The Brooklyn Blast Furnace

Known in the punk and hardcore world simply as "Raven" from "Murphy's Law"... Seaton Hancock is my guest this week. A humble gentleman who doesn't consider himself a legend. Most people in fact do. I had the pleasure of sitting down in the Washington Square Diner off of West 4th Street in New York City to speak a little about his life. I knew there was so much more to this man than just "Murphy's Law" but just didn't know exactly what his story was. Hopefully this episode gives you a broader image of this man and what he has overcome and accomplished. Respected all over the world and rightfully so. I'm sure we could've spoken for several hours. Maybe a part two is in order... we shall see. Until then... enjoy this one.

Probably the most organic conversation that I've had with someone on the show. Knocko came in from Los Angeles for a few days for Thanksgiving and hit me up to meet and do an episode of the podcast. This was the first time meeting him face to face although I felt like I knew him for a couple years of going back and forth online through the "Delta Bravo Urban Exploration Team" groups we're a part of. Founded by "Danny Boy" O'Connor of "House of Pain" and "La Coka Nostra" and co-founded by Knocko. We discuss so many topics from the formation of the DBUET, being a co-host of "The Armbar Podcast", being a "goodguy" and life in general. From being a police officer and an old school punk rock and hardcore kid growing up in Queens. A genuinely nice guy with a lot of life experiences and definitely easy to talk to. This is a bit different than what usually happens on the show. A regular guy with a regular conversation with zero agenda or map. We probably could've gone another 2 hours. I hope you enjoy this. Respect.

The drummer for "Wisdom In Chains", "Stigma", "Roger Miret and The Disasters" and his first band "245". The sandwich king... Luke Rota! We met up in midtown in a little quiet luncheonette after attempting to find a quiet pizzeria at 6pm on a weeknight in Manhattan. Not happening. We go back to his first band "245" (2 for 5), to "Roger Miret and The Disasters" to "Stigma" up until "Wisdom In Chains" and what's currently going on with them. Who are one of my favorite hardcore bands over the last decade plus. The self-procaimed "Sandwich King" builds his creation for a hypothetical battle for the "Sangweech Championship Belt". Luke is always a lot of fun to hang and talk with. Support him and every one of his bands. Enjoy.

Recorded Live from the "Saint Vitus Bar" in Brooklyn. I met up with the members of M.O.D. Of course the always controversial, outspoken, entertaining, legendary frontman, Billy Milano, drummer Mike Fury, Bass player Rob Moschetti and guitarist Jason French. I was honored to have had the drummer hit me up several days earlier to see if I'd do a podcast with the band. I definitely wasn't going to pass up the opportunity. Although several members of the band are on this episode, it's 75% the "Billy Milano Show". A lot of banter, jokes, talk about Brooklyn pastries, music, S.O.D., Anthrax, Scott Ian, Charlie Benante and... Oprah Winfrey. This was a lot of fun to do for sure and definitely a very memorable experience. Every one of the guys in the band couldn't have been nicer off mic either. Respect.

"Mitts" ladies and gentlemen... Brian Daniels. Guitarist for "Madball" for sixteen years. He also played in "Hazen Street", "Skarhead", "Crown of Thornz" and "Rag Men". A legend. I met him at a bar off the beaten path on Fulton Street after work one night to chop it up about a couple two, three things. From his childhood, his upbringing in a very musical household to going on tour with "Crown of Thornz" and beyond. Stories from being on the road in a van to world tours on busses with "MAdball" up until what he's doing now. Super nice guy. Enjoy this conversation... thank you for the support.

Pro Wrestler, Former WWE NXT Superstar, Promoter... Bull James! I met up with him at "Brooklyn Bazaar" in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. We were in the basement of the venue in a makeshift dressing room. We went back to how he got involved and interested in Pro Wrestling, and his journey through different trainers, schools, his time at NXT up to now. We were at an "Outlaw Pro Wrestling" event in which he promotes events for. He's a born and bred Brooklyn native and one of the nicest guys I've met in a long time. I hope you enjoy this one. Respect.

Me and Bloodclot are back ova here now! The long overdue second installment with the homie... the O.G. John Joseph. We recorded for the first time, ninety episodes prior to this one. We met in midtown Manhattan to catch up on what he's doing; which is always a lot. Always fun to talk to and always has a lot to say. Since part one, he released his book "The PMA Effect", he does his series on Youtube, "The Hard Truth", he's in the middle of putting together a cookbook and is also in the middle of reforming and releasing new "Bloodclot" music! We talk a bunch smack on this one. Enjoy this!

Ed McKirdy and Hugo Fitzgerald... Singer and guitarist for New York City Straight Edge Hardcore band "Locked Inside" join me on this episode of the podcast. We met up in midtown Manhattan to speak about the band, it's formation, what they're up to now and what they have coming up in the future. After a couple places to record fell through, we settled into the upstairs portion of an Indian restaurant. We talk everything from "Youth Of Today", "Judge", the beginning of New York Hardcore as a whole and the resurgence of the actual birthplace of the movement; the legendary "A7" on the Lower East Side and what Drew Stone has been doing there with his "Return to the NYHC Roots" shows. Support these guys!

