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Welcome to The Beardo And The Weirdo Podcast! The show starring comedian Craig Gass and the slightly lesser-known musician Chris Kael, from Five Finger Death Punch. This podcast is all about sharing funny, interesting, and poignant behind-the-scenes stories about the music industry and stand-up comedy - stories so crazy you might not even believe they're real! Listen as Chris and Craig candidly talk about their lives, struggles, and triumphs in two of the craziest businesses to ever exist.
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Josh Wolf sits down with Chris Kael of Five Finger Death Punch and comedian Craig Gass for a raw conversation about surviving 30 years in stand-up comedy, the 1990s Seattle open mic scene that produced Joey Diaz and Brody Stevens, and the George Carlin mentorship that changed everything. Fans of stand-up comedy history and behind-the-scenes comedian stories will hear details never shared publicly before. Wolf recounts the Pioneer Square hustle that funded his early career, the night Brody Stevens threw a punch at Craig Gass during a Tacoma open mic, and how a YouTube comedy special with 14 million views saved his career after ticket sales collapsed post-Chelsea Lately. The conversation shifts between laugh-out-loud stories — a mushroom-fueled belly button encounter at the Old Chella festival, James Inman riding a city bus with a bucket of piss — and genuinely emotional moments about single fatherhood, Brody Stevens's death, and why vulnerability on stage became Josh Wolf's signature. Craig Gass shares his own origin story of bombing so badly in Tucson that he walked off stage shaking, only to return three years later with a chip on his shoulder that caught George Carlin's attention. Wolf, Gass, and Kael also trade stories about Bill Burr obsessing over Steven Adler's drumming, Jelly Roll's legendary generosity toward fans, and how arena-sized crowds forced Five Finger Death Punch to slow down their songwriting. The episode covers the Seattle Comedy Underground, Joey Diaz's early gambling schemes, Cedric the Entertainer starting alongside Kathleen Madigan, and why Josh Wolf treats his Friday late shows as three-gram mushroom experiments. Three decades of friendship between Wolf and Gass surface in stories that range from a George Carlin New Year's Eve at Bally's Las Vegas to the moment Wolf told a room of six people "Thank you, Seattle!" and dropped the mic. The Jelly Roll divorce question gets saved for the Patreon, but not before Wolf reveals enough to confirm the friendship runs deeper than most fans realize.
Five Finger Death Punch bassist Chris Kael and comedian Craig Gass reconnect mid-tour on Beardo and Weirdo to break down the FFDP 20th anniversary tour, the viral Aidan Mullen interview about the Metallica bus crash that killed Cliff Burton, and behind-the-scenes footage from the Ramones 50th anniversary celebration at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Kael reports the band is playing the strongest set of their career alongside Cody Jinks and Ava Under Fire. The conversation covers Ivan Moody stopping a show during a dangerous Cincinnati heatwave to hand out water, the origin of Kael's "Yell with Kael" crowd sing-along segment that started as a spontaneous moment on night one, and how he Rick Rolled an entire arena at PNC New Jersey with full production support. Kael burned 1,548 calories on stage during the Cincinnati show — nearly double his usual 900 — and came dangerously close to heat exhaustion backstage afterward. Craig shares first-person footage and stories from the Ramones 50th anniversary show featuring Travis Barker on drums, Tim Armstrong of Rancid on bass, Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day, CJ Ramone, Billy Idol, and John Travolta. Backstage encounters included John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Five, Matt Pinfield, Priscilla Presley, and Bam Margera. Craig also recounts hanging out with Russell Peters at a Pittsburgh cigar lounge after a comedy show and tells an unforgettable story about accidentally telling John Frusciante an unflattering anecdote to his face. Kael opens up about the reality of touring — the brutal challenge of sleeping in bus bunks as a six-foot, broad-shouldered man, the Whoop recovery data showing 18% recovery on bus nights versus 82% in hotels, and how that sleep deprivation originally drove his heavy drinking. He also discusses his transition to cigar lounges as a sober social alternative and the new star coach bus setup for the next leg. The episode covers Kael's Jones Beach prank on Gass that backfired spectacularly, the Banana Man viral moment guest visiting a Canada show, and Punched Energy gummies as the podcast's first official sponsor.
