![Episode 223 - Jay Aston of Gene Loves Jezebel]()
August 14, 2019
Gene Loves Jezebel personified the 80s. A strikingly garish style mixed with a perfected merge of goth and pop music that many 80s bands tried to nail and couldn't. Along the way, alternative radio gobbled up hits like "Desire," "The Motion of Love" and "Jealous." Unfortunately, rock history is riddled with brothers that can't get along and GLJ are no different. Twins Jay and Michael Aston have been feuding at various levels for 30 years to the point where Michael maintains the Gene Loves Jezebel name in the States, while Jay runs with it in the UK. In this conversation, Jay and I discuss what's at the heart of this squabbling, but also great stuff like his 2017 album Dance Underwater, what it means to have "riff master" James Stevenson in the band, and his current tour with Modern English and the Alarm. It's a messy, frustrating and often confusing musical history overwhelmed by sibling rivalry, but the music itself lives on and is as bright and excellent as ever. Enjoy!
https://genelovesjezebel.co.uk/
August 7, 2019
Is there a more lovable song than "Mary's Prayer" by Danny Wilson? It's always welcome, always warms your heart, always makes you sing and smile. That song, which reached #23 in the US in 1987 was written and sung by this week's guest, Danny Wilson frontman Gary Clark. As much promise as the band had, they only managed two albums before calling it quits at the end of the 80s. Gary spent the dawn of the 90s starting a few other groups and working on solo material to no avail. As luck would have it, he eventually began collaborating with the right people and he went on to write many hit songs for other artists like Natalie Imbruglia and Demi Lovato. After years of success, he got a call from movie director John Carney ("Once") and was asked to do the music to the wonderfully beloved 2016 film "Sing Street". Today, that relationship has even more projects in the works! So, this seemingly one-hit wonder has made it work successfully for over 30 years. Who knew!
July 30, 2019
If you were a kid of the 80s with an eye towards the inventive new wave music coming out of the UK, no doubt you saw the name Dave Bascombe everywhere. This influential producer/engineer/mixer lent his talents to some of the most important alternative and pop albums of the decade. His name graces the credits of landmark albums like Depeche Mode's Music For The Masses, Peter Gabriel's So, and Tears For Fears' Songs From the Big Chair. Among the other giants we discuss in this conversation are Genesis, Level 42, Echo and the Bunnymen, Red Box, Danny Wilson, james, Erasure, the Silencers, the Lightning Seed, the Verve and even more recent artists like Lady Antebellum, Chromeo, Alpine Stars and Goldfrapp. Oh, and even Bon Jovi makes an appearance! Consider for a moment some of the timeless music that has passed through Dave's fingertips. Enjoy!
http://www.echobeachmanagement.com/artist/dave-bascombe/
July 28, 2019
This month we're honored to bring back the legendary producer Ron Nevison as we discuss Heart's 1985 comeback album. The Wilson sisters were not in a good place until Capitol Records revived their careers, but it came with some stipulations that the girls still aren't happy about. Despite them distancing themselves from the people they were at this time, we love the record and Ron gives us all the behind the scenes info. Plus, the girls are reunited and back out on tour AND this record turned 34 this month. Enjoy!
July 24, 2019
Has any rock god from the 80s been torn down only to rise back up more often than Kip Winger? His band Winger stormed out of the gate in the mid-80s with giant hits like "Seventeen" and "Headed For a Heartbreak" but the naysayers and bullying quickly overwhelmed an otherwise successful career. After grunge wiped all of them out, Kip retreated to the desert to reconnect with his muse eventually resulting in a celebrated foray into classical music. While he still tours with the guys in Winger, his creative juices really flow when he's getting Grammy nominations for Best Classical Contemporary Composition or releasing his brand new score to the musical Get Jack. Ultimately, Kip won the war and is finally reaping the praise he deserved all along. We talk about it all in here, enjoy!
http://www.getjack.com/
http://www.wingertheband.com/
http://www.kipwinger.com/
July 19, 2019
Noel Fogelman from Reliving My Youth podcast and Jon team up again to countdown their top 20 soundtrack songs from the 90s. Here's part 1 where we go from 20 to 11.
