CooperTalk

Midge Ure - Episode 879

Steve Cooper talks with musician Midge Ure. Midge is best known for being the front man for Ultravox. He was in the band from 1979–1987, and then again from 2008–2013. During his first stint they released hit singles such as Vienna, Dancing with Tears in My Eyes and Reap the Wild Wind and also co-wrote the Band Aid hit Do They Know It's Christmas with Bob Geldof.  In his early career he played with Rich Kids, Visage and Thin Lizzy. As a solo artist he has recorded nine albums with his debut, The Gift from 1985 placing number 2 on the UK charts.

Yul Vazquez - Episode 878

Steve Cooper talks with actor Yul Vazquez. Yul is best known for his roles as Yunis Sablo in The Outsider, Victor Lazaro in Magic City, John Reyes in Russian Doll and John Gavin in Narcos: Mexico. He has been seen on such TV shows as Seinfeld, SEAL Team, Midnight Texas, I Am the Night, Divorce, Madam Secretary, Bloodline, Louie, Treme and many more. He has appeared in many movies including Runaway Bride, The Cobbler, O.G., Gringo, Crown Heights, The Infiltrator, Captain Phillips, American Gangster and The A-Team. He is also an accomplished musician, photographer and artist and received a Tony for the play Motherf*cker with the Hat.

    

Steve Kilbey - Episode 877

Steve Cooper talks with musician Steve Kilbey. Steve is best known for being the singer-songwriter and bass guitarist for the rock band The Church. The Church are an Australian alternative rock band formed in Sydney in 1980. Initially associated with new wave, neo-psychedelia, and indie rock, their music later came to feature slower tempos and surreal soundscapes reminiscent of dream pop and post-rock. They have recorded 17 studio albums and are best known for the hit single Under the Milky Way. As  solo album or in collaboration with other artists Steve has recorded over 20 albums and in 2011 was inducted to the Australian Songwriter's Hall of Fame.

Amanda Wyss - CooperTalk 876

Steve Cooper talks with actor Amanda Wyss. Amanda was discovered by an agent as a teen while starring in the play, The Bad Seed at a local LA theatre and then went on to work in many commercials and landed her first television role, recurring on Universal's When the Whistle Blows as Dolph Sweet's daughter. Some of her film performances are in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Better Off Dead, Silverado, Hunter's Moon, Badland, Triggered, The Sandman, The Hatred and the award-winning Powwow Highway. She's also worked extensively in television, with roles on St. Elsewhere, Cagney & Lacey, Highlander, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Dexter, Major Crimes, Cold Case, The Division, Murder in the First, All Rise and The Resonator: Miskatonic U. 

Pete Byrne - Episode 875

Steve Cooper talks with musician Pete Byrne. Pete is best known as the lead singer for the pop/new wave duo Naked Eyes. Naked Eyes rose to prominence in the early 1980s. The band had four US top 40 singles. The group's first hit, Always Something There to Remind Me was a cover of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David standard. The band had subsequent hits with more of their own compositions, Promises, Promises, When the Lights Go Out and (What) In the Name of Love. On June 8, 2021, Naked Eyes released its latest album, Disguise The Limit.

Brad Gillis - Episode 874

Steve Cooper talks with musician Brad Gillis. Brad is a guitarist most famous for playing with the band Night Ranger. Since forming in 1979, him and drummer Kelly Keagy are the only members to have appeared in every incarnation of the band and all studio releases. Having sold over 17 Million albums worldwide, performed across more than 4000 stages, and captivated a radio audience that exceeds 1 Billion, Night Ranger has both epitomized and transcended the arena rock sound and style well beyond that era. They have earned widespread recognition that includes both multi-platinum and gold album status all while leaving their indelible mark on the music industry with a long list of best-selling albums (Dawn Patrol, Midnight Madness, 7 Wishes, Big Life and Man In Motion). Their popularity is fueled by an impressive number of instantly recognizable hit singles and signature album tracks, including legendary titles such as Sister Christian, Don't Tell Me You Love Me, When You Close YourEyes, (You Can Still) Rock In America, Sentimental Street, Goodbye, Sing Me Away, and Four in the Morning.

