Punk Till I Die

Tom talks about his trip to Milwaukee to hang out with Mark from The DUIs and to see Descendents, Circle Jerks and Adolescents. They also get into their bonus show with gay punk icons Pansy Division. Neil stays closer to home and hits Motoblot in Chicago. There he sees Nashville Pussy, Supersuckers and others, in the company of bikers and hipsters dressed like Cuban refugees. With songs by Black Halos, Pansy Division, Descendents, The Ruts, Nashville Pussy, Tiger Sex, Supersuckers, and Bad Idea.

On this episode the PTID guys have the privilege of chatting with with first wave UK punk guitar legend Derwood Andrews! They discuss his time in Generation X and the early London scene. He talks about how he learned early on to be wary of lead singers. They cover his later career, including having a big hit with Westworld, and later collaborations with old friends. He talks about relocating from the dreary UK to the California desert, and how he couldn't imagine living anywhere else. Lots of ground is covered! Music by Generation X, Empire, Westwood, Moondogg, and Derwood and the Rat.

On this episode the PTID guys make fast friends with Teddy Spaghetty, founder of Atlanta based Spaghetty Town Records. (No relation to Eddie Spaghetti from Supersuckers!) They talk about Teddy's background in radio and the major label record industry, and how it prepared him for running a small independent label. Is it his way of paying penance? Listen and find out! With music by Motosierra, The Dahmers, HeWhoCannotBeNamed, RMBLR, Mala Vista, and The Uppers.

The PTID guys have got plenty to say even without any guests. They catch up on recent gigs and record purchases. Tom has some angry words for Interpunk, and Neil almost certainly has some angry words for someone. They also read their first piece of hate mail! How did it take so long? They wrap thing up with a tribute to recently deceased Lippies guitarist Taylor Shupe. With songs by Circle Jerks, Articles of Faith, Adolescents, Alberts y los trios Paranoias, Descendents, Chron Gen, Toy Dolls, and The Lippies.

The PTID guys couldn't make it to PRB this year, so they called on their old pal and SoCal field correspondent Richie (GarageRock! Records) to give them a blow by blow of what they missed. With music by Hex Code, Zeke, Side Eyes, Your Brigade, Infamous Stiffs and The Chisel.

They said it could never happen, but the PTID guys have an extra Neil when they catch up with Neale Fishback from Oil!, Scunthorpe Yobs and Trust Fund Babies! They talk about the new music from Oil!, and discuss the proper way to satirize skinheads. There are tips on how to keep a part time band going for 20 years, and how drunk dialing can lead to long term collaborations. With music by Oil! and Trust Fund Babies.

The PTID guys talk to Pete about growing up in Reno and the early days of Sticker Guy and Slovenly Records. They also get into the fine art of throwing music festivals in remote countries and continents, and talk about the upcoming DEBAUCH-a-ReNO 2023. With music by The Kids, The Spits, The Zeros, Eddie and the Subtitles and Spitting Image.

Most of this episode is devoted to recapping the amazing Joey Ramone Birthday Tribute show on May 19th at Bonus Pints in Logansport, IN. The PTID guys discuss catching up with friends and fans at what seems destined to become an annual event. There is also some bonus talk about the recent GBH/MDC tour. With music by Direct Hit!, Midnight, MDC, GBH, Vice Squad, Gun Club, The Rezillos, and Generation X.

Kind of a follow-up to the Mike Magrann episode! Tom makes a quick trip to Chicago to see Channel 3, and the boys record face to face at Neil's. While Tom is visiting, the guys do what they do best - record shopping, socializing and drinking! The action packed recap includes music by Channel 3, The Undead, Squared Off, Didjits, The Exploited, Fastplants, The Ratchets and Dealing with Damage.

The PTID guys are thrilled to catch up with vocalist/guitarist Mike Magrann from SoCal punk legends CH3. We discuss the band's humble beginnings at backyard parties, as well as growing put their hair and how they almost "made it" in the '80s. Mike talks about lasting for 40 plus years and how they're celebrating the occasion. With music by Channel 3.