July 16, 2019
Modern English will forever be known as the band that gave us "I Melt With You." Those guys achieved the miraculous feat of recording a song that has been embraced by every generation since it's release in 1982 (contrary to popular belief, the song was not actually a hit originally). In this entertaining conversation, frontman Robbie Grey discusses the spoils of a song that's evergreen and we discuss a lot of the band's output that gets overshadowed including their 2016 album Take Me To The Trees. Modern English are hitting the road this week with The Alarm and Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel, which is sure to be an incredible show. Get to know the guy behind the song!
http://modernenglish.me
July 13, 2019
Former guest Robert LaRoche has just released the best album of the year. In his brand new EP, A Thousand Shades, the former frontman for 90s power poppers The Sighs creates six songs reflecting a dark, but beautiful, night of the soul. LaRoche and I discuss the sad break-up that inspired these songs, how he's never lost his knack for hooks, and who all contributed to the album. Do yourself a favor and make some time to sit with A Thousand Shades and really let it sink in. You'll be better for it.
http://robertlarochemusic.com/
July 9, 2019
Guitarist Randy Jacobs has a list of credits a mile long. The Detroit native's career goes back over 40 years and includes just about every genre there is - including a few years with Bonnie Raitt here, a couple with Paul Kelly there, etc. A guy doesn't get asked to play with the likes of Michael Henderson, Seal, Tears For Fears and Bruce Hornsby if he doesn't know what he's doing. But he may be best known as a member of the wholly unique supergroup Was (Not Was). He even co-wrote their biggest hit "Walk The Dinosaur." These days, when he isn't recruited to work with Depeche Mode or General Public, he's focused on his blues rock group with saxophonist Mindi Abair the Boneshakers. They just released a solid new album, No Good Deed, a couple weeks ago. Settle in and hear many stories from a guy who's been in the game longer than some of us have been alive!
https://www.randyjacobs.com/
July 8, 2019
The boys are back and fielding a full team this time (sorta) as Jon and Jan welcome sometime producer Paul Underwood of Glory Days Radio and Chief Marketing Officer Andy Schaal. We discuss the last few months of episodes, awkward listener reactions, even more awkward facebook interactions with former guests, and some listener questions. Jan was traveling and only able to chime in once in a while, so we were especially glad to have our two great friends with us this time around.
Enjoy!
July 2, 2019
People often forget that one of the biggest bands of the 70s was Flint Michigan's own Grand Funk Railroad. They may forget this because the band isn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they have a bunch of hits, but they haven't been played to death like "Stairway to Heaven," and they aren't written up continuously in Rolling Stone magazine. Original member and drummer Don Brewer and I discuss why this might be and how he feels about it. We also hear the stories behind several GFR hits and notable album tracks, what it was like being produced by Todd Rundgren and Frank Zappa, and the current state of the band which includes original member Mel Schacher and "new guys" Max Carl and Bruce Kulick, but not original member Mark Farner. Since it's Independence Day in the US this week, let's celebrate by remembering how great THE "American Band" still is!
https://www.grandfunkrailroad.com/
June 29, 2019
For June's episode of Deep Dive we welcome back legendary guitarist Marco Pirroni (ep 200) to educate us on the creation and recording of the breakout album by Adam and the Ants, 1980's Kings of the Wild Frontier. This is really the album that made Adam a star and titillated music lovers who wanted all they could get from the swashbuckling pirate with the Indian stripe across his nose. Where did these styles and influences come from and why did it work so well? No one else has ever sounded like the Ants did at that time. Enjoy!
June 26, 2019
Since their buzzworthy debut in 1989, Hershey Pennsylvania's Ocean Blue have never strayed from their perfect mix of the Smiths meets the Cocteau Twins to the delight of their rabid fanbase. Today these fans have reason to rejoice because they guys have just released a new album, Kings and Queens/Knaves and Thieves and it's just good as anything else they've done in the last 30 years. In this conversation, frontman Dave Schelzel and I recount their entire career, what was happening behind the scenes for each album, as well as in his personal life. Today Dave is a lawyer, so we discuss how he works new music into his life. We also chat about their producer and former guest of the show Mark Opitz. The Ocean Blue are a top 10 all time favorite band of mine and Dave is by far one of our most requested guests, so we're extremely honored to hear from him. And check out the new album!
