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The story of David Ackles, who never recovered from putting out “the best album ever made”.
Episode 787
Picked up in the great singer-songwriter sweep of the late 60s and signed to Elektra Records, David Ackles made four albums which went over the heads…
11 months ago
Kevin Rowland, Oasis, Velvet Sundown – and do we want the truth or just a good story?
Episode 786
Our patent fact-from-fiction separator goes into overdrive this week though sometimes, as Robert Wyatt observed, Ruth is stranger than Richard. High …
11 months ago
John Otway – Micro-stardom, 5,000 gigs and how to capture a crowd in 20 seconds
Episode 785
John Otway – self-billed as “Rock And Roll’s Greatest Failure” - has played 5,260 gigs in 53 years, a record possibly only beaten by BB King. There a…
11 months, 1 week ago
Peter Hook looks back at Joy Division, New Order and how not to be a DJ
Episode 784
Peter Hook, bold pioneer of the high, clambering, tune-filled bassline, is touring this autumn with Peter Hook & the Light. We talk to him in Prestat…
11 months, 1 week ago
Live Aid remembered – from inside and out – on its 40th birthday
Episode 783
A 40th anniversary special with two of its presenters (Hepworth and Ellen) and old pal and TV critic Boyd Hilton who watched on the day aged 18 (“you…
11 months, 2 weeks ago
Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull and 58 years of one-legged live performance
Episode 782
Ian Anderson is touring again in 2026 and talks to us here about tweed stage-wear, an audience of four, his teenage heroes and the first shows he eve…
11 months, 2 weeks ago
Album sleeves the modern world would ban & the best song titles and opening lines
Episode 781
It’s Happy Hour in the Rock and Roll Lounge of News and we’re working our way through anything over 40 per cent proof. Which means ice, a slice and ……
11 months, 3 weeks ago
Bobby Bluebell’s thriving third act, ‘80s Glasgow and the gift that keeps on giving
Episode 780
Bobby Bluebell remembers the “cuddly duffle-coat friendship” of Glasgow bands in the early ‘80s and the Bluebells’ second act rebooted by the Volkswa…
11 months, 3 weeks ago
Dubmaster Dennis Bovell has had 50 fun-filled years making magical records
Episode 779
Dennis Bovell has worked his dub magic on everyone from Janet Kaye to the Slits, the Pop Group, Jarvis Cocker and Thom Yorke & Jonny Greenwood – and …
11 months, 3 weeks ago
Rick Wakeman once signed a contract guaranteeing he’d wear “at least one cape onstage”
Episode 778
Rick Wakeman was onstage from the age of five and looks back with us here on a life of live performance – jazz and blues bands, the Strawbs, Yes – an…
11 months, 3 weeks ago