Matt Laug was on IHT in 2014. It was long before he got the gig w AC/DC but that was no surprise to me. When I interviewed Lyle Workman at his home studio Lyle told me Matt Laug has one of the greatest feels he’s ever heard or recorded. As Lyle said, “I don’t know - it’s just his touch” - When Lyle Workman says that, it means something. Matt Laug got me in touch w Stan Lynch and made that interview happen. Matt did that from Italy while on tour. Great drummer, great guy. Matt even told a Phil Rudd story in this interview - foreshadowing? From 2014, episode 67 w Matt Laug now available wherever you listen to podcasts
Nate Wood appeared on IHT back in 2015. Originally from California, Nate lives in Brooklyn. He was in LA and we met up at his friends studio. I don’t think Nate knew the show but he had friends who had been on and that was enough convincing for him. He drops some gems here - always remember him talking about Carlock and the “throw” of the stick - good stuff here. From 2015, episode 80 w Nate Wood now available wherever you listen to podcasts
Lenny Castro invited me to his home in Thousand Oaks CA in 2017. We sat in his backyard at a large table under an umbrella. His wife brought out food for us to snack on. Incredibly down to earth guy, salt of the earth. Lenny was the guy who told me Stevie Nicks runs Fleetwood Mac - I thought it was Lindsay. Years later we’d all find out Lenny was right. From 2017, episode 101 w Lenny Castro now available wherever you listen to podcasts
Nashville Legend Greg Morrow appeared on I’d Hit That in 2023 during the Nashville series. I had wanted Greg on for years, but figured I had to be in Nashville to make it happen. It almost didn’t happen, but Greg managed to make time and sit w me for a conversation. It was eleven years in the making - sitting w someone in person can take time to pull off. Greg is a soft spoken, humble, gentle giant of a man. An icon of the studio world. The top dogs are always easy going. Episode 187 from 2023 w Greg Morrow now available wherever you listen to podcasts
Victor Indrizzo first appeared on IHT in 2015. I went to the studio he co-owned in Los Angeles and we did the interview there. I had been a huge fan of Willie Nelson’s album Teatro, and Victor’s playing on that record still sounds utterly unique. Victor Indrizzo has to be one of the coolest mother$@&ers in the business. His story about auditioning for The Cult, asking Billy Duffy if he wants to jam - I was in Barcelona, and someone found out I was the guy from IHT and he said to me, with a thick accent, “I don’t JAM!” - Years later I would go to Victor’s house for a part 2, but it all began here. I ended up writing a play about mafioso and needed a name for a character never seen so I used Indrizzo because #italian - From 2015, I’d Hit That w Victor Indrizzo available wherever you listen to podcasts
Jeremy Stacey came over to the Hollywood Hills house in 2015, he was in town for something and I think maybe Dave Elitch helped set it up. I had recently gotten a concussion when this was recorded, i haven’t listened back to see if that’s noticeable or not. That concussion lasted 6 months - banged my head in the garage and rung my bell pretty good apparently - there were good days and bad, this may have luckily been a good one, I don’t remember. But I remember we made coffee w the Bialetti moka pot and Jeremy was gracious enough to give a lot of time. He’s a good bloke. Episode 85 w the great Jeremy Stacey from 2015 now available wherever you listen to podcasts
Nate Morton has been the house drummer on The Voice since forever. We first met in 2015 when he came over to the Hollywood Hills house. It was evening, he was done w work and ready to have some drinks. I didn’t have vodka, which was what Nate wanted, so we headed down Highland to a corner store to grab some. While at the register we heard a song on and neither of us could name the artist. Nate pulled out his phone and used shazam to figure it out - I had never seen that app before, but right away I could see he was constantly hungry to learn about any song he didn’t already know. We went back up to the house and got glasses w ice and went outside and sat in the back. It was already late, I remember we wrapped the interview close to midnight. We drank, I probably smoked more cigarettes than John Mellencamp in a day, and we laughed our asses off. We hit it off and made plans to hang again but when yr as busy as Nate Morton that doesn’t happen often. From 2015, Nate Morton on I’d Hit That now available wherever you listen to podcasts
Chris McHugh first appeared on I’d Hit That in 2013. We met at the SoFi hotel in LA while he was on tour w Keith Urban. We did the interview on the rooftop. It was filled w lounge chairs and maybe even a pool - i don’t remember. The setting was very LA. While we talked, Michael Iveson showed up. I had no idea he and Chris had been in touch, so Iveson showing up was a surprise for me. Iveson became part of the episode - I remember at one point i had to take a leak so I left them to it. 10 years later Chris McHugh and I sat down again in Nashville for a part 2. Chris admitted then, in 2023, he was most likely high on pills when we did the 2013 interview. Chris admitted things in 2023 that take courage and balls to talk about - I respect him immensely for how open he was. So this snapshot from 2013 is of a different Chris McHugh from a different era, though still dropping gems as a Nashville studio king. He was a different guy when I saw him in 2023, far more humble and warm. But the fact that Chris can talk openly on how far he’s come is a testament to the hard work he’s put in on his sobriety - One day we’ll do a part 3 - And in this photo you will note Chris is wearing an I’d Hit That t-shirt while in the studio. You will never be Chris McHugh cool, but you can get close and buy your own IHT t-shirt in the link in bio. Episode 57 from 2013 w Chris McHugh now available wherever you listen to podcasts