www.theoceanblue.com
![Episode 215 - William Wittman]()
June 18, 2019
William Wittman is another producer/engineer/mixer whose name may not sound familiar, but who no doubt has worked on scores of songs you know and love. His first major work was on Cyndi Lauper's monumental She's So Unusual. Included on those sessions were the guys from The Hooters, which lead to WW doing their breakthrough Nervous Night. The same team went on to help craft Joan Osborne's smash Relish. From there, the hits just kept coming with albums by The Outfield, The Fixx and Scandal. He's also worked artists like the A's, Graham Parker Mick Jagger and Pat Benatar. In the 90s he played in his own band Too Much Joy, which also paved the way for him to continue as a professional musician. Today you can find him slapping the bass in Cyndi's band as well as serving as her musical director. And finally, a young William once passed up an opportunity to hobnob with rock's ultimate royalty because he was so dedicated to finishing a job, well...that and...he really had to pee. 😂
June 14, 2019
Mike Peters has a lot going on. His band The Alarm have a brand new album called SIGMA dropping on June 28th and lead single "Blood Red Viral Black" is an indication that the band is as fiery and powerful as ever. They are also kicking off a North American tour in July with Modern English and Jay Aston's Gene Loves Jezebel. Plus he's still running his vital cancer organization the Love Hope Strength Foundation that finds bone marrow matches at Alarm concerts. And he was recently awarded an OBE by the Royal Family. Oh, and he's successfully fighting off cancer, as is his wife Jules. We discuss all of this as well as the prospect of a full Alarm reunion in this open and honest chat. Enjoy!
June 11, 2019
This week we welcome another music academic, Allmusic.com critic Mark Deming. Mark has been a contributor to the platform for many years and in this conversation we discuss how he became a rock writer, what music criticism even means today, and , of course, we debate a bunch of stuff like why some artists are lionized no matter what they do and why others never get the credit they deserve. As much as I love and rely on music critics for documenting a historical record, I take issue with what I perceive as a "groupthink" mentality among the tribe. Why do they all seem to like the same things? We get into all of it. Is there anything more fun than debating music with smart people? I think not!
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mark-deming-mn0002009263/biography
![Episode 213 - Laura Campbell and Alan Edmunds of Mulu]()
June 4, 2019
Remember in the 90s when electronic music was poised to take over the world? Groups like Portishead, Chemical Brothers, and Olive were doing something so innovative it seemed techno and trip-hop would become the new norm. Well, it didn't really work out that way. Among some of these innovative artists was a duo from Liverpool called Mulu made up of producer Alan Edmunds and singer Laura Campbell. The two only released one album called Smiles Like a Shark in 1997 that featured excellent singles like "Desire," "Filmstar," and one of the greatest singles of the 90s, "Pussycat." Unfortunately, they never got a chance to release that second album. Today they lead pretty normal lives, but occasionally pursue their musical urges, thankfully. This conversation is fun because we start out trying to tell the Mulu story, but mostly end up talking about our favorite music and the many artists they met during their time in the game. We hope you discover some new songs to make you happy and check out the link below to go deeper.
https://soundcloud.com/mulu-uk-official?fbclid=IwAR3TTWu04TrdkenjuG-n6-xUKxPetFhfIw86Xzh7NuASUHqtUtDIZrmt1Ak
May 31, 2019
Wang Chung are releasing a special new album today called Orchesography which re-imagines some of their biggest hits and deepest cuts in a classical setting. You may have already seen the video for "Dance Hall Days" which had a real viral moment when it was released about a month ago. Hearing these classic songs in this new context adds a freshness that is sure to delight listeners. Frontman Jack Hues (ep 163) returns to discuss the impetus of the idea, how the songs were recreated, and his recent collaboration with Syd Arthur on a 22 minute version of Beck's "Nobody's Fault But My Own" that will blow your mind and is available for purchase on iTunes. Check it out, it's worth your time!
http://www.wangchung.org/
https://music.apple.com/us/album/nobodys-fault-but-my-own-feat-syd-arthur-ep/1453044529
![Episode 212 - Patrick Fitzgerald of Kitchens of Distinction/Solo]()
May 28, 2019
You might consider South London's Kitchens of Distinction forebears of the shoegazer genre that defined alternative rock in the UK in the early 90s. Fronted by bassist Patrick Fitzgerald, the Kitchens perfected the art of layering swirling guitars into infinity creating some of the most gorgeous noise ever recorded. But, after four albums in 6 years without a major breakthrough, the band called it quits in the mid-90s. Since then Patrick has had numerous side projects including Fruit, Lost Girls, Oskar's Drum, and his solo work under the name Stephen Hero. Oh, and he also became a doctor. Patrick and I discuss the legacy of KOD, the challenges of being an out and proud gay man in those days, the nature of his work in medicine, the new album he's completing, and a disastrous tour they did with Suzanne Vega back in the day. He's just about the sweetest man you'll ever know. And here's a link to the last Oskar's Drum album, 2018's Degenerate Art, which is fantastic. Enjoy!
https://oskarsdrum.bandcamp.com/album/degenerate-art?fbclid=IwAR1-MQ1dkWfKAo-NfvS2d_Hzjbs5iBKI50RaqKWh7xjzBEnULrndy5KocOE
May 25, 2019
In 1986 David Bowie did his buddy Iggy Pop a solid offering to help produce a new album and bring him the commercial success he so richly deserved. Bowie threw together a crack team including guitarist Kevin Armstrong and recorded Blah Blah Blah. The album featured the hit “Real Wild Child” and brought Iggy some mass success. But was it art? Kevin returns (ep 187) to go deep on the recording process. We also chat about his new excellent solo album Run. Enjoy!
