The Don's Hit List Podcast

Whitehall is an indie rock four-piece band from Charleston, SC. Paddy McKiernan (vocals, guitar), Brennan Clark (bass), Davis Rowe (drums), and Avery Greeson (guitar) met while attending the College of Charleston and got their start writing songs in a dorm room. After four years spent in the South Carolina DIY scene playing house shows throughout the state, the band recorded their debut album, 'Ocean Fiction,' and embarked on their first tour on the East Coast with a live show that is at once frenetic and introspective. In the years that followed, Whitehall recorded and released their sophomore effort 'Swordfish Catcher' and received praise and playlist placement from national publications like NPR, Alternative Press, and American Songwriter. This album saw their sound shift from bouncy, melody-laden indie, to something grittier, with distorted guitars and imaginative lyricism that more closely resembles acts like Pavement and Car Seat Headrest.

Bryan Bassett joined The Don, Dean, and Stormy to talk about the latest release from Foghat. Bryan talks about the genesis of the song "Play That Funky Music" and how it changed his music career for the better. We get into rock guitar players who are heavily influenced by funk. Bryan talks about being a part of Foghat and his close relationship with "Lonesome" Dave Peverette and Dave's closing words regarding carrying on the music of Foghat. So many great stories in one interview.

Ronnie James Dio's widow Wendy join us to talk about the release of the Dio documentary on DVD/Blu-Ray called, 'DIO: Dreamers Never Die'. We get into Ronnie's love of classical music. Wendy still feeling Ronnie's presence in her life and the special trumpet he would play since he was 5 years old. Wendy got a laugh on how Dean woke up his wife when he saw a special moment in the Dio documentary. Ronnie's love of literature. Science Fiction, History, and Fantasy which led to his love of lyrics. We also talk about special moment with Rob Halford of Judas Priest and Don Dokken with Ronnie and Wendy went into the personal experience. These stories and more in this interview.

The Verve Pipe lit up the alternative rock world in 1996 with their album 'Villains' which contained the HUGE hit song "The Freshman" which recently became a viral trend on Tik Tok. We dig into that album as well as the influences of music on Brian including early Genesis. Brian also talks about how times are different when it comes to street teams. We also dig into their David Bowie cover of "Life On Mars?" which they have been doing on tour

The Hard Rock band Fall of Envy returns with vocalist/lyricist Michael Baker and Lead Guitarist/Songwriter Tommy Harrington. We dig into songs from their debut album "Poetic Rage" that we did not cover in the first interview. We also get into their latest single "Left For Dead".

Legendary performer John Corabi headlines an incredible lineup for G4L Records Cancer Benefit Show #1 for "Elizabeth & Chris" on October 17th in Nashville at The Eighth Room. John will be performing songs from his Motley Crue days including hits such as “Hooligan’s Holiday”; The Dead Daisies’ “Dead and Gone"; “Man in the Moon”, and ”Love (I Don’t Need It Anymore)”. Tora Tora’s Anthony Corder will be performing his hits including “Walkin’ Shoes” and “Guilty”. 13 South’s Chris Blevins will be performing his 2023 Josie Award Nominated “Rock Songwriting Song of the Year” “Mississippi Way”. "The idea for the show came from G4L Records Founder, Markus Muller-Stach. He began developing the event while his wife was in her battle with Stage 4 Breast Cancer as a way to honor her, give her a night of great music, brighten up her day, raise money to fund an end of life trip and pay for cancer related bills. Sadly, during production Elizabeth passed," says John Corabi. The event has grown to include artist and friend Chris Blevins who is also battling cancer, performing, and co-producing the event. Markus Muller-Stach adds, “I’m excited to move forward with this event. It’s been very therapeutic to work on. The last 3 ½ years of my wife battling cancer, losing her recently, the impact and all that goes with it has inspired me to help other families that are going through this. So after this show, we will begin working on the next one in Los Angeles and find other cancer patients to honor. Knowing firsthand the pain and suffering a cancer patient and their family go through, all the associated bills, I’m honored to be doing my small part to help cancer warriors in the future. I’m so blessed to have such talented, accomplished, and generous artists help make this idea a reality.” Purchase G4L Records Cancer Benefit Show #1 Tickets HERE John Corabi will head back on tour with The Dead Daisies at the end of the month. For Tour & Ticket information, please visit: https://thedeaddaisies.com/

