In ’97, there wasn’t much of a metal music scene in Denver. Being a lover of metal magazines, I had come up with the idea to start a “fanzine” that would feature our band, but have other local bands interviewed as well.

Our guitarist at the time, Jimmy, was proficient on the computer. (The internet was pretty new at this point.) So, we sat down at his computer and created the first “Throat Culture Rag”. A one page, folded in half magazine was born.

After putting out a few magazines – designed in Word and printed at Kinkos – Nick Jackson became Throat Cultures guitarist. Not only was he an incredible player, but he was also an even better graphic designer. He started laying out the magazine and it started to become a professional looking ‘zine.

Then I had the privilege of meeting Brent and Boyd Fox. They became my business partners and helped the magazine grow to a new level. Brent took care of the website, and Boyd became the advertising director, financer of the magazine, and found us a great printing company. He also started getting the magazine distributed throughout the US and even internationally. I believe Tower Records were the ones who took the mag overseas.

I got into photographing bands back in 2000 and did many band shoots for all of these guys, throat culture magazine with Rod & Boyd as well as all the bands that were a part of Voodoo productions. I got into photographing for Riff Music magazine as well. I met Bill at an Ogden show and quickly became a Rogue groupie, and I remember spending New Year’s Eve 1999 with Rod Brown at the Gwar show at the Ogden with Rogue opening for them. I was also Maris the Great’s original AVA, and that is also a total IFYKYK!!

It was a rad experience for a young metal head like me. Here I was, new on this scene with my band and I’m doing work - REAL WORK - for a magazine. Metal journalism! I knew nothing about Poison the Well, but I studied my ass off, conducted a fun interview that was eventually published in the next issue. I was obsessed with an all female punk rock band at the time called “The Donnas” and wrote to their label to ask if I could interview them for the magazine. After some time, they got back to me and informed me that the magazine was “too metal” for The Donnas to appear in.

I initially met Rod Brown (Throat Culture Magazine), at a Buffalo Rose show supporting Silencer. Fast forward to around 2000, or so, Rod (a solid drummer as well) and I were in a little heavy prog-metal project. We got to know each other better, and at one point we got to discuss his magazine. I was aware of Throat Culture Magazine and even utilized it for some advertisements. During our discussion, he mentioned about needing proofreaders, and writers.

TO be honest, I had taken journalism in High School, and never and still don’t consider myself a journalism person. However, I took on a small role doing CD Reviews, he had tons of CDs to review, so he was looking for additional help. This led me to do about three interviews, with Doro Pesch, Vinnie Moore, and Lana Lane. If I recall only the Doro Pesch interview made it to final print. Doro was a character, her interview was energetic, and full “HEAVY METAL MAN!” as she constantly chimed. Though she was very down to earth, she truly waved the Metal Flag proudly.

On a side note, Rod also allowed me to dabble in photography, I got to take photos at the G3 Concert the year it was Satriani, Vai and Malmsteen, one of the best shows ever.

It was great to see the Magazine grow, from its initial black and white format to full color. Much respect and praise to Rod for taking on this mighty challenge, I am sure it was not always an easy task. It allowed me to be play a rock journalist on TV….LOL!

I have two interviews from TCM that stand out to me. One great, one not as much. Jimzilla Renner interviewed Devin Townsend and to me, it was epic. Devin pulled no punches about being in the industry "Wear some KY, you're gonna get fucked!". But the competence between the both of them was amazing, and I became a Strapping Young Lad fan ever since. The other was a band named Bitter. If you don't remember them, sorry. But Jeff Spicoli(Sean Penn's character in Fast Times At Ridgemont High) couldn't believe how unrealistic those four were about anything and everything regarding music. I got in some hot water on the Colorado Metal elist when Bitter posted they were playing a tuesday night at Iliff Park and I replied, "Can't make it. Trading used underwear with RuPaul".