Allen "Big Al" Tate – Husband, father, musician, podcaster, radio DJ, sound engineer, IT professional, and all around nice guy.

Horace Pinker Members Discuss “Now and the Future” Album

October 20, 2025

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Season 1, Episode 24: http://horacepinker.com/

Scott and Greg from the band Horace Pinker discussed their new album “Now and the Future,” their first full-length release since 2011, which reflects a more positive and forward-looking message compared to their previous work. They also discuss the band’s history. Greg shared his experiences touring with the band in Europe, including a memorable performance at the Grosrock festival in Belgium. They also mentioned sharing the stage with various notable bands and attending festivals in different countries. Finally, they discussed their upcoming tour dates, including a performance at the Fest in Gainesville, Florida.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/k3-gX2NhFjI

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6IHAj1mFWtCR3SkxIAcCLB?si=HYUABjnMSfmFjCZFFzQrCA

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Ace Frehley (1951-2025)

Big Al

October 19, 2025

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Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DgWtqXa4J/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Death is a fact of life that we see every day. It’s even more prevalent and in our minds as we get closer to the unavoidable. More often than not, a celebrity death is mostly a news blurb that doesn’t really affect us. Occasionally, one happens that feels more personal because that celebrity’s output was part of the soundtrack of our lives. Very few celebrity passings have really had a profound effect on me. I was too young to grasp the gravity of the loss of John Lennon. The first time I really felt shock at the death of any celebrity was the double gut punch of Eric Carr and Freddie Mercury dying on the same day in 1991. The second time it happened was when Layne Staley passed. I wasn’t surprised by his passing, but saddened because I always hoped he’d beat his demons. This past week, original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley died at the age of 74. Anyone who knows me even in passing is well aware that KISS has always been my favorite band. To be honest, I was doing OK with the news until I saw this picture. (Link to the OP will be in the first comment.) This is by far the best, and most fitting, tribute to Ace that I’ve seen. My sincerest condolences go out to Jeanette, Monique, Gene, Paul, Peter, and everyone else close to Ace. Fly high, Rock Soldier!

Tim Durling Discusses His 8-Track Focused Book “Unspooled”

Big Al

October 13, 2025

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Season 1, Episode 23: https://www.youtube.com/TimsVinylConfessions

Tim Durling discussed his book “Unspooled” about 8-track tapes, which explores the format’s history and collecting culture while combining personal biography with music collecting. The book’s creation was inspired by a conversation with recent podcast guest Martin Popoff, who wrote the foreword, and was completed through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2021. Tim shared his extensive 8-track collection and experiences as a collector, while also discussing the format’s history and popularity, including its continued production beyond the 1980s. Additionally, he promoted his other books, which focus on specific bands and artists.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/iY_jvfSTnbc

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sv0kemXV0ZQMHdbP6awjR?si=YV5GdhlxRhmeLdRcKBPoIg

Find Big Al’s Rockin’ Podcast at any of the podcast outlets listed below.

Musician Trevor Kidd Discusses New Single Sunshine

Big Al

October 6, 2025

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Season 1, Episode 22: https://www.instagram.com/trevorkiddmusic/

Trevor discussed his songwriting process, including how “Sunshine” emerged from an instrumental riff, and his collaboration with INXS bassists Gary Beers and Tea Party guitarist Jeff Martin on lead guitar on the song. He expressed interest in working with other musicians like Gilby Clark and Mike Kruger in the future. Trevor also shared his experiences working with Randy and Tal Bachman and mentioned his upcoming projects with Gary, which will be more collaborative and harder rock in style.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/YGm-d3F-r-E

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5tPIJ9jLB4QMJntLZ80dyo?si=rpcP1VkcR3y6HsmYay0QZw

Find Big Al’s Rockin’ Podcast at any of the podcast outlets listed below.

Guns N’ Roses at 40 with Martin Popoff

Big Al

September 30, 2025

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Season 1, Episode 21: https://martinpopoff.com/html/bookslist

Martin and I discussed Martin’s book “Guns N’ Roses at 40,” which covers 40 career highlights of the band in a chronological format. We also explored Martin’s extensive writing process and experience authoring over 135 books, including his work on band biographies and historical accounts. The conversation concluded with discussions about Martin’s upcoming book releases and their availability through various retailers.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/fTHWF4zgBmA

Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/bigalrocks/episodes/Guns-N-Roses-at-40-with-Martin-Popoff-e38tkah

Find Big Al’s Rockin’ Podcast at any of the podcast outlets listed below.