C. Thomas Howell - Episode 873

Steve Cooper talks with actor/musician C. Thomas Howell. Tommy is best known for his roles in the movies E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Outsiders, Red Dawn, Secret Admirer, The Hitcher, Soul Man and many others. He has also been recurring in numerous TV series such as Southland, Grimm, Criminal Minds, The Walking Dead, SEAL Team, Bosch, Animal Kingdom, The Blacklist, The Punisher and Ray Donovan. He recently took up guitar and is doing a series of storytelling with music concerts.

 

Don McManus - Episode 872

Steve Cooper talks with actor Don McManus. Don has been a working actor for over 30 years and has starred, guest starred or been recurring in various television shows and films. His feature credits include: The Starling, Vice, Under the Silver Lake, Grand Piano, Grandma, The Maze Runner, Lucky Bastard, For A Good Time Call, Magnolia, The Shawshank Redemption, Under the Tuscan Sun, National Treasure, Hannibal, Air Force One. His TV credits include: Sorry For Your Loss, Mom, Justified, 24, Northern Exposure, NCIS, Private Practice, Rescue Me, Parks and Recreation, Boston Legal, Grey’s Anatomy, Dexter, Seinfeld, Frasier, The Closer, CSI, Mad About You and his stage credits include: New York Public Theater, Manhattan Theater Club, San Francisco’s ACT, The Old Globe Theater, the Matrix Theater, ANTAEUS. He is a graduate of Yale University.

Eddie Trunk - Episode 871

Steve Cooper talks with American music historian/radio personality/talk show host/author Eddie Trunk. Eddie is best known as the host of several hard rock and heavy metal-themed radio and television shows. His resume includes being a disc jockey at WDHA, WNEW, Q104.3 and SiriusXM and has also hosted TV shows such as VH1 Classic's That Metal Show and AXS's Trunkfest with Eddie Trunk. He also has written the book Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal and the follow up Volume II.

Richard Blade - Episode 870

Steve Cooper talks with radio, television, and film personality Richard Blade. Richard was a disk jockey at KROQ in Los Angeles from 1982 to 2000 and since 2004 he has had his own nationwide daily show on Sirius Satellite radio and can be heard every afternoon from 12pm - 6pm (PST) on SiriusXM 33, 1st Wave. In 2017 he wrote his autobiography World In My Eyes which became a nationwide best seller. Since then, he has written three more books, all novels, which have each topped Amazon's sales charts - SPQR, Birthright and Imposters. In addition to writing and radio, he also DJs and MCs high-end celebrity parties, concerts and events.

Paul Carrack - Episode 869

Steve Cooper talks with musician Paul Carrack. Paul is known as The Man with the Golden Voice. He was lead singer of the English group Ace who had a top hit with How Long, sang Squeeze's popular tune Tempted, was lead vocalist for Mike + The Mechanics from 1985-2004, was a member of Roxy Music and Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band and has written many songs for various artists. He is also a very accomplished solo artist who has recorded 18 albums and had a top 10 single with Don't Shed a Tear.

David Duchovny - Episode 868

Steve Cooper talks with actor/musician/writer David Duchovny. David is best known for his Golden Globe winning roles as Fox Mulder in The X Files and Hank Moody in Californication. He has been seen in other movies or TV shows such as Zoolander, Aquarius, Sex and the City, Twin Peaks, The Larry Sanders Show and many more. He has also recorded 3 albums and written 4 novels.

Wendy Liebman - Episode 867

Steve Cooper talks with comic Wendy Liebman. Wendy returns to CooperTalk for the sixth time. She has been doing stand-up for over 25 years and has been a regular on the Late Show with David Letterman and has appeared on the Tonight Show with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Jimmy Kimmel Live! In addition she was the first comedian to appear on the Rosie O'Donnell Show and has done comedy specials for HBO, Comedy Central and Showtime. She has also performed or been seen on dozens upon dozens of various other TV shows, was seen on America's Got Talent and continues to headline across the country.

Glenn Tilbrook - Episode 866

Steve Cooper talks with musician Glenn Tilbrook. Glenn is best known as the lead singer and one of the founding members of Squeeze. He also writes all the music while fellow band member Chris Difford writes the lyrics. Squeeze is an English rock band that formed in the mid 70’s and are known for many hits including Tempted, Pulling Mussels (from the Shell), Black Coffee in Bed and Hourglass. They have recorded 16 studio albums throughout their career and still play to sold out crowds across the world.

