Beardo And Weirdo

Craig
  • 4.8 (17)
  • Comedy Interviews
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to The Beardo And The Weirdo Podcast! The show starring comedian Craig Gass and the slightly lesser-known musician Chris Kael, from Five Finger Death Punch. This podcast is all about sharing funny, interesting, and poignant behind-the-scenes stories about the music industry and stand-up comedy - stories so crazy you might not even believe they're real! Listen as Chris and Craig candidly talk about their lives, struggles, and triumphs in two of the craziest businesses to ever exist.

  1. 5d ago

    Tesla's Jeff Keith Loves Dogs, Has Awkward Moments With Jeff Beck - Beardo & Weirdo Ep. 79

    Jeff Keith, frontman of the multi-platinum rock band Tesla, reveals the full origin story of how a small-town kid from Georgetown, California, went from driving septic tanks and mixing cement to selling millions of records and touring the world for four decades straight. In this sit-down with Beardo and Weirdo hosts Craig and Five Finger Death Punch Bassist Chris Kael, Keith walks through the exact moment that changed his life: sharing a microphone with Frank Hannon at a Sacramento bar audition in 1983, the only move that convinced the band he was their guy.Keith breaks down the making of Tesla's new covers album Homage, dropping July 17, 2026 alongside a tour with Mötley Crüe and Extreme. He explains why the band chose to cover songs by Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, and others — and how George Jones's longtime keyboardist Kent Goodson became the only outside musician Tesla has ever brought into a recording project. Keith also recounts the night he performed alongside Jeff Beck in Japan with Jimmy Page watching from the audience, a soundcheck miscommunication that left Beck shouting directions mid-song, and the strict no-touching rule Keith learned about the hard way.The conversation digs into Tesla's decision to go completely sober in 2004 to support guitarist Tommy Skeoch before a Scorpions tour, a move Keith frames as simple brotherhood rather than sacrifice. He tells the story behind the hit ballad "What You Give," revealing it was inspired by the death of his dog Brandy — not a romantic relationship — and how someone dismissing his grief with "it was just a dog" became the emotional catalyst for the lyric. Keith also shares his rescue of a stray dog and six puppies from a Texas roadside, a cross-country drive to find them homes, and his ongoing connection to animal rescue alongside Kael's Las Vegas charity work.Four decades after seeing Bon Scott at his first concert in 1978, Jeff Keith still names that moment before every Tesla performance, a ritual that connects a Future Farmers of America kid from Idabel, Oklahoma to one of classic rock's most enduring careers.What did you think of the show? Let us know in the comments!Be sure to subscribe to the channel here: @BeardoAndWeirdoPodcast Check out the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BeardoandWeirdo

  2. Jul 27

    PART 2 - Ozzy Osbourne's Friends Remember Him One Year After His Passing - Beardo & Weirdo Ep. 78

    Stephen Ray, author of Ozzy and Me, and Big Dave from MTV's Battle for Ozzfest reveal firsthand accounts of Ozzy Osbourne's final year — from the Birmingham homecoming show to the private funeral at the Osbourne estate — exposing how surgical failures accelerated his decline and how the stage remained his only real medicine. One year after the passing of heavy metal's most iconic frontman, two members of his inner circle share memories that reframe the public narrative around his health, his humor, and the farewell that nearly didn't happen.The conversation covers Ozzy's imposter syndrome despite decades of global fame, Sharon Osbourne's legendary protectiveness including the infamous Tiffany box incidents sent to Tony Iommi, and how the Osbournes' generosity extended to everyone from road crew to casual acquaintances. Stephen Ray details how a fan letter written by his mother at age fifteen led to a lifelong friendship, while Big Dave recounts transitioning from limousine driver to trusted companion after a chance pickup assignment in 1996.Dave Buckner of Papa Roach contributes a firsthand account of Ozzfest 2001, where vocalist Jacoby Shaddix narrowly avoided arrest for inciting a riot at an East Coast amphitheater — escaping in the trunk of a rental car with Sharon Osbourne's help. Big Dave describes body-painting himself as Iron Maiden's Eddie the Trooper mascot and rushing the stage during the tour where Sharon famously unplugged Iron Maiden mid-set. Stephen Ray recounts Ozzy confusing Carmine and Vinnie Appice hours before a Black Sabbath reunion show in Budapest, and reveals that commissioned paintings of Randy Rhoads and Ozzy still sit unclaimed in a Belfast attic.The episode captures Ozzy Osbourne not as the caricature of reality television but as the self-deprecating, fan-obsessed, World War Two history buff who stayed six hours at free signings and made sheep noises during drum solos from the quick-change booth.What did you think of the show? Let us know in the comments!Be sure to subscribe to the channel here: @BeardoAndWeirdoPodcast Check out the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BeardoandWeirdo

