Ted Lekas, former producer of KLOS' Mark & Brian show talks about the highlights of the past Christmas Shows

As the executive producer of KLOS' legendary Mark & Brian Show, Ted Lekas' typical day encouplassed managing talent, publicists, reporters, promotions, researching news stories and celebrity gossip, coordinating ticket give-aways, website promotions and booking guests. He led a daily brainstorming seassion with the team, contributing ideas for new sketches, show segments and events. The not as typical days were producing events including ten Mark & Brian Christmas Variety Shows, remote broadcasts and live Amphithetare shows that headlined the likes of Bon Jovi, Melissa Etheridge and Foreigner. As Mark  Brian have said, "Ted is a world class producer, he solves problems before they happen, his attention to detail is unparalled, and he never gets flustered." For this holiday season, we thought it would be fun to bring Ted into our studio and discuss his trails and tribulations of putting together the Mark & Brian Christmas Shows and talk about the ups and downs of the highly complicated holiday tradition. And, as a special bonus, we have added a few Mark & Brian holiday bits to the end of the podcast. So stay through the credits for more fun. Find show notes which include videos and photos of past Mark & Brian Christmas Variety Shows. plus links to Ted's website (where you can find the many of the live music performances) at: www.rockandrollconfessional.rocks Rita & CW also featuring Mark & Brian as past guest on the podcast. Listen to those episodes where ever you found this one! 

We've got the scoop! First to record it, first to announce it. It's an incredible interview with Derek Smalls, former lead bass player formerly of the band formerly known as Spinal Tap. We have the official announcement! Spinal Tap, which had been together for over 40 years, officially has broken up. Derek is pursuing a solo career with the release of the first of 12 new songs - the first is: R.V.M. (Rear View Mirror). We also get an update on what has happened since the release of "Spinal Tap 2 - The End Continues", including the relationship between Derek and Elton John, the Glue Museum and how the band originally tranistioned from Pop to Heavy Metal. Plus we get to hear about the Saucy Jack musical, the soon to be released live performance at Stonehenge and why Derek, Nigel and David are no longer a band.  Side note: Derek mentions a few musicians that have been previous guests on our podcast, including: Mark Bonilla, Kipp Lennon and a few more. Find those recordings in our archives. For more information and for show notes, visit our website: www.rockandrollconfessional.rocks Derek's site: www.dereksmalls.com    

Marc Bonilla is a renowned guitarist, composer, and producer whose dynamic career spans decades across the worlds of rock, film, and television. He first gained recognition touring with Warner Bros. recording artists Toy Matinee and later released three critically acclaimed instrumental guitar albums on Reprise Records: EE Ticket, American Matador, and Celluloid Debris.  A versatile and south-after collaborator, Bonill has performed, recorded and produced with an impressive roster of artists including Asia, Ronnie Montrose, Gamma, Glenn Hughes, Eddie Jobson, Slash, Little Richard, Peter Frampton, Rob Halford, David Coversale, Paul Rodgers, Edgar Winter, Ambrosia, David Pack, Todd Rundgren, Robby Krieger, Don Felder, Sammy Hagar and Tesla, among many others. In the Realm of film and television, Marc has composed and performed on scores for numersous major motion pictures such as The Bourne Legacy, Iron Man 2, Green Lantern, The Scorpion King, Falling Down, Waterworld, The Replacements, Spiderman 2, Bruce Almighty, ER and many more. He has collaborated with top Hollywood composers including James Newton Howard, John Debney, Joel McNeely, and Snuffy Walden, earning an Emmy nomination in 2001 for his work on David Milch's Big Apple. For Show notes and more info, visit our website: www.rockandrollconfessional.rocks Also Marc mentions many of our previoius guests that you may want to hear those interviews, including Lee Sklar, Glenn Hughes, Kipp Lennon, Peter Frampton, Robby Krieger and more. Find those interviews where ever you found this one!   More info on Marc's site: https://marcbonillamusic.com/

Few Metal bands havwe achieved Iron Maiden's enduring success - across popularity, musical integrity, and live performance power. Daniel Bukszpan's new book, Iron Maiden At 50, captures this extraordinary five-decade journey in full. Equal parts biography and anniversary tribute, the book chronicles Maiden form inception to global metal juggernaut via 50 pivotal moments that shaped the band's influence and legacy. They story is told indepth, via the landmark albums, historic tours, line up shifts and behind-the-scenes decisioins through the decades.  Daniel's book is more than a timeline - it's a deep dive into Maiden's unmatched drive, evolution, and artistic conviction. From pub gigs to packed stadiums across six continents, Iron Maiden at 50 explores how a working-class band from London became one of the most influencital forces in metal.  For show notes and more information, visit our website: www.rockandrollconfessional.rocks We also have two other interviews with Daniel in our archives including: his books: "Ozzy at 75" and "Rush at 50"