Erik Palladino - Episode 865

Steve Cooper talks with actor Erik Palladino. Erik  known for his portrayal of Dr. Dave Malucci in the NBC medical drama ER. He is also known for his recurring roles as Lt. Michael Daghlian in Joan of Arcadia, Vostanik Sabatino in NCIS: Los Angeles, Kevin Miller on Suits and Frank in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Other TV and movie credits include Watchman, The Fix, Six, Designated Survivor, Blue Bloods, Mischief Night, Castle, Burn Notice, Criminal Minds, u-571 and Over There.

Judy Gold - Episode 864

Steve Cooper talks with comic/actor/writer Judy Gold. Judy has had stand-up specials on HBO, Comedy Central and LOGO. She has written and starred in two critically acclaimed, Off-Broadway hit shows: The Judy Show - My Life as a Sitcom 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother. She received rave reviews as Gremio in The Public Theater’s all female production of The Taming of The Shrew for Shakespeare in the Park. She also co-starred in Off-Broadway’s Clinton! The Musical, and Disaster! The Musical. She plays the role of Chaya on FX’s Better Things and has guest starred on CBS’ Madame Secretary and on the Showtime series I’m Dying Up Here. She also has had recurring roles Netflix’s Friends from College and TBS’ Search Party. She is the host of the hit podcast, Kill Me Now and has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Tonight Show. From 1999-2010, she was the host of HBO’s At the Multiplex with Judy Gold and is a two time Emmy winner for writing and producing The Rosie O’Donnell Show. She has made numerous appearances on The View, The Today Show, The Wendy Williams Show, and The Steve Harvey Show and can be seen on the new FX Documentary HYSTERICAL directed by Andrea Nevins.

Saverio Guerra - Episode 863

Steve Cooper talks with actor Saverio Guerra. Saverio is best know for his role as Mocha Joe on Curb Your Enthusiasm and Bob on the series Becker. Throughout his career he has been seen in many movies and TV shows including EZ Streets, Summer of Sam, Blue Streak, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Monk, My Name is Earl, Weeds, The Last O.G, Billions and LAw & Order: SVU.

John Kapelos - Episode 862

Steve Cooper talks with actor John Kapelos. John co-starred in a several of John Hughes’ generation-defining Brat Pack films, notably The Breakfast Club (as Carl the Janitor), 16 Candles and Weird Science. He has made his mark in more than 60 features films including Legally Blonde and Roxanne. On television he has proven his diversity in such series as Amazon's Transparent and received critical acclaim on the FX series Justified. Other TV work includes guest and recurring roles in hits such as Graceland, Psych, Franklin & Bash, Modern Family, Seinfeld, Frasier, Shameless, Castle, House, CSI: NY, West Wing, Big Sky and the sci-fi cult favorite Forever Knight in which he co-starred in 48 episodes as Detective Don Schanke.

Jason Kravits - Episode 861

Steve Cooper talks with actor Jason Kravits. Jason is best known for playing District Attorney Richard Bay in the Emmy Award-winning drama series The Practice from 1999 to 2001. He got his start playing Lolo Knopke on the short-lived 1982 PBS series Powerhouse. He can be seen in episodes Friends, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Everybody Loves Raymond, Yes Dear, Gilmore Girls, Blue Bloods, Law & Order, Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory, B Positive, Halston and many more shows.

Chris Frantz - Episode 860

Steve Cooper talks with musician Chris Frantz. Chris is the drummer for both Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club, both of which he co-founded with wife and Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Talking Heads.

 

Dennis DeYoung - Episode 859

Steve Cooper talks with musician Dennis DeYoung. Dennis is best known as a founding member of the rock band Styx and as primary lead vocalist and keyboardist, during a tenure that lasted from 1970 until June 1999. He has been credited as the writer of more Styx songs than any other Styx member. He was also the band's most successful writer, penning 7 of the band's 8 Billboard top 10 singles (Babe, Mr. Roboto, Show Me the Way, The Best of Times, Lady, Come Sail Away and Don't Let it End). As a solo artist he had a  top 10 single and has recorded 9 solo albums.

Dave Wakeling - Episode 858

Steve Cooper talks with musician Dave Wakeling. Dave is best known for being the front man for The English Beat and General Public. The English Beat released three studio albums in the early 1980s: I Just Can't Stop it, Wha'ppen? and Special Beat Service. They had a string of singles, including Mirror in the Bathroom, Save It for Later, I Confess, Too Nice to Talk To, Can't Get Used to Losing You, Hands Off...She's Mine and All Out to Get You. Dave then started General Public. Their first album, All The Rage, met with phenomenal success, charting high in the U.S., U.K. and even winning the band a coveted Juno award in Canada for Best New Artist in 1984.