May 21, 2019
Whether you know the name or not, chances are you've rocked out to scores of songs produced by the legendary Ron Nevison. Can you believe he first got his feet wet engineering The Who's Quadrophenia? And then Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti? From there he applied his genius to albums by the likes of Bad Company, Thin Lizzy, UFO and the Babys. And that was just the 70s! In the 80s he produced the finest pop rock available, guiding smash hits by the likes of Heart, Jefferson Starship, Survivor, Europe, Eddie Money, Chicago, Ozzy and, of course, Kiss. The 90s featured quality work by Meat Loaf, Vince Neil, Bad English and Damn Yankees. We get into ALL of them! Ron's in the process of writing a book, so the stories come fast and loose. If you like rock and roll, you will love this conversation with a true icon.
May 14, 2019
If you looked up New Wave or Power Pop in the dictionary, one of the skinny-tied artists you'd see next to The Knack would be the great Greg Kihn. He's practically the poster boy for that unmistakable sound bubbling up in the late 70s when long-haired rockers were cutting their hair and their songs shorter and embracing the new wave. This transition scored him some huge hits like "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)", "Jeopardy" and "Reunited", but then he sort of disappeared. What happened was a temporary stop doing morning radio turned into a couple decade long new career. In 2017 he released his first album in many years, Rekihndled, and now he's back on the road playing the hits. It's been quite a ride!
www.gregkihn.com
May 11, 2019
After breaking out as a member of Rick Springfield's band in the early 80s, guitarist Tim Pierce went on to become one of the most sought after session guys in the business. He has literally played on over 1000 recordings in his long career. Some of the big collaborations that we talk about in here are Bon Jovi, John Waite, Crowded House, Michael Jackson, Kenny Loggins, Bruce Springsteen, Seal, Roger Waters, Meat Loaf, and Rod Stewart. But, what's more interesting is the online guitar instruction business he's built for himself as the music industry has dried up. Through his site www.timpierceguitar.com he has posted hundreds of videos educating guitarists on the secrets of the trade. Tim may have created the best second music career for himself of anyone we've ever had on the show! It's fascinating to learn all about it. Enjoy!
May 8, 2019
We're turning four this week! And to celebrate we present this very rare interview with one of our most requested guests, Sandi Saraya! Saraya were an excellent, but short-lived hard rock band that only released two albums - the self-titled in 1989 featuring the mild hit "Love Has Taken Its Toll" and the much heavier and darker follow up, When The Blackbird Sings in 1991 - before mysteriously disappearing. Fans have wondered for years where Sandi went and why. We answer those questions here which includes finding God, getting remarried, and raising five kids. Believe it or not, the band is currently working on new music for the first time in almost 30 years! Enjoy and Happy Birthday to us!
April 30, 2019
Oscar-winner Franke Previte basically won the lottery in 1987. He first rose to mild fame fronting the early 80s melodic rock band Franke and the Knockouts where he recorded three great albums and scored three top 40 hits you may remember like "Sweetheart" and "You're My Girl." While their "Foreginer by way of Jersey" sound was solid, it wasn't taking over the world. And then everything changed. Franke was asked to contribute a couple songs to a movie called Dirty Dancing (he worried it was a porn) a friend was involved with. He wrote and recorded "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" and "Hungry Eyes" and then sat back and watched as the movie and his songs became a cultural phenomenon that has never gone away. Here we talk about how it all came to be, what it has freed him up to focus on, and the recent release of a killer Knockouts boxset called The Complete Collection that tells the band's entire story. It's a tale unlike any other!
April 26, 2019
The release of Dare by the newly reconstituted Human League in 1981 changed everything. Suddenly, synthesizers weren't just these cold machines producing frosty sounds from the back of the room. Phil Oakey and company showed how they could be used to create pop songs with hooks and choruses that sounded great on the radio, something no one else had done as well to that point. In this month's Deep Dive, Human Leaguer and former guest Ian Burden (ep 194) returns to talk about the creation and recording of that album, the invaluable work of producer Martin Rushent, and it's lasting legacy. Please enjoy!
