September 21, 2022
Tony James is one of rock's great shapeshifters. He starts out with Billy Idol in Generation X, one of the great punk bands, but when Billy went solo, Tony took some time to conceptualize his next creative move. That gestation period eventually brought about Sigue Sigue Sputnik, one of the most outrageous groups of the 80s. Though they were short-lived, the band left a giant lipstick stain on the collar of pop music. Tony then downgraded to sideman when he joined up with "The" Sisters of Mercy for a spell. Then, because he can, he pairs up with his old London SS buddy Mick Jones and forms Carbon Silicon and gives most of the music away for free. It's been a wild ride and today Tony lives comfortably off his success and does whatever he wants. It's a crazy, hilarious story.
September 19, 2022
One of the best rock docs ever made is coming back to theaters next month to celebrate its 13th anniversary. Who can forget seeing Anvil! The Story of Anvil for the first time? For many (too many, sadly) it was our introduction to Lips and Robb and their decades long struggle to be taken seriously in rock and roll. The world fell in love with these guys, and the movie, and they've been enjoying a lot more success ever since. Anvil's Lips Kudlow and Robb Reiner along with director Sacha Gervasi join us to discuss their lives since the release, the new remastered version hitting theaters and Anvil's new album, Impact is Imminent. Enjoy!
September 14, 2022
For a band that has barely made a peep over the last 25 years, the House of Love are having a major resurgence. This summer they released the incredible 8 CD box set Burn Down The World that showcases just about everything from their major label days. They're also kicking off a UK tour this week, as well as a 30th anniversary tour of the US next month, and, as if that isn't enough, they have a killer new album called State of Grace coming out this Friday! Mastermind Guy Chadwick joins us to discuss how he looks at his past, the transition from the scrappy indie days into the big time, what he did when the band ended, the solo album he made with Robin Guthrie, the latter day HOL work, and much more. This band is special, hop aboard!
September 13, 2022
Acclaimed author Martin Popoff joins us to discuss his new coffee table book Bowie@75. Martin is probably best known for his many books and thoughts on hard rock and heavy metal, but this time he's focused on a beautiful book that celebrates Bowie at 75, but also the 75 chronological benchmarks in Bowie's career - good and bad. In here we talk about how he wrote the book, but also banter and debate our hot takes and opinions about the man. The book is as gorgeous as it is thought provoking. Check it out!
September 7, 2022
Google Richard James Burgess. Trust me. His list of accomplishments, inventions, innovations, businesses, etc is long. We focus on his production career here and it barely scratches the surface. He started out in the late 70s as the frontman for a quirky synthpop band called Landscape that had a couple hits in the UK. He quickly went into production work starting with the first couple Spandau Ballet albums and then became a go-to guy for vibrant pop music with a dance accents and an r&b angle. His credits during this time include King, Living in a Box, Adam Ant, Kim Wilde, Shreikback, When in Rome and straight r&b with Five Star, New Edition and Imagination. Legends like Kate Bush and Thomas Dolby are in there too. He's an extremely interesting guy with a great musical resume. Enjoy!
September 5, 2022
This week we are honored to welcome our good friend, and first time author, BJ Kramp to the show to talk about his new book on Cheap Trick. Many of us may feel like we have a book somewhere inside of us, but BJ actually did, conducting hundreds of interviews to tell the origin story of one of the greatest American bands ever. We learn about his writing process, the band's involvement, and why he connects with Cheap Trick so much. The book is great and we're incredibly proud of our friend and his accomplishment.
August 31, 2022
We did it! It only took 382 episodes, but we finally get to hear from the great Howard Jones! Next week sees the release of his new album, Dialogue, which is the 3rd album of a four-part series that discusses the issues of our time and humanity's responsibility to find common ground. If anyone knows about staying positive in the face of adversity, it's Howard Jones! We also discuss his performance at Live Aid, the ups and downs of his career, following his creative muse, and why he's so huge in Utah. The world needs more Howard Jones, we're grateful to have him!
August 29, 2022
Writer Mitchell Cohen started working in the music business during those heady days in the 70s that we imagine as the peak period for record labels. When Clive Davis began Arista Records, Mitchell was there on the ground floor doing marketing and A&R and helping to build the label into what it would become. He writes about these experiences in his new book, Looking for the Magic, that details label politics, building marketing campaigns, and highlighting musicians big and small. He shares those stories with us as well. Enjoy!