Tommy Victory of the legendary metal band PRONG joined us to talk about their 13th studio album 'State Of Emergency' which was released on October 6th via Steamhammer / SPV. The album title aptly describes the state of world as we know it today. We cover some of the tracks and we talk about NYC yesterday and today. We also talk about their upcoming shows with Life Of Agony.

Kurt Deimer released his brand new single "Doom" to all major platforms along with the official music video today, August 11, 2023. Kurt has also announced that he will be heading out on select tour dates with Skid Row and Buckcherry. Kurt joined The Don, Grizz, and Dean Baldwin to talk about his new song 'Doom' from his upcoming movie 'Hellbilly Hollow'. We talk about the horror film and the song in detail. We also talk about his cameo in Halloween movie and being killed my #michaelmyers on screen. We also get into how his constantly surrounded by positive people.

Glenn Hughes is the iconic bassist of bands like Deep Purple, but he is touted by the great Stevie Wonder as one of his favorite vocalists. Glenn joined us and we discussed his amazing vocals which started in Trapeze to his time with Deep Purple. Glenn also shared stories about Stevie Wonder and being David Bowie's roommate. We discuss songs from his current set list and Glenn shares amazing stories. We also ask him, is there anyone he has yet to collaborate with and we all unanimously requested Vernon Reid. Maybe the universe will allow that to happen one day. Glenn also discusses how he constantly likes to change.

Trevor Rabin is a guitar icon. From his tremendous solo work, to YES, to over 50 film scores, Trevor Rabin never rests. Trevor joined The Don and Dean Baldwin to talk about his new solo effort in over 34 years titled 'Rio' which also happens to be the name of his cherished granddaughter. Trevor talks about the true backstory to '90125' on whether it was intended to be a YES album or not. What were the forces that drove the iconic album to become a YES album. We got into his classical music influences as his father was a conductor with the symphony orchestra in South Africa for over 17 years. We got into how Trevor's mind NEVER stop creating to where his wide understands the cues and sets up him up properly. We talk about his over 50 film scores and the creative process in that undertaking. There is so much more to this discussion that it is definitively worth the listen.

There are tribute bands, and there is Killer Queen. Frontman Patrick Myers take the tribute to Freddie Mercury seriously. Patrick joined us and we talk about the history of 'Killer Queen', emotional performances, songs from Queen that affect him, and so much more!

Glen Phillips of the iconic band Toad The Wet Sprocket joined us and we dove into the recently released LP "All You Want". We discussed the songs "I Will Not Take These Things For Granted", "Crazy Life", "Crowing", "Windmills", "Transient Whales" and more. Dean Baldwin joined in on the conversation which talked about bridges in a song, the influence of Toad The Wet Sprocket on the 90s of being thrust into the pre-grunge / post-grunge unique lane of their own style. We also got into dealing with divorce and starting a new life. Creative ways to write songs, and so much more!

