Cult rock 'n' roll guitar slinger Kid Congo Powers joins me on Life In The Stocks this week for Episode 326 of the podcast. We discuss his upbringing as a Mexican American in East LA in the 1970s, playing in The Gun Club and the genius of Jeffrey Lee Pierce, creativity, experimentation, addiction & recovery, the inspiration and lasting legacy of Poison Ivy and The Cramps, the band's recent renaissance period after Goo Goo Muck appeared on Tim Burton's TV show Wednesday, energy, escapist entertainment and the darker side of rock n roll, and so much more.You can also catch Kid giving guided tours at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas this weekend.Tickets can be bought here: https://www.thepunkrockmuseum.com/guided-tour-ticketsFollow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've got a very special guest on the show this week. Joining me for Episode 325 of Life In The Stocks is John Reis aka Speedo aka The Swami from Rocket The Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, The Sultans, The Nightmarchers, Back Off Cupids, Plosivs, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and more.The singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, DJ and underground music guru discusses his experiences with Gene Simmons and Johnny Rotten - two pasts LITS guests and two of my favourite rock ‘n’ roll heroes / villains - being a producer and making records, being a frontman and performing live, playing in Me First and the Gimme Gimmes and the genius of Spike Slawson, his Swami John Reis records, his love of all things punk rock, GG Allin and more. You can also catch John giving guided tours at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas this weekend as part of the Punk Rock Bowling festival, tickets for which can be bought here:https://www.thepunkrockmuseum.com/guided-tour-ticketsFollow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life In The Stocks Episode 324 features Jen Razavi from The Bombpops. I first met Jen last summer at SBAM festival in Austria. We've shared many great conversations since then, culminating in the podcast that you're about to hear. We discuss creativity, vulnerability, self-expression, personal development, online presence, the greater purpose, gratitude, calmness, contentment, fulfilment, friendships, hustling, building a community, making a living, performing live, playing in a band versus being solo and so much more.Be sure to follow Jen on Instagram @jen_pop and check out her debut solo album, East Side of Eden, which is out NOW. Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We also discuss Stacey’s upbringing and history with depression and addiction, and her non-profit organisation The Sidewalk Project. And we get into her battle with cancer and overcoming that whole ordeal.Finally, we talk about the new Bad Cop record and Stacey's upcoming guided tours at the Punk Rock Museum, tickets for which you'll find here: https://www.thepunkrockmuseum.com/guided-tour-ticketsIf this podcast is anything to go by, Stacey has stories for days!!!Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Yorkshire tri-factor that began with Joe Elliott three weeks ago is now complete, as renowned gun for fire, underground guitar god, singer-songwriter, solo artist and all-round nice bloke Chris Catalyst joins me for Episode 322 of Life In The Stocks. Chris has played with everyone from the Sisters of Mercy and Ghost to The Wildhearts and Ugly Kid Joe. He also has his own band Eureka Machines. And he's a prolific solo artist. And we try and cover as much ground as possible in the allotted time, from being a solo full-time creative person and the joys and perils that come with the territory to the inspirational power of music and the importance of a positive perspective on life and the world around you. It's an uplifting discussion and I hope you take something positive away from it. You can also catch Chris on tour this month. Dates and ticket link below. Fri 24 May - Wolverhampton KK’sSat 25 May - Glasgow AudioSun 26 May - Edinburgh BannermansThurs 30 May - York Fulford ArmsFri 31 May - Blackpool WaterlooSat 1 June - Huddersfield ParishTickets at chriscatalyst.com/gigsFollow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Vennart from Empire State Bastard, Biffy Clyro & Oceansize joins me for Episode 321 of Life In The Stocks. We had Joe Elliott on the show last week and Mike Vennart on the show this week - from one Yorkshire rock legend to another. Amongst many other topics, we discuss Mike's love of Jane's Addiction, his lifelong love affair with heavy metal, coming up on the UK music scene alongside Biffy Clyro, watching their meteoric rise and eventually joining the band, starting Empire State Bastard and how that band came about, and what it's like making music with Dave Lombardo. Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Mighty Joe Elliott from the multi-platinum-selling Def Leppard joins me for Episode 320 of Life In The Stocks. This actually marks Joe's third appearance on the podcast, but there's never any shortage of fun stuff to talk about. Joe's one of the chattiest guys around. Here, we discuss everything from stadiums tours with Motley Crue and the shenanigans that went down on the road to the working class roots of Def Leppard and what's held the band together over all these years. We're also talk about the band's breakthrough album Pyromania, the 40th anniversary edition to which is out now. Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I can't believe I lost this file for so long. But I'm very happy I found it and I get to share it with you this week. The awesome Kim McAuliffe from the equally awesome Girlschool joins me for Episode 319 of Life In The Stocks to talk all things punk rock, glam rock and rock 'n' roll. Enjoy!Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From one bad ass bass player (Duff McKagan) to another, my guest for Episode 318 of Life In The Stocks is Sami Yaffa from Hanoi Rocks and the New York Dolls. Sami has led an incredibly rich and interesting life, and it's all documented in his amazing autobiography, The Road Bends. He's also got a couple of great solo albums out, and we talk all about the book, the solo records and his time in Hanoi Rocks and the Dolls.Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is my birthday, and what better way to celebrate than by welcoming one of my all-time favourite rock stars and humans onto the show.Duff McKagan from Guns N' Roses & Velvet Revolver joins me this week for Episode 317 of Life In The Stocks to talk all about his storied life and career, leading up to the release of his new solo album Lighthouse, which is out now.This is absolutely one of my favourite episodes to date. I always love talking to Duff and this interview is, I think, the best one we've ever done together. I hope you all get a kick out of this one. Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest this week is one of my favourite people on the planet, Australian singer, songwriter & musician, Dallas Frasca. And we share an honest and vulnerable conversation about creative and personal development. It's a conversation about evolution and growth and finding your purpose and fulfilling your potential. Dallas is a brilliant woman and a truly amazing musical artist. This is actually one of my favourite ever episodes. It’s a beautiful reminder of how lucky I am to get to do what I do, and all the friendships and connections that I've made through music and doing this podcast. Be sure to ride this one out until the end. Big rewards await you there. There’s a couple of live tracks in the mix, too. Enjoy!!Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another Aussie podcast for you this week. I'm joined by none other than Alan Fletcher, aka Dr. Karl Kennedy from Neighbours, the longest running and most beloved TV show in the history of Australian television. Once again, it's a bloody great chat with a bloody great bloke. You can also catch Alan on tour throughout the UK this July.Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've got a great guest for you this week: Ross Knight from Cosmic Psychos. If you haven't seen the Cosmic Psychos documentary, Blokes You Can Trust, you absolutely need to check it out. It will tell you everything you need to know about this iconic Australian band. Ross is a bloody great bloke as well. I think you'll really get a kick out of this conversation. I know I did. Cheers!Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Episode 313 of Life In The Stocks. My guest this week is Joe Escalante from The Vandals. I had the pleasure of Joe's company and friendship on the Flogging Molly Cruise last year and it felt great to welcome him onto the podcast. We talk about discovering punk rock, switching Fat Mike onto punk rock, and building a life and career out of punk rock. We discuss how the classic Vandals line-up of Joe Escalante, Dave Quackenbush, Warren Fitzgerald and Josh Freese came about, and the relationship between those four guys over the years. And Joe also works in TV & Film, and he now manages Sublime, so we get into some of that stuff as well. We even touch on faith and spirituality at the end. Happy listening. Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karina Deniké from NOFX and Dance Hall Crashers joins me this week. We talk about growing up in England, moving to America, the East Bay Gilman Street and Third Wave ska scenes, her 18 years with the Dance Hall Crashers, being a female on the punk rock scene, coming up at the same time and playing shows with No Doubt and Sublime, her relationship with her former Dance Hall Crasher band mates, her friendship with Fat Mike, playing in NOFX, The Final Tour and more. It's a lovely chat with a lovely lady.NOFX are out on the road throughout 2024 as part of The Final Tour with shows in Australia, Japan, Europe, the US and Canada. Tickets can be purchased via www.nofxofficialwebsite.comFollow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Exene is someone else I met on the Flogging Molly Cruise - we actually met on the 2022 Salty