Metallica's 1986 tour bus crash in Sweden killed Cliff Burton and trapped guitar tech Aidan Mullen beneath the wreckage. Mullen, who was pinned under the overturned bus with Burton lying across his arm, shares the full firsthand account of that night for one of the only times publicly — from waking up mid-crash to being unable to breathe under the debris to hearing production manager Bobby Schneider's voice pulling him free.Mullen traces his path from answering a classified ad for the Eric Martin Band in BAM Magazine to getting the call from Bobby Schneider offering him the James Hetfield guitar tech position on the Master of Puppets tour supporting Ozzy Osbourne. He arrived in Lexington, Kentucky having never heard a single Metallica song, only to find Hetfield in a cast from a skateboarding accident and Ozzy wandering the hotel lobby in a yellow dress at nine in the morning.The conversation covers the Metallica bass player auditions after Burton's death, including Mullen's account of picking up a scrawny Jason Newsted at San Francisco International Airport — and knowing immediately he would get the gig. Mullen details the lasting physical and psychological effects of the crash, from chronic back problems caused by decades of defensive sleeping postures on tour buses to panic responses triggered by turbulence and lane departures. The accident also prompted sweeping changes to European tour bus safety regulations, ending the era of plywood-over-window bunk construction and exhausted drivers working spotlight trusses before overnight drives.Hosted by Craig Gass and Chris Kael of Beardo and Weirdo, this episode captures a rare insider perspective from someone who lived through one of rock history's most devastating losses and continued working at the highest levels of the touring industry with Def Leppard, Phil Collins, Eddie Money, and Mesa Boogie.
Dave Buckner, original drummer of Papa Roach and the man behind the billion-stream hit "Last Resort," reveals how cocaine addiction nearly ended his life during the height of the band's success — and how reaching his 50th birthday and 10 years of sobriety became the milestone he never expected to celebrate. Beardo and Weirdo hosts Craig Gass and Chris Kael sit down with their longtime friend for a raw conversation about fame, self-destruction, and the recovery path that brought him back from the edge, Buckner details the exact trajectory of his addiction, from being known as "the sober guy" in Papa Roach's early days to trying his first line of cocaine on a crew bus in Europe in 2002, well after the band had already exploded worldwide. The conversation covers how drug use escalated from casual experimentation to daily consumption of multiple eight balls, how even his own drug dealer expressed concern for his well-being, and why the rock and roll lifestyle created an environment where nobody had incentive to intervene. The former Papa Roach drummer entered his first rehab in 2007 after calling bandmate Jacoby Shaddix for help, but alcohol continued to pull him back through years of relapses. Buckner describes the specific courtroom video of a drunk driver who killed his own two-year-old son — the moment that triggered what he calls his spiritual awakening and permanently removed the desire to drink. His last drink came on June 15, 2016, after checking into his third and final outpatient program. Buckner's story of surviving nu-metal fame and cocaine addiction while rebuilding relationships with his parents, his wife Stacey, and his son stands as a testament to long-term recovery work through 12-step programs and the people who refuse to give up on someone still struggling.
Rikki Rockett reveals the behind-the-scenes survival tactics, personal betrayals, and wild road stories that shaped Poison's 40-year career — from flyering cars outside a Sammy Hagar show in a broken-down Chevette to headlining stadiums with Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard. Craig Gass Chris Kael and Dave Buckner sit down with Poison's founding drummer as he promotes his new memoir Ghost Notes: My Life in Poison, uncovering a side of the glam metal era that even longtime fans have never heard. The conversation covers Rockett's 27-year Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practice, his paranormal investigations with TAPS from Ghost Hunters, and the pivotal moment when Talk Dirty to Me broke on MTV after the band's grassroots flyering campaign on the Ratt tour. Rockett also details how Bret Michaels operated like a politician backstage, why the band kept a condom machine on their tour bus, and the night he met Lars Ulrich at the Rainbow after a magazine pitted Poison against Metallica on its cover. Rockett explains how Capitol Records shelved the Crack a Smile album when grunge took over, forcing him into a creative hiatus where he pursued comic books instead of music. He describes the physical toll of 1980s drumming — where producers demanded machine-like precision and banned ghost notes — and how his side project Rocket Mafia finally lets him play with the swing and dynamics he always wanted. Dave Buckner, original Papa Roach drummer, shares parallel stories of destroying his body from overpowering the kit during the Last Resort era. Ghost Notes: My Life in Poison chronicles Rockett's trajectory from dishwashing dropout in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania to arena-level rock stardom, with Corey Taylor contributing the foreword and Rocket Mafia touring through December 2026.