In anticipation of the big Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in Logansport on May 19th, the PTID guys catch up with The Putz vocalist/bassist Billy Putz. They talk about the early years of The Putz, and are brought up to date with all of Billy's projects. With music by Covert Flops, The Putz, and Don’t Wannas.

On this episode the PTID guys talk to Mick, Alex and Sterling of Stockport/LA punk band Bladder Bladder Bladder. Three English dudes playing punk in SoCal-what could go wrong? We talk the early days as a band back in the UK, how they moved to the States, and what the scene was like in LA in the early 90s. The fun is turned up to 10 when I discover a "Best Of" album they knew nothing about! It’s bloody chaos! With music by Bladder Bladder Bladder.

On this episode the PTID guys talk about their Record Store Day 2023 experiences and purchases. Then they talk with Matt Swisher about the retail side of RSD. Finally, they catch up with Dr. Disc for some more record collecting madness. All the while they're promoting the upcoming Joey Ramone Birthday Bash on May 19th. With music by Rich Kids, Generation X, The Queers, Ramones, Sludgeworth, Capgun Heroes and The Bollweevils.

On 227 Tom and Neil welcome back Mark Rainey from TKO Records / Cascade Record Pressing. They get deep into the art of making records, from start to finish. Mark answered all the burning questions the boys had about the process and it gets pretty technical! With music by Lower Class Brats, Poison Idea, Templars, AntiSEEN, Long Knife and The Mess.

On this episode the PTID guys catch up on what's been going on in their lives. Tom becomes a grandpa! Neil has drinks with a long time listener! We also discuss upcoming gigs, the Bud Light controversy, the new Tim Armstrong/Jesse Michaels collaboration, and Joey R on the anniversary of his death. It's nonstop thrills and spills with music by Tyrant, Private Function, Hunting Lions, Hung Like Hanratty, The Uncouth, Born Shit Stirrers, Altered Images and Joey Ramone.

Part 2 of Neil's trip to Grand Rapids comes a full week later. The PTID guys talk about fake Irish pubs, record shopping, day drinking and ending the evening with buckets of PBR and music bingo at Tom's local bar. With music by Motörhead, Jerry’s Kidz, NOFX, Tubeway Army, Gotohells, Groovie Ghoulies, Big Black and The Queers.

This is part 1 of Neil's most recent trip to Michigan. Your dynamic duo head out to see psychobilly legends The Meteors, but things quickly go sideways. The guys still manage to salvage the evening and find a good time. With music The Meteors, Demolition 23, Buzzcocks, Oi!l Change, Toxic Reasons, City Mouse, UK Subs and The Stranglers.

In ep223 Neil and Tom both talk about the torture of going to St Patrick’s day themed gigs and all the green nonsense that entails: Neil at Flatfoot56/Rumjacks/The Drowns/Criminal Kids, Tom at Dropkick Murphys/Rumjacks. Also Tom also gets a bit personal discussing some of his personal travails with life events at the moment. With songs by The Reaganomics, Criminal Kids, The Drowns, The Rumjacks, Dropkick Murphys, Hunting Lions, and The Weirdos.

On episode 222, the Punk Till I Die guys have a good long chat with punk lifer Bones. Bones is the founding vocalist of capital P punks Lower Class Brats, who have been damaging eardrums for over 25 years. Bones is a true music lover, and was able to speak intelligently, and at length, on ever topic thrown at him. All music by Lower Class Brats.

In ep221 it’s just the lads. Tom talks about his recent visit to the Tip Top Lounge to see The Tossers, while Neil traveled to Highland Park to help his friend Mike (Sexy Baby Records/Loud Pizza) get ready for the opening of his new brick and mortar record store. We also talk about the upcoming April Record Store Day and Punk Rock Bowling. With songs by The Oppressed, Ten Second March, The Tossers, The Fall, 999, The Cortina’s, Neon Hearts and The Queers.

