly feel like you're putting on a legitimate rock show going on after Alice Cooper". Special thanks to Ron Scalzo for arranging these interviews for us. Our interview with Bumblefoot follows.
- DJ
Long lost Q*Ball interview dug up from the extensive vaults of Smart Ass Radio.
This interview is actually the second part of the earlier one posted in May - so no intro and poor editing are ahead! Topics include: Bread, bald guys not named Ron Scalzo, How to start a record label and why my beard is always itchy. Enjoy, fuckers. -DJ
Chris Poland of Ohm: - August 11th
Mastermind and unsung guitar hero gives Smartassradio a heads up about his current musical endeavors and talks about his days in Megadeth. Other topics: pie, severed tendons and Lamb of God. Special thanks to Barry "NES Fantasy" and Tom C.
Beatallica - July, 7th
There was a whole lot more to this interview, but some jackass talked over 90% of it. So, here's what's salvaged. The guys were extremely hospitable and friendly; we look forward to their next album rumoured to be titled "Loaded Revolver." I guess they simultaneously sell out and forever change the face of music. We've got great pics of the show and DJ clutching the reins of a mechanical bull.
Q*Ball - June, 25th
Q*Ball's new album "This Is Serious Business" is the catchiest shit I've heard in quite some time. His out of this world keyboard/synth work and alternating pristine/affected vocals are stellar and Bumblefoot's guitar work is as perfect as ever. Being the dense fuck I am, I didn't realize Q is also the founder of Jersey based record label Bald Freak Records (we've been emailing each other for months - you would have thought this would have been figured out). Our apologies for the delay, Dick's laptop was used as second base for an impromptu, drunken kickball game. If you think that's bad, you should have seen our home plate. On a related note, if anyone knows where we can acquire a cheap insulin pump, our friend Ray would be most grateful. Email Dick@SmartAssRadio
Mattias 'IA' Eklundh - April 26th, 2007
Recently voted "Best New Talent" in Guitar Player magazine, Mattias has been recording heavy music since 1987 (only 20 years behind, way to go American Guitar Press!). As a solo artist and the guitarist/singer of Swedish power trio Freak Kitchen, Mattias truly embodies and embraces the term "Freak Guitar". I got to talk to Mattias about all sorts of things on March 20th. Topics included: Dildos, Caparison Guitars, Jonas Helborg, Don Henley, Freak Kitchen DVD, Freak Guitar Camp, Swedish Porn, and plenty more. Grow Your Own Moustache, DJ
Bumblefoot - March 28th, 2007
On March 28th, DJ got a chance to chat on the phone with Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, the current guitar player Guns N' Roses. An edited version aired on April 4th on WFNP at SUNY New Paltz- but this is the whole goddamned thing. Topics include shoes, fingernails, downloading music, and of course- tons of guitar chat. Please excuse DJ for sounding like a complete douche, his excitement some how resulted in him doing his best generic radio personality voice.
