Laughing Monkey with Shawn Ratches

Skinlab is a San Francisco Bay Area heavy-metal band formed in 1994 by vocalist and bassist Steev Esquivel, guitarists Mike Roberts and Gary Wendt, and drummer Paul Hopkins. Emerging from the Bay Area’s thrash-metal tradition, the band built its identity around groove-heavy riffs, aggressive vocals, and a sound that resisted easy genre labels.
After attracting attention with early demos, Skinlab signed with Century Media and released its debut album, Bound, Gagged and Blindfolded, in 1997. The record established the band as a hard-hitting new presence in American metal. It was followed by the Eyesore EP in 1998 and Disembody: The New Flesh in 1999, both of which expanded Skinlab’s reputation for intense, rhythm-driven songwriting.
Lineup changes shaped the band’s next phase. Guitarists Steve “Snake” Green and Scott Sargeant joined after the departure of original members, while Glen Telford later entered the lineup. In 2002, Skinlab released ReVoltingRoom, produced by Steve Evetts, showing a somewhat broader and more melodic approach without losing its heaviness.
The group split in 2003, but returned in 2007. Their reunion led to The Scars Between Us in 2009. After another quieter period, Skinlab re-formed in 2016, with Esquivel and Hopkins again central to the lineup. The band released Venomous in 2019 and later returned with the single “Flesh Wounds,” continuing its legacy of uncompromising Bay Area metal.

* **00:00** – Touring Costs & Exploring Immersive Audio
* **02:28** – *Summer of '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily* Documentary
* **05:40** – *Via Zammata* & Filming in Palermo
* **09:22** – Outdoor Concert Acoustics & Live Sound
* **10:18** – Composing for TV (*The Ben Stiller Show*, *On the Spot*)
* **11:41** – Jamming "Crazy Train" with Jack Black
* **13:26** – *Pee-Wee's Playhouse* & Nickelodeon
* **14:45** – *What the Hell Was I Thinking?* Project Updates
* **16:32** – *Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure* ("Two Heads Are Better Than One") & *Cobra Kai*
* **17:06** – Recording *Back to the Beach* with Herbie Hancock & Terry Bozzio
* **18:50** – Playing "Watermelon Man" with Stevie Ray Vaughan
* **21:21** – Early Records & 80s Session Calls
* **25:10** – Making Production & TV Library Music (Extreme Music)
* **29:18** – Performing on *The Tonight Show* & with Alice Cooper
* **29:58** – Collaborating with Lisa Loeb for *Legally Blonde 2*
* **31:26** – *Ready to Rumble*, Britney Spears Cover & Diamond Dallas Page Theme
* **33:52** – Guest Solo on Steel Panther Record (Gear & Tone)
* **36:10** – Working on Don Johnson’s Album & the "Heartbeat" Video
* **39:52** – Recording on Winger’s Debut ("Purple Haze")
* **40:58** – Extreme's *Pornograffitti* ("He-Man Woman Hater")
* **42:12** – Solo on Spinal Tap's *Break Like the Wind* & Derek Smalls' "MRI"
* **45:08** – Evolution of Guitar Style & Improvisation Philosophy
* **49:22** – Approaching and Arranging Frank Zappa’s Music Authentically
* **52:07** – Playing on Weird Al’s Frank Zappa Style Parody
* **54:39** – Cleopatra Records Tributes (Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne)
* **58:29** – Jamming with Blues Saraceno ("Chewing on Crayons" & the Survival Speaker)

Like , Subscribe & Comment as I have more behind the scenes stories and tips to share if more people are interested!

Stevie D says Buckcherry is already looking ahead, with the next album planned as part of the band’s schedule for next year. He outlines the steps involved in moving that record forward, from writing and early planning to getting into the studio and shaping the final songs. The focus is on keeping momentum going while making sure the material is ready before recording begins.
Outside of Buckcherry, Stevie D is also staying busy producing other projects, expanding his work behind the boards and helping develop music beyond his role as a guitarist. At the same time, he’s putting energy into recording D’Molls music, showing that project is part of his creative life as well.
The interview also touches on the tragic accident involving the band’s bus, adding a more serious note to the conversation. Stevie D acknowledges the incident as a difficult moment, set against an otherwise forward-looking discussion about new music, production work, and what’s coming next.

Cloven Hoof have spent decades building a legacy as one of the enduring names in British heavy metal, earning a reputation for power, character, and a sound that has remained unmistakably their own. Across changing eras, the band have continued to carry forward the spirit that first defined them, combining classic metal force with a strong sense of identity. That history gives every new release added weight, and it is exactly that sense of legacy that makes this next chapter stand out.
The new album, Never a Prophet in Your Own Land, arrives as a statement of purpose — one that reflects both experience and ambition. The title alone suggests conflict, perseverance, and the challenge of standing firm in the face of doubt, all themes that fit naturally within the world Cloven Hoof have built over the years. It feels like an album shaped by conviction, carrying the strength of the band’s past while pushing forward with renewed intent.
For longtime listeners, this release represents more than just another record in the catalogue. It is a continuation of the band’s story, rooted in the traditions that helped establish their name while still finding room to expand and evolve. There is a sense of momentum around Never a Prophet in Your Own Land — the sound of a band drawing on its foundations without simply looking backwards.
In this episode, we look at the history behind Cloven Hoof, the road that led to Never a Prophet in Your Own Land, and what this album means within the broader arc of the band’s career. We also explore how this release connects past and present, and why it stands as an important moment for a band that continues to hold its place in heavy metal with authority and purpose.