Laughingmonkeymusic

• Ep 623 Wino & Sharlee: Create or Die - Ritual Arcana and the Obsessed all on their terms for 2026!

  n this episode, I sit down with one of doom’s most influential voices, Scott “Wino” Weinrich, along with his wife and creative partner Sharlee, for an in-depth conversation covering everything they have happening right now and what’s coming next.We dive into The Obsessed's past & ongoing current tour in 2026, how the band is performing, what fans can expect from the setlist, and the renewed fire driving the group forward. Wino also opens up about his new solo album, the writing process behind it, and how his approach to songwriting continues to evolve after decades at the front of heavy music.Sharlee joins in to talk about the latest on Ritual Arcana — their dark, atmospheric, and deeply personal musical project. They share updates on new music, recording plans, upcoming videos, and the possibility of future touring together.From their creative chemistry to their shared vision for Ritual Arcana, the conversation gives a rare look at how their partnership fuels the art.Scott “Wino” Weinrich is a cornerstone of American doom and heavy rock.Frontman for The Obsessed, founding member of Spirit Caravan, icon of Saint Vitus, and a prolific solo artist, Wino’s impact spans more than four decades. His unmistakable guitar tone, spiritual lyricism, and uncompromising commitment to underground music have influenced generations of bands across doom, stoner, punk, and metal.More From Wino & The ObsessedOfficial Site: https://www.theobsessed.comBandcamp: https://theobsessed.bandcamp.com

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• Ep 624 Albert Bouchard – an Architect of Blue Öyster Cult’s Sound, Visionary Drummer & Composer.

  Albert Bouchard isn’t just a drummer — he’s one of the core architects behind Blue Öyster Cult’s most influential era, a songwriter whose creative fingerprints shaped the band’s identity. As a founding member, Albert helped steer BÖC from underground New York rock circles into one of the most inventive hard-rock bands of the 1970s and early ’80s. His approach blended precision, theatricality, and an unusual sense of melody and mood, creating drum parts that didn’t just drive the songs — they defined them.He co-wrote some of the band’s most iconic material, including “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” “Cities on Flame with Rock & Roll,” and deep-cut fan favorites that helped establish BÖC’s blend of mysticism, sci-fi, humor, and hard rock. Albert worked closely with producer/manager Sandy Pearlman, whose “Imaginos” universe — a sprawling mythos tying together historical fiction, occult symbolism, and cosmic warfare — became a major creative engine for the band. Albert was one of the chief interpreters of Pearlman’s vision, translating the Imaginos lore into real, playable rock music.After parting ways with Blue Öyster Cult in the mid-1980s, Albert stayed relentlessly creative. He worked as a producer, multi-instrumentalist, teacher, and collaborator — and eventually revisited the Imaginos saga on his own terms. Between 2020 and 2023, he released the acclaimed Re Imaginos trilogy, re-imagining Pearlman’s mythic storyline with a combination of fresh arrangements, deep storytelling, and some of the most expressive vocals and drumming of his career. These albums connected the past and present, proving Albert’s artistic voice is as sharp and imaginative as ever.Today, Albert Bouchard is recognized as a musician who didn’t just play in a legendary band — he helped build one. His contributions to Blue Öyster Cult’s sound, the Pearlman mythos, and the evolution of hard-rock storytelling continue to inspire fans, musicians, and scholars of rock history. Whether behind the kit, behind the pen, or behind an entire conceptual universe, Albert remains one of rock’s most fascinating and inventive thinkers.

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• Ep 622 Dweezil Zappa - behind the scenes as Dweezil does a deep dive on his Via Zammata album.!

  In this deep dive conversation with Dweezil Zappa, we explore the creative journey behind his album Via Zammata, one of the most personal and stylistically adventurous projects of his career. Dweezil walks through the origins of the record, the stories behind key songs, and how the music reflects both his own artistic evolution and the influence of his legendary family’s musical legacy.We discuss the writing and recording process in detail, including how he approached melody, arrangement, and texture across the album. Dweezil explains how the project allowed him to blend rock, instrumental sophistication, and unexpected musical turns while still staying true to his own identity as a guitarist and composer. He also opens up about the emotional and conceptual threads that tie the album together, giving listeners a rare inside look at how Via Zammata took shape.The conversation goes beyond the music as Dweezil reflects on creative independence, navigating expectations, and the balance between technical mastery and storytelling. His insight offers a fresh appreciation for the album, revealing both the craft behind it and the personal meaning infused into the songs.This deep dive gives fans—both long-time followers and new listeners—an opportunity to understand Via Zammata from the inside out, straight from the artist who built it. It highlights Dweezil’s unique voice as a musician and the thoughtful vision that continues to shape his work.

