Brian Rickman comes to us from Muscle Shoals, Alabama (yep – he's a “Roll Tide” kinda guy) but, throughout his 20+ years in the radio and music business, Brian has called many places home. Rickman started his career and path to deafness as a musician. Brian was the guitarist and primary songwriter for the grunge-era band Another Roadside Attraction. They didn't get famous (probably because their name was too long) but they did sign a record contract, had big shot managers in New York City, toured with bands that did get famous and were part of the same Midwestern scene that spawned Smashing Pumpkins and such. After life as a rock star didn't pan out, Rickman returned to the job he had in high school. At 16, he'd landed a part-time gig as a weekend DJ on his hometown radio station in Decatur, Illinois. While promoting the band, Brian became a popular guest on cheesy morning radio shows all over America (and sometimes Canada). After he took his guitars to the pawn shop, a news/talk radio station in New Jersey hired him to ramble on nonstop for many hours at a time and even proposed to pay him for this. He accepted. This began a long journey up and down the radio dial in places like New York City, both Carolinas, Los Angeles, Georgia, the aforementioned Alabama and now Texas. Brian was also the third wheel on the syndicated Mad Max Morning Show. You might have also heard him previously on Hard Drive with Lou Brutus, sparring with Eddie Trunk about which Motorhead album is the best or on countless radio commercials over the years (lots of concert commercials – he's the guy that yells at you on the radio about the Black Sabbath reunion tour coming to town). Rickman is also a published writer. He's worked as a critic for AllMusic, rock journalist for hipster websites like Consequence of Sound and Pitchfork and has published, to date, four novels (all in the Science Fiction/Fantasy genre). Last year, someone even bought the movie rights for that series. What a sucker. Throughout the years, Brian has collected numerous rock and roll experiences. He was super-pals with Dimebag Darrel, was David Lee Roth's drinking buddy, once bought Dave Mustaine new socks and one time got into a shouting match with Kevin DuBrow of Quiet Riot back stage after a show. Before fists were thrown, the fight was stopped by Ronnie James Dio...which is pretty hilarious. Now, Rickman joins us in East Texas to play the greatest Rock ever recorded, tell funny stories and write a bunch of weird crap for you to read on the internet. Enjoy!
Brian Rickman
Rain Continues and Much of Texas Floods
It just keeps coming.
Yesterday in East Texas, we set rainfall records with upwards of four inches of rain falling in the Tyler-Longview area. And there's no sign of it slowing down anytime soon. Despite a brief respite this morning, another round of storms should be hitting the area by this afternoon and continuing well into the work week...
What Comes Around Goes Around: Poacher Killed By Lions
An illegal hunter was killed while four others barely escaped when they were attacked by the very lions they were targeting.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when the five potential hunters set out with their dogs on an illegal hunt from the Namakgale area near Phalaborwa in South Africa...
Assault With a Carrot — Teen Faces Assault Charges for Throwing Baby Carrot
"I don't even know how to combat the stupidity," says Karrie May, whose 14-year-old daughter Aliya is currently suspended from school after launching a baby carrot at one of her former teachers.
A Texas Lady Boasts the Longest Legs in the World
It has been said that the women in Texas are some of the most beautiful in the world. And now, fans of leggy ladies can cite Houston as the home of the woman with the longest stems ... anywhere!
Subway Loses Lawsuit, Has to Start Measuring Sandwiches
The next time you stop by Subway, don't be surprised if your sandwich artist whips out the measuring tape.
The chain has agreed to start measuring their six-inch and footlong subs as part of a settlement to a class action lawsuit.
The settlement, released Monday, is the result of 2013 lawsuit accusing the chain of falling short of its promises when it comes to the length of their sandwiches...
Rea
Texas is Slang for Crazy in Norway
In Norway, our state is synonymous with crazy ... wild ... nuts. It's true. In fact, the expression dates back several decades.
Houston Scaffolding Accident Leaves at Least Six Injured
Firefighters in Houston are still trying to determine if any lives were lost in a massive scaffolding collapse outside of an under-construction building downtown.
Did Astronomers Just Find Evidence of Alien Life? Well, Let’s Take a Look …
A paper by a team of astronomers is getting a lot of attention today because, well, aliens.
Miley Cyrus Set to Perform Nude … to a Nude Audience
In news that will probably not shock you, well ... at all, Miley Cyrus is set to perform nude on at least one date of her forthcoming tour with The Flaming Lips.
Texas Poetry! Check Out This Guy’s Ode to Whataburger
Here in Texas, we love our Whataburger. But some of us really dig the greasy goodness.
A Cure for Blindness? British Doctors Successfully Treat Age-Related Macular Degeneration
A 60-year-old patient who was classified as legally blind is recovering comfortably after surgeons successfully carried out the first operation on a patient with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), characterized by leaking blood vessels.
NASA Announces Discovery of Flowing Water on Mars
In what is being hailed as a breakthrough scientific discovery, NASA announced today that liquid water has been discovered on the Red Planet.