The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds Podcast

Billy Gibbons shares his lifelong passion for collecting vinyl records and vintage guitars, from his first Jimmy Reed single to his legendary "Pearly Gates" Les Paul, revealing the stories behind iconic instruments and rare recordings.

Topics Include:

• Billy Gibbons has honorary doctorate from Musicians Institute
• Extensive record collection includes many well-preserved 78s
• Takes records on tour bus, plays DJ with Elwood
• About 1,200 legitimate record stores exist worldwide today
• Favorite shops include Waterloo Austin, secret Vegas spot
• Record stores create communities with great coffee, food
• British resurrected American blues through vinyl reissues
• Girlfriend "Stick" sent Hendrix record from London early
• Moving Sidewalks learned Purple Haze before tour
• Jimi appreciated their nerve playing his songs first
• Saw Elvis at age five in 1956 Houston
• Witnessed B.B. King recording at ACA Studios age six
• First record was Jimmy Reed single via housekeeper's list
• Parents supported musical tastes, dad was MGM pianist
• Mom "knew how to play the radio" best
• Dad's family immigrated 1908, became musicians avoiding gloves
• Samuel Goldfish (Goldwyn) brought dad to MGM Pictures
• Elvis lit fuse, B.B. King sealed musical deal
• Beatles introduced unusual harmonies, more than three chords
• First vinyl appearance: Moving Sidewalks "99th Floor"
• Recorded at Doyle Jones studio in Houston
• Houston had rich recording scene with multiple studios
• Various labels operated from Houston recording schools
• Pearly Gates Les Paul bought for $250 originally
• Searched for guitars matching Pearly Gates' magic sound
• Three vintage Les Pauls appeared at Carter Vintage simultaneously
• Nacho Banos recreating vintage Les Pauls in Spain
• Recently played Albert King's custom Flying V gift
• Recording "Chronicles 2" using Albert's original Flying V
• Robert Johnson legend, pictures and collectables
• Guitar collection includes meteorite picks, slides, Bo Diddley rectangle

Enter to win a record from us to celebrate Ep500

High resolution version of this podcast is available at:www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple:https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0
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Billy Corgan discusses his unconventional record collecting philosophy while revealing the complex saga behind the Machina albums, the 25 legendary vinyl copies, the upcoming Machines of God boxset, Mellon Collie vinyl releases and more.

Topics Include:

• Billy working on book for 10 years, restarted multiple times
• Billy buys lots of records but isn't fussy collector
• Prioritizes clean vinyl condition over perfect covers or variants
• Worked at record store in 80s, understands collector mindset
• Collects obscure major label releases from 60s and 70s
• Searches for forgotten bands with no online information trace
• Loves jazz on 10-inch records from late 50s/early 60s
• Record collection has no organization, total mess at home
• Bought thousand records on last tour, resells some
• Machina originally sprawling concept record about band breaking up
• Virgin Records treated band poorly despite massive previous sales
• Never finished complete Machina vision during original 2000 sessions
• Released truncated 15-song Machina I album through Virgin/EMI
• Band toured 11 months knowing they'd break up afterward
• Three weeks before breakup, Billy rushed to finish leftover recordings
• Record company rejected finished Machina II
• Billy dumped complete Machina II free on internet in 2000
• First major band to release album free online, predating Radiohead
• Machina II became viral sensation, fans loved the record
• Produced only 25 hand-cut vinyl copies of Machina II
• Each copy uniquely wrapped in printed tape, all different
• Sent copies to Robert Smith, fans; now worth thousands
• Years of legal battles with Universal over complete release
• Initial "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" vinyl release
• Alterations for Mellon Collie running order
• New Machina box set finally coming through Madame ZuZu's
• Box contains 80 songs: complete vision plus extra tracks
• Universal separately reissuing original Machina I album remastered
• ZWAN vinyl reissue underway
• Archive contains over 60,000 pieces of physical media
• Hundreds of live concert recordings from 90s tours available
• Billy passionate about rewarding dedicated fans who dig crates

Enter to win a record from us to celebrate Ep500

High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

Punk legends Alice Bag and Kid Congo Powers discuss their collaborative lounge project "Juanita and Juan", reflect on the diverse, inclusive LA punk scene, discussing moments like the first Germs show, the "Up in Smoke" filming, and the tight-knit community that reshaped music forever.