Chris Kael, bassist of Five Finger Death Punch, reveals that the band's upcoming Legacy album will have two singles out before the tour launches, confirms new songs will be added to the live setlist for the first time, and explains why he chose to stop dating entirely to focus on music, therapy, and channeling what he calls a "simmering rage" into songwriting. Craig Gass and Kael break down the emotional mechanics of being a working musician who still carries anger despite years of sobriety and professional success — a conversation that extends into Phil Labonté's viral comments about men and therapy, with Kael offering a pointed rebuttal from personal experience. The episode covers how Craig Gass built an unlikely network of touring industry professionals starting at age fourteen by sneaking back into concert venues after security clocked out, a hustle that has now come full circle with crew veterans reaching out to him for job referrals. Kael matches that story with his own — the tale of how he cold-messaged a stranger on a Spector bass owners group on Facebook to borrow a five-string bass for the Five Finger Death Punch "Under and Over It" music video, and how that same stranger is now his full-time bass tech on the current touring cycle. The conversation detours into Frank Bello of Anthrax discussing musical angst across generations, Robert and Chloe Trujillo watching their son play bass for Suicidal Tendencies from a private balcony in Melbourne, Sebastian Bach's move from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, and Chris Jericho's legendary method of staging fake candid photos with professional wrestlers as a teenager in Winnipeg. Craig also recounts performing standup at a Times Square comedy club where audience members mistook him for someone from King of Queens, and Kael shares the time he mistook Lakers fans at his hotel for Five Finger Death Punch fans waiting for autographs. Beardo and Weirdo continues to sit at the intersection of heavy metal touring life and standup comedy road stories, with Kael and Criag trading the kind of unfiltered moments that only happen between a working bassist and a working comedian who share a Las Vegas zip code.
Jeff Keith, frontman of the multi-platinum rock band Tesla, reveals the full origin story of how a small-town kid from Georgetown, California, went from driving septic tanks and mixing cement to selling millions of records and touring the world for four decades straight. In this sit-down with Beardo and Weirdo hosts Craig and Five Finger Death Punch Bassist Chris Kael, Keith walks through the exact moment that changed his life: sharing a microphone with Frank Hannon at a Sacramento bar audition in 1983, the only move that convinced the band he was their guy.Keith breaks down the making of Tesla's new covers album Homage, dropping July 17, 2026 alongside a tour with Mötley Crüe and Extreme. He explains why the band chose to cover songs by Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, and others — and how George Jones's longtime keyboardist Kent Goodson became the only outside musician Tesla has ever brought into a recording project. Keith also recounts the night he performed alongside Jeff Beck in Japan with Jimmy Page watching from the audience, a soundcheck miscommunication that left Beck shouting directions mid-song, and the strict no-touching rule Keith learned about the hard way.The conversation digs into Tesla's decision to go completely sober in 2004 to support guitarist Tommy Skeoch before a Scorpions tour, a move Keith frames as simple brotherhood rather than sacrifice. He tells the story behind the hit ballad "What You Give," revealing it was inspired by the death of his dog Brandy — not a romantic relationship — and how someone dismissing his grief with "it was just a dog" became the emotional catalyst for the lyric. Keith also shares his rescue of a stray dog and six puppies from a Texas roadside, a cross-country drive to find them homes, and his ongoing connection to animal rescue alongside Kael's Las Vegas charity work.Four decades after seeing Bon Scott at his first concert in 1978, Jeff Keith still names that moment before every Tesla performance, a ritual that connects a Future Farmers of America kid from Idabel, Oklahoma to one of classic rock's most enduring careers.What did you think of the show? Let us know in the comments!Be sure to subscribe to the channel here: @BeardoAndWeirdoPodcast Check out the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BeardoandWeirdo