Phil Manzanera - Episode 857

Steve Cooper talks with musician Phil Manzanera. Phil is best known for being the lead guitarist for Rock & Roll HOF members Roxy Music (who he joined in 1972). Roxy’s rise was meteoric, with the band being hailed as the stylistic influence of the early 1970’s. During the next 12 years, until 1983 when the band members went on a ‘long break’, Roxy Music released a series of international best selling albums, achieving ten UK top ten albums and touring extensively throughout the world. As a writer, producer and solo artist, he has worked with many of the luminaries of modern music, such as Steve Winwood, David Gilmour, John Cale, Godley and Creme, Nico (Velvet Underground) and John Wetton (King Crimson, Asia). He has co-written material with many artists, including Brian Eno, Tim Finn, Robert Wyatt and David Gilmour. He co-wrote Pink Floyd’s single One Slip from their 1988 Momentary Lapse of Reason album.

Jay Jay French - Episode 856

Steve Cooper talks with musician Jay Jay French. Jay Jay is best-known for being the founding member and lead guitarist for Twisted Sister. Twisted Sister are best-known for the hit songs We're Not Gonna Take It and I Wanna Rock. They have played over 9,000 shows in 34 countries and sold more than 20 million albums. He also is a columnist, author and motivational speaker who oversees licensing and intellectual property rights for the Twisted Sister brand and recently started a podcast called The Jay Jay French Connection.

Lyrics Born - Episode 855

Steve Cooper talks with rapper Lyrics Born. From his Quannum Projects debut with Latyrx (1997’s The Album), to 2003’s seminal solo album Later That Day, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of his craft. His latest project, Quite A Life, is like the exclamation point on his milestone year. As the first Asian-American to release a greatest hits compilation, he’s pumped out multiple smash singles throughout his career. From Callin’ Out and I Like It, I Love It to I Changed My Mind and Coulda Woulda Shoulda his material has always retained a musically eclectic feel. Since establishing himself among the upper echelon of indie Hip Hop artists, LB has expanded his empire into film. He has appeared in films such as Boots Riley’s critically acclaimed Sorry To Bother You and the Netflix feature Always Be My Maybe starring Ali Wong, Randall Park and Keanu Reeves. 

Gary Numan - Episode 854

Steve Cooper talks with musician Gary Numan. Gary is most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits Are ‘Friends’ Electric? (when in Tubeway Army) and Cars. He achieved his peak of mainstream popularity in the late 70s and early 80s but maintains a loyal cult following. His signature sound consists of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals, is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music. He has sold over 10 million records in his career and just released his 21st studio album Intruder.

Little Steven Van Zandt - Episode 853

Steve Cooper talks with musician/writer/producer/actor Little Steven. Little Steven is best known for being a guitarist and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. After creating the “Jersey Shore” sound with the Asbury Jukes he became a founding member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, and went on to become a successful solo artist in his own right recording and performing solo with his band Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. As a songwriter his songs have been performed by Jackson Browne, Pearl Jam, Margo Price, Damian Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, Gary U.S. Bonds, Darlene Love, Nancy Sinatra, Brian Setzer, Black Uhuru, and more. He also-co-produced the seminal Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band albums The River, and Born in the U.S.A. and has produced albums for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Gary U.S. Bonds, Ronnie Spector, Demolition 23, Majek Fashek, Lords of the New Church, Arc Angels, The Chesterfield Kings, The Cocktail Slippers, The Breakers, and more. As an actor he co-starred in all 7 seasons of The Sopranos and starred in, co-wrote, executive produced the award winning series Lilyhammer.

Matthew Del Negro - Episode 852

Steve Cooper talks with actor Matthew Del Negro. Matthew is best known for his co-starring and recurring roles in The Sopranos, The West Wing, Goliath, Scandal, Teen Wolf and the Showtime series The United States of Tara and City on a Hill. He has also been seen in movies and TV shows such as Magnum P.I., Rizzoli & Isles, Criminal Minds, Saving Lincoln, The Good Wife, L.A. Noire, Lie to Me, CSI: Miami, Beautiful People, The North End, Elementary and many more. He wrote the popular book 10,000 NOs and hosts a popular podcast of the same name.

