Tape Spaghetti

What do you do when you’re the biggest pop star alive and your record label can’t keep up? If you’re Prince, you declare war on your own name. In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Scott and Blake trace how the hitmaker behind Purple Rain became an unpronounceable symbol in 1993. After signing a massive $100 million deal with Warner Bros. Records, Prince chafed at their glacially slow release schedule. Sitting on a mountain of unreleased music, he decided to engage in a legendary act of defiance. He abandoned the name Prince for an unpronounceable glyph—the Love Symbol #2—and wrote “slave” on his cheek at public appearances. The media, baffled, dubbed him “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.” Warner had to send out floppy disks so journalists could even type the symbol. Meanwhile, Prince by carpet-bombed them with albums until he fulfilled his deal, then released Emancipation on his own label. By 2000, he’d reclaimed his name and his masters. Did Prince carve his name in music history by deleting it altogether? This is one of pop’s wildest branding stunts—and one of its boldest victories.

What do you get when you combine when rock ’n’ roll, destiny, and total dysfunction? The Shaggs. In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Scott & Blake share the bizarre tale of three reluctant sisters from New Hampshire who unwittingly became cult idols of the pop scene. Driven by a domineering father determined to fulfill a prophecy that his daughters would become famous, the Wiggins sisters had no training, no exposure to pop music, and no particular desire to be in a band to begin with. Their seminal work, Philosophy of the World, is an album defined by erratic rhythms, jangly guitar nonsense, and clashing vocals that somehow amounts to something…totally endearing. Frank Zappa praised it, Kurt Cobain loved it, and it now stands as a cornerstone of "Outsider Music" that challenges our very conception of pop. Tune in to untangle the strange, sad, and ultimately joyful story of The Shaggs.

Picture this: mid-70s Los Angeles, Sunset Strip glowing, Rainbow Bar & Grill buzzing. Upstairs, hidden from the paparazzi, Alice Cooper presides over a drinking club comprised of the world’s biggest rock stars. Members included Keith Moon, Ringo Starr, Harry Nilsson, Mickey Dolenz, and regular guests like John Lennon, and Iggy Pop. Their creed? Drink until someone literally drops. From Lennon’s meltdown at the Troubadour to Keith Moon’s nightly costume reveals, the antics were as unhinged as the alcohol was endless. Yet beneath the fun lurked the darker truth of rock’s excesses: careers derailed, friendships tested, and lives cut short. Alice Cooper barely escaped by embracing sobriety, while others weren’t so lucky. Listen in as Scott and Blake unravel the myths, mayhem, and aftermath of a group that embodied both the heights and hangovers of the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle.

What does it take to break free from your father’s shadow? For Hank Williams Jr., it was just about every bone in his body. In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Scott and Blake trace Hank Jr.’s journey from teen imitator of his iconic dad to one of country’s fiercest originals. Sparked by a mighty tumble off the Smoky Mountains that nearly killed him, Hank Jr. relearned how to walk, talk, and make music — and, miraculously, was all the better for it. With “Family Tradition” and “Whiskey Bent and Hellbound,” he embraced southern rock swagger, celebrated his vices, and created music that was unapologetically his own. Along the way, he reshaped country music itself, proving that second-generation stars could blaze trails, not just imitate them. Tune in and hear the story of how one brutal fall gave rise to a legend.

What do Bob Marley, U2, Grace Jones, and James Bond have in common? The name’s Blackwell — Chris Blackwell. In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Scott and Blake dive into the unexpected story of the Island Records founder who reshaped global music. Raised among Jamaica’s colonial elites, Blackwell was rescued from a near-death experience by Rastafarian fishermen who gave him a new lease on life and a newfound devotion to reggae. From there, Blackwell founded Island Records and launched Jamaican music into the mainstream. And that wasn’t all—he gave Nick Drake freedom to fail, signed Roxy Music for their style alone, and gambled on a scrappy Irish band named U2. Was Blackwell a visionary who elevated voices from the margins, or a clever colonizer who repackaged them?

Does 15 years plus $14 million equal perfection? Axl Rose was willing to ditch his Gun N' Roses bandmates to find out. On this week’s Tape Spaghetti, Blake & Scott unravel the unwieldy tale of Chinese Democracy, the album born of Axl’s unrelenting vision… but at what cost?? With endless lineup changes and a vicious cycle of revisions, this Slash/Izzy/Duff-less GNR record looms large as a passion project pit against some extremely lofty expectations. Did Axl pull it off? Was Chinese Democracy doomed by its own hype, or is it somehow a massively overlooked gem of ambition? Tune in for a cautionary tale about chasing perfection with a bucket on your head. (And a chicken coop in your studio?)