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• Ep 621 Steve Katz guitarist, singer, and producer. Known notably for being in Blood Sweat & Tears.

  Steve Katz is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer whose career runs through some of the most important corners of 1960s and 1970s rock. Growing up in New York, he gravitated to the Greenwich Village folk scene as a teenager, learning from major figures in the acoustic blues and folk world. That grounding in traditional music gave his playing a strong sense of melody, dynamics, and feel that carried into his later electric work. Rather than chasing virtuoso flash, Katz developed into a musician whose parts always serve the song.His first notable recordings came with the Even Dozen Jug Band, but he really came into focus with The Blues Project. In that band he played guitar, sang, and contributed original songs, helping to blend folk, blues, and the emerging psychedelic sound. The Blues Project’s willingness to stretch out musically, while still holding on to roots material, was a good fit for Katz’s background. His role was often to glue the music together: rhythm work, smart voicings, and lines that threaded between vocals and lead instruments.Katz’s best‑known work arrived when he became a founding member of Blood, Sweat & Tears. In the original lineup and on the album “Child Is Father to the Man,” he played guitar, sang, and wrote material that helped shape the band’s distinctive mix of rock, soul, and jazz‑inflected horn arrangements. His guitar parts in this context are understated but essential, leaving room for brass and vocals while adding texture and groove. Even when he stepped forward as a singer or songwriter, the overall impression is of a musician deeply committed to ensemble playing.Beyond his role as a guitarist, Katz built a substantial career behind the glass as a producer and in record‑label work. He produced notable albums for artists like Lou Reed and Elliott Murphy, bringing a player’s perspective into the studio and focusing on capturing strong performances. Later, he worked in A&R and as an executive, as well as producing albums for the Irish band Horslips, which connected his folk background with Celtic rock. This combination of performing, writing, producing, and talent development gives his résumé a breadth that many guitarists never attempt.In more recent years, Steve Katz has continued to perform, often in intimate “songs and stories” formats where he mixes playing with anecdotes from his long career. He has also written and spoken about his experiences in the music business, reflecting on everything from the Greenwich Village days to arena‑level success. For current information on his projects, performances, and background, see his website: https://stevekatzmusic.wordpress.com/

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• Ep 620: John McEuen is a multi-instrumentalist, author and founder of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

  ohn McEuen is a Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist, producer, author, and a founding member of the legendary Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, a group that helped bridge bluegrass, folk, and country-rock for mainstream audiences starting in the 1960s. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he has performed thousands of shows, contributed to dozens of albums, and become one of the most influential acoustic musicians in American roots music. His work on banjo, guitar, mandolin, and fiddle has shaped how generations hear traditional music reimagined for modern ears.In 1971, McEuen was the driving force behind the landmark triple album “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” which brought the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band together with icons like Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Mother Maybelle Carter, Roy Acuff, and others for historic cross-generational sessions in Nashville. That project has been recognized as one of the most important country and bluegrass albums ever recorded, helping introduce younger audiences to the classic repertoire and artists who defined American roots music. The album’s legacy later inspired his detailed book on the making of those sessions, further cementing his role as both participant and historian of that moment.Beyond the Dirt Band, John has built a rich solo career with multiple albums that showcase his “String Wizard” reputation, blending instrumental firepower with storytelling and cinematic arrangements. His discography includes acclaimed projects like “Made in Brooklyn,” which earned major Americana honors, as well as collaborations with artists ranging from Steve Martin to John Carter Cash and Martha Redbone. As a producer, he also earned a Grammy for Steve Martin’s “The Crow,” highlighting his skill on both sides of the glass.McEuen is also an author and storyteller, with his memoir “The Life I’ve Picked” tracing his journey from Southern California kid to hall-of-fame banjo player working with legends like Linda Ronstadt, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, the Allman Brothers, and Bob Dylan. His more recent book and projects around “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” revisit those sessions with photos, stories, and reflections that bring fans right into the circle of players. Onstage and on the page, he brings the same mix of humor, detail, and lived history that makes him such a compelling guest for any music podcast.John’s contributions have been recognized with inductions into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame and the Traditional Country Music Hall of Honor, along with multiple Grammy, CMA, and ACM honors across his career. He continues to tour, record, and create new projects, bringing stories and songs from more than fifty years on the road to audiences around the world. To learn more, check out his music, books, and tour dates at: https://johnmceuen.net

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