Stephen Ray, author of Ozzy and Me, and Big Dave from MTV's Battle for Ozzfest reveal firsthand accounts of Ozzy Osbourne's final year — from the Birmingham homecoming show to the private funeral at the Osbourne estate — exposing how surgical failures accelerated his decline and how the stage remained his only real medicine. One year after the passing of heavy metal's most iconic frontman, two members of his inner circle share memories that reframe the public narrative around his health, his humor, and the farewell that nearly didn't happen.The conversation covers Ozzy's imposter syndrome despite decades of global fame, Sharon Osbourne's legendary protectiveness including the infamous Tiffany box incidents sent to Tony Iommi, and how the Osbournes' generosity extended to everyone from road crew to casual acquaintances. Stephen Ray details how a fan letter written by his mother at age fifteen led to a lifelong friendship, while Big Dave recounts transitioning from limousine driver to trusted companion after a chance pickup assignment in 1996.Dave Buckner of Papa Roach contributes a firsthand account of Ozzfest 2001, where vocalist Jacoby Shaddix narrowly avoided arrest for inciting a riot at an East Coast amphitheater — escaping in the trunk of a rental car with Sharon Osbourne's help. Big Dave describes body-painting himself as Iron Maiden's Eddie the Trooper mascot and rushing the stage during the tour where Sharon famously unplugged Iron Maiden mid-set. Stephen Ray recounts Ozzy confusing Carmine and Vinnie Appice hours before a Black Sabbath reunion show in Budapest, and reveals that commissioned paintings of Randy Rhoads and Ozzy still sit unclaimed in a Belfast attic.The episode captures Ozzy Osbourne not as the caricature of reality television but as the self-deprecating, fan-obsessed, World War Two history buff who stayed six hours at free signings and made sheep noises during drum solos from the quick-change booth.What did you think of the show? Let us know in the comments!Be sure to subscribe to the channel here: @BeardoAndWeirdoPodcast Check out the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BeardoandWeirdo
Stephen Rae and Big Dave — two people absorbed into Ozzy Osbourne's inner circle — share firsthand stories from decades spent inside the Osbourne world, one year after Ozzy's passing. Rae, who first met Ozzy as a 15-year-old fan from Belfast after his mother wrote a letter to the fan club, and Big Dave, a New York limo driver who parlayed a birthday airport pickup into a full-time role as Ozzy's personal assistant, recount the bizarre, hilarious, and deeply personal moments that defined their relationships with rock's most unpredictable family. The conversation covers the culture shock of entering Ozzy's orbit without any music business background — from Rae being escorted backstage by tour managers speaking into radios as if retrieving a head of state, to Big Dave learning on the fly as Sharon Osbourne handed him roles ranging from nanny to chief of security to throat-spray handler. Both men describe the specific moment they realized their lives had permanently changed, and how the Osbournes operated less like an employer and more like a surrogate family that collected strays and gave them purpose. Among the episode's standout revelations: the Bob Daisley shoe hustle in Rio de Janeiro where a 15-year-old Rae got stiffed eight dollars by Ozzy's bassist, Ozzy's habit of shaving sleeping crew members' eyebrows and hair during the 1980s rehearsal sessions, Jason Newsted's first-day bass etiquette lecture and Ozzy's slow revenge through ever-expanding setlists, Robert Trujillo mocking Rae's Berlin CD moments before Ozzy walked in requesting a fretless bass part inspired by "Take My Breath Away," and the Voodoo Fest night Sharon Osbourne abandoned Big Dave side-stage after Ozzy's voice blew out mid-song during Iron Man. Chris Kale of Five Finger Death Punch and Dave Buckner of Papa Roach join as co-hosts, adding their own touring context and a previously unknown Kelly Osbourne audition story. Part one of a two-part conversation recorded on the one-year anniversary of Ozzy Osbourne's death captures how two ordinary fans became permanent fixtures in an extraordinary life, and what that proximity cost and gave them in equal measure.