Back in 2017 was when I first met Dan Weiss. He couldn’t have been more than 28 or 29 at the time but he was already a legend. He’d walk in the door and everybody who worked the room just went wild. He’d give the doorman a hundred just for opening the door. He’d shove hundreds in the pockets of the dealers and all the guys that ran the games. I mean, the bartender got a hundred just for keeping the ice cubes cold. I met Dan Weiss in LA when he came to the house in an Uber. I remember Lenny Castro telling a story about Elvin Jones and how he avoided shaking his hand bc Elvin would grip so hard. Dan Weiss gave me the Elvin Jones handshake when we met and I felt that for a day. Don’t shake Dan Weiss’ hand. I only knew Dan as a jazz guy but when he came in my house he spotted the Faith No More album “Fool For a Day,” pointed at it and said, “great record.” Dan had to go out to Burbank to do a thing w Camber cymbals, who he endorses, so we recorded on the way over in the famed mobile recording unit. It was the first time I did one whilst driving. We both loved boxing and discussed that. Years later I was walking to a Zach Danziger gig in Brooklyn and I ran into Dan and his wife heading to the gig. Dan told his wife who I was and she said “oh yeah you’re the guy who did that interview where you talked boxing for an hour” - Dan Weiss knows Goodfellas better than anyone Ive ever met and if you don’t know my opening to this post shame on you. If one more letter from this kids school goes to his house - in the $&@#% oven you’re gonna go. Dan Weiss knows films and books w the best of them and I don’t know any drummer who works on his craft more than Dan. We are due for a part 2 after some pizza from Johnny’s in Mount Vernon. Episode 102 from 2017 w Dan Weiss available now wherever you listen to podcasts
Fred Eltringham appeared on I’d Hit That in 2023 during the Nashville Series. I was in Nashville staying at the guesthouse of my producer on that series, Tommy Goss. I was there for a week doing 2-3 interviews a day. I had never done it that way and I enjoyed that process. Fred Eltringham was extremely busy and I had to go to his house outside Nashville around dusk. Fred lives out in the country, w large properties all around. Fred’s son was sick and he didn’t want us inside so we got ready to sit outside on his front porch. Just as we began his neighbor started mowing his lawn on one of those real deal sit on ‘em kind, the loud take no prisoners John Deere variety. I was wearing headphones to monitor background noise and could tell instantly it was going to be a problem. In the moment I was frustrated but this episode, the first 10 minutes, has since become an all time favorite of mine as far as beginnings go. The unintentional comedy that ensued is gold to me now. This is doing interviews in person - on location, when there’s no rescheduling on the table. Eventually we moved to the backyard while walking through the house and we kept it rolling. This is the stuff I love about doing these podcasts - the unknown, the happy accidents. Best opening 10 minutes of any episode, in my opinion. Not to mention a great interview w a great guy. Episode 184 from 2023 w Fred Eltringham now available wherever you listen to podcasts
Zach Danziger first appeared on I’d Hit That in 2013. It would be his first of six appearances on IHT, and it all started here in this first meeting - Zach and I had never met before. He suggested we meet at the Ace Hotel coffee shop on W. 29th street in NYC and we sat in the crowded seating area on a leather couch. This was the early days of the podcast when I wasn’t as concerned w background noise. It made it seem more “real” at the time. Zach and I hit it off w a similar sense of humor. We were both New Yorkers, both grew up obsessed w professional wrestling, all the references just landed w each other. This was the first episode capturing what would become a good friendship over the years. One day Zach and I will share the stories of when we spoke on the phone daily when the covid lockdown began. The projects we discussed that never went anywhere. We had more ideas than time. Zach understood this audio-only format better than most. He always came prepared w bits and stand-up comedy worthy routines. Sometimes they were discussed beforehand, sometimes he just hit me w them in the moment. I stole this photo of Zach off the internet from the drum magazine the no talent son of a @$?! Frangione bought and destroyed. I figure if the no talent hack Frangione can steal a drum magazine’s brand and take it for his own, i will steal his photo of Zach Danziger - not to mention, it makes Zach look suave and almost James Bond like here, and I could never afford such lighting and makeup. Episode 40, from June of 2013, w Zach Danziger, available now wherever you listen to podcasts