August 24, 2022
Gang of Four's 1979 debut album Entertainment! defined what we think of when we think of "post-punk". They perfected the mix of angular guitars crossed with disco bass, driving beats and political lyrics. The band's sound continued to evolve over time, but never lost its bite or urgency. Unfortunately, as with most bands, there's been a lot of animosity over the decades, but with the passing of guitarist Andy Gill last year, frontman Jon King is carrying the torch and recently completed a successful US tour. Jon and I discuss Andy's death, being banned by the BBC, whether David Byrne stole his look, being on the Karate Kid soundtrack, curating their new box set, and all the albums. Gang of Four deserve the deepest of deep dives. If you don't know them that well, now's your chance!
August 16, 2022
Annabella Lwin has seen a lot. More than she wants to talk about, honestly. We know the story - discovered at 13 and made the lead singer of a band masterminded by the outlandish Malcolm McLaren, Bow Wow Wow. They make a sound no one's ever heard before and leave behind a bunch of hits no one will ever forget (sadly, only "I Want Candy" got much traction in the States). The career she had would never fly now, not like it did then, but she's survived a lot, including the end of the band, a solo album and grinding away as an artist in a tough business. These days Annabella is mostly viewed as the icon she is and plays many shows a year, including a couple Lost 80s Live shows on 8/20 and 25. We touch on all of this, address some tough stuff, and move past others. She can still do it all and better than ever.
August 13, 2022
Rock in Retrospect host Nick Bambach recently had Jon and Haydn Murdoch of the INXS: Access All Areas podcast on his show to make their case why INXS deserves consideration for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here is our impassioned plea!
www.rockinretrospect.buzzsprout.com
August 10, 2022
This week is another legendary producer, the fantastic Stephen Street! Stephen first came to prominence when he engineered those classic Smiths album like Meat is Murder and The Queen is Dead. He ultimately produced the Strangeways, Here We Come album, which led to a partnership with Morrissey on his solo debut. Stephen is also best known for his work with Blur and producing Parklife, one of the ultimate British albums of the modern era. He's also had long collaborations with the Cranberries and the Kaiser Chiefs. We also get in albums he's done with New Order, the Psychedelic Furs, Suede, and much more. Stephen's talent has defined a sound specific to British alternative guitar pop of the 80s and 90s. Here's his story!
August 8, 2022
Jon, Andy and Jan recap the second quarter's episodes, and discuss what's going on in their lives, and gigs. Jan's curious love of redheads makes an appearance ( you think he'd learn, after the first one ).
We also get into gig openers, and discuss our faves! Make sure and tell us yours!
There's also some great music available. Check out the following:
Opener: The Byson Family
Dusty: Dusty Miller
Our featured song for this recap can be found at Rich Bischoff Original Music
August 3, 2022
In Minneapolis, the Peterson family musical dynasty goes back decades. Paul Peterson didn't even have to think about what he'd do with his life. In his late teens, he was pegged to join Morris Day and the Time for their Ice Cream Castles album which became their biggest and featured hits like "Jungle Love" and "The Bird". From there, Prince decided to build The Family, one of his many 80s side projects, around the voices of Paul and Susannah Melvoin. But, after one album The Family ended and Paul went solo. For over 30 years, Paul has been making his own music (new album Break On Free just came out) and working as an in demand hired gun for people like Steve Miller, Kenny Loggins, Oleta Adams and Donny Osmond. In addition to his excellent new album, Paul has a great podcast called Music on the Run about staying in shape on the road. It's a unique and fascinating story you have to hear!
July 31, 2022
In the second part of our conversation with the great Steve Lillywhite, we get into his work with Aretha Franklin, the Chameleons, Crowded House, The La's, Thompson Twins, Talking Heads, XTC, U2, Ultravox, and the Psychedelic Furs. And there's more ballbusting and strong opinions. Steve's the best!
July 27, 2022
It finally happened! When Jon started this podcast seven years ago, at or near the top of his dream guest wishlist was producer Steve Lillywhite, one of his absolute favorites. Steve was so cool and generous with his time that we're releasing this in two parts. In part one we get straight into it discussing Steve's work with Travis, Morrissey, the Killers, Marshall Crenshaw, Big Country, Simple Minds, U2, Peter Gabriel, the Pogues, the Rolling Stones and Johnny Thunders. There are also side conversations on the late, great Kirsty MacColl, the famous gated drum sound Steve had a hand in creating and much more. Stay tuned for part 2 which is equally as good and will be out later this week. It's a dream come true, enjoy!