  3. Jul 16

    How Ozzy Osbourne's Friends Remembers Him One Year After His Passing

    Stephen Rae and Big Dave — two people absorbed into Ozzy Osbourne's inner circle — share firsthand stories from decades spent inside the Osbourne world, one year after Ozzy's passing. Rae, who first met Ozzy as a 15-year-old fan from Belfast after his mother wrote a letter to the fan club, and Big Dave, a New York limo driver who parlayed a birthday airport pickup into a full-time role as Ozzy's personal assistant, recount the bizarre, hilarious, and deeply personal moments that defined their relationships with rock's most unpredictable family. The conversation covers the culture shock of entering Ozzy's orbit without any music business background — from Rae being escorted backstage by tour managers speaking into radios as if retrieving a head of state, to Big Dave learning on the fly as Sharon Osbourne handed him roles ranging from nanny to chief of security to throat-spray handler. Both men describe the specific moment they realized their lives had permanently changed, and how the Osbournes operated less like an employer and more like a surrogate family that collected strays and gave them purpose. Among the episode's standout revelations: the Bob Daisley shoe hustle in Rio de Janeiro where a 15-year-old Rae got stiffed eight dollars by Ozzy's bassist, Ozzy's habit of shaving sleeping crew members' eyebrows and hair during the 1980s rehearsal sessions, Jason Newsted's first-day bass etiquette lecture and Ozzy's slow revenge through ever-expanding setlists, Robert Trujillo mocking Rae's Berlin CD moments before Ozzy walked in requesting a fretless bass part inspired by "Take My Breath Away," and the Voodoo Fest night Sharon Osbourne abandoned Big Dave side-stage after Ozzy's voice blew out mid-song during Iron Man. Chris Kale of Five Finger Death Punch and Dave Buckner of Papa Roach join as co-hosts, adding their own touring context and a previously unknown Kelly Osbourne audition story. Part one of a two-part conversation recorded on the one-year anniversary of Ozzy Osbourne's death captures how two ordinary fans became permanent fixtures in an extraordinary life, and what that proximity cost and gave them in equal measure.

  4. Jul 9

    Life Just Changed For Riki Rachtman Right Before His Tour

    Riki Rachtman, the iconic host of MTV's Headbangers Ball, opens up about navigating divorce, mental health struggles, and the raw emotional weight of rebuilding life on the road during his One Foot in the Gutter tour. The former Cathouse Hollywood impresario sits down with Beardo and Weirdo hosts Chris Kael of Five Finger Death Punch and comedian Craig Gass for a brutally honest conversation that moves between gut-punch vulnerability and the kind of dark humor only old friends in heavy metal share. The episode covers Rachtman's separation from his wife, the nervous breakdown he experienced on an eleven-hour drive home from Florida, and the therapy and sobriety practices that have kept him grounded through one of the hardest chapters of his life. Kael and Gass share their own divorce and Separation stories with equal candor, creating an unexpectedly deep conversation about what it means to start over as men in their fifties who grew up in the anything-goes era of eighties metal. Rachtman runs through every date on his summer 2026 One Foot in the Gutter tour — from a sold-out Whisky a Go Go homecoming show on July 16th to stops in Portland, Seattle, New York City's City Winery, and more than twenty other cities. He breaks down his VIP and Road Crew ticket packages, explains why he believes fans should stop buying album presales and support local record stores instead, and reveals that he has to rewrite the ending of his show because it was originally about the marriage that no longer exists. Slash, Mark Morton of Lamb of God, Jeff Becerra of Possessed, and members of Hatebreed all reached out with support during the split. A Headbangers Ball legend processing real pain in real time, Rachtman proves that the Saturday night voice of an entire generation of metalheads still has something worth hearing — and this time the stories cut closer to the bone than any Cathouse after-party ever did.