Original release date: September 20, 2025. Jerry Harrison is an American musician, songwriter, producer, and entrepreneur. He launched is professional career with the pironeering band The Modern Lovers, before joining the iconic new wave group Talking Heads as their keyboards and guitarist. In 2002, Jerry was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Talking Heads.  One of the band's most celebrated achievements is Stop Making Sense, the groundbreaking 1984 concert film directed by Jonathan Demme and excutive produced by longtime manager Gary Kurfirst. Filmed over four nights at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood during tthe Speaking In Toungues tour, it remains a high watermark in live performance cinema. Now, Stop Making Sense is back - newly restored in 4K and returning to the theatres with a special twist: each screening features a live appearance by Jerry himself. He kicks things off with personal insight and behind-the-scenes stories followed with a live audience QandA. We had the incredible opporutnity to sit down with Jerry to talk about this exciting new tour, which just kicked off earlier this month. For show notes and more information, visit our website: www.rockandrollconfessional.rocks Talking Heads fans, please see our previous shows, one which includes a great interview with Talking Heads drummer, Chris Frantz. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRo9aDR3Ay0&t=86s  

Today we are honored to share a rare and special conversation with one of Los Angeles' original punk icons - Exene Cervenka of the band X. As the co-lead vocalist, a core songwriter, poet, and artist, Exene has helped define a genre and inspire generations.  X Began shaking up the music scene nearly 50 years ago, and now, after decades of groundbresaking work, they're preparing to take their final bow. Their farewell album, Smoke & Fiction, dropped last year to critical acclaim - and now John Doe, Billy Zoom, DJ Bonebreak and Exene are hitting the road one last time with their final tour kicking off September 19th, joined by the legendary Los Lobos.  Side note: we have two other archived interviews featuring John Doe of X and Steve Berlin of Los Lobos.  Find our show notes and more information on our website: www.rockandrollconfessional.rocks  

When people talk about the great rock vocalists of all time, several familiar and redundant names will always appear, like Ronnie James Dio, Robert Plant, Roger Daltrey, Chris Cornell and others.  One name that appears on those same lists is Rock And Roll Hall of Famer, Glenn Hughes, known for his work in Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze, Black Country Communion, and as a solo artist. We were lucky enough to speak with him about the new record, upcoming  confirmed projects with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Joe Bonamassa, as well as what it was like to play Cal Jam I in Ontario and his thoughts on loosing his friend Ozzy Osbourne the prior week.

Original air date: August 1, 2025   First off, we highly reccomend that you listen to part one before you listen to this half of the interview. If you've ever wondered what it's like to work in the rock and roll business at the highest level, this guest has the answers to all of your questions.  Paul Rappaport started out as just a regular guy from Southern California - someone who loved ledgendary concerts and played guitar in his own band. But as fate would have it, a recommendation led him to apply for a college rep position at Columbia Records, and he only moved up from there.  In the episode, Paul tells incredible stories about the Rolling Stones (Ron Wood & Keith Richards), Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, Elvis Costello and more.  Paul just released his critically acclaimed book, "Gliders Over Hollywood" and he is happy to share many of those stories on this episode of our podcast.  For more information and to view the show notes, visit: www.rockandrollconfessional.rocks  

Original release date: July 17, 2025 If you have ever wondered what it was like to work in the rock and roll business at the highest level, our latest guest will be able to answer many of your questions.  Paul Rappaport was just a regular guy growing up in Southern California, who enjoyed seeing legendary concerts and even playing guitar in his own band.  As fate would have it, someone recommended that he apply for a job as a college rep for Columbia Records. He got the job and before long he was using his creativity and love for music to help elevate the careers of Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and even stalwart label mates, like Tony Bennett and Bob Dylan.  Paul just release is critically acclaimed book, "Gliders over Hollywood - Airships, Airplay and the Art of Rock Promotion". The book is available everywhere including Amazon and your local book stores! For more information or to see the show notes, visit: www.rockandrollconfessional.rocks  

Original release date: June 19, 2025 Formed in Los Angeles' lengendary Sunset Strip in 1985, Guns N' Roses quickly rose from the gritty club scene to become one of the biggest acts in rock music - achieving massive commercial success and becoming a top live draw in under three years. Along the way, their meteoric rise was matched by no shortage of controversy, internal conflict, and headline-making moments.  In the book "Guns N' Roses at 40", acclaimed rock historian and author Martin Popoff explores 40 priotal moments that shaped the band's legacy - from their formation and  breakout success to major tours, iconic releases, creative partnerships, internal struggles, and everthing in between.  We were thrilled to be speaking with Martin Popoff about his new book. With over 100 titles to his name on topics ragning from hard rock and heavy metal to classic rock and vinyl collection, Martin's work includes Rush" The Illustrated History, Led Zeppelin: Song By Song, Pink Floyd: Album by Album, Bowie at 75, AC/DC at 50, KISS at 50 and more. He also contributed to the award-winning docuemtaries Rush: Beyond the LIghted Stage and ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band From Texas.  For more information or to see the show notes, visit: www.rockandrollconfessional.rocks