Riki Rachtman, the iconic host of MTV's Headbangers Ball, opens up about navigating divorce, mental health struggles, and the raw emotional weight of rebuilding life on the road during his One Foot in the Gutter tour. The former Cathouse Hollywood impresario sits down with Beardo and Weirdo hosts Chris Kael of Five Finger Death Punch and comedian Craig Gass for a brutally honest conversation that moves between gut-punch vulnerability and the kind of dark humor only old friends in heavy metal share. The episode covers Rachtman's separation from his wife, the nervous breakdown he experienced on an eleven-hour drive home from Florida, and the therapy and sobriety practices that have kept him grounded through one of the hardest chapters of his life. Kael and Gass share their own divorce and Separation stories with equal candor, creating an unexpectedly deep conversation about what it means to start over as men in their fifties who grew up in the anything-goes era of eighties metal. Rachtman runs through every date on his summer 2026 One Foot in the Gutter tour — from a sold-out Whisky a Go Go homecoming show on July 16th to stops in Portland, Seattle, New York City's City Winery, and more than twenty other cities. He breaks down his VIP and Road Crew ticket packages, explains why he believes fans should stop buying album presales and support local record stores instead, and reveals that he has to rewrite the ending of his show because it was originally about the marriage that no longer exists. Slash, Mark Morton of Lamb of God, Jeff Becerra of Possessed, and members of Hatebreed all reached out with support during the split. A Headbangers Ball legend processing real pain in real time, Rachtman proves that the Saturday night voice of an entire generation of metalheads still has something worth hearing — and this time the stories cut closer to the bone than any Cathouse after-party ever did.
Five Finger Death Punch bassist Chris Kael returns to the road after months at home, and the pre-tour dread is real. On this episode of Beardo and Weirdo, Kael and comedian Craig Gass break down the emotional whiplash of leaving a comfortable routine for arena stages, private jets declined in favor of solo motorcycle rides through 110-degree desert heat, and the unglamorous side of life in a major touring metal band. Kael recounts an 18-hour round-trip motorcycle ride from Las Vegas to Mescalero, New Mexico — through Kingman, Arizona, and Albuquerque — that nearly ended in disaster when hundreds of elk emerged after dark on mountain roads. Gass delivers a full update on the viral banana costume incident, where a hardcore band sicced their crowd on a fan in a sparkly banana suit, and addresses commenters who tried to inject racism into a situation that had none. The conversation also covers the awkward art of meet-and-greet etiquette, including why veteran musicians never say "nice to meet you" and the mortifying moments when fans get mistaken for someone's daughter. Behind-the-scenes footage from Sick New World festival anchors the second half, with Kael sharing stage-side video of Korn, System of a Down with Shavo Odadjian, Cypress Hill, and Marilyn Manson's set — where former drummer Ginger Fish wandered onto the stage and got tackled by security. Gass reveals that Alice Cooper wants to appear on the show, adding to a guest roster that already includes Gene Simmons, Dee Snider, Kerry King, and members of Korn and System of a Down. The Josh Wolf episode tease — featuring Gass's failed attempt to extract Jelly Roll divorce gossip — rounds out the chaos. Beardo and Weirdo continues to pull rock and metal's biggest names into unfiltered conversations that land somewhere between backstage access and barstool confessions.