![Episode 376 - Paul Humphries of OMD and Mary Fahl of October Project/Solo]()
July 20, 2022
We have another wonderful 2fer for you this week.
First up is Paul Humphries of OMD! The band recently completed a hugely successful US tour and are now in Europe bringing the same greatness. They remain one of the best live acts around and the music they've made since reforming a few years ago remains top notch! Paul and I discuss the history of the band, what they did during the break, and the stories behind many of the classic songs.
Then we hear from the talented singer Mary Fahl! In the early 90s, Mary Fahl was the lead singer of the band October Project. That unique group was a great spotlight for her powerful vocals and when they broke up, Mary went solo and has had a strong career ever since. This week sees the release of her new covers album that features her version of classics by Pink Floyd, ELO, Judy Collins and much more. We get into the ups and downs of her career, why she loves Pink Floyd so much (she has an album covering Dark Side) and what happened with October Project.
Enjoy!
July 13, 2022
Seriously, what can you say about Roxy Music? They are literally one of the most inventive and influential musical acts in history. That fact was finally confirmed when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a few years ago. Guitarist Phil Manzanera joins us this week to talk about the history of the band, the evolution of their sound, and how they're getting back together for some 50th anniversary shows later this year. In addition, Phil has had a fruitful career collaborating with many other heavy hitters like Pink Floyd and Tim Finn who he also produced back in the Split Enz days. In fact, Phil and Tim have a brand new album coming out at the end of the month. This man is a legend and we're lucky to hear from him.
July 10, 2022
WARNING: 100% POLITICS TALK
Jon is joined by friends and fellow podcasters Eric Miller, Brad Page and BJ Kramp to discuss how we approach fandom when our favorite rock stars are on the wrong side of history. Are opposing political views and historically bad behavior grounds to move on? What are the stakes politically in this day and age? Here's our live and unedited discussion on this topic.
July 8, 2022
Jon was recently invited by host Mike Wiles to come on the Retro Rock Roundup podcast to discuss the Doobie Brothers and go album by album through their career. Here's their conversation.
www.retrorockroundup.com
July 6, 2022
Nobody does what the Cowboy Junkies do quite like they do. The Canadians' music is often slow, smokey, and emotional and conveys a heaviness even if it's not always heavy. They have also shown a mastery of covers, often taking ownership of the song from the original artist, and their latest album, Songs of the Recollection, is an album of excellent and well thought out covers, some of which might surprise you. Lead singer Margo Timmins joins us this week to discuss the band's long history including working alongside siblings, the label's pressure to change, and specific details about the recording of their landmark Trinity Sessions album. What shines through most is Margo's inherent decency. You'll come away loving them even more.
June 29, 2022
It's a classic rock two-fer this week! First up is Nazareth bassist Pete Agnew. This band of Scots has been chugging along for over 50 years and Pete is the last original member still at it. Pete and the band managed to release a super strong new album this year, Surviving the Law, that's one of the best they've released in a while. Pete and I discuss the effects of the lockdown on touring, what it's like experiencing periodic success in various parts of the world, and the glory days of Hair of the Dog.
Then we hear from Asia frontman John Payne. John is touring right now to celebrate a couple anniversaries - 40 years since the debut Asia album, and 30 years since he took over as lead singer and bassist for John Wetton. Payne has stories galore about him joining the band, how he continues with the Asia name, and how he keeps it going after all these years.
June 26, 2022
We're lucky to be living in the golden age of excellent rock docs. The latest one to add to the list is Freakscene: The Story of Dinosaur Jr. In this episode, director Phillip Reichenheim joins us from Berlin to discuss making the movie and working with the unique personalities of J, Lou, and Murph. The film also includes excellent insights from Henry Rollins, Black Francis, Kim Gordon and more. The movie is now available for streaming, so check it out even if the band is new to you!
June 22, 2022
This week is another excellent producer. Steve Levine had worked as an engineer on albums by the Clash and the Vibratoirs before doing the work that brought him the most attention - producing the first three Culture Club albums. He saw that band conquer the world and, ultimately, implode. This led to gigs producing the Beach Boys, Quarterflash, China Crisis, America, the Creatures, and the Vapors among many others. Today's he's busier than ever working for the BBC as well as many other projects. We discuss all of these acts as well as his work on John Hughes movie soundtracks, getting to know Stevie Wonder, winning a Grammy for gospel music and much more. His enthusiasm is infectious!