April 23, 2019
Remember that 2002 movie starring Hugh Grant called About A Boy? You know, the one where he plays a bachelor able to live comfortably on royalties he receives from a single Christmas song? Just wait till you hear the story on "Christmas Wrapping"!
Meet Chris Butler, guitarist and primary songwriter for The Waitresses. Chris is just your run-of-the-mill artist who…wrote his biggest hits from a woman’s perspective, records music without the benefit of electricity and lives in a serial killer’s house. If that’s not enough, he also grew up in Ohio in that late 70’s music scene that gave us Chrissie Hynde, DEVO et al. And while attending college at Kent State, he took part in that infamous Vietnam War protest that resulted in the death of a close friend.
I hope you’ll find this emotional roller coaster episode with the witty Chris Butler as fascinating to listen to as I did to record.
April 17, 2019
The 90s were good to Royston Langdon. His band hit it big in 1996 with their #1 smash "In The Meantime" off their debut album Resident Alien. He also married actress Liv Tyler. But after two more Spacehog albums, the band came apart and was never the same. Over the years there have been a couple reunions, but today Royston is focusing on his solo career and released his first solo album Everything's Dandy under the moniker LEEDS (the album we be re-released under his own name soon). And, congratulations are in order as he was recently selected as the opening act for the Psychedelic Furs on their upcoming US tour! Here we talk about what rock stardom really means, the influence of Bowie on Spacehog's music, and how he almost replaced Scott Weiland in Velvet Revolver. It gets deep!
https://www.roystonlangdon.com/
April 12, 2019
Noel and Jon had so much fun counting down their Top 10 soundtrack songs of the 80s, and so many leftovers, that they decided to do a part 2! This is us counting down another 10 songs - call them top 11-20, top honorable mentions, top obscure tracks, or whatever you want, as long as you listen, enjoy, and speak up!
https://www.facebook.com/RelivingMyYouth/
![Episode 205 - Ronnie DeVoe of New Edition/Bell Biv DeVoe]()
April 9, 2019
Imagine you have Ronnie DeVoe's life. You're plucked in your early teens to round out New Edition and you never look back. Then, after several huge hits, you veer off with Ricky and Mike and invent New Jack Swing (and eclipse the success of New Edition) with Bell Biv DeVoe. Hits like "Poison" and "Do Me" were revolutionary. The core of New Edition - Ronnie, Ricky, Mike, Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown, and Johnny Gill - has never changed even if the guys float in and out depending on availability and the level of drama among them, but a new offshoot is about to make news again. RBRM is Ricky, Bobby, Ronnie and Mike and they're embarking on a two month tour at the end of April. The shows will incorporate classics from all iterations of the band, as well as Bobby's solo hits. In here Ronnie and I talk about all of it including the current state of New Edition as well as r&b in general, his real estate business, and what it's like having his wife Shamari featured on the Real Housewives of Atlanta. You won't want to miss this one!
http://www.rbrm4theloveofittour.com
April 3, 2019
We've all seen Back to the Future multiple times, but have you ever watched Marty McFly singing "Johnny B. Goode" at the dance and wondered whose voice was actually coming out of Michael J. Fox's mouth? Well, it was none other than Mark Campbell, front man for the excellent soul outfit Jack Mack & the Heart Attack! Here we go deep on all the minutia you could want regarding his involvement in that movie. 1985 was a big year for Mark as Jack Mack also appeared in the teen angst drama Tuff Turf so we hear all about that as well. Mark tells stories of his many years in Hollywood, how he's made a living, and we discuss the Mack's most recent album, Back to the Shack. This is a fun one!
http://www.jackmack.com
March 30, 2019
We've got some big news to share! Plus, Jon and Jan recap the episodes of 2019 so far including MJ controversies, more rock star deaths, why 90s artists under-perform, and what's the deal with so many bassists lately. We also answer a few listener questions.
Links to our listener-recorded song.
