People know Scott Radinsky for two very different reasons. During the ex-pitcher’s lengthy Major League Baseball career, he managed an impressive 3.44 ERA and tallied 52 saves in almost 500 innings on the mound with the White Sox, Dodgers, Cardinals, and Cleveland. In addition to being a proficient reliever, Radinsky is also an accomplished punk rock vocalist who used to sing in Ten Foot Pole and, since the mid-’90s, has been the frontman of Pulley. Having excelled in the realms of both sports and music, Radinsky’s career arc is unparalleled, so you know he has some great stories to tell.
Shortly after the release of Pulley’s seventh album (The Golden Life, out now on SBÄM Records!) and a run of shows in Europe and Canada, Radinsky spoke with My First Band host Tyler Maas about the recent tour with Bad Religion and Pennywise, the response the new record has received, and what’s on the horizon for the band. Over the course of the conversation, Radinsky discussed the drastic differences between life as a pro ballplayer and a touring punk musician, experiences from his early bands, his departure from Ten Foot Pole and the start of Pulley, and the similarities between a great pitching outing and a great show.
My First Band is sponsored by Mystery Room Mastering and Lakefront Brewery. The show is edited by Jared Blohm. You can listen to My First Band on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you get podcasts. You can also listen to rebroadcasts of previous My First Band episodes on WMSE every Wednesday from noon to 12:30 p.m. CST. Music used in this episode comes courtesy of Devils Teeth (“The Junction Street Eight Tigers”) and Pulley (“Lonely”).