Rock & Roll Nightmares

Evan Husney, co-creator of Vice's "Dark Side of the Ring" and the upcoming Hulu series "Into the Void," joins Staci to discuss his deep dive into metal music's darkest chapters. Husney explains his fascination with the genre's tragic figures and shares insights into the show's impressive roster of subjects, from guitar virtuoso Randy Rhoads to punk pioneer Wendy O. Williams. The conversation explores the mysterious Kurt Struebing (...

Director Bill Fishman joins Staci Wilson on "Rock & Roll Nightmares" to discuss his legendary career behind the camera for some of rock's biggest names. From directing music videos for The Ramones, Georgia Satellites, and Good Charlotte to helming the cult films "Tapeheads" and "My Dinner with Jimi Hendrix," Fishman has captured decades of rock and roll history. Fishman shares behind-the-scenes stories from video sets, discusse...

Join Staci as she sits down with veteran journalist and author Ray Van Horn, Jr. For more than sixteen years, Ray covered the worlds of music and film for outlets like Blabbermouth, Metal Maniacs, Noisecreep, and many others. His blog, The Metal Minute, even earned Metal Hammer’s award for Best Personal Blog. Ray is also the author of the rock‑fueled novel Coming of Rage—and he’s got plenty more exciting projects in the pipeline. T...

On today’s show, Staci welcomes Tim Kirk, author of the brand‑new “what if?” novel All His Damned Mother’s Sons. This gripping alternate history dares to imagine a world where Elvis Presley died during his time in the German army—and launches readers on a high‑octane ride from 1959 to 1973, where fateful roads lead toward a deadly collision. Beyond his novel, Tim is also the producer of two unforgettable documentaries—Room 237, a d...

Broadcaster and author Steve Blacknell is on the show to talk about his memoir, “Tales From the Bedroom Wall.” Known to a generation of fans for the mid-1980s MTV staple London Calling, Blacknell chronicles a whirlwind life of fame, lost fortunes, and everything in between. From first love Kate Bush to crossing the Atlantic on the Concorde with Phil Collins, and interviews with music’s biggest names, the memoir brims with rock’n’r...

Authors Martin Porter and David Goggin (aka Mr. Bonzai) join the podcast to unpack their collaborative book, “Buzz Me In: Inside the Record Plant Studios.” Staci spotlights the book’s expansive deep dive into the storied studios that shaped so many iconic 1970s rock albums. With locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Sausalito—and a legendary fleet of remote recording trucks—Record Plant’s influence spanned every corner of the mus...

Historian of pop culture, film, and music, John Harrison, joins Staci on Rock & Roll Nightmares to discuss his latest project: a comprehensive, 676-page book on KISS titled Creatures of the Screen. Unlike any other book on the band, John’s work is an immersive exploration of KISS’s presence onscreen, covering their films, TV appearances, and notable music videos. The book also delves into other shows and media inspired by—and e...

This episode features Jake Sumner, director of the music documentary Ron Delsener Presents. The film explores the life and legacy of legendary music impresario Ron Delsener, with insights from an impressive roster of interviewees including Billy Joel, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, and Bette Midler. As the son of Sting (of The Police), Jake brings a unique perspective to the project, having known Delsene...

In this episode, Rock & Roll Nightmares welcomes author and Professor of Literature Jarret Keene, whose work first caught Staci’s attention with the release of his novel, Hammer of the Dogs. Now, Jarret returns with his newly released short story collection, Gateways to Annihilation—a book packed with wild, rock and roll-infused tales that are as twisted as they are entertaining. Tune in as he discusses his latest work as well ...

Colin Blunstone, lead singer of the iconic psychedelic rock band The Zombies, joins Staci on "Rock & Roll Nightmares" to discuss "Hung Up on a Dream," the first-ever feature-length documentary about the band. Despite hits like "She's Not There" and "Time of the Season" and their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, the band's story hasn't been fully documented until now. Colin shares insights into the film's collaborative pr...

Author Jennifer Banash joins Staci on "Rock & Roll Nightmares" to discuss her novel "The Rise and Fall of Ava Arcana," a twisty mystery about a Rolling Stone reporter uncovering a famous rock star's dark secret. Jennifer reminisces about her experiences in New York's club scene during the early 2000s and shares the surprising inspiration behind her main characters. She also offers a glimpse into her upcoming works—two books ins...

Staci welcomes writer-director Kirsten Foe to discuss her rock and roll cautionary tale "Off the Record." What begins as a romance movie between two musician lovers takes a dark turn, putting the microscope on the Svengalis of the music industry. Kirsten shares insights about her impressive cast featuring Rainey Qualley, Ryan Hansen, Rebecca De Mornay, and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. She reveals the challenges of filming during the pan...

1991 wasn’t just another year—it was a musical and cultural earthquake. Grunge went from the underground to the mainstream, changing rock music and an entire generation’s outlook along the way. Staci’s guest, Rob Janicke, has written a book, Slacker: 1991, Teen Spirit Angst, and the Generation It Created, which explores the movement’s impact, the key players, and why the world embraced it so fiercely. Rob is also the founder of Gen...

What’s it like to get a guitar lesson from Keith Richards, sword-fight Bruce Dickinson, or launch a Pink Floyd airship? For legendary rock promoter Paul Rappaport, it was all just part of the job. In this episode of Rock & Roll Nightmares, host Staci talks with Paul about his memoir, Gliders Over Hollywood, which pulls back the curtain on the wild world of rock promotion.

With a career spanning decades at Columbia Records, Paul ...

David Bowie was the ultimate musical chameleon, but his transformation after Let’s Dance in 1983 led to one of the most unexpected chapters of his career. In this episode of Rock & Roll Nightmares, host Staci Layne Wilson welcomes author Don Klees to discuss his book On Track, which takes a deep dive into Bowie’s later years—from the Tin Machine experiment to his haunting farewell, Blackstar.

Staci and Don explore Bowie’s shifti...