Dog Cruise, it's just taken me until now to invite her onto the show. But everything happens for a reason. All in due time and all that. I genuinely believe that to be true.This was such a soul-stirring and inspiring conversation.We discuss sobriety, recovery, relationships, heartache, creativity and so much more. It actually felt more like an exercise in life advice than an interview, and I'm very grateful to Exene for her friendship, wisdom and guidance. She's an amazing person, not to mention an incredible artist and songwriter.If you're not familiar with the music of X, get to know it. Be sure to check out all of Exene's other projects, too. Her solo albums, the records with John Doe, The Knitters, Original Sinners, Auntie Christ. There's so much good music to explore and I encourage everyone to dive in. Happy listening!!!Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with Vic from The Slackers on the Flogging Molly Cruise. And I knew right away I had to get him on the podcast.The Slackers are not only one of the best (and most criminally overlooked) contemporary ska bands, Vic is also an incredible songwriter and musician, not to mention a real old school New York character.I'm sure he has stories for days. We get into a few of them here, from growing up in the Bronx and the New York music scene to the history of The Slackers and his connection with Rancid and the Transplants, and the importance of politics and a social message in his music.Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Merry Christmas boys and girls!!! I thought I'd do something a little different for this special Christmas episode of LITS and share with you an episode of my other podcast, Stoke The Fire, a show that I co-host with my best friend Jesse Leach from Killswitch Engage. We launched the show during COVID as a means of connecting in a time of much division and unrest, and it's something we've continued (albeit sporadically) in the post-COVID world. Many of the guests that've appeared on Life In The Stocks have also appeared on Stoke The Fire, and if you think this podcast is deep, we go way DEEP on Stoke The Fire.STF has become like therapy to Jesse and I and our listeners over the last couple of years, and today seemed like the perfect time to share a very heartfelt, vulnerable and honest conversation between the pair of us to give you all a flavour of what Stoke The Fire is all about. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to that podcast and check out the other 71 episodes that we've published. Merry Christmas everyone. And thank you for all the support this year. It really means a lot. Love to all. xFollow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've had the pleasure of interviewing Mark Tremonti many times over the last 12 years, for Kerrang! Radio, Scuzz TV and Metal Hammer, but this is his first appearance on Life In The Stocks.We talk a little bit about Creed and Alter Bridge, obviously, but the main focus of this conversation is the last couple of solo records that Mark has put out, namely his Frank Sinatra covers album and the Christmas album he just released, Christmas Classics New & Old.As a big fan of both Sinatra and Christmas music, I was fascinated by the idea of a metal shredder guitarist taking on this material, and doing such a great job of interpreting it and making it their own. Mark really knocked it out of the park with both albums.We also discuss the creative and business approach to both records, and the charitable organisation and driving force behind the projects, namely the National Down Syndrome Society (https://ndss.org/) in the US and Down Syndrome International (https://www.ds-int.org/) charity in the UK.Thank you to Mark for a brilliant conversation. It was great to reconnect and catch up. I hope you all enjoy this episode.Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The wait is finally over. Whitfield Crane is probably the most requested guest in the history of Life In The Stocks. We've been friends for over ten years and people are always asking me, "When's Whit Crane coming on the podcast?" We were just biding our time for the right moment, and this was truly it. An Evening with Whitfield Crane, as recorded live at the West Hampstead Arts Club in London on October 26. Thank you to everyone who made it out to the show. It was an incredibly special evening filled with soul-stirring conversation, awesome music and excellent company. I've left the live music out of the podcast, like I tend to do with these live podcasts, since I like to leave something specifically for the people who were there in the room. But here's the full interview and audience Q&A section for your enjoyment. Let the radness begin!!!Follow me on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram: @mattstocksdjMy first two books (Life In The Stocks Volume One & Two) are also out NOW and available to buy from all reputable online book stores. Signed copies can be purchased direct from the publishers: rarebirdlit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.