A Light Divided is led by the powerhouse vocals of front woman Jaycee Clark with instrumentation from drummer Adam Smith along with guitarists Doug Weichbrodt and Scott Vallina. Together, they create a unique blend of rock and metal with a pop sensibility. Through their electrifying live performances, A Light Divided has garnered a devoted following, steadily growing their underground army of fans. Their high-energy shows have earned them coveted spots at major festivals such as Vans Warped Tour, Blue Ridge Rock Fest, and Cadott, WI's Rock Fest. Additionally, they have shared the stage with esteemed national acts like In This Moment, Motionless In White, August Burns Red, Lacuna Coil, Diamante, 10 Years and many more. In addition to their successful touring endeavors across the country, their most recent single “Inhale/Exhale” impressively climbed to #9 on the billboard top singles chart beating their previous single “Radio Silence” debut at #55. A Light Divided has also achieved over 2.8 million Spotify streams, won the "Best Rock Video" award at the 2019 Carolina Music Awards for “Scars of You”, and was hailed as a band you need to know by AltPress. Jaycee Clark further showcased her versatility by lending her voice to AEW wrestler Leyla Hirsch's entrance theme, "Legitimate," as seen on TNT. As they gear up for their next chapter, A Light Divided released their highly anticipated new single, "RAIN," today, August 11th. This track promises to showcase their evolution as musicians and further solidify their place in the music industry. A Light Divided is: Vocals - Jaycee Clark Guitar - Doug Weichbrodt Guitar - Scott Vallina Drums - Adam Smith

Jeff Pilson is an amazing multi-instrumentalist, producer, recording & touring artist, and vocalist! Jeff joined Dean Baldwin and I and we discussed his time with Dokken, playing with Mick Jones of Foreigner, Playing with Dio, working with Mickey Thomas of Starship and so much more! He seems to work with EVERYONE and is always busy. Jeff is currently the bassist for FOREIGNER. He joined the band in 2004. He produced Foreigner’s 2006 Live CD, “Extended Versions,” recorded November 26, 2005 at Texas Station, as well as tracks off of their “No End in Sight” CD in 2008. In 2009 FOREIGNER released “Can’t Slow Down” featuring Jeff on Bass and backing vocals. Jeff was also featured on the 2011 FOREIGNER release, “Acoustique” which presented their most famous songs along with some newer tracks, stripped-down. FOREIGNER released a LIVE album in 2016, “In Concert: Unplugged” with Jeff as the musical director for the project. Later that year the band dropped a new EP featuring “The Flame Still Burns” for Record Store Day’s Black Friday event. Jeff was a member of melodic metal bands Dokken, Dio and MSG. Additionally, Jeff played in the band Wild Horses which also featured drummer James Kottack (Scorpions, Kingdom Come), guitarist Rick Steier (Kingdom Come, Warrant), and singer John Levesque. Jeff also formed his own progressive metal group called War and Peace in 1989, handling all of the vocals, along with his instrumental work. Jeff released four W&P albums: 1993’s “Time Capsule”… 2001’s “Light at the End of the Tunnel”… 2004’s “The Walls Have Eyes”… as well as the 2013 reissue of “The Flesh & Blood Sessions” featuring tracks that pre-dated Time capsule along with a new bonus track, “Heaven Knows.” Jeff Pilson is also an actor, having appeared in the movie Rock Star, 2001. Pilson played bassist Jorgen, of the fictional band Steel Dragon. The film also featured performances by musicians such as Zakk Wylde, Jason Bonham, Myles Kennedy, Brian Vander Ark, Blas Elias and Nick Catanese. He also played in the film’s soundtrack and served as Musical Director for the film. Pilson produced the first two CDs of San Diego metal band Benedictum as well as the first release from Adler, featuring original Guns & Roses drummer, Steven Adler. Jeff also worked with his ex-Dokken band mate, guitarist George Lynch (and drummer Michael Frowein) in a project called Lynch/Pilson, which in 2003 released the critically acclaimed “Wicked Underground” in 2003 where Pilson also handled lead vocal duties. This recording was later remastered and re-packaged in 2020 with a special bonus track, “Top of the World.” Jeff & George have since collaborated on several projects & bands, including the 2012 release T&N “Slave to the Empire” which also featured Dokken drummer, Mick Brown and drummer Brian Tichy. Vocals on all new tracks were handled by Jeff, and a few re-worked Dokken classics were handled by guest vocalists. Jeff was invited to play bass on Lynch Mob’s 2015 release, “Rebel” and later would team up again with George & Mick along with former Lynch Mob vocalist Robert Mason to record & release “THE END machine” in 2019, followed up by “Phase 2” in 2021. Jeff & George would like to record new music with this group! And finally, Jeff balances TEM with another project group called Black Swan that features Jeff on bass with REB Beach on lead guitar, Matt Starr on drums and powerhouse vocalist Robin McAuley on the mic. They released “Shake the World” in 2020 and came back in 2022 with “Generation Mind.”