June 20, 2022
Writer Nick Duerden has recently published a book that, if you've been a listener of this podcast for any length of time, will be manna from heaven. His new book, Exit Stage Left, explores what rock stars do when the spotlight has moved on. Sound familiar? It's one of the most enjoyable music books you'll ever read if you've ever wondered how and why artists try to make it work decade after decade. We get the inside story of around 50 artists of all levels of fame (many of which have also been guests on our show) including Shaun Ryder, Bob Geldof, Robbie Williams, Natalie Merchant, David Gray, Ceelo Green, Don McLean, Billy Bragg and many many more. This conversation is a mutual love fest between two people seeking the same answers. You'll love it!
June 15, 2022
Ringleader Mike Scott has been at the center of the Waterboys keeping the train moving for about 45 years. He's always mixed traditional Irish folk music with the poetry of Bob Dylan or Yeats and a heavy dose of punk to create their unique sound and spirit. The result is spirit-lifting anthems like "The Whole of the Moon" and "Fisherman's Blues" and a bunch of fantastic and experimental detours. The last few albums have seen Mike experiment with drum loops and hip-hop beats culminating in the sparkling new album All Souls Hill. Mike shares with us his writing process, the inspiration behind several of his classics, working with Karl Wallinger, writing poetry and more. Mike is a generational treasure. We've all been blessed by his latent.
June 8, 2022
This week is another very special two-fer who share a long history together.
First up is Fixx frontman Cy Curnin! The band have a brand new album called Every Five Seconds that is as good as anything they've done (and was produced by our second guest). They're also about to embark on a tour of the US which is a must see. Cy discusses the new record, working with Stephen and Rupert Hine, and the stories behind several Fixx classics.
Then we get to hear from noted mixer/producer Stephen W. Tayler. Thanks to his long-standing partnership with Rupert, Stephen has been at the Fixx's side since the beginning. He's also worked closely with legends like Kate Bush, Rush, Howard Jones, Jethro Tull and many more. We get into several of his life stories (including his own solo work) as well. Enjoy!
June 1, 2022
You could say Graham Bonnet is hard rock's greatest chameleon. Perpetually stylish and sexy with his white suits, short hair and sunglasses, he continues to be an anomaly compared to his metal peers. He was plucked from relative obscurity to front Rainbow in the late 70s, but only lasted one album before joining Michael Schenker's group where his time was even shorter. Then he created Alcatrazz which launched the careers of Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai and which he's dipped in and out of over the years. All along there have also been solo albums and the Graham Bonnet Band, which have a strong new album called Day Out in Nowhere that's worth a listen. Whether it's crooning classic r&b songs or wailing like a banshee over the hardest metal, Graham does whatever he feels like and does it well. And his stories have to be heard to be believed. He's the Metal Gentleman.
![Episode 368 - John Doe of X/Solo and Roger Manning Jr. of Jellyfish/Lickerish Quartet]()
May 25, 2022
It's a couple of straight shooters this week.
First up is punk legend John Doe. John's been exploring the intersection of punk and rockabilly for over 40 years now (X's 2020 album Alphabetland is an incredible return to form), but his solo career is often much quieter, more Americana. His new album, Fables in a Foreign Land is maybe his best yet. Here we discuss the Hispanic influence on parts of the new album, writing poetry, X's recent comeback, and a couple stories from the set of Road House, one of the greatest movies ever made!
Then we catch up with Roger Manning Jr. of the Lickerish Quartet. Roger's career includes influential bands like Jellyfish, the Moog Cookbook and Imperial Drag. In addition to touring with artists like Beck and Morrissey, Roger's latest project is the Lickerish Quartet, which also includes some former collaborators. They're new ep, Threesome Vol. 3, concludes their "Masterpiece" series of fantastic eps. Roger shares stories from his long career, lots of business advice, shopping in Salt Lake City, and much more.
Two musical geniuses. Two artists that tell it like it is Two people making some of the best music of their long careers. Enjoy!
