In this episode, I’m joined by Paul Leary, guitarist, producer, and founding member of the legendary Butthole Surfers, to discuss the long-awaited release of the band’s “lost” album, After the Astronaut.

Originally recorded in the late ’90s as the follow-up to Electric Larryland and the hit single “Pepper,” the album was shelved by Capitol Records after the label pushed for something more commercial amidst other issues. Nearly three decades later, the original version is finally being released as intended through Sunset Blvd Records.

In this interview, Paul talks about the chaotic history behind the record, the band’s embrace of electronics, industrial textures, sampling, and experimental songwriting, and why the album represented a return to the Surfers’ weirder roots rather than an attempt to repeat mainstream success. We also discuss the unlikely rise of “Pepper,” the brief era when experimental music broke into the mainstream, recording techniques, political themes in the band’s music, possible future plans, and the status of the long-awaited documentary The Butthole Sufers: The Hole Truth and Nothing Butt.

After the Astronaut arrives June 26, 2026

Legendary guitarist and vocalist Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) talks about his new band Ashes and Diamonds and their debut album Ashes and Diamonds Are Forever. Hear about the making of their first single “On A Rocka”, the band’s unique chemistry, his signature guitar sounds, and a peek behind the scenes of creating music during lockdown. And stick around after the interview to hear their explosive track “On A Rocka.”

30 years since The Cranberries released their breakthrough album, No Need to Argue, a record that brought sharper emotional and political depth to the raw intimacy of their debut, and cemented vocalist Dolores O'Riordan as a 90's rock icon. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, a special expanded edition features CHVRCHES remixes, a rare demo of “Zombie,” and recordings from Woodstock ’94.

In this episode, Cranberries drummer Fergal Lawler reflects on the making of the album, the band’s creative evolution, and the enduring legacy of O’Riordan’s voice and vision. Hear behind-the-scenes stories, insights from the road, and the memories that make this album a timeless classic.

🎧 Listen now and step inside one of the defining albums of the ’90s.