Mike Stax talks to drummer/songwriter Don Stevenson and Moby Grape biographer Cam Cobb. Don shares stories about the band’s formation and the making of their monumental 1967 debut album. Cam Cobb's definitive book on the band, "What's Big and Purple and Lives in the Ocean?: The Moby Grape Story", can be found here: http://jawbonepress.com/moby-grape/ Cam's forthcoming book on Skip Spence: "Weighted Down - The Complicated Life of Skip Spence" https://omnibuspress.com/products/weighted-down-the-co...
May 11, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Mike Stax talks to the ultimate psychedelic record expert Paul Major and Dave Gebroe, host and producer of the Discograffiti podcast, about the strange, alluring world of 1960s and ‘70s private press albums. Support us by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/uglythingspod and enjoy special bonus content plus much more. Check out Ugly Things Magazine: https://ugly-things.com/ Connect with Dave Gebroe and Discograffiti at the links below: Soldiers of Sound Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/183...
Apr 25, 2023•57 min
In this episode Mike Stax interviews Cyril Jordan of the Flamin’ Groovies, one of the all-time greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands. In this episode, Cyril shares stories about the making of their seminal albums Sneakers , Supersnazz , Flamingo and Teenage Head , and pays tribute to their original lead singer and driving force through the sixties and early seventies, Roy Loney. Check out Ugly Things Magazine: https://ugly-things.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Apr 11, 2023•1 hr 16 min
Mike Stax talks to Johnny Echols, founder member and lead guitarist of LOVE, about the making of their second album, Da Capo . Completed in the autumn of 1966 and released in January 1967, Da Capo was an innovative fusion of jazz and rock that included some of their greatest songs, such as “Stephanie Knows Who,” “Orange Skies,” “The Castle” and – predating their jazzier approach – the unforgettable “7 & 7 Is.” Catch Love on their 2023 UK Tour this June: https://linktr.ee/lovewithjohnnyechols...
Mar 28, 2023•56 min
In this episode, Mike Stax talks to Derv Gordon, lead singer of the trailblazing UK rock/soul/pop group the Equals. Although best-known for smash hits like “Baby Come Back” and “Viva Bobby Joe,” the band’s catalogue—and their story – runs much deeper… as you will hear. Please support us by joining our Patreon at patreon.com/uglythingspod and enjoy special bonus content plus much more. Also, rate and review on Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts, it really helps. Learn more about your...
Mar 16, 2023•1 hr 7 min
In this episode we travel to New York City in the mid-sixties, the world of the Magicians, whose signature song “Invitation to Cry” appeared on the seminal Nuggets compilation. Mike Stax unpacks their remarkable story with writer Walter Roland Moore and Magicians guitarist John Townley. Order Ugly Things Magazine Issue No.61 with Walter Roland Moore's full feature article on the Magicians here: https://webstore.ugly-things.com/ugly-things-61-p494.php Please join our Patreon at patreon.com/uglyth...
Feb 28, 2023•1 hr 14 min
In this episode Mike Stax talks to Neil Norman and Alec Palao about their feature length documentary The Seeds: Pushin’ Too Hard . Neil’s father Gene Norman signed the Seeds to his GNP-Crescendo record label in 1965, and Neil spent countless hours watching them record, rehearse, and play live concerts so he has a unique personal perspective on the band and their music. Watch The Seeds: Pushin’ Too Hard on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/theseeds Pushintoohard.com Please join our Patreon at pat...
Feb 14, 2023•59 min
As Ugly Things magazine celebrates its 40th year, we dug way back into the archives for an extraordinary 1983 phone interview with Sky Sunlight Saxon of the Seeds. In this episode Mike Stax takes you back to the first year of scrappy no-budget fanzine publishing, and shares highlights from his tapes of his phone conversations with Sky, who talks about his music, his philosophy, his storied past, his plans for the future, and why it should be called Ugly & Beautiful Things. Please join our Pa...