May 18, 2022
Guitarist Lenny Kaye has positioned himself as the ultimate tour guide through the history of rock and roll. Of course he's best known for being Patti Smith's enabler and co-conspirator, having been by her side since day one. He's also a producer helping artists like Suzanne Vega, James, Kristen Hersh and Soul Asylum find their best selves. He's a noted music historian, having curated the indispensable Nuggets compilation and writing articles and liner notes for decades. And, he's also a writer with a brand new book called Lightning Striking which details ten big moments in rock and roll. In this wonderful conversation, Lenny details how he structured the book, how he and Patti made music including Horses, working with Jimmy Iovine and Clive Davis, and his gratitude for a full life spent with what he loves most. It's inspiring stuff.
May 11, 2022
When you think about music from the late 70s, chances are good you think about Leo Sayer. He practically owned that period with hits like "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", "When I Need You" and "More Than I Can Say". Unfortunately, bad management robbed him of his career (and all his money) and he's had to build it all back up, which he's done successfully for decades. The last few years have been especially fruitful. In 2019 he released the excellent album Selfie and this year he put out Northern Songs which is him reimagining Beatles songs in a most creative way. Leo tells many incredible stories from his over 50 years in show business like interactions with the Beatles, hanging out with Prince and being the last person to speak with Elvis. You have to hear this to believe it!
May 3, 2022
The Hustle turns seven this week and to celebrate we welcome Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and the "King of Rock" Darryl "DMC" McDaniels of Run-DMC! Darryl recently published a children's book called "Darryl's Dream" about an awkward kid with big glasses growing up in the hood with an interest in comic books and cartoons. That kid grew up to join forces with Run and Jam Master Jay and form Run-DMC, one of the most revolutionary music groups in history. Darryl discusses the history of the group, his battles with mental health and depression, getting clean, and the stories behind many classic songs. D is a total inspiration and is fighting the good fight shedding light on mental health. We're lucky to hear from him. Enjoy!
May 2, 2022
The new book by Graeme Thomson answers many of the questions Simple Minds fans have had for decades. In Themes For Great Cities, Thomson explains (with participation from almost all band members past and present) how their artistically challenging beginning gave rise to their commercial peak in the mid-80s. What were their influences, how were songs like "I Travel" and "Love Song" even constructed, and what was behind the good and bad decisions the band made along the way. Theme is manna from heaven for SM obsessives because as enjoyable as the band is to listen to, they're equally as enjoyable to discuss.
April 26, 2022
Guitarist Brinsley Schwarz, in his own little way, changed music. When his namesake band came on the scene in the early 70s, they popularized a sound (along with bands like Dr. Feelgood, Clover and Status Quo) that would forever be known as "Pub Rock". British bands emulating the American roots music they were hearing, while adding their own spin. After a few albums, the hyper talented Nick Lowe left the band and Brinsley joined up with Graham Parker to start the Rumour. After several years in and out of activity with GP (his This Is 40 story is hilarious) Brinsley is now focused on a beautiful solo career and his new solo album, Tangled. It's exactly what the world needs right now! Brinsley tells us all about his history and shares the story of a historically bad gig you won't believe. Enjoy!
![Episode 363 - Ann Wilson of Heart/Jeff Bova]()
April 20, 2022
This week is another two-fer! First up is the legend herself and one of the greatest voices in rock history, Heart's Ann Wilson! Ann and Nancy have been doing their own thing the last few years and Ann has a brand new solo album called Fierce Bliss coming out on the 29th. To me, it sounds the closest to the heavy rock sound of the 70s that Heart and their influences like Led Zeppelin and Bad Company were doing. Singles like "Greed" and her cover of the Eurythmics' "Missionary Man" are already out there. Ann and I talk about her approach to covers, the status of Heart these days, how she got Roger Dean to do the album cover and more.
Then we hear from Grammy winning producer/keyboardist/sideman Jeff Bova. Jeff's career began in the early 80s when he was the go-to keyboardist for artists like Herbie Hancock and Cyndi Lauper and worked closely with producers like Bernard Edwards and Jim Steinman. We hear stories about all these great people and what those glory days were like. Enjoy!
April 13, 2022
Imagine being one of the hottest tickets in Hollywood in the early 80s. The parties. The celebrities. The glitz and glam. The BusBoys lived that life for a while. As most people know, they were captured for eternity thanks to their appearance in the movie 48 Hours, which cemented a friendship with Eddie Murphy that continues to this day. Frontman Brian O'Neal and the guys are finally back with new music! Excellent singles "Love On My Mind" and "Civil Rights" are already out there and a new album is in the works. Brian and I discuss those early days in LA, the challenges of being a rock band made up of black guys, how they also made it on the Ghostbusters soundtrack, his approach to hard work, and much more. The BusBoys are ripe for rediscovery!