On episode 220, the Punk Till I Die guys catch up with former Dwarves guitarist, solo artist and children's entertainer HeWhoCannotBeNamed. He's joined by his whole band, and the result was as chaotic as those infamous early Dwarves shows. They talk about the new record, living in San Francisco and whatever else might come up. Featuring music from HeWho's new solo album, Impostor.

In ep219 we have our good friend Josh Goldman (Raging Nathans, Rad Girlfriend Records) back on the show. He lets us know what’s new with Raging Nathans (lots of records and shows) and all the news about the newest Rad Girlfriend releases. We also discuss the music scene in general: his thoughts on streaming, vinyl delays, the state of punk today etc. Josh is always a great guest with plenty to say! With music by Raging Nathans, The Slow Death, John Hinckley Jr, Houseghost, Candy Now!, and Git Some.

In ep218 Tom tells us about his trip to the Dominican, but more importantly Neil want to 2 shows in 3 days! First it was day 2 of the Sounds of the Street fest headlined by Lowerclass Brats, and then he went to see Teenage Bottlerocket/Raging Nathans a couple of days later. Shows are reviewed, good music is played. Featuring songs by The Hanging Judge, Doc Rotten, Lowerclass Brats, Raging Nathans, Won’t Stay Dead, Teenage Bottlerocket, Kepi Ghoul and Civic.

The interview With Mark Rainey in Episode 213 was such a big hit that we decided to revisit TKO Records by doing our top 5 TKO releases. I mean, yeah we talk about other stuff too, but TKO was the main focus. Tom had to cut this one short to pick up his daughter and we had tech problems so don’t complain that it’s shorter than normal! With music by The Meatmen, Smogtown, Electric Frankenstein, US Bombs, Antiseen, Slaughter and the Dogs, Broken Bottles, The Generators, Poison Idea and The Beltones.

In episode 216 we talk to Freddie Skintoff, AKA Jase Kilvo, lead singer and mastermind behind the English cricket themed oi! band Geoffrey Oi!cott. Cricket, darts, and drinking down the pub: what could be better! But it turns out that most of the songs are not as simple as they appear: lurking beneath the suggestive song titles are hilarious takes on British life. Case in point, the songs “Yorkshire Blonde”: or “Gimme some head” off the band’s 2022 album “Carry on Oi!cott”. Nope, they are not about that at all you dirty minded reprobates! While the themes are very English, humor and good music are universal. All songs by the twisted and very funny minds of the lads in Geoffrey Oi!cott.

No guests this week, so as Bill Withers would say, it’s just the two of us! We chat about all kinds of wide ranging topics from Neil’s road rage, Tom’s upcoming tropical sojourn, Tom’s no more swearing pledge, and… the singer from Paramore? With songs by Naked Raygun, The Criminals, B Squadron, Blatz, CH3, Lower Class Brats, Dirt Box Disco and our Best of Spam winners this week, Dead Low.

Episode 214 - McRackins! The power of Heather Wheaton is on full display as your grumpy hosts come face to face with a drumming dog and guitar playing half human, half egg! We talk the past, present and future of McRackins, and play songs from throughout their lengthy career. An eggsellent time was had by one and all! Music by McRackins.

In ep213 we chat with Mark Rainey, head honcho at TKO Records. Since their first release in 1997 (One Man Army) they’ve been putting out consistently great sounding punk rock by lots of your favorite bands. We talk label history, focus on some TKO bands and talk about Cascade Record Pressing, his new(ish) vinyl pressing plant in Oregon. With music by The Templars, Tyrant, Poison Idea, Lower Class Brats, and ANTiSEEN.