Frank Bello has spent four decades as the bassist of Anthrax, but the stories behind the music cut far deeper than any thrash riff. Sitting in a hotel room in Dresden, Germany at 1:00 a.m. during a seven-week European tour, Bello joins Beardo and Weirdo hosts Craig Gass and Chris Kael for a conversation that swings from hilarious Kiss impressions to the darkest chapter of his life — and a never-before-connected Hollywood story involving Andrew Dice Clay, Sam Kinison, and Guns N' Roses. The episode covers Bello's earliest touring days with Anthrax on five dollars a day, picking eggs from a barn for breakfast on their first European run in 1984, and the night a fan threw firecrackers directly into his ear at a Celebrity Theater in-the-round show in Phoenix during the Among the Living tour. Craig Gass, who attended that exact concert, fills in details Bello had forgotten, creating a rare dual-perspective account of a legendary Anthrax show gone sideways. Bello opens up about his brother Anthony's murder in the Bronx on March 25, 1996 — the crime scene, the blood-splattered shoes visible under the sheet, and the two weeks of total darkness that followed where he obtained a gun and hunted for the killer nightly from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. He reveals that his wife was the first person he ever told, and that the thought of his mother losing another son pulled him back from the edge. The conversation also uncovers a collision of comedy legends at Mel's Diner on Sunset Boulevard, where Bello witnessed Dice Clay's arrest while Big Val Becigis arrived with Duff McKagan from a Guns N' Roses opening slot for the Rolling Stones — and Sam Kinison pulled up in a Corvette with plates reading "X REV" to heckle Dice in handcuffs. Anthrax's new album drops September 18th, their first record in a decade, with the lead single already drawing strong fan reaction from a band still channeling raw angst into music after 43 years together.
In this incredible episode, the guys are joined by legendary bassist Chuck Garric, who holds the title of the longest-standing member of the Alice Cooper band. The group kicks things off by recounting Craig's humiliating run-in with Alice Cooper's tour manager at the Welcome to Rockville festival, where Chuck actually had to step in and save him. Chuck then discusses his current role as musical director, merging Alice Cooper's theatrical rock with Criss Angel's mind-bending illusions for an epic Las Vegas residency. Chuck takes listeners on a journey through his rock and roll career, starting with his decision to quit the music industry, move to Lake Tahoe, and start a construction business as a single father before deciding to give Hollywood one last shot. That leap of faith landed him an audition with Ronnie James Dio, leading to a hilarious story about accidentally tripping over the legendary singer and straddling him on stage during a European tour. Chuck also reveals a massive piece of untold history: he auditioned for Five Finger Death Punch right around the time Chris Kael got the job. He shares why pulling up to an audition full of guys with freshly cut mohawks made him realize his integrity was worth more than changing his look for a gig. The wild tour stories keep coming as Chuck describes quitting Lynch Mob mid-tour after George Lynch made some bad substance decisions, resulting in a tense hotel hallway standoff where Chuck had to defend himself with a brass lamp. He also spills the beans on what it is like playing poker with Alice Cooper on the tour bus, a hilarious first-class flight encounter with a Bloody Mary-soaked David Duchovny, and the bizarre, unsolicited fashion advice he once received from KISS bassist Gene Simmons. Do not forget to check out Chuck's band Beastö Blancö, and head over to getgass.com for tickets to see Craig and Chris live on tour! Like, comment, and subscribe for more amazing rock and roll comedy interviews!
In this action-packed episode, Chris & Craig dive into some of the wildest viral stories hitting the internet right now while sharing an inside look at the incredible No Doubt residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Craig shares his VIP experience hanging out in the owner's suite courtesy of Tony Kanal, raving about the mind-blowing visuals and top-tier catering that make the Sphere the best venue in the world. The conversation then shifts to a shocking incident at a hardcore show in Toronto where the lead singer of the headlining band incited the crowd to attack a fan dressed in a banana costume. Scott, the famous Banana Man himself, joins the show to share his firsthand account of the unprovoked hostility, the hardcore community's reaction, and how he managed to survive the pit. Chris Kael sounds off on the hypocrisy of the attack and extends a personal VIP invitation to Scott for an upcoming Five Finger Death Punch show. Later, the guys welcome Josh Osgood, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who recently went viral for subduing an erratic, intoxicated passenger on a flight from Puerto Rico to Chicago. Josh breaks down exactly how he calmly used his martial arts training to safely mount and restrain the unruly passenger until the plane made an emergency landing in Miami. Chris and Craig praise Josh for his patience and highlight the importance of self-defense training for stepping up in dangerous situations. Be sure to catch Craig Gass and Chris Kael live on the road with upcoming comedy and music dates in Long Island, Houston, and Las Vegas.
