Interview with Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy

We recently talked to Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy about the birth of his Progressive Nation tour (which features Dream Theater, Opeth, 3 and Between the Buried and Me); his background in prog metal; the genre's history; Dream Theater's recently released compilation Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs); and how the band almost broke up after their only top 10 radio hit "Pull Me Under." Portnoy was also candid about being a control freak and how alcohol and drug abuse almost ruined his life. Click here to download the podcast.

Interview with Disturbed Frontman David Draiman

In our in-depth and revealing podcast interview, Disturbed frontman David Draiman discussed the band’s three-week tour, which starts April 26 in Little Rock, Arkansas and runs through May 17 in Columbus, Ohio; the Rockstar Energy Mayhem tour that kicks off July 9 in Auburn, Washington; the torrents of aggression behind the group's new album Indestructible (which drops June 3); the meaning of the album title; his past battles with substances and circumstance; his experience playing for U.S. troops overseas and the betrayal he’s encountered in his search for a soul mate. Download the podcast here.

Interview with Children of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho

A few days before flying from Finland to Denver for the launch of this year's Gigantour, Children of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho talked to Headbangers Ball Blog about the meaning of the band's new album Blooddrunk, the influence of Megadeth, the magnetic lure of the road, the attraction of alcohol and how scorching metal stopped him from cutting himself to ribbons. Download the podcast here.

interview with black metal photographer Peter Beste

To prepare for the May 22 release of Peter Beste's photo book"True Norwegian Black Metal," Headbangers Ball Blog conducted a podcast interview with Beste about the contents of the book, his initiation into the black metal cadre, his background as a photographer and some of his most memorable experiences hanging with heroes, villains and legends of the genre. Download the podcast here.