April 11, 2022
This time Jon is joined by Hustle CMO Any Schaal to recap the last three month's of episodes. Lots of behind the scenes stories, what's working and what isn't, some parenting experiences, Jan's new podcast (!), recent concerts and more. Enjoy!
www.patreon.com/thehustlepod
April 6, 2022
Is Robin Guthrie one of the most influential guitarists ever? Going back to his days with the Cocteau Twins, up to his stellar solo work the last 25 years, his shimmering, reverb-heavy style pretty much kicked off the Shoegaze and Dream Pop movements. Not to mention, it inspired every bedroom player to mess with the pedals and knobs to find that perfect sound. Robin has spent the last couple decades adding to his legacy by consistenly releasing stellar albums (mostly ambient, many with others including frequent collaborator Harold Budd). This embarrassment of riches continues as he's put out three beautiful EPs as well as the wonderful full length, Pearldiving, just in the last year! Robin joins us to discuss his approach to music making, some of his production work with artists like Lush and Ian McCulloch, and stories from the old Cocteau Twins days. Enjoy!
April 3, 2022
Author Ben Wardle has pulled off what, until a few years ago, would have been impossible. He's written a brand new book detailing the life of the late great, and intensely private, Mark Hollis of Talk Talk. A Perfect Silence includes interviews with many people who worked closely with Mark and helps us get as close as possible to understanding the man who walked away from music (and public life) almost 25 years ago and never resurfaced. We learn Mark was into golf and motorcycles, but never strayed from that fiercely independent streak. Enjoy!
Mark Hollis ‘A Perfect Silence’ by Ben Wardle is published by Rocket 88 Books in April 2022 and is available to order only at www.markhollisbook.com
March 30, 2022
Good ol' Dave Wakeling. Still out there keeping the flame of English Beat and General Public alive. Sadly, after the passing of his old buddy Ranking Roger three years ago, the mantle sits squarely on his shoulders. In this conversation (that's the best word for it) Dave and I discuss the ups and downs of his relationship with Roger, his approach to songwriting, his non-starting solo album, their early 90s comeback, whether Mick Jones was meant to be a member of General Public, growing old, John Hughes, and about a dozen other topics. Dave and the English Beat are one of the most impactful bands of my life and it was an honor to chat with the legend himself.
March 22, 2022
Would Lady Gaga, Madonna and New Wave music in general be what they became without the stylistic influence of Dale Bozzio and the guys in Missing Persons? Not only did the band establish a template for the new wave sound with their debut album Spring Session M in 1982, but Dale otherworldly look married substance and style in a way that hadn't been done before. Dale writes about her wild life in her new book Life Is So Strange, which details her being discovered by Frank Zappa, marrying Terry Bozzio, working with Prince, and much more. Believe it or not, in this conversation Dale gives us in detail her list of lovers from back in the day! Buckle up for a wild ride!
March 16, 2022
Almost exactly 30 years ago, Curtis Stigers had it all going for him. His first album is hitting big thanks to the song "I Wonder Why" climbing the charts, his cover of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" is included on The Bodyguard soundtrack (famously making Nick Lowe a rich man) and he's working with legends like Carole King. But, after a few more years, Curtis makes the bold choice to switch to jazz and he's been among the best of the genre since. He recently released the fantastic This Life album and shares with us what brought on the switch, his love for the artists he's covered like Crowded House and the Blue Nile, run-ins with Clive Davis, and growing up in Boise. Curtis is an extremely cool guy and This Life might be his best album yet.
March 9, 2022
This week we're welcomed by rock royalty. Tim Finn is one of the most consequential artists of the last 50 years, especially for music lovers Down Under. As one of the founding members of Split Enz, he brought New Wave closer to the mainstream and pushed boundaries for others. Then his wonderful solo career, dalliances with Crowded House and collaborations with brother Neil as well as Phil Manzanera, Eddie Rayner and many more have maintained an unparalleled level of quality. He and Eddie are at it again as Forenzics and have just released a new album called Shades and Echoes that is one of the best things either of them has done. Tim and I discuss this fantastic new project, his other incredible more recent work, and we hear stories from the past as well. He's a legend and better now than ever before, we're lucky to hear from him.