  5. Jul 2

    Chris Kael On Tour w/ FFDP - Behind The Scenes At Sick New World Festival

    Five Finger Death Punch bassist Chris Kael returns to the road after months at home, and the pre-tour dread is real. On this episode of Beardo and Weirdo, Kael and comedian Craig Gass break down the emotional whiplash of leaving a comfortable routine for arena stages, private jets declined in favor of solo motorcycle rides through 110-degree desert heat, and the unglamorous side of life in a major touring metal band. Kael recounts an 18-hour round-trip motorcycle ride from Las Vegas to Mescalero, New Mexico — through Kingman, Arizona, and Albuquerque — that nearly ended in disaster when hundreds of elk emerged after dark on mountain roads. Gass delivers a full update on the viral banana costume incident, where a hardcore band sicced their crowd on a fan in a sparkly banana suit, and addresses commenters who tried to inject racism into a situation that had none. The conversation also covers the awkward art of meet-and-greet etiquette, including why veteran musicians never say "nice to meet you" and the mortifying moments when fans get mistaken for someone's daughter. Behind-the-scenes footage from Sick New World festival anchors the second half, with Kael sharing stage-side video of Korn, System of a Down with Shavo Odadjian, Cypress Hill, and Marilyn Manson's set — where former drummer Ginger Fish wandered onto the stage and got tackled by security. Gass reveals that Alice Cooper wants to appear on the show, adding to a guest roster that already includes Gene Simmons, Dee Snider, Kerry King, and members of Korn and System of a Down. The Josh Wolf episode tease — featuring Gass's failed attempt to extract Jelly Roll divorce gossip — rounds out the chaos. Beardo and Weirdo continues to pull rock and metal's biggest names into unfiltered conversations that land somewhere between backstage access and barstool confessions.

  6. Jun 25

    Frank Bello on Surviving Grief, Revenge, and Anthrax

    Frank Bello has spent four decades as the bassist of Anthrax, but the stories behind the music cut far deeper than any thrash riff. Sitting in a hotel room in Dresden, Germany at 1:00 a.m. during a seven-week European tour, Bello joins Beardo and Weirdo hosts Craig Gass and Chris Kael for a conversation that swings from hilarious Kiss impressions to the darkest chapter of his life — and a never-before-connected Hollywood story involving Andrew Dice Clay, Sam Kinison, and Guns N' Roses. The episode covers Bello's earliest touring days with Anthrax on five dollars a day, picking eggs from a barn for breakfast on their first European run in 1984, and the night a fan threw firecrackers directly into his ear at a Celebrity Theater in-the-round show in Phoenix during the Among the Living tour. Craig Gass, who attended that exact concert, fills in details Bello had forgotten, creating a rare dual-perspective account of a legendary Anthrax show gone sideways. Bello opens up about his brother Anthony's murder in the Bronx on March 25, 1996 — the crime scene, the blood-splattered shoes visible under the sheet, and the two weeks of total darkness that followed where he obtained a gun and hunted for the killer nightly from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. He reveals that his wife was the first person he ever told, and that the thought of his mother losing another son pulled him back from the edge. The conversation also uncovers a collision of comedy legends at Mel's Diner on Sunset Boulevard, where Bello witnessed Dice Clay's arrest while Big Val Becigis arrived with Duff McKagan from a Guns N' Roses opening slot for the Rolling Stones — and Sam Kinison pulled up in a Corvette with plates reading "X REV" to heckle Dice in handcuffs. Anthrax's new album drops September 18th, their first record in a decade, with the lead single already drawing strong fan reaction from a band still channeling raw angst into music after 43 years together.

