LIFERS – A New Podcast from Ed Gamble

Comedian and podcast host Ed Gamble is bringing you a new show all about one of his favourite things: metal. Gamble’s Lifers features interviews with lifelong metalheads from bands you love (and a few you’re destined to love soon.) Pod Bible sat down with Ed to chat about where the idea came from, who his dream guests are, and what he’s learned from his time in podcasts.

POD BIBLE: Who are you and what’s your podcast about?
ED GAMBLE: I’m Ed Gamble, I’m a comedian, podcaster and metalhead. My new Spotify Original podcast, ‘Lifers’ is a dream come true for me. I’ve spent time with, and interviewed some icons of the metal scene about what they’ve sacrificed to dedicate their lives to the music they love. We’ve interviewed some legends that have been part of the scene for decades like Brian Tatler from Diamond Head and Steve Grimlett from Grim Reaper, and some of the newer bands like Brady from Conjuror and Djamila from Ithaca. The differences between the music industry then and now are startling – I found the whole thing very eye opening. There’s some great rock and roll road stories in there, as well as some incredible tales of people overcoming adversity to carry on doing what they were born to do. I love it. I’m certainly going to listen – and I can’t stand my own voice. 

PB: What’s the first podcast you ever listened to?
EG: Almost certainly the Ricky Gervais, Steve Merchant and Karl Pilkington Guardian Podcasts. I was addicted to everything they did and I used to listen constantly.  

PB: Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?
EG: Not long after Ricky et al broke the whole thing open, the comedian Ian Boldsworth invited me to be on his podcast, The Ray Peacock Podcast. This later became the Peacock & Gamble Podcast. We were there for the early days, and before Richard Herring, despite what he says. 

PB: Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?
EG: I got into podcasting because you are allowed to be chatty, relaxed and a bit sloppy if you like. I like to plug in and see what happens. That plays to my strengths. So I am always beyond impressed and inspired by podcasts that are scripted and have a huge amount of work poured into them beforehand. Particularly Tom Neenan Is Not All Men and The Beef & Dairy Network. Both hilarious and tightly scripted to within an inch of their lives. That shows how far podcasting has come – it used to be a load of people just chatting, and now you can find highly polished comedy that was usually reserved for TV and radio.

PB: Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?
EG: I would love to get someone like Corey Taylor from Slipknot or Rob Halford from Judas Priest. But honestly the joy of Lifers has been speaking to people in bands who might be a bit under the radar. These are bands that are still going despite not being at the that top level, and that’s where the interesting stories are. I perhaps would like to interview a couple more people from more underground extreme scenes, and maybe record some of the series in Europe or the US. 

PB: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far as a podcaster?
EG: Whoever is editing it is doing all the hard work. 

PB: Which episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?
EG: The first episode with Brian Tatler. He is such a lovely, lovely man with such pathos in every story he told us. It was honestly like speaking to a delightful Rob Brydon character. I don’t think you need to like metal or have metal knowledge to enjoy this podcast – the characters we’ve found and the stories they tell are universal. We’ve all toyed with following our dreams, and this explores what that takes. 

PB: Where can the Pod Bible readers find out more about you?
EG: Twitter, Instagram (@edgamblecomedy for both), my website edgamble.co.uk and ‘Lifers’ is available exclusively on Spotify now!