Now this is a special one. In ep212 we have the honor of chatting with Hiawatha Bailey. Don’t know the name? Well you will certainly know some of the people he has been involved with! From being a student revolutionary and member of the White Panther Party in the 60s with folks like John Sinclair and Wayne Kramer (MC5), he then went to prison, formed a band and played CBGBs and rubbed elbows with Blondie the Ramones etc. The stories are insane! From getting French kissed by Iggy to being taught self defense by Hilly Kristel, to vandalizing bikes with Dee Dee. It’s all here. With music by Cult Heroes and Dee Dee Ramone & the Chinese Dragons.

In Ep211 Tom and Neil talk about the Xmas holiday, New Years celebrations and Neil’s birthday. There’s some record collecting/organization talk, as well as upcoming gigs. I think we must be tired of all the pop punk that’s been on recently because it’s a very Oi!/Street punk focused show. With music by Bonecrusher, East End Badoes,Victory, B Squadron, The Struggle, Top Dog, Queensbury Rules, and the Remote Controls.

So here it is, Tom and Neil’s official best of list for 2022. Of course there’s plenty of other chatter too, but we do manage to focus for a couple of hours! Most are obvious if you have been listening for the past year, but there are some surprises! Music by Screeching Weasel, New Rocket Union, Norcos Y Horchata , Houseghost, The Oxys, Venomous Pinks, Black Halos, Avenues, Ravagers and Slaughter Boys.

In ep209 we meet up again with our old friend Ricky Frankel for his annual "best of the year" list. He gives us his top 10 albums, along with some other favorite EPs/7”s from the past year. The usual ball-breaking ensues, but he gives as good as he gets! With songs by Cigar, Ann Beretta, The Upfux, Raging Nathans, DFMK, Codefendants, The Chisel, MESS, No Plan and The Suicide Machines.

Ep208 is guest free so you get to hear your regular hosts bitching about anything and everything. In particular some young “punk” band from Michigan and the website Brooklyn Vegan come under Neil’s crosshairs. Plus, Tom went to see the Cro-Mags and we go over our top gigs of the year. With music by Furious George, Rivalry, Cro-Mags, The Kingcrows, Poison Idea, Hung Like Hanratty, JFA, and The Black Halos. Plus a special dating tip from the Shangri-Las!

In episode 207 we spend an hour with Blind Marc, drummer with The Dayglo Abortions. He has a new solo album out called “Isolated Earthlings” so we chat with him about that, and catch up with what’s going on with The Dayglo Abortions. Music by Isolated Earthlings and The Dayglo Abortions.

In ep206 we spend a couple of hours chatting with Pop Punk Priestess Heather Wheaton. She is a regular on The Dummy Room podcast, and her knowledge of obscure European pop punk is second to none! It’s a freewheeling conversation sprinkled with songs from her favorite albums of the year. With songs by Dropped Out, Starter Jackets, Spot McRackin, Screeching Weasel, Outtacontroller, Hakan, Stinking Polecats, Limoges, The Manges and The Windowsill.

On episode 205 the guys welcome back their good friend Matt Swisher from Failure Records & Tapes. We chat about the new Failure releases and Matt presents a very special Top 5 of 2022 list. We also have the exclusive world premier of the brand new song from The Queers, "Julie Don't Live Here Anymore"! Songs by Sloppy Seconds and The Queers.

Well, it came and went and what a complete cock-up it was. The “So-Cal Punk Invasion” hit the totally unprepared Des Plaines Theater. We discuss the lead up, the event and what we did the following day. Let’s put it this way: it wasn’t good but it sure was memorable! With music by FYPM, Dead Ending, The Dickies, Satans Rats, The Clitboys, Life Sentence, The Exploited and CH3.

In ep203 it’s just Tom and Neil. Neil talks about a Sunday night gig he went to: She Wants Revenge and The Chameleons, and Tom is coming into town so we discuss the “So-Cal Punk Fest” coming to lovely Des Plaines next week.

In ep202 we shoot the shit with Jeff Clayton, longtime frontman with AntiSeen, the pride of Charlotte. We talk band beginnings, albums, pro wrestling. All sorts really. He doesn’t give a crap so he’s a perfect guest for us! All songs by ANTiSEEN.

