Decibel Geek

Decibel Geek offers some great entertainment with hard rock music and hard rock talk. When it comes to music history these guys know their stuff. Not only are they avid Kiss buffs, which you’ll learn by listening to their Kiss Kovers podcast, but they also have a knack for finding some great unknowns. And some odd, albiet good, covers – like Cake performing Gloria Gaynor’s big hit “I Will Survive”. (You can find that on episode 39.)

If you haven’t yet heard these guys, I highly recommend that you go give their current episode a listen right now on Decibel Geek. You can always come back and read the interview later. 

I was very excited for the chance to get hosts Chris Czynszak and Aaron Camaro away from the mic to ask them a few questions.

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Furies Magazine: What has been your most memorable interview so far?

Chris Czynszak: I would have to say that Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper Band) was my favorite. I had the opportunity to read his autobiography, “Not Only Women Bleed” in the weeks leading up to the interview, so it felt like I was speaking to someone that I knew personally after getting to know him through his book. I think that helped the interview have a good conversation-like vibe.

Aaron Camaro: They have all been pretty fun and memorable in their own ways. I especially enjoyed talking to Loretta Caravela, the sister of the late Eric Carr – Drummer of KISS. She was so quick witted and funny that it seemed like the whole interview was just old friends getting together… laughing, joking and reminiscing about someone we all miss very much.

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FM: Who was the worst interview?

CC: Everyone that we’ve spoken with, so far, has been great to us, and we thank them for taking time out of their day to talk to us. It’s always fun being able to speak to people that had an influence or impact on our lives.

AC: Nobody has been bad. A show called Podcast Squared interviewed us, that was probably the worst for them!

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FM: Was there ever anything that you wanted to say to someone that you were interviewing, but you didn’t say it?

CC:  I really wanted to ask Jack Russell – Lead Singer of Great White, about the Station Nightclub Tragedy. I wanted to ask him to describe the entire scene as it went down from his perspective. To me, it is always interesting to hear how someone reacts in life threatening situations. Unfortunately, and understandably so, Jack didn’t feel comfortable speaking on the subject. Out of respect for Jack and the accident victims, we didn’t press the issue.

AC: While we didn’t press Jack on the issue, we did bring it up and I’m proud to say that we do ask questions that are deeper than softball-level but at the same time we’re not into gotcha-style interviews where the m.o. of the interview is to elicit some salacious response. There’s already a TMZ and they do fine on their own. These people are kind enough to give us their time and we respect that.

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FM: Did you ever have to kiss someone’s ass for a really good interview?

AC: Decibel Geek don’t play that… we also don’t play Toby Keith or Jay Z.

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FM: Who would you want to interview if time and mortality was not an issue? What would you ask them?

CC: I’d interview Jimi Hendrix in present day to get his take on the history of music after his passing. I can only imagine what kind of takes he would have on such things as Disco, New Wave, and Eddie Van Halen.

AC: I would want to interview Jesus, but since Decibel Geek is a show that is dedicated to Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, we would have to ask him about what he’s into. He probably never liked Stryper that much either. I have some off-air, unrelated questions I’d like to ask too.

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FM: Are there any really good unknown or lesser known bands that people should be paying attention to right now?

AC: I could give you a list a mile long of bands that people should be paying attention to. That is a huge part of the Decibel Geek Mission Statement… to give the people what they want by providing the music, news and information in an entertaining and fun way. Just tune into your new episode every single week, and let us turn you on to some Quality Rock!

CC: Way too many to mention but for a teaser, I’d suggest stuff like Chinatown Angels out of Australia, The Treatment from the UK (currently opening for KISS and Motley Crue on The Tour), Angelus Apatrida (from Spain), and West Memphis Suicide (from Canada).

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FM: Where do you find all of the great covers and unknowns that you have found?

CC: There are a number of different ways that we prepare for shows. Early on, we were choosing songs and bands that we personally loved from our childhood through today. We still do that but we’ve gotten much more interactive as the audience for the show has grown. We regularly solicit suggestions from listeners of the show and I think I speak for both of us when I say that Aaron and I have been as equally educated by the listeners as they have been by us. For covers, I will usually dig through discussion forums and google searches to find diamonds in the rough.

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FM: What do you both do on the side when you’re not doing podcasts for Decibel Geek?

CC: You mean there’s time outside of doing Decibel Geek? I’m kidding (although it takes a lot of time to put together). I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids, and also slave at an office job the rest of the week (lots of time to listen to podcasts).

AC: I also work as an announcer, and live event host for Crossfire Entertainment. Just last night we delivered a huge event in front of over 2,000 rabid Pro Wrestling fans at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. We raised a ton of money for the Make A Wish Foundation, and I hung out with Bret “The Hitman” Hart!

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FM: What is next for Decibel Geek? What are your future plans?

AC: We are constantly bouncing around new ideas, and just as we have evolved from the beginning into a world-wide phenomenon, we will continue to grow and improve. We will continue to get better and better, and we will continue to deliver goods for all our Hard Rockin’ and Metalhead brothers and sisters all over the planet! We might even get a sponsor or two!

CC: AAron said it better than I can. We look forward to more shows, more listeners, and more great music! We hope your readers will give it a shot. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us!

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So, like I said, go give their show a listen. It’s worth it to go back to some of their older episodes, too. Once you’ve listened, and I know you will, hop on over to their facebook page, and click that “like” button, because you know you love it.