Laughing Monkey with Shawn Ratches

From the earliest chaos of the Norwegian black metal movement to some of the most experimental extreme music ever recorded, Attila Csihar remains one of the most unique and unsettling voices in heavy music history.
Best known for his work with Mayhem, Attila delivered the haunting vocals on the legendary album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas — a release that helped define black metal forever. His style was never about conventional singing. It was ritualistic, theatrical, eerie, and completely unpredictable. Growls, chants, whispers, and otherworldly sounds became part of his signature approach.
Long before joining Mayhem permanently, Attila was already making underground waves with the Hungarian band Tormentor. Their cult classic album “Anno Domini” became highly influential in the early extreme metal scene and caught the attention of the Norwegian underground.
What separates Attila from many metal vocalists is his commitment to atmosphere and artistic experimentation. Beyond black metal, he has collaborated with artists across avant-garde, doom, industrial, and experimental music circles. His live performances often feel more like dark ceremonies than standard concerts.

00:00 - The "Dangerous" Autobiography Geoff discusses his finished autobiography and why his lawyer thinks it's currently too "dangerous" and litigious to release.
00:30 - Welcome & Catching Up Shawn welcomes Geoff Tate back to the show and they recap his recent tour successes.
01:12 - Operation Mindcrime 3: A Labor of Love Geoff talks about the process of releasing the new album and the emotional connection fans have with the original trilogy.
02:54 - Writing for Yourself, Not the Labels A look into Geoff's creative philosophy—writing music for personal fulfillment rather than record company demands.
04:15 - Going Independent The freedom and challenges of self-financing the album without a record label.
06:23 - How Music Connection Changes Over Time Reflecting on how fans' tastes evolve and how albums like Promised Land were appreciated much later.
07:13 - Recording in 18 Different Countries Geoff shares the unique experience of recording in hotel rooms, tour buses, and even a castle in France.
09:30 - Developing the Character of Dr. X Exploring the "audio painting" of the new album and fleshing out the backstory of the mysterious Dr. X.
11:58 - The Influence of Music vs. Silence Geoff explains how deeply music affects him and why he often seeks out silence to hear his own thoughts.
14:21 - Operation Mindcrime: The Movie? The history of film options for the story and the possibility of a future visual series.
16:20 - Doubts in the Age of AI A deep dive into how AI and modern media are creating a "seed of doubt" regarding what is real.
20:25 - Autotune & Authenticity in Rock A discussion on the use of technology in vocal performances and the value of live authenticity.
23:34 - Pioneering Digital Recording in 1988 Geoff looks back at the original Mindcrime being one of the first digital recordings and how technology has evolved since.
26:39 - Touring & New Setlists Details on adding new songs to the live show and upcoming tour dates in America and Europe.
27:22 - Final Thoughts & Venting Shawn and Geoff wrap up the interview with a look at the modern world.

00:00 - Introduction & Song Selection for the Tour 01:19 - Welcome Back to Laughing Monkey 01:43 - Exploring Erik's "Perfect" Career Path 02:19 - Defining the Musical Identity of the New Solo Album 03:03 - Influences: From Karaoke Roots to Genre-Bending Covers 03:47 - The YouTube Channel as a Tool for Healing 04:52 - Challenging Vocals & The Whitney Houston Cover 05:51 - Soul-Searching for the Sound of Erik Grönwall 07:18 - Maintaining Identity While Collaborating with Others 08:04 - Working with the "Coolest" Michael Schenker 10:19 - Focusing on the Solo Journey 11:00 - Clarifying the Skid Row Departure & Health Recovery 13:10 - Moving Forward: Health Status & Touring Pressure 15:56 - Hopes for Skid Row’s Future Singer 16:24 - Building the Live Setlist: Originals vs. Covers 17:49 - Will there be songs from "The Gang's All Here"? 19:05 - Sharing the Story: Original Music & Upcoming Shows 20:42 - Introducing the New Solo Band Members 22:33 - The Strategy of Solo Musicians & Rotating Players 24:28 - Family Channel & Future YouTube Plans 24:45 - Working on the Second Album & Music Videos 26:42 - The Small but "Genius" Creative Team 28:32 - New Album "Bad Bones" Release & Final Thoughts

00:00 Introductions and the "Seven Degrees of Nick Oliveri" 01:00 Reconnecting and Performing with Queens of the Stone Age 05:00 New Projects: The Blast Record and Joining 13 08:20 Geography of Rock: From the Desert to the Swamp 09:40 Solo Work, Mondo Generator, and The Dwarves' New Record 11:45 The Creative Process and Balancing Multiple Bands 16:45 Life on the Road: Scheduling and "Road Dog" Mentality 21:30 High-Stress Gigs and Flying Across the World 23:15 Touring Australia and Performing Fan Favorites 25:30 Health Struggles: Touring with a Hernia 30:45 Overcoming Mistakes and Finding Improvement 34:45 Dealing with Media and Internet Comments 39:45 Perspective on Family and Personal Life 46:10 Songwriting as Therapy During Dark Times 51:30 Near-Death Experience in Hawaii 56:45 The Importance of Vinyl and Record Collections 01:01:30 The "Magic" in Guitars and Finding Your Sound 01:10:00 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Tour Dates

Alex Mitchell remains one of the true survivors of the late-’80s New York hard rock scene. As the founder and voice of Circus of Power, Mitchell helped build a band that mixed street-level biker culture, sleaze rock attitude, and bluesy hard rock into something distinctly their own. Formed in New York City in 1987, Circus of Power quickly developed a reputation for loud, dangerous live shows and albums that stood apart from the polished glam metal dominating MTV at the time. The band earned strong support from the rock press and toured with major acts including Black Sabbath during the “Tyr” era.
Now back living in New York, Mitchell is entering a new creative chapter with a forthcoming double album scheduled for release this summer. The new material reportedly reflects both the grit of the band’s early years and the perspective gained from decades in music. Mitchell has also been revisiting stories from the classic Sunset Strip and New York club days, including memories involving David Lee Roth and the larger-than-life rock scene that surrounded bands in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Those stories capture an era when clubs, biker bars, and backstage chaos were all part of everyday life for touring hard rock bands.
Despite lineup changes and long industry shifts, Circus of Power has continued to maintain its outlaw-rock identity. Mitchell remains the constant driving force behind the band, carrying forward the same raw energy that made their early records cult favorites among hard rock fans. Along with the upcoming album, the band also has several live appearances and shows being lined up, giving longtime fans another chance to experience the music in its natural environment — loud, unapologetic, and straight from the streets where Circus of Power first began.