Andy Scott - Episode 851

Steve Cooper talks with musician Andy Scott. Andy is best known for being the lead guitarist and a backing vocalist in the band Sweet. Sweet is a British glam rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s. They first achieved success in the UK charts, with thirteen Top 20 hits during the 1970s alone, with Block Buster (1973) topping the chart, followed by three consecutive number two hits). The band turned to a more hard rock style with their mid-career singles, like 1974's Turn it Down. They also achieved success and popularity in the US with the top ten hits Little Willy, The Ballroom Blitz and Fox on the Run. They had their last international success in 1978 with "Love Is Like Oxygen". Over the years and through many line-up changes the have recorded 10 studio albums with their latest being 2020's Isolation Boulevard.

Alexi Lalas - Episode 850

Steve Cooper talks with soccer player/commentator Alexi Lalas. Alexi is best known as a standout defender on the U.S. Men’s National Team during the 1994 World Cup, and was also a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team and the 1998 World Cup squad. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and one of the sport’s most recognizable personalities.  One of the first signings for Major League Soccer, he began his MLS career with the New England Revolution and went on to play for the MetroStars, Kansas City Wizards and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Following his retirement in 2002, he was appointed President and General Manager of the San Jose Earthquakes; he served the same role with the New York MetroStars in 2005 and LA Galaxy in 2008. Now a well respected commentator on Fox he is also an accomplished musician and has recorded 7 solo albums.

Clem Burke - Episode 849

Steve Cooper talks with musician Clem Burke. Clem is best known for being the drummer for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members Blondie. Blondie emerged as the great pop icons of New York’s celebrated late ’70s new wave punk scene and achieved commercial success in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s with number 1 hit singles Atomic, Heart of Glass, Sunday Girl, Call Me, Rapture, and The Tide is High. During periods of inactivity with Blondie during the 1980s and 1990s, he played with a number of well respected artists and bands, including: Bob Dylan, Pete Townshend, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, Chequered Past, The Romantics, and Joan Jett. Perhaps the most notable collaboration was with Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) who he helped record the Grammy-winning hit Missionary Man. Lately Between Blondie tours, he has been recording and touring with his other musical collaborations, the Split Squad and the Empty Hearts.

Julia Duffy - Episode 848

Steve Cooper talks with actor Julia Duffy. Julia is best known for playing Stephanie Vanderkellen on the hit TV series Newhart from 1983 to 1990. (The role garnered her seven Primetime Emmy Award nominations.) Following the conclusion of Newhart, she continued to work in television, playing the original Maggie Campbell on Baby Talk and Allison Sugarbaker on Designing Women. In the 2000s, she appeared in guest roles on Reba and Drake & Josh, as well as having supporting roles in 2003's comedy films Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd and Intolerable Cruelty. She subsequently had recurring guest roles on the series Shameless and Looking, and appeared in a supporting role in the drama Camp X-Ray.

 

Tony Hadley - Episode 847

Steve Cooper talks with musician Tony Hadley. Tony is best known for being the lead singer of Spandau Ballet. In the 80's they had a string of smash hits like To Cut a Long Story Short, Gold, Through the Barricades and True. (Which was number four on the US charts in late 1983.) He launched a solo career following the group's split in 1990 and returned to the band in 2009 but left again in 2017. He currently plays to sold out crowds around the world.

Glen Matlock - Episode 846

Steve Cooper talks with musician Glen Matlock. Glen is best known as one of the founding members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Sex Pistols. After the Sex Pistols split in 1978 he appeared with Iggy Pop, touring throughout 1979 and playing on his Soldier album. He later guested on records by the likes of Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople), Frank Black (Pixies) and Primal Scream before signing to Alan McGee’s Creation Records in 1995. 1996 saw him team up with the reunited Sex Pistols on the ‘Filthy Lucre’ world tour. Almost 20 years after they last played together the original Pistols were back. From 2001 to 2005 he was a member of Dead Men Walking, a live supergroup which included members of The Cult, Stray Cats and The Alarm. The band issued two live albums and built up a cult following throughout the UK. In 2011 he formed The International Swingers together with Clem Burke (Blondie), James Stevenson (Chelsea) and Gary Twinn. The band released the album Whatever Works Now in 2015. As well as regularly playing solo shows, he also fronts his own band The Philistines. Their fourth album ‘Born Running’ was released in 2010. ‘Good to Go’ Glen’s second solo album was released in 2018. He continues to tour world wide.

