Mick Wall

I first met Dónal Gallagher when I was 21 and had recently begun work at Heavy Publicity, which Regular Readers will recall them as the most decadent and depraved PR firm in town at that time - which was 1979. One of my first big assignments was taking the only two music-related journalists I could round up - chick from Superpop, cat from Record Mirror. Neither big Rory readerships but hey this was when punk and new wave had destroyed almost all music weekly interest in this 'type of thing'. It was a gig in Germany. So off we went. You'll learn more in the pod but one of my main memories is of the flight home the next day, sitting next to Dónal regaling me with brilliant stories. Then when we got off the plane at Heathrow, asking me if I'd mind carrying a duty free bag for him through customs for him. Her already ha a big bag and would I mind pretending this other one was mine (you were only allowed one, I think, then) No problem. Then when we got out the other side him opening the bag to reveal bundles of cash - the take from the gig. His bag was also full of spondies. Diffferent days... This is part One. Part Two next weeks. Full video also on my patreon site.

In Megadeth he was the only one who never got fired - then walked away. They called him the Mustaine Whisperer because he was the only on the other Dave qwould listen to (usually). He also came up with the greatest bass riff of all time on Peace Sells. These days he's in Metal Church, he's got a solo cazreer, he's in Kings Of Thrash and a whole lotta other good trouble. His name is David Ellefson and he fucking rocks.

This is one of the most harrowing interviews I've ever done - and I've done too many.In 1977, Marc B Frank was a Lynyrd Skynyrd road crew member. Today he is a wounded witness to one of the most devastating events in rock history, when on October 20, 1977, the Convair CV-240 passenger aircraft carrying Skynyrd to their next gig, ran out of fuel and crashed in a wooded area near Gillsburg, Mississippi.Six died - including singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister, backing singer Cassie Gaines - and 20 survived in various states of injury, both short- and longterm. Marc was one of them. Please excuse his coughing, he was attached to a mask and oxygen tank as we spoke via zoom from his current home in Spartanburg, South Carolina.You can see a video of the full unedited interview on my.patreon.com site.

Its interesting but I have never had anyone interviewed by me for my pod that has provoked a bigger response than those I've done over thr years with Alan Niven. It's the Guns N' Roses connection, of course. Also, don't forget, the fact he also managed (and cowrote songs with) Great White. But the truth is it's actually that and something more. His personality. His character. His intelligence and warmth. His humanity and humour and, I believe, the fact you never feel you're being talked down to or lied to. The very things, ironically, tragically, that convinced Axl he had to get rid of him. Alan speaks truth to poqwer - and not only when the world is watching. Let me know your thoughts.

Alan's book SOUND N' FURY: ROCK N' ROLL STORIES should have come out over a year ago. But Axl Rose has set his lawyers on his publishers and now him personally. But why? Is Axl paranoid about what might be in there? Well, no, he can't be. He knows what's in there because he was sent a copy of the book last year. What then? And why have Axl's lawyers demanded to see every email that's ever been sent between Alan and myself? Find out more...

In the 70s Richard Ogden worked with the greats of rock and metal from Hawkwind to Aerosmith to Ted Nugent to Black Sabbath to Black Oak Arkansas. In the late 80s/early 90s he managed Paul McCartney. Along the way he also started Heavy Publicity, which as Regular Readers will know also gave me my ticket to ride in the late-70s. His fab new book Bigger Than The Beatles is out nowI

Geoff has a new DBA album released this month. It's their 6th. He's also still part of Yes - and Asia - and should it ever arise Buggles.

No clues. No handy heads-up. Just dive headfirst straight into the muck. Don't pretend you don't LUV ITT!!!.

Their collaborative album, The Roaring Waves, is released 28 August. Here's what they told me about it.