Dean Baldwin of Sirius XM (Classic Rewind, Classic Vinyl, Deep Tracks) and Stryk TV joined The Don of Deans Of Nashville to interview the legend known as Mickey Thomas. Mickey Thomas is the voice of Jefferson Starship on songs like "Jane" and "Find Your Way Back" but it was his voice on Starship's "Knee Deep In The Hoopla" that made Mickey a household name. The interview starts as Mickey talks about seeing The Beatles live August 18, 1965. We dug into the backstory of recording the vocals on Elvin Bishop's "Fooled Around And Fell In Love" which tell Mickey his voice on that song still gives us goosebumps all these years later. Dean got into the backstory of the Jefferson Starship family of members. How MTV helped Starship transition from the 70s to the 80s. We get into "We Built This City" and how Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics. "Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now" as the 'sell-out' song. How Mickey can STILL pull off singing "Sara" live. We also got into the Starship album "Loveless Fascination" and working with the great Jeff Pilson. We also got into 2 songs that Mickey felt should have been hits but missed. Dean also asks Mickey about AI in music.

Ryan McCombs (Vocals) and Guitarist/Songwriter/Founding Member C.J. Pierce of Drowning Pool joined Dean Baldwin (Host of Sirius XM shows on Classic Rewind, Classic Vinyl, and Deep Tracks) and The Don for a candid interview. The return of Ryan to the band, "Bodies" longevity and the crazy mosh pit stories, the song that Ryan sings that he channels the late great Dave Williams with on the set list, a Neil Diamond cover tune in the works, and the concerns around artificial intelligence in music.

Jock Bartley is an original member of the legendary rock band Firefall. How often do we here "Just Remember I Love You" and "You Are The Woman" on rotation on our favorite classic contemporary music station? Frequent is the right answer. We talk about those hits and more. When a group reaches their fifth decade like Firefall has, they develop deep roots with their fellow musicians, whether it’s from sharing touring bills or the shuffling of band members. On Friends & Family (arriving September 22 on Sunset Blvd Records), Firefall celebrates these relationships by performing songs from bands whose histories are intertwined with Firefall’s. These 13 tracks, representing multiple Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, country rock pioneers, Southern rock superstars, and Top 40 hit-makers, create an album that stands - in the words of Firefall’s remaining founding member, guitarist Jock Bartley - “as a tribute to the great music of the 70s.” Firefall certainly contributed their share to the 70s’ great music. They lit up both AM and FM airwaves with a string of hits, starting with their 1976 smash “You Are the Woman” and touring with such acts as Fleetwood Mac, The Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Doobie Brothers. While the band’s melodic, country-flavored rock is present throughout Friends & Family, Firefall also show their deep respect for these songs that they, and millions of others, love. Their intention wasn’t about perfectly recreating the originals, explains Bartley, who also produced the album. “We wanted to duplicate the energy in the songs and make them familiar but make the music a little bit different and put a new slant on the songs.” This approach is fully evident on the opening track, the Doobie Brothers’ “Long Train Running.” The band flips the primary and secondary guitar parts, as well as adding in Jim Waddell’s saxophone, resulting in a rendition that sounds similar but isn’t a replication. For Poco’s “In The Heart Of The Night,” Bartley decided to not include a pedal steel (played on the original by Rusty Young, a longtime Firefall friend who died in 2021), but instead played a slide guitar to achieve the same vibe. Similarly, the version Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” stays true to the tune’s thunderous guitar sound, the addition of a nimble accordion solo (provided by album guest John Magnie of the Subdudes) delivers a nice sonic touch. Friends & Family features two songs that feel tailormade for this project: Loggins & Messina’s “Angry Eyes” and Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See.” Like Firefall, Loggins & Messina’s music was rooted in acoustic guitars, harmonies and offering a touch of sax. On their rendition, Firefall cut several minutes off the 70s-jammy original, while also injecting a rockier edge. Marshall Tucker and Firefall were among the few American rock bands to use a flute. In fact, long-time woodwind/keyboard player David Muse, who joined Firefall before their first album, also performed with Marshall Tucker beginning in the late 90s. Sadly Muse, who passed away from cancer in 2022, was too ill to play on this track. Firefall dedicated Friends & Family to him. Firefall began in 1974 when both Bartley and Roberts were living in Boulder, Colorado. They started to play together, with Andes soon joining them. Initially, the three planned to record Roberts’ third solo album, but it felt more like a band when they played together. Roberts soon enlisted singer/songwriter Larry Burnett, and Clarke came aboard on drums, and Firefall was born. Bartley still marvels at how Burnett and Roberts not only brought a dozen songs apiece to the band, but also how wonderfully their songwriting and singing balanced with one another.