Topics Include:

• Alice Bag and Kid Congo Powers introduce collaborative project
• Known each other for decades from LA punk scene
• Project started with mysterious Hollywood call for Latin song
• Characters Juanita and Juan have elaborate fictional backstory
• Sound described as "loud lounge, punk folk" style
• Uses electronic music, keyboards, minimal guitar, tropical beats
• Album titled "Jungle Cruise" released on In the Red
• Songs are autobiographical, including "Here Comes the Prez"
• Originally planned for book readings with musical interludes
• Both authors used music to ease reading nervousness
• LA punk scene was incredibly diverse and inclusive
• Lasted only 18 months but reshaped music forever
• Everyone contributed something to the tight-knit community
• Alice witnessed first chaotic Germs performance with groceries
• Both attended "Up in Smoke" Battle of Bands filming
• Kid visible in background of unreleased Germs footage
• Darby Crash's death discussed - overdose versus suicide debate
• Bags single "Survive" now worth $1000 to collectors
• Both still actively collecting and occasionally selling records
• Planning more Juanita and Juan material, considering Australia tour

Order Juanita and Juan's "Jungle Cruise" vinyl here.

Commercial free, high resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0
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SWANS founder Michael Gira discusses his final orchestrated album "Birthing," his creative process, and plans to transition to a simpler musical approach after decades of creating intense, transcendent live performances.

Topics Include:

• Michael introduces "Birthing" as SWANS' final orchestrated album.
• Future SWANS work will be much simpler.
• He's 71 and finds intense performances physically demanding.
• No clear vision yet for his next musical phase.
• SWANS will tour US in October, then Europe.
• He finds Australian tours difficult due to jet lag.
• Triple vinyl/double CD includes concert film and documentary.
• Marco Porzia filmed the SWANS documentary.
• Christopher Nicholson filmed a solo performance in Norway.
• Great shows happen when "the music plays us."
• Natural venue acoustics enhance the performance experience.
• Songs transform and lengthen throughout tours.
• One song evolved to 82 minutes during tour.
• Three-hour sets leave performers exhausted afterward.
• Songs begin on acoustic guitar before band elaboration.
• He listens to guitar sound hole to hear potential harmonics.
• Directs band through gestures during live performances.
• The recording happened immediately after European tour ended.
• Uses same old Guild acoustic guitar for decades.
• Vinyl editions required some song edits for length.
• Gira doesn't listen to much music anymore.
• He art directs all SWANS releases personally.
• Created unique limited editions with handmade elements.
• Has done crowdfunding since 2000 for recording budgets.
• Once recorded personalized songs for top contributors.
• Will miss the elation of building live crescendos.
• No current plans for more fiction writing.
• Reluctant to write autobiography despite family encouragement.
• Can mentally play entire album from memory.
• Recently rediscovered early Led Zeppelin's brilliance.

Order the SWANS LP "Birthing" here.

Commercial free, high resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0
Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

andrew "falco" falkous discusses the reformation of his band mclusky after a nearly 20-year hiatus, their upcoming album on ipecac recordings, the rare catalogue of vinyl releases and more!

Topics Include:

• falco confirms mclusky's new album "the world is still here and so are we."
• album will be released on may 9th on ipecac recordings.
• falco feels ipecac is the perfect label home for mclusky.
• he hopes this is just the end of "act one" for their reunion.
• falco approaches life expecting problems but finding humor in them.
• humor is essential to mclusky's songs without becoming a joke band.
• falco keeps files of potential song titles for future use.
• songs usually emerge from playing together in the same room.
• first takes often contain the magic that makes songs special.
• falco writes most lyrics but damien wrote lyrics for two songs.
• "your mother is a ballpoint pen thief" came naturally in writing process.
• falco describes songwriting as writing 1000 bad songs to get 10 good ones.
• performing gives falco confidence he doesn't have in other social settings.
• the current mclusky lineup consistently delivers intense live performances.
• "mclusky do dallas" remains their most popular album by far.
• steve albini recorded both "do dallas" and "the difference between me and you..."
• "lightsaber cocksucking blues" started as a throwaway whole lotta rosie parody.
• the line "flying is fearful of me" just emerged while performing.
• "she will only bring you happiness" had radio potential until "sex criminal" line.
• self-sabotage is part of mclusky's essence, even when unintentional.
• falco considers swearing an essential part of rock music.
• australia has been mclusky's strongest market since early in their career.
• melbourne, sydney and brisbane show strongest streaming numbers for mclusky.
• the band has toured australia approximately ten times since 2002.
• prescriptions music is falco's label for future of the left and christian fitness.
• falco considers mclusky "mostly my band" but credits all members' contributions.
• damien sayell (current bassist) recently recovered from a health scare.
• jack egglestone (drummer) has jazz training and remarkable listening skills.
• mclusky reunion began with charity shows for venues like le pub in newport.
• the current lineup feels like a distinct band, not future of the left playing mclusky songs.
• recording the new album was spread across three weekends over 18 months.
• bob weston remastered "mclusky do dallas" giving it a different sheen.
• future of the left albums and more christian fitness reissues are planned.
• their favorite songs on the new album are those recorded most recently.
• the name "mclusky" came from a character in british tv show "grange hill."

order the new mclusky album here

commercial free, high resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.patreon.com/VinylGuide

listen on apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0
listen on spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8