Jan 31, 2023•54 min
In this episode, Mike Stax and author Dave Holzer discuss the life and work of the innovative Hungarian guitar player Gabor Szabo, whose spellbinding music cross-pollinated elements of jazz, pop, rock and psychedelia in the 1960s. Please join our Patreon at patreon.com/uglythingspod and enjoy special bonus content plus much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 13, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 11
In this episode Mike talks to Andy Ellison, the lead singer for not one but three great bands in the ‘60s and ‘70s: John’s Children, Jet, and Radio Stars. We discuss his escapades with all of these bands and his immensely enjoyable new memoir, Stunt Rocker . Bonus content: Mike interviews Andy by phone as Andy wanders around Harrods in a kilt doing his Christmas shopping. Join our Patreon at patreon.com/uglythingspod and enjoy this special bonus content plus much more! Buy Andy's book, Stunt Roc...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 10
In this episode, Mike talks to music writer Harvey Kubernik, author of 20 books (and counting), including definitive works on the Monterey International Pop Festival, the music of Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles Radio 1956-72, the Band, and the Doors. His most recent book, co-written with his brother Kenneth, is Jimi Hendrix: Voodoo Chile . Harvey is a music fan to the core and one the world’s foremost authorities on the musical history and geography of Los Angeles. https://cavehollywood.com/about-ha...
Nov 15, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 9
In this two part episode , Mike Stax enjoys an off-the-hook conversation with Greg Prevost, lead singer and founder of the Chesterfield Kings, about his newly published autobiography, On the Street I Met A Dog. Greg talks about growing up in Rochester, New York in the '50s and '60s, his rock 'n' roll awakening, his importance of fanzine culture, and his musical adventures with the Kings and in more recent years as a solo artist. Greg's book is published by Misty Lane and can be found at: https:/...
Nov 08, 2022•53 min•Ep. 8
In this two part episode , Mike Stax enjoys an off-the-hook conversation with Greg Prevost, lead singer and founder of the Chesterfield Kings, about his newly published autobiography, On the Street I Met A Dog. Greg talks about growing up in Rochester, New York in the '50s and '60s, his rock 'n' roll awakening, his importance of fanzine culture, and his musical adventures with the Kings and in more recent years as a solo artist. Greg's book is published by Misty Lane and can be found at: https:/...
Nov 01, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 7
In Part 2 of our special Velvet Underground episode we explore more of Lou Reed’s activities at Pickwick Records, the public appearances of the Primitives, the Soundsville LP, the Surfsiders, and Lou’s first musical collaboration with John Cale, “Why Don’t You Smile Now.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2022•49 min•Ep. 6
In this episode Mike Stax talks to writer and Velvet Undergound expert Phil Milstein about Lou Reed’s early days as a songwriter for a budget record label, and the unlikely series of events that led to him first meeting John Cale – a classical/avant-garde musician from Wales who’d come to America to study composition on a Leonard Bernstein scholarship – and forming an alliance that would have an incalculable impact on the face of modern music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...
Oct 04, 2022•46 min•Ep. 5
In late 1967 Elektra Record released the only album by Clear Light, a multi-faceted jewel of melodic folk-rock and fierce psychedelia delivered with dramatic flair. In this episode music writer and researcher Gray Newell talks about how he tracked down all of the band members in order to write the definitive story of this dazzling but overlooked West Coast band. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 20, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 4
In 1968 four high school kids from upstate New York had the pluck and ambition to make an album of their best songs. They called it ALL OF THUS. They pressed only 265 copies via the custom pressing company Century Records and sold them at their high school. It’s considered one of the most obscure and collectible teen garage albums of the era. Mike speaks to drummer Barry Dalgleish. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Sep 06, 2022•42 min•Ep. 3
Mike Stax speaks with the band’s two surviving members, guitarist Chris Britton and bass man Pete Staples, who regale us with a stream of hilarious and fascinating Troggs tales, including the story behind the infamous “Troggs Tapes”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 22, 2022•28 min•Ep. 2
Ugly Things Magazine , the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll read is now a podcast! Hosted by author and music journalist Mike Stax, Ugly Things brings you wild sounds from past dimensions, when rock ‘n’ roll was young, daring, dangerous and vital. Each episode brings you the very best in British beat, 1960s garage rock and psychedelic music, featuring interviews and profiles about the era's most influential and underrated bands and artists, as well as reviews of vinyl and CD reissues, music-related books ...
Aug 11, 2022•4 min