Marc Ribler has played with some greats and is well respected by Little Steven, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello and even performed with Sir Paul McCartney. Marc join the show to talk about his new song "Armageddon" and share some amazing stories. "When Marc isn’t putting together amazing bands for me, he’s writing great songs and has been doing it for years. His new album for Wicked Cool plays like a greatest hits collection. He can do it all."- Steven Van Zandt

Doug Kistner joined the show to talk about his music project Studio D’Lux which features an all star line up from legendary bands Chicago, Steely Dan, and Billy Joel on new yacht rock vibe single. This is the follow up from the recent Studio D’Lux EP, which released on December 2, 2022 and has so far streamed 200k on Spotify. This project and song is written and produced by singer/keyboardist Doug Kistner. Grammy winner Bill Champlin, best know for co writing "After The Love Is Gone" for Earth Wind & Fire and for his voice on "Look Away" and "Hard Habit to Break" by Chicago, adds his soulful vocals to the track. Famed rock drummer Liberty Devitto and bassist Malcolm Gold supply the grooves. The song takes a turn at the 3 minute mark and features a guitar solo from Steely Dan’s Jon Herington. Studio D'Lux is a musical venture led by singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Doug Kistner, who writes and produces all the songs released by the group. Doug Kistner has played with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, John Waite, Blood, Sweat &Tears, and Danny Seraphine's CTA. He is currently playing with Lords of 52nd Street and Summer of Love. You will hear these world class musicians put their stamp on this exciting new music inspired by the great music of the 70s and 80s.

Doug Kistler join the show to talk about his music project Studio D’Lux which features an all star line up from legendary bands Chicago, Steely Dan, and Billy Joel on new yacht rock vibe single. This is the follow up from the recent Studio D’Lux EP, which released on December 2, 2022 and has so far streamed 200k on Spotify. This project and song is written and produced by singer/keyboardist Doug Kistner. Grammy winner Bill Champlin, best know for co writing "After The Love Is Gone" for Earth Wind & Fire and for his voice on "Look Away" and "Hard Habit to Break" by Chicago, adds his soulful vocals to the track. Famed rock drummer Liberty Devitto and bassist Malcolm Gold supply the grooves. The song takes a turn at the 3 minute mark and features a guitar solo from Steely Dan’s Jon Herington. Studio D'Lux is a musical venture led by singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Doug Kistner, who writes and produces all the songs released by the group. Doug Kistner has played with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, John Waite, Blood, Sweat &Tears, and Danny Seraphine's CTA. He is currently playing with Lords of 52nd Street and Summer of Love. You will hear these world class musicians put their stamp on this exciting new music inspired by the great music of the 70s and 80s. The Don's Hit List on FAB Ra