Diamond Field feat Bob Haro - iTunes
Diamond Field feat Bob Haro - Spotify
March 27, 2019
The Fabulous Poodles were a band that merged humor with rock n' roll at a time when all bets were off. Part pub rock, part new wave, part power pop and part comedy act, the Fab Poos may not have earned major hits, but they had a blast trying during their short existence. They recorded three albums during the late 70s (their '77 debut was produced by the Who's John Entwistle), toured the states with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Ramones, and backed up Chuck Berry. But, when it ended frontman Tony De Meur adopted the stage name Ronnie Golden and turned his attention to comedy writing and performing. He and writing partner Barry Cryer forged a successful career for many years, he appeared in a famous episode of the Young Ones, and he continued to make music as the urge hit. Here, Tony shares all his best stories with us!
http://www.ronniegolden.com
March 24, 2019
In 1969 alone, Creedence Clearwater Revival released three of the greatest rock albums in history. The third, and arguably the best, was Willy and the Poor Boys. Landmark hits like "Down on the Corner" and " Fortunate Son" have cemented its place on pretty much every list of the best albums ever, deservedly so. This month we bring back one of our favorite guests ever, CCR bassist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stu Cook (ep100) to discuss the making of the album, his favorite moments, and the dynamic in the band at the time with songwriter John Fogerty. And don't forget to catch Creedence Clearwater Revisited on tour this summer
!http://creedence-revisited.com
![Episode 202 - Brent Bourgeois of Bourgeois Tagg/Solo]()
March 19, 2019
You can certainly be forgiven if all you know about today’s guest is that he was the "Bourgeois" in Bourgeois Tagg and they had that great song “I Don’t Mind At All”. Surprisingly, Brent Bourgeois is fine with that too. In fact, he gets much more excited these days talking about his work behind the mixing board than those days spent in front of it.
His career has taken more turns than Lombard Street and in doing so, has intersected with an odd variety of fame. How odd? Well, allow me to name-drop: Julian Lennon, Mark Zuckerberg, Michael W Smith, Christine McVie, Johnny Carson and Todd Rundgren. We spend a good bit of time on the latter as Brent offers up his reverence while also reinforcing Todd’s rather indifferent studio reputation. It’s a laugh out loud moment for sure!
In fact, we laugh a lot on this episode and also get serious for just a few minutes with his faith. Brent’s soul searching journey is different than you might expect and I for one find his perspective fascinating.
And last but not least is the music. I hope you enjoy rediscovering those mid 80’s collaborations with Larry Tagg as well as his sadly overlooked solo work of the 90’s.
March 16, 2019
Michael Jackson is once again a very hot topic. In the recent documentary "Leaving Neverland" Wade Robson and James Safechuck make very serious claims that Michael sexually abused them for many years when they were young. If you've seen the movie, you no doubt have very strong feelings about it. Brad Sundberg worked alongside Michael for 18 years, including technical direction and being part of the engineering team on the Bad, Dangerous, HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor albums, and these accusations don't jive with the MJ he knew and worked closely with. In this candid conversation Brad lets us know from his perspective what MJ was like, both to work with and as a person. We discuss some of the claims and work through some of our own feelings. Brad gives seminars around the world educating people on what it was like being "in the studio with MJ." We hope you listen to this with an open mind. Let us know what you think.
http://www.inthestudiowithmj.com
![Episode 201 - Michael Beinhorn]()
March 13, 2019
Producer Michael Beinhorn has worked the boards for some of the biggest albums of the last 30 years. Just look at this list - the Red Hot Chili Pepper's Mother's Milk, Soul Asylum's Grave Dancer's Union, Soundgarden's Superunknown (which just turned 25 last week), Marilyn Manson's Mechanical Animals, and Hole's Celebrity Skin. And there are many others where that came from (the Violent Femmes, Ozzy Osbourne, Social Distortion, and the Verve Pipe are some of the others we talk about). But, did you know his first major work was writing and producing the game-changing "Rockit" by Herbie Hancock?! Can you believe the same guy did all of this? These days he's entered a new phase of his career which focuses on the pre and post production process and one of the first fruits of this is Weezer's brand new Black Album. Hear Michael tell stories about all these artists, like when he had to fire Anthony Kiedis and what the late-great Chris Cornell was like to work with, as well as many others. Enjoy!
http://www.michaelbeinhorn.com/
March 9, 2019
Have you heard the news? Rock legends Styx are about to embark on a mini-tour with comedian Larry the Cable Guy as the opener (begins March 21st in Fargo, ND). What a unique pairing! It's being billed as the "Laugh. Rock. Seriously." tour and is expected to bring smiles to all in attendance at a time when we all need them. Lead singer Lawrence Gowan and I discuss how this happened as well as the band's most recent album, 2017's The Mission, which is the best Styx album released since their imperial 70s period. We also touch on Gowan's solo career and how he's been a big deal in Canada long before he joined Styx. We packed as much as we could in the short time we had!