In this episode, the guys dive right into some awkward backstage drama involving former SNL stars Horatio Sanz and Chris Kattan. Craig recounts the agonizing story of trying to set up free VIP tickets for Horatio and Chris to see No Doubt at the Sphere in Las Vegas, only to have both comedians flake out at the last minute—twice—leaving Craig scrambling to save face with No Doubt’s bassist, Tony Kanal. The conversation then shifts gears to sports, as Chris reacts to a recent article naming his beloved Vegas Golden Knights as the most hated team in the NHL. He breaks down the early success of the franchise and how the team helped heal the Las Vegas community in the wake of the tragic October 1st shooting at Mandalay Bay. Chris also shares a hilarious story of delivering "death glares" to an obnoxious Colorado Avalanche fan who was taunting the Vegas crowd, only for the Golden Knights to score three unanswered goals and shut the fan down completely. Craig and Chris also share more wild concert stories, including Craig’s recent attempt to enjoy a deafening performance by the drone metal band Sunn with his girlfriend, and an old clip of Craig looking absolutely terrified in the mosh pit at a Cannibal Corpse show. To wrap things up, the guys tease an unbelievably offensive Gilbert Gottfried joke that is too graphic for YouTube and can only be heard on their Patreon page. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more hilarious rock and comedy stories!
In this episode, the guys kick things off by recapping Chris's massive performance at the Welcome to Rockville festival in front of eighty thousand screaming rock fans. Chris shares what it is really like to step onto a stage of that magnitude and how his bandmates handle the pressure, while Craig shares his own nerve-wracking experiences opening for comedy legends like Russell Peters and Louie Anderson in sold-out arenas. The two then take an embarrassing trip down memory lane, pulling up vintage high school photos that prove Chris once looked like a used car salesman and Craig belonged in an eighties hair metal band. The stories get even wilder as Craig recounts his recent trip to the Saturday Night Live season finale party at the iconic 30 Rock skating rink. He details his incredible celebrity encounters, including secretly filming Paul McCartney, Steven Spielberg, and Lorne Michaels, as well as accidentally photobombing Will Ferrell while chatting with Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Craig also shares highlights from hosting an anti-bullying benefit concert in Seattle, featuring epic backstage moments and jam sessions with Nancy Wilson of Heart, Mike Inez of Alice in Chains, and Chris Ballew from The Presidents of the United States of America. To top it off, Craig reveals the ruthless prank Mike Inez pulled on him involving a loud, inappropriate video on a quiet first-class flight. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more amazing stories from the worlds of rock and comedy.
In this episode, Chris and Craig sit down with the absolute master of crowd work, stand-up comedian Ian Bagg. Ian takes us on a wild ride through his unbelievable career, starting from his dangerous early days setting up explosives at a Canadian gold mine to moving to New York City with only $700, living in a youth hostel, and landing a spot on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He opens up about the terrifying reality of unscripted crowd work, sharing unforgettable stories about a disastrous interaction with an audience member whose sister was killed by a retaining wall, and the insane moment he was slapped by a drunk fan at a corporate gig who then immediately crashed her truck into a police car. The conversation also dives deep into epic rock and roll encounters. Ian shares hilarious stories about accidentally roasting Linkin Park's Chester Bennington for an hour straight without knowing who he was, snapping a photo with Vince Neil and Tommy Lee of Motley Crue in a Vancouver strip club, and watching the drummer of Faster Pussycat hit his own guitarist in the head with a drumstick before trying to fight the entire audience. The guys also expose the dark side of the 1990s Canadian comedy club "mafia" and discuss how Ian embraced social media clips during the pandemic to completely revitalize his massive stand-up career.