You’ve got your entire life to write your debut… and 6 months to top it! In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake and Scott explore the dreaded sophomore slump, breaking down why second records are so difficult to perfect and why our perceptions of them often change with the added context of time. Whether it’s a Hootie, a Beastie, Alanis, or U2  this one’s a celebration of overreach, awkward pivots, and the impossible expectations we put on artists. Are these sequels genuine disappointments, or is this the way we punish artists who dare to evolve?

Frank Ocean pulled off one of the greatest artistic jailbreaks in modern music—and did it in style. In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake and Scott explore how Ocean dropped the hauntingly beautiful visual album Endless to fulfill his contract with Def Jam… only to self-release Blonde the very next day, fully independent and with total creative control. Ocean not only beat the system, he reshaped how the system works, cementing his status as one of hip-hop’s modern masters and brilliant escape artists. Whether you’re a Frank fan or just curious about the most baller bait-and-switch in recent music history, this one’s worth the listen.

Post-hardcore… or purely paranormal? In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake and Scott are joined by Guitar Nerds host and certified Mars Volta superfan Joe Branton to dive into the tangled sonic séance of an album known as The Bedlam in Goliath. At the center of the chaos is The Soothsayer, a Ouija board that channeled the beyond, inspired the album’s otherworldly themes, and may have triggered a series of bizarre, destructive events. Joe helps unravel the ghostly chaos from studio meltdowns and mysteriously vanishing tracks, to injuries and nervous breakdowns that nearly tore the band apart. Was this record haunted, genius, or both?

What do Ozzy’s bat biting, Mama Cass’ "death sandwich", and Phil Collins' gristly eyewitness account have in common? You are about to find out! In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake and Scott untangle the absurd, fascinating world of pop music myths that have outlived the truth—and sometimes even the music. From Keith Richards’ vampiric "detox secret", the truth behind Roy Orbison’s sunglasses, to the long-forgotten tale of Billy Idol’s (mostly) made-up dark side, they dive into why certain urban legends stick, and how they become part of a musician’s mythos. The conversation unpacks how misquotes, PR stunts, and the occasional mischief that feeds the beast—and why sometimes we fans want to believe. Tune in and find out how myths can sometimes become more famous than the melodies.

He ruled the ’90s, outsold The Beatles (in the U.S.), and filled every arena in sight—so why is Garth Brooks’ music nearly impossible to find in 2025?  In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake and Scott dive into the curious case of Garth: how the most successful country megastar of all time quietly vanished from the digital conversation. From his exclusive Wal-Mart distribution deal to his current Prime-only existence, Garth took a left turn just as the industry shifted right. The guys explore how his stubborn and unique approach has shaped his legacy and made him a lost icon in the streaming age. He’s an absolute country music titan hidden behind paywalls. Which begs the question... Did Garth outsmart the system or get left behind?

In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake and Scott dive face-first into music’s weirdest death rumors and darkest true stories. There’s the tearjerker blamed for a wave of suicides, a karaoke tune so deadly it practically needs a warning label, and a funk song with a scream that allegedly captured a murder on tape. Fun! They unpack the infamous Judas Priest trial, where lawyers tried to prove metal made teens pull the trigger. They explore SoundCloud rap’s tragic body count, AI-generated TikTok horror tracks, and the age-old human need to blame anything but ourselves. Music, mayhem, moral panic... It’s all here. So put on your headphones, dim the lights, and maybe don’t sing Sinatra in public. Just sayin’.

What do Frank Zappa, Dee Snider, and John Denver have in common? A fierce love of the First Amendment. In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake and Scott unpack the strange, star-studded circus that was the 1985 PMRC Senate hearings, where musicians faced off against Tipper Gore and her crusade for warning labels on music. Digging into the bizarre unity of avant-garde snark, glam metal fury, and folk-pop sincerity, the guys discuss how this unlikely free-speech dream team of artists spoke truth to power in front of a room full of very serious senators. Who gets to decide what’s “appropriate,” and what happens when government, art, and fear collide? Featuring testimony that still echoes today in an algorithm-governed media landscape, it’s part courtroom drama, part culture war, and part rock ‘n’ roll roast

Boxer. Helicopter pilot. Rhodes Scholar. Country legend. Kris Kristofferson’s résumé reads like an impossible Hollywood movie. In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake and Scott marvel at the unbelievable life of one of music’s most fascinating figures —a man who went from Army Ranger to Oxford scholar to Nashville janitor to global icon. Kristofferson could outbox you, outthink you, outfly you, and then write a song that rips your heart out. The guys cover his wild journey through academia, the military, outlaw country, and Hollywood, plus his advocacy and late-in-life recognition. From The Highwaymen to A Star Is Born, this isn’t just a story about music—it’s about living full tilt. Sometimes an artist's myth is about more than just their music. Which begs the question: was Kris Kristofferson the most interesting man in music history? Love the show? If you play guitar or other steel stringed instruments, or know someone who does... Consider grabbing something from us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stringjoy.com/