http://www.styxworld.com
March 6, 2019
This week we celebrate our 200th episode with the immortal Marco Pirroni! His partnership with Adam Ant created some of the most unique, catchy and enduring hits of the 80s. Smashes like "Stand and Deliver," "Prince Charming," "Goody Two Shoes," and "Strip" have never been equaled and sound as fresh today as the day they were recorded. These days Marco and Adam aren't on speaking terms, but Marco's kind-hearted, jovial nature makes him a fun conversationalist and he shares stories of their time together. We discuss the creation of some of the hits, his early days with Siouxie and the Banshees, his time working with Sinead O'Connor and everything in between including Bowie, Prince and many others. Sit back, relax and enjoy this sprawling ramble!
March 3, 2019
Canadian power pop legends The Kings have just released an excellent new single called "Circle of Friends/Man That I Am" that calls upon perhaps their greatest musical legacy, "This Beat Goes On/Switching to Glide." With help from old compadre, the legendary Bob Ezrin, the band polished off a nugget they've had in the vaults for many years and proven they haven't lost a step. Guitarist Mr. Zero discusses the potential for a new Kings album, the challenges of releasing new music in this day and age, and we try to figure the technical term for songs with / in them. These guys are the best and the track is amazing. It's well worth the 99 cents! No excuses!
http://thekingsarehere.com/home.php
![Episode 199 - Phil Thornalley]()
February 27, 2019
Phil's journey through the music industry has been one for the ages. At just 21 years old, Phil was brought in to produce The Cure's Pornography album in 1982. That even lead to an 18 month stint as their touring bassist. What it also lead to was a partnership with the late-great producer Alex Sadkin, which had him producing some major albums of the era like Duran Duran's Seven and the Ragged Tiger and the Thompson Twins' Into the Gap (which got him a Grammy nom). We also discuss his work with favorites like Andrew Gold, Robbie Nevil, Prefab Sprout, Bryan Adams (who he also toured with), Johnny Hates Jazz (who he also joined) and even Ricky Gervais! But, what he might be best known for his co-writing the song "Torn" which went on to be one of the biggest singles of the 90s for Natalie Imbruglia. His love of music began when he fell in love with Todd Rundgren and he recently paid tribute to his hero with the release of his second solo album under the name Astral Drive, which is one of the best bursts of sunshine you'll ever hear and borrows heavily from Todd's DIY spirit. Astral Drive is one of the best albums of 2018, you don't want to miss it! Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/astraldrive/
February 23, 2019
In 1986 this sophisticated pop group with the weird name scored a huge worldwide hit with "Digging Your Scene." Listening to just that song, you probably thought you knew what this band was all about - slick production, loungy horns, and a fey lead singer. But, when you listened to Animal Magic as a whole you heard blues and country guitar licks covered in bongos, saxophones a plenty, and beautiful ladies singing backup. Over the years, Animal Magic has become one of my favorite albums of all time and it deserves some appreciation. This is not a sophisti-pop record. This is a pop/rock record with horns. Front man Dr. Robert (episode 20) returns to Deep Dive the Blow Monkey's second album, express his feelings about it now, and give the stories behind the songs. Hopefully, you get turned on the same way I am every time I hear it!
https://www.theblowmonkeys.com/
February 19, 2019
In my opinion, no group in the history of pop music went on as drastic a journey as the band Talk Talk. Beginning in the early 80s as an excellent and capable synth-pop group in a similar mold as Human League and Duran Duran, Mark Hollis, Lee Harris and Paul Webb's style changed over the course of five albums into something that stymied critics resolved to calling "post-rock." In the beginning of the 90s, the band called it quits with lead singer Hollis retiring into complete anonymity. In 2002 bassist Paul Webb collaborated with Portishead singer Beth Gibbons for an album under the name Rustin Man called Out of Season and just a couple weeks ago, Rustin Man came through with the follow up (17 years later), Drift Code. In this rare conversation, Paul discusses the making of Drift Code, what the Rustin Man project is, and we get some insights on the music of Talk Talk. Enjoy!
https://www.rustinman.com/
February 15, 2019
It seemed fitting to kick off a new series on The Hustle with the man that kicked off the podcast back in May of 2015. Starbuck mastermind Bruce Blackman was our very first guest and still one of the best. His knack for telling stories infused with southern charm is unparalleled. It's what made Starbuck's music so good and what makes his new memoir The Road to Moonlight Feels Right so entertaining. Bruce has a Faulkner-esque knack for bringing color to his childhood in Mississippi and the many characters that decorate that time. You also get to understand his approach to show business and how he wasn't willing to sell his soul to become a typical rock star. It's a blast of a book and worth a read whether you're a fan of his music or not. But, c'mon, who doesn't love "Moonlight Feels Right"!