  7. Jun 18

    Alice Cooper's Bassist Chuck Garric on Ronnie James Dio, George Lynch & FFDP

    In this incredible episode, the guys are joined by legendary bassist Chuck Garric, who holds the title of the longest-standing member of the Alice Cooper band. The group kicks things off by recounting Craig's humiliating run-in with Alice Cooper's tour manager at the Welcome to Rockville festival, where Chuck actually had to step in and save him. Chuck then discusses his current role as musical director, merging Alice Cooper's theatrical rock with Criss Angel's mind-bending illusions for an epic Las Vegas residency. Chuck takes listeners on a journey through his rock and roll career, starting with his decision to quit the music industry, move to Lake Tahoe, and start a construction business as a single father before deciding to give Hollywood one last shot. That leap of faith landed him an audition with Ronnie James Dio, leading to a hilarious story about accidentally tripping over the legendary singer and straddling him on stage during a European tour. Chuck also reveals a massive piece of untold history: he auditioned for Five Finger Death Punch right around the time Chris Kael got the job. He shares why pulling up to an audition full of guys with freshly cut mohawks made him realize his integrity was worth more than changing his look for a gig. The wild tour stories keep coming as Chuck describes quitting Lynch Mob mid-tour after George Lynch made some bad substance decisions, resulting in a tense hotel hallway standoff where Chuck had to defend himself with a brass lamp. He also spills the beans on what it is like playing poker with Alice Cooper on the tour bus, a hilarious first-class flight encounter with a Bloody Mary-soaked David Duchovny, and the bizarre, unsolicited fashion advice he once received from KISS bassist Gene Simmons. Do not forget to check out Chuck's band Beastö Blancö, and head over to getgass.com for tickets to see Craig and Chris live on tour! Like, comment, and subscribe for more amazing rock and roll comedy interviews!

  8. Jun 11

    Banana Man Speaks After Attack at Hardcore Show, No Doubt at The Sphere

    In this action-packed episode, Chris & Craig dive into some of the wildest viral stories hitting the internet right now while sharing an inside look at the incredible No Doubt residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Craig shares his VIP experience hanging out in the owner's suite courtesy of Tony Kanal, raving about the mind-blowing visuals and top-tier catering that make the Sphere the best venue in the world. The conversation then shifts to a shocking incident at a hardcore show in Toronto where the lead singer of the headlining band incited the crowd to attack a fan dressed in a banana costume. Scott, the famous Banana Man himself, joins the show to share his firsthand account of the unprovoked hostility, the hardcore community's reaction, and how he managed to survive the pit. Chris Kael sounds off on the hypocrisy of the attack and extends a personal VIP invitation to Scott for an upcoming Five Finger Death Punch show. Later, the guys welcome Josh Osgood, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who recently went viral for subduing an erratic, intoxicated passenger on a flight from Puerto Rico to Chicago. Josh breaks down exactly how he calmly used his martial arts training to safely mount and restrain the unruly passenger until the plane made an emergency landing in Miami. Chris and Craig praise Josh for his patience and highlight the importance of self-defense training for stepping up in dangerous situations. Be sure to catch Craig Gass and Chris Kael live on the road with upcoming comedy and music dates in Long Island, Houston, and Las Vegas.

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4.8
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Beardo And The Weirdo Podcast! The show starring comedian Craig Gass and the slightly lesser-known musician Chris Kael, from Five Finger Death Punch. This podcast is all about sharing funny, interesting, and poignant behind-the-scenes stories about the music industry and stand-up comedy - stories so crazy you might not even believe they're real! Listen as Chris and Craig candidly talk about their lives, struggles, and triumphs in two of the craziest businesses to ever exist.

Information

  • Creator
    Craig
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Craig
  • Show Website
    Beardo And Weirdo

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