In ep201 it’s just the lads doing what they do best: shooting the shit and talking nonsense! Tom talks about his recent trip down to Austin to see Sloppy Seconds and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, and we all talk about recent musician deaths, stand in band members and a recent Sex Pistols auction! Music by Jerry Lee lewis, MDC, Misfits, Didjits, Dead Kennedys, DGeneration, Sex Pistols, Haymaker and The Crooks.

In ep200 we continue the tradition started in ep100 and talk to 10 of our loyalest listeners. We have folks from all over the world! Well, the USA, UK and Australia, but that’s close enough. They chat to us for 15 minutes and pick a song. Email us or contribute in the Facebook group and you could be on episode 300! Songs by The Negatives, Firestarter, The Slowdeath, Molotov Cocktail, Private Function, The Jasons, The Gizmos, 7G, Didjits and Dead Kennedys.

In ep199 we shoot the shit with Jason Kottwitz. You might not know the name but I know that you know some of the bands he’s been in: Dead Boys, Sylvain Sylvain and the Sylvains, M.O.D., The Bulemics, to name a few. He’s had a long career in the punk rock and roll scene and has played with legend after legend. How did this small town Illinois kid play with so many legends? Listen and find out.

Ep198 is dedicated to the Dead Boys/Briefs/Suzi Moon/ Poison Boys show in lovely Lombard IL. Tom drove in, we all got hotel rooms, and we met Suzi Moon and band in a record store before the show. Then we discuss the gig in great detail. What a fun Saturday it was, but wouldn’t want to do that again in a hurry! Music by Electric Frankenstein, Misfits, The Queers, Poison Boys, Suzi Moon, The Briefs, Dead Boys and Bat Hearse.

In episode 196 we visit with Blag and get down to the nitty gritty of the new side project album “Introducing Ralph Champagne”. It’s a 70s style outlaw county album but featuring some of the dirtiest lyrics you will ever hear! However, it’s not all fun and games as Blag also talks about the July 4 slaughter in his hometown of Highland Park IL, and he gets political for a minute. With music from The Dwarves and Blag as Ralph Champagne.

In episode 197 Tom and Neil talk about the two gigs they were both at that week. Tom went to see Exodus and Agent Orange in Grand Rapids, while Neil went to see Amyl and the Sniffers and Agent Orange in Chicago. Let’s just say that Neil wasn’t too impressed by the Amyl show… With music by The Crumbs, Die Kreuzen, Agent Orange, Angry Samoans, Ganser, The Briefs and The Apers. And sorry for the messed up version 1 of this. Dunno how that happened!

In episode 195 we visit with BA from Sloppy Seconds for the third time! We talk about whatever is on his mind really, including his impressive weight loss and his double knee replacement! But we also discuss their upcoming tour in great detail. Most of the songs are by Sloppy Seconds, but we do play songs by Ultraman and Raging Nathans too, two of their upcoming support bands.

In episode 194 we focus on BYO records. Following our recent dissection of our favorite tracks on SST we decided to do a similar thing with BYO. But of course we talk about tons of other nonsense too including the swing revival, college sports, and the data of Queen Elizabeth II! With music by Youth Brigade, Aggression, SNFU, The Briefs, CH3, The Business, and 7 Seconds.

In ep193 we talk to Suzi Moon for the 2nd time but with the band (Drew and Patti) in the interview too. After all, they are an integral part of the band! There's much talk of the new album and the recent European tour, and they all picked some of their favorite songs.

In ep191 we sit down with the Rev from The Drowns again. The last time was April 2020, so it was great to talk their newest releases & their recent European tour! Music by The Drowns, Get Dead, The Last Gang, Cyanide Pills, The Cunninghams and Avengers.

In ep192 it's just the 2 of us. Neil goes off on the Taylor Hawkins overkill amongst other topics, and we read lots of listener email. With music by The Nerves, Crass, Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, Mad Sin, Black President, Elastica, Gallows and The Fall.