Podcast – Allen "Big Al" Tate

Jonathan Joseph of GUIDES Discusses the Single “DRAIN”

June 8, 2026

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Season 2, Episode 7: https://guidesmusic.com/

Jonathan Joseph from the Pittsburg band “GUIDES” joins me on this episode to discuss their new single “DRAIN,” which is their first new music release since 2023. The song represents an elevation in production value and sonic quality compared to their debut EP “When Everything Reverses.” He explained that the song was inspired by personal experiences about emotional growth and maturity, particularly observing how not everyone chooses to grow up at the same rate, which impacts relationships and causes people to grow apart. Jonathan described Guides’ musical style as blending the textured aggression of nu metal with the emotional depth of post-hardcore, similar to bands like Taproot, Finch, and AFI, with the bass carrying much of the melodic structure. The band plans to release another single called “Failure Defines” on June 17th and have a third single coming out in July, with plans to return to the studio in the fall.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/evQy3uBtPZI

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5iXxXqrg3s7zHtHdn8lkjn?si=GNz4V-moSUSsLFRPT5pQag

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Passion is a Fashion by Pat Gilbert

Big Al

May 27, 2026

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Season 2, Episode 6: https://www.amazon.com/Passion-Fashion-Revised-Updated-Anniversary/dp/1805704133/

In this episode I spoke with Pat Gilbert, author of the book “Passion is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash.” We discussed the revised 50th anniversary edition of the essential biography about the influential British punk band. Pat explained how the book began as a series of articles for Mojo Magazine in the late 1990s after he gained access to band members, and was eventually published in 2004 following Joe Strummer’s death in 2002. The revised edition includes expanded chapters on the White Riot tour, New York recording sessions, and Jamaica, with additional interviews and corrections to chronology. Pat discussed how The Clash evolved from punk roots to more experimental genres, attributing this shift primarily to guitarist Mick Jones’ desire to create musically sophisticated work, particularly incorporating reggae influences into their rock music.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/kSF41-_uGYM

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Ly3HaguBEikS3yoSHOMLI?si=9Af29m1DS6G8EtcmANqS7g

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Author Daniel Bukszpan Discusses “Rush and 2112: 50 Years”

Big Al

March 9, 2026

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Season 2, Episode 5: https://notoriousbuk.com/

Author Daniel Bukszpan joins the show again. This time he’s here to discuss his new book “Rush and 2112: 50 Years,” which explores the influential 1976 album and its impact on the band’s career. Daniel explained how the book’s three sections cover the album’s creation, musical analysis, and aftermath, while also revealing new insights about Mercury Records’ supportive role during the album’s development. The discussion included Daniel’s writing process, his other published works with Quarto, and his upcoming projects including a book about the Big Four metal bands.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/hMkGVMxjREA

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/70WW1dZBJQGGJHZ6mPt5mN?si=msRSS0osTvWTb-awUIVZKw

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Author Martin Popoff Discusses His New Book “KISS ’76”

Big Al

February 23, 2026

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In this episode, Martin and I discussed his latest book, “KISS 1976: 12 Months That Defined the Hottest Band in the Land,” which will be released on February 24th. Martin explained the book’s structure, which covers each month of 1976 with sections on KISS’ activities, world events, and music industry happenings. He described the research process and challenges he faced while writing the book. Martin also shared insights into his writing process and mentioned some of his other recent publications.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/GhJkEOYiWuk

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/70j5S3ZL2sZ4ocXaPxZZg8?si=2XAGw5Z6RXm4db0o4GjLRA

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Jeff and Kyle from “A Light Within” and Their New Single “Dying Clock”

Big Al

February 9, 2026

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Season 2, Episode 3: https://alightwithin.bandcamp.com/

In this episode talk with I Jeff and Kyle from “A Light Within” about their recent single “Dying Clock,” a 9-minute track inspired by Tool, Pink Floyd, and Alan Parsons. The band members discussed their approach to music creation, noting that while COVID-19 was challenging, it allowed them time to write new material. Jeff mentioned working on ideas for a 2026 album release. We also discussed their musical journey, starting with their first EP “Preface” in 2013, which they later remixed and remastered.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/49smy_LAcAY

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1DnkdTruM3tgiZyi1K9Xlj?si=yHPJZcOWQ1uwLJSaPPwp7Q

Find Big Al’s Rockin’ Podcast at any of the podcast outlets listed below.