Rich Wilkes - Episode 845

Steve Cooper talks with screenwriter Rich Wilkes. Rich has written the movies Airheads, xXx, The Dirt and The Jerky Boys to name a few. He also wrote and directed Glory Daze and wrote and stars in the documentary Punk Like Me.

Geoff Downes - Episode 844

Steve Cooper talks with musician Geoff Downes. Geoff first came into the spotlight from being a member of the new wave group The Buggles with Trevor Horn. The Buggles song Video Killed the Radio Star was the first video played on MTV. He then joined Yes and after that formed the supergroup Asia. Since then he has rejoined Yes and is in the Downes Braide Association.

Mark Farner - Episode 843

Steve Cooper talks with musician Mark Farner. Mark is best know for being the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad. After the 1969 Atlantic Pop Festival put Grand Funk Railroad on the fast track, the band topped the Billboard Chart twice with both the anthem We’re an American Band and The Loco-Motion. The Flint, Michigan trio reached the top 10 again with Some Kind of Wonderful (No. 3) and Bad Time (No. 4) before GFR disbanded for the first time in 1976. Mark briefly rejoined Grand Funk during the 1980s and 1990s and he has collaborated with many other artists over the years.  However, his focus has been to forge an enduring solo career based upon bringing his message of love to his fans in all corners of the world.

Don McLean - Episode 842

Steve Cooper talks with singer/songwriter Don McLean. Don is best known for his 1971 hit song "American Pie", an 8.5-minute folk rock "cultural touchstone" about the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation. (In 2001, American Pie was voted number 5 in a poll of the 365 Songs of the Century compiled by the RIAA and the National Endowment for the Arts.) His other hit singles include Vincent, Dreidel, a rendition of Roy Orbison's Crying and rendition of the Skyliners Since I Don't Have You and Wonderful Baby. He has recorded over 20 studio albums and continues to sell out shows in America and around the world.

Martin Chambers - Episode 841

Steve Cooper talks with musician Martin Chambers. Martin is best known for being the drummer of The Pretenders. The Pretenders were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Martin played for the band from 1978-1986 and returned in 1994. He has performed with the band all over the world including at Live Aid and the US Festival.

Steve "Lips" Kudlow - Episode 840

Steve Cooper talks with musician Steve "Lips" Kudlow. Lips is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist of the Canadian heavy metal band Anvil. Anvil was the subject of the critically acclaimed 2008 documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil which brought the band renewed recognition. The band released their first album in 1981 and since then has recorded 17 more.

Bruce Vilanch - Episode 839

Steve Cooper talks with comedy writer/songwriter/actor Bruce Vilanch.  Bruce is a six-time Emmy Award-winner best known to the public for his four-year stint on Hollywood Squares, as a celebrity participant; behind the scenes he was head writer for the show. He has also written for the Academy Awards, the Tony’s, the Grammy’s and the Emmy’s. He began his writing career in the mid-1970s when he began writing articles for the entertainment section of The Chicago Tribune. During the early phase of his career, he worked with Bette Midler, writing for her Broadway show titled Clams on the Half Shell and Divine Madness.’ In 1980, he also began writing articles for the LGBT-interest magazine titled The Advocate and he serves as a writer for the magazine to this day. As for his acting career, he has appeared in films such as Mahogany and The Ice Pirates, You Don't Mess with the Zohan along with television series’ such as Law & Order and Bosom Buddies and on stage in Hairspray.

Dave "Snake" Sabo - Episode 838

Steve Cooper talks with musician Dave "Snake" Sabo. Snake is lead guitarist, songwriter and co-founder for Skid Row. Skid Row's self titled debut album in 1989 sold over 5 million copies in the U.S. and had four singles accompanied by videos. (18 and Life, Youth Gone Wild, I Remember You and Pieces of Me.) Their follow up, "Slave  to the Grind" was the first metal album to debut at number one on the charts. Since then they have recorded 5 albums and continue to tour the world.

Jon Reep - Episode 837

Steve Cooper talks with stand-up comic/actor Jon Reep. Jon built a following through his hilarious comedy specials and as the winner of NBC’s fifth season of Last Comic Standing. He can currently be seen in Netflix’s Brad Paisley’s Comedy Rodeo and his new standup special on Amazon Prime Ginger Beard Man or his new standup album Ginger Pain. His  hour standup special Jon Reep: Metro Jethro and his half hour standup special both aired on Comedy Central. He is also host of the popular podcast Country-ish. As an actor, he has been seen in Tig Notaro’s Amazon Series One Mississisppi, CW’s Jane The Virgin, ABC’s Black-ish, HBO’s Eastbound and Down, and as the “Hemi Guy” from Dodge’s popular ad campaign. On the big screen he appeared in the feature film Into the Storm and as the beloved Raymus, the pot smoking farmer in Harold and Kumar: Escape From Guantanamo Bay.