After Nevermind conquered the world, Nirvana could’ve played it safe. Instead, the biggest band on earth decided to get weirder, louder, and more abrasive. On this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake and Scott dissect In Utero, an album that spit in the face of expectations and stripped Nirvana to its bleeding core. They unpack the band’s refusal to play by the rules after the megahit polish of Nevermind, choosing instead to let Steve Albini tape together their rawest instincts. The conversation touches on the anti-commercial defiance baked into every track, the band’s complex relationship with fame, and why In Utero still punches like a gut check 30 years later. Press play and dive into the swirling, stinging, hyper-raw sounds of grunge’s last stand.  Love the show? If you play guitar or other steel stringed instruments, or know someone who does... Consider grabbing something from us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stringjoy.com/

Before TikTok trends, YouTube parodies, and silly podcasts (present company excluded), there was Dr. Demento—the godfather of gloriously goofy music. In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake and Scott explore the madcap legacy of the airwave anarchist who championed cultural absurdity and without whom we might never have had Weird Al Yankovic. What’s the power of parody and the social value of silliness? As the guys discover, novelty songs are more than just punchlines — they’re portals into the pop culture psyche. Expect baloney, bologna, radio nostalgia , cult followings, and just enough analysis to feel smart about loving dumb songs. Maybe. Love the show? If you play guitar or other steel stringed instruments, or know someone who does... Consider grabbing something from us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stringjoy.com/

In this edition of Tape Spaghetti, Blake & Scott dig into the tragic end of AC/DC’s first era and the loss of their original high voltage frontman, Bon Scott. Was his death rock ’n’ roll excess - or something else? Along the way, the guys explore the two distinct legacies defined by Scott’s raw swagger and Brian Johnson’s arena-shaking growl—and what it takes for a band to survive tragedy without losing its soul. They also expound on how AC/DC managed their inconceivably remarkable rebound with Back in Black — one of the most legendary albums ever recorded. Press play and prepare to be thunderstruck by the greatest rebound story in hard rock's history. Love the show? If you play guitar or other steel stringed instruments, or know someone who does... Consider grabbing something from us at ⁠⁠⁠https://stringjoy.com/

Is your favorite musician... a clone? In this mind-bending episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake & Scott peel back the tinfoil on one of music’s strangest subgenres: the replacement theory. From the eternal “Paul is dead” saga to the internet’s obsession with Avril Lavigne’s alleged body double, and the bewildering case of Andrew W.K., the guys dig into the lore, the weirdness, and the very real questions about identity and authorship these conspiracies raise. Why are we so quick to believe someone’s been swapped out? Is it just fun fandom—or something deeper? The conversation spirals from tabloid weirdness to questions of celebrity, persona, and whether we want our artists to be real in the first place. Are these just tall tales... or symptoms of a culture that doesn't want its icons to change? Think *your* favorite artist is irreplaceable? Think again....

In this pulse-pounding episode of Tape Spaghetti, Blake & Scott dive into defiant, funk-driven world of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti. Born in Nigeria and educated in London, Fela didn’t just create a genre—he sparked a movement. From his genre-defying sound and explosive stage presence, to his role as a relentless political agitator who turned funk and jazz into weapons of resistance, the guys unpack Fela’s larger-than-life persona, his radical commitment to Nigerian identity, and the way he built an entire sonic nation inside his Kalakuta Republic compound. With a refusal to bend to authority and a demand for justice, Fela conjured the spirit of punk—raw, loud, and uncompromising. This one’s a celebration of music as revolution and the sonic firestarter that was Fela Kuti, so tune in and find out how one man turned funk into a battle cry.

This episode of Tape Spaghetti dives deep into the lonesome, legendary life of Hank Williams—the country music icon who burned bright and left behind a ghostly echo that still haunts the genre. Blake & Scott trace Hank’s meteoric rise, from honky-tonk dive bars to the Grand Ole Opry spotlight, and explore the heartbreak, addiction, and chaos that ultimately led to his untimely death at just 29. But the story doesn’t end there. The guys examine Hank’s enormous influence on generations of artists—from his son Hank Jr. to rock, country, and beyond—and even touch on some downright creepy stories of musicians claiming spectral visits from the man himself. Is Hank still hitching rides down lost highways? Tune in for twang, tragedy, and a touch of the supernatural as Blake & Scott unpack the myth and the music of a true American original. Saddle up for a ghost ride through country history. Love the show? If you play guitar or other steel stringed instruments, or know someone who does... Consider grabbing something from us at ⁠⁠https://stringjoy.com/