I had a great conversation with Brooklyn born actor, Craig Thomas Rivela. We met up at the Bath Beach Diner in the Bath Beach section of Brooklyn to talk about things. I was a bit late to the party but I recently got turned onto the 8-part AMC Mini-Series "The Making Of The Mob: New York" from 2015 on Amazon Prime. Craig portrayed Mob boss Vito Genovese. That is the first time I've heard of him. The show was so well done that I started researching the actors. I hit him up and he was more than happy to come onto the podcast. Especially because, next week, on November 5th, his newest movie, "Bare Knuckle Brawler" gets released. The film also stars Martin Kove ("The Karate Kid I, II and III", "Rambo: First Blood Part II", "Wyatt Earp" and a ton more) and the iconic Danny Trejo. ("Machete", "Heat", "Anaconda", "Blood In, Blood Out" and a ton more as well) It turns out we have similar mutual friends and was actually in a hardcore band. Who knew. I hope you enjoy this. Thanks as always for the continued support.

Recorded Live from the "New Jersey Horror Con & Film Festival" at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. While at the convention, I came across a booth that had a unique set up from any of the conventions that I usually attend. I had a short conversation with Craig, one of their curators, about what The HSPPA does. If you're a fan of movies, whether it's Horror, Science Fiction, television shows or Pop Culture in general, you'll probably find what they do interesting. The are a non-profit organization that obtains legitimae props from a lot of your favorite movies and they travel from con to con just so you can see them in person and handle some of them yourself. From an actual screen used piece of the Death Star in the original "Star Wars", to Wolverine's "Claws" from an "X-Men" movie to Harry Potter's wand to the orange jumpsuits used in the prison in "The Human Centipede 3" to a screen used container from "The Stuff". To find out more about them, just search them on Facebook and Instagram at "The HSPPA". I'm glad I stopped to talk with Craig. Hopefully we'll meet up at some point to do a full episode. Enjoy!

The Funky Uncle Sloppy... the "individualist"... Ricky Powell. I met up with the legendary photographer on West 8th Street in the West Village at Evas Kitchen to talk that nonsense. He tells the story of how he got his first camera, after being "played like a wet tuna sandwich" and the reasoning behind him deciding to take to the streets to take photos. His early days as a kid, meeting the "Beastie Boys" and going on the road with them and "Run DMC" on the "Raising Hell" Tour. From his public access television show, "Rappin' with The Rickster" to photographing people like Cindy Crawford, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Mike Tyson, Eazy-E, Laurence Fishburn, Dondi and countless others along with the the six books he's put out and so much in between while "crunching on a crispy knish". This was awesome to do. There will be a part two I'm sure and possibly more than that. I hope you enjoy this one!

Recorded Live from the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey at the New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival. I had the opportunity to sit and chat for a few minutes with actor, Rob Mello. Known mostly for his role as the killer "John Tombs" from "Happy Death Day" and "Happy Death Day 2U". He was also in "Fear The Walking Dead" and several other films and short films. Really nice guy who I wish nothing but the best for. I hope you enjoy this short, off the cuff mini episode. Thanks for the support.

I met up with Iván Murillo on the Upper East Side of NYC to talk about his history coming up in the Connecticut Hardcore scene then making his way into New York City. From his early bands into "Dead Wrong" and "Unforgiven" to the beautiful and awesome story of how he became a part of "Skarhead" and the reasoning behind him going to Colombia with them, into his latest band, "Manipulate". He's also working with Jay Reason on getting bands up onto streaming platforms who are currently unavailable. He's a super nice guy who's easy to talk to with great stories. I have nothing but respect for the man. I hope you enjoy this. Respect.

I took a ride out to the Philadelphia area and linked up with the three guys who bring you The Ill Street News Podcast every week. This has been a long time coming, but it finally happened. I sat down with Tim Anderson Jr., Adam Schmidt and Mike Tornello at Adam's house and chopped it up for a little while. It's a bit chaotic and all over the place in typical Blast Furnace fashion but then I sort of get everyone on track and try to learn more about these guys on a more personal level. It gets very serious for a bit, then gets ridiculous all over again. This was a lot of fun. Support these guys and their podcast. They definitely deserve it. Much respect. Enjoy.

From the late 80's to the late 90's, retiring in 2000... you most likely have seen "JD BTW" thrown up all over New York City alongside JA, SET and a bunch of other graff legends. JD definitely made a mark in the city during his decade long run throwing his name up alongside highways, billboards, trains, trucks and wherever else he can get to. He invited me to his house in Forest Hills to talk about graffiti amongst a bunch of other things. His love of traveling and flying drones. Definitely a cool experience. One of the people that I've had on the podcast that i never even thought I'd meet in person, nevermind hang out and have a cool conversation with. Hope you enjoy this. Respect.