In this powerful episode, Chris & Craig sit down with Andrew Tkaczyk, the legendary drummer for The Ghost Inside, to discuss his incredible journey of survival and determination following the band's tragic 2015 bus accident. Andrew opens up about the life-altering impact of the crash, which resulted in the loss of his right leg and ten days spent in a coma. He shares the raw details of his recovery process, including the mental and physical hurdles of relearning how to play the drums with a prosthetic limb. The conversation explores the technical innovations that allowed him to return to his craft, such as the specialized "Hammer" trigger system and a custom-designed drum throne that provides the stability he needs to perform at a professional level. Andrew also discusses the profound emotional experience of the band’s 2019 comeback show at The Shrine in Los Angeles, an event that proved to the world—and to himself—that he could still dominate the stage despite his injuries. Beyond the technical side of drumming, the group discusses the importance of a positive mindset and the support of the heavy metal community. Andrew explains his "no excuses" philosophy and how he handles the daily challenges of life as a musician with a disability. Chris Kael and Craig Gass also share their own perspectives on professional resilience and the drive required to maintain a career in the entertainment industry. To wrap things up, Andrew gives an update on his solo project, One Decade, and shares what is next for The Ghost Inside. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the lives of your favorite rock and metal icons!
In this hilarious episode, the guys are joined by Saturday Night Live legends Horatio Sanz and Chris Kattan. Horatio and Chris pull back the curtain on what it is really like to work at Saturday Night Live, starting with the anxiety-inducing audition process and the surreal moment of officially getting hired. They share incredible behind-the-scenes stories about pitching sketches to celebrity hosts while sitting on the floor of Lorne Michaels' office, the strict social hierarchy of the legendary SNL after-parties, and the unspoken rules of the show. Listeners get an inside look at the creation of bizarre characters like Mr. Peepers and how the cast would intentionally try to make each other break character on live television to boost the room's energy. The duo also discusses the famous "More Cowbell" sketch, revealing that Will Ferrell's shirt was slowly riding up his stomach because Chris kept pushing him so hard during the performance. The conversation also covers some of their wildest celebrity encounters backstage at Studio 8H. Chris and Horatio swap stories about Tracy Morgan's emotionally unpredictable behavior, accidentally walking in on Madonna putting on her bra in her dressing room, and hanging out with massive stars like David Bowie, Joey Ramone, and Leonardo DiCaprio. Horatio also shares a hilarious memory of rolling joints outside the SNL 40th Anniversary party while Prince and Paul McCartney performed a surprise concert inside. Finally, Chris Kael chimes in with his own rock and roll experiences, detailing his suspenseful audition for Five Finger Death Punch and admitting to accidentally snubbing Rick Springfield while hungover at a music festival. Be sure to grab your tickets to see Craig, Horatio, and Chris Kattan live, and do not forget to like, comment, and subscribe to the channel for more incredible comedy interviews!
In this heart-warming episode, the guys are joined by fan-favorite couple James B. Jones and Shelley Wolfe from the hit Netflix reality series, Love on the Spectrum. James and Shelley open up about their incredible journey navigating their relationship in the public eye, celebrating over two years of being together. They share their honest feelings about filming a reality television show, adjusting to the constant presence of cameras, and dealing with being recognized by fans in public places. The couple also takes the time to break down common misconceptions about autism, powerfully explaining that individuals on the spectrum are completely capable of living independent, successful lives and emphasizing that autism should be viewed as a different ability rather than a disability. Craig also shares a deep personal connection, relating their societal experiences to his own childhood growing up with a completely deaf family. The conversation then takes an exciting turn into the world of heavy metal and rock music, revealing the couple's shared passion for bands like Suffocation, Morbid Angel, Alice Cooper, and Amon Amarth. The absolute highlight of the episode occurs when David Draiman, the legendary lead singer of the rock band Disturbed, makes a surprise drop-in appearance to say hello to James and Shelley, sharing the story of how they originally became friends at a concert in Boston. Keeping the metal brotherhood alive, Chris Kael even extends a personal invitation for the couple to attend an upcoming Five Finger Death Punch tour date as his VIP guests. To wrap up the show, James and Shelley share details about their public speaking engagements at local schools to raise autism awareness, discuss their online merchandise store, and explain how fans can request personalized video messages from them on Cameo.
Ranking source
Apple Podcasts rankings via the Mato Topic Intelligence Platform.
Observed September 18, 2026. Cached outside the daily freshness window; the positions keep the date they were taken on.
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