Episode
Rachel Bolan Talks Gargoyle of the Garden State, Punk Attitude, and Writing Beyond Skid Row
- Published
- Jun 14, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1682
- Processing state
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- https://rss.com/podcasts/my-weekly-mixtape/2897641
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Summary
Most people remember their first concert. I’ve talked about mine more than a few times — David Lee Roth and Poison on the 1988 Skyscraper tour. But the second one hits differently for a lot of people. For me, it was Aerosmith and Skid Row on the Pump tour in 1990 . I was 12 , standing there completely wide-eyed, when Skid Row tore into “Piece of Me” and something just clicked — that bass line . That moment revealed how much attitude and power could live in the low end , and it played a big role in me picking up a bass . This week, I’m joined by Rachel Bolan of Skid Row to talk about his debut solo record Gargoyle of the Garden State . We get into the DNA of the album — how it leans into his punk influences while still reflecting decades of defining Skid Row’s sound — and what punk really means when you strip it down to attitude over genre . We also talk about creative freedom after years in a band with a defined identity , and what it means to step outside that without losing your voice . The conversation also covers collaboration , as Gargoyles features appearances from Corey Taylor , Nuno Bettencourt , Danko Jones , Steve Conte , Damon Johnson as well as contributions from fellow Skid Row bandmates — and how outside voices can either elevate a track or shift its intent . And, as a longtime obsession of mine, we dig into cover songs , ranging from Skid Row’s “Psycho Therapy” to Bolan’s take on Oasis’ “Rock & Roll Star,” and the balance between honoring an origina l and making it your own . A conversation about influence , identity , and the long arc of music that started with a bass line in 1990 that still echoes today. Photo Credit: Anabel DFlux 🎙️ LEARN MORE 🎵 Hear the Playlists / Browse the Catalog: https://myweeklymixtape.com 💬 Join the Mixtaper Community (…