Rachel Bolan - Episode 836

Steve Cooper talks with musician Rachel Bolan. Rachel is the bassist, songwriter and co-founder for Skid Row. Skid Row's self titled debut album in 1989 sold over 5 million copies in the U.S. and had four singles accompanied by videos. (18 and Life, Youth Gone Wild, I Remember You and Pieces of Me.) Their follow up, "Slave  to the Grind" was the first metal album to debut at number one on the charts. Since then they have recorded 5 albums and continue to tour the world.

David Raymond - Episode 835

Steve Cooper talks with thought leader/mascot David Raymond. David is best known for being the original Phillie Phanatic. During his 16 years performing as the Phanatic in 48 states and five countries, his charismatic showmanship carried the Philadelphia Phillies to World Series victories and unimagined levels of popularity, sparking a revolution in the mascot industry. Leveraging the unique lessons he learned from the inside out, He made a seamless transition as an entrepreneur into the world of character branding and mascot development. Since starting Raymond Entertainment Group nearly 20 years ago, he has designed and rehabilitated hundreds of character brands for Fortune 500 companies, sports teams, and colleges and universities. In 2005, he founded the Mascot Hall of Fame.

John Waite - Episode 834

Steve Cooper talks with musician John Waite. John began his career when he was tapped as bassist and lead vocalist for the Babys who rocketed to Top 20 chart positions with a pair of hits, Isn’t it Time from the band’s sophomore LP, Broken Heart in 1977 and the monster ballad, Every Time I Think of You off 1978’s Head First. After he parted ways with the band and embarked on a solo career he has released ten studio albums and is best known for the 1984 hit single Missing You, which reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the top ten on the UK Singles Chart.

Jim Vallely - Episode 833

Steve Cooper talks with writer/producer Jim Vallely. Jim was a writer and consulting producer for Arrested Development, a multiple Emmy Award-winning television show and was an executive producer and co-creator of Running Wilde. He got his start being part of the popular comedy due The Funny Boys and then transitioned into writing. He wrote or produced for a number of TV series including The Golden Girls, The John Larroquette Show, My Wife and Kids, Ladies Man, Action and Two and a Half Men. He also created the series Brotherly Love.

Alicia Coppola - Episode 832

Steve Cooper talks with actor Alicia Coppola. Alicia has recently had co-starring, guest starring or recurring roles in shows such as Shameless, Why Women Kill, All Rise, Empire, The Rookie, The Young and the Restless, MacGyver and Designated Survivor. She also has starred on CBS’s Jericho and played the role of Lorna Devon on NBC’s long running soap opera Another World for which she was nominated twice and won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Younger Leading Actress. Other shows she has appeared on include series such as Sons of Anarchy, Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI:NY Two And A Half Men, Law And Order; Criminal Intent, Crossing Jordan, Suits and many others.

Corey Glover - Episode 831

Steve Cooper talks with musician/actor Corey Glover. Corey is best known as the lead singer for the band Living Colour. Livng Colour has recorded 6 studio albums and rose to fame with their solo album Vivid which included the Grammy winning hit Cult of Personality. Corey has a current project with the band Soul Saver and has been involved with many other groups including Galactic, Ultraphonic and Soul Rebels Brass Band. He also is an actor who appeared in the Oscar winning movie Platoon and played Judas Iscariot opposite of Ted Neeley in a national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Tom Cochrane - Episode 830

Steve Cooper talks with singer/songwriter Tom Cochrane. Tom is best known for his huge hit Life is a Highway and his work with Red Rider who found mass success from the song Lunatic Fringe. He is a recipient of 8 Juno Awards, and is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame, Walk of Fame, a prestigious Officer of the Order of Canada, the Order of Manitoba, former Honorary Air Force Colonel in the 409 squadron, an honorary doctorate, a recent Diamond Jubilee award, many songwriter awards from SOCAN, CAPAC and ASCAP, a Grammy nomination as well as numerous other citations and awards. He has recorded seven albums with Red Rider and 6 solo ones.