Bruce Blackman - The Road to Moonlight Feels Right
![Episode 197 - Duncan Sheik]()
February 12, 2019
If there was ever a time to bring back the chill 90’s, it’s now. You saw it in the loose fitting clothes, and you definitely heard it in the music. It was just a laid back time. A calm before the storm, if you will. Duncan Sheik’s blockbuster hit personified that era. With well over a million radio plays, it followed you everywhere; inside your Toyota Camry, on VH1, aisle 7 at Costco and the changing room at Structure.
Perhaps today, as you sang along to it on Nineties On 9, you felt a tinge of sadness for this ultimate one-hit-wonder. Save your barely breathing breath! He’s doing just fine. Nowadays, you’re more likely to find Mr. Sheik where the neon lights are bright than on some legacy tour with Deep Blue Something and Dishwalla. Duncan’s composing for Spring Awakening earned him two Tony Awards and he’s still one of the hottest names on Broadway.
I catch Duncan on a reflective day. We pour over his entire career and I share a handful of my favorite songs that should have received more acclaim. Quite a few are of past relationships and Duncan is as open, honest, funny and self-deprecating as any guest I’ve ever had. And did I mention we’re buddies now? 😂
![Episode 196 - Steve Firth of Embrace]()
February 6, 2019
British rock band Embrace may have come out in the wake of Oasis and Blur during the second British Invasion of the late 90s, but they had a sound that separated them greatly from the pack. Rarely has a Brit-pop group concocted grandiose rockers and epic ballads with more heart, inspiration and beauty.
allmusic.com called them the "Orson Welles of rock" which is about right. While they've had a few #1 albums in the UK, their road to success in the States has been rocked with some of the worst luck imaginable.
Bassist Steve Firth and I discuss the ups and downs, the downside of meeting your heroes, and what motivates their amazing sound. We also celebrate the 21st anniversary of their debut album, The Good Will Out (there's a UK tour happening in March) and their latest release, 2017'sLove Is a Basic Need. I often say a band's music can make your life better - never has it been more true than it is with Embrace. They're probably my favorite band of the last 20 years.
http://www.embrace.co.uk
January 30, 2019
Despite being a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter in his own right, Don Dixon's legacy as an important figure in American rock was cemented when he co-produced the first two albums by R.E.M. (Murmer and Reckoning) with Mitch Easter. Helping to bring their sound to the world changed everything. He would go on to produce other excellent artists like Guadalcanal Diary, the Smithereens, Marshall Crenshaw and Matthew Sweet, while also forging his own solo path with excellent tunes like "Praying Mantis" and "A Million Angels Sigh." He's still at it today continuously releasing new albums, producing up and coming artists, and collaborating with his wife, the acclaimed singer/songwriter Marti Jones. In this chat we discuss his long and excellent solo career as well as the stories behind the greats he produced. Enjoy!
January 26, 2019
In part one of our new series Deep Dive, we've invited back former guest, Matthew Seligman to discuss the recording of Thomas Dolby's underappreciated masterpiece, 1984's The Flat Earth. At a time when listeners were expecting "She Blinded Me With Science Part 2", Dolby delivered a challenging piece of art that still doesn't get enough attention. Matthew played bass on the record and shares his stories and recollections of the era.
January 22, 2019
Ian Burden was a key member of the revolutionary new wave band the Human League during their imperial 80s period. Philip Oakey was desperate to find band members during the lead-up to the creation of 1981's game-changing album Dare! and called upon Burden to bring his musicianship to the group, which lead to classic singles like "The Sound of the Crowd," "Love Action," and "Mirror Man." After the unpleasant experience of recording 1986's Crash with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Ian decided to leave the group and a music career. Yet, out of nowhere, last year he put out his first solo album Hey Hey Ho Hum, which sounds exactly like the album a former Human League member should make. In this chat we discuss all of it - the albums, the hits, the ups, the downs and the motivations for a solo album at this stage. What an honor to hear from him!
http://www.ianburden.uk/
January 18, 2019
Once again Jon teams up with Noel Fogelman from Reliving My Youth for another music-related topic close to his heart: Top 10 soundtrack songs from the 80s! We discuss our lists and defend our picks. But, we ask you, dear listener, who wins?
Good news - no metronome this time!
Look for a Part 2 in the near future.