March 6, 2022
Australia's Hoodoo Gurus are releasing their first new album in 12 years, Chariot of the Gods on March 11th. Lead singer Dave Faulkner returns to the pod to discuss the state of the world that inspired a lot of these songs. the idea that it might be the band's final statement, and the status of their world tour. Also, the band will be performing the whole album on a livestream the day before the release. Tickets to the show are available on their website below. We're so lucky to have this band still with us and still at the top of their game.
March 2, 2022
Thanks to the effective and entertaining documentary from 2020, the Go-Go's are enjoying a much-deserved resurgence. The revolutionary group of gals even made it into the Rock Hall last year, finally! Drummer Gina Schock released the beautiful coffee table picture book/memoir called Made In Hollywood last year. With all that's going on, it's time for Gina to tell her story. In this chat we expand on stories from the book, get a feel for the band dynamic, and go deep on her musical contribution to the band, as well as her solo career and singer like Miley and Selena who have sung her songs. She's a straight shooter, it's what we love about her!
February 23, 2022
If all you know about Men Without Hats is their eternal hit "Safety Dance" you're missing out. The Canadian synthpop outfit tried other styles and broadened their sound (1987's Pop Goes The Worldbeing a high point), including a grunge album few have heard, but it's been "Safety Dance '' that has never gone away and for good reason, it's still as fresh as it was in '82. Frontman Ivan Doroschuk has been at the helm the whole time and talks candidly about some of his struggles, but, ultimately, his gratitude for what has turned out to be a wonderful career. We also get into his punk and prog roots and his new music including last year's covers EP Again, Pt.1 (Again, Pt. 2 comes out next month and includes all new songs). Ivan deserves all the success he gets!
February 20, 2022
First time author Bradley Morgan felt compelled to compare the political world that encircled U2's creation of the iconic Joshua Tree album with the state of the country today. Bradley dissects the album track by track, retelling the inspiration behind each song, and paints a vivid picture of what inspired four Irish punks to make a definitive statement of Reagan's America. Additionally, how does it stand up today and have "the two Americas" become more unified? We're joined this week by co-host Karli Anderson to hear what inspired Bradley to write the book, his own personal story of discovery, and how the world has changed and not for the better. It's great book about a legendary moment in time.
February 16, 2022
No Rock Doc is complete without an appearance from esteemed British rock writer Mick Wall. Mick's career goes way back to the 70s working promotion and PR for many of the great New Wave bands, but he quickly realized the real action was in Heavy Metal. This led to gigs writing for Kerrang! and Classic Rock magazines (among many others) and penning books on Zeppelin, GnR, Meat Loaf, Ozzy, Maiden, Sabbath, Lemmy and many more. Mick recently started the Mick Wall Podcast which is a load of fun. Mick shares stories about life in the trenches, fellow writers, and his encounters with everyone from Zeppelin to Bowie, to Iggy to Queen. This is a blast and Mick's seen it all!
February 13, 2022
Here's my conversation with label honcho, political blogger, gay activist and more Howie Klein. In the 70s Howie was a DJ and concert promoter in San Francisco when he started 415 Records. That story was told brilliantly in Bill Kopp's new book Disturbing the Peace that we showcased last week. When 415 was sold to Columbia, it kicked off Howie's long career as a mover and shaker in the music biz. In here we talk a lot about his time at Sire and Warner Bros. where he worked closely with Depeche Mode, Lou Reed, Eric Clapton, Ice T, Morrissey, the Ocean Blue, Seal, Barenaked Ladies and Wilco (he was featured in their documentary). He's now involved in politics and blogs about it on his website Down With Tyranny (he tells a great story about the Clintons in here). Hear his recollections on it all!
February 9, 2022
One could argue that producer Beau Hill is the architect of the sound of 80s Hair Metal. Just as his nascent producing career is getting started, Ratt hit the jackpot with Out of the Cellar and "Round and Round" and from there he (along with Bob Rock and Ron Nevison) becomes THE go-to-guy for that sound. That leads to huge commercial success with bands like Warrant, Winger, Twisted Sister, Europe and Alice Cooper (not to mention fantastic bands that didn't take off like Airrace, Sandy Stewart, Streets, Fiona, and Fast Forward). We hear about all of it including the stories behind "Cherry Pie" and "Seventeen" and how they affected Jani and Kip, his early career bands like Shanghai and Airborne, and what he does today. It's a huge honor to hear from one of the biggest producers of all time!
