Podcast Episodes

Danny Thompson’s bass adventures, Dylan’s women, TV satire and great sleeve art.

Episode 819

News, rants, theories, stories and assorted old hokum which this week stumbles into …

… Kate Bush, Thunderbirds, Tim Buckley, the Blind Boys of Alabama … the magical bass adventures of Danny Thompson…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Thea Gilmore on Joan Baez, Jake Thackray and Dave Pegg’s dog starting her career

Episode 818

We’ve always liked Thea Gilmore who once crossed America with Joan Baez in a pre-Election campaign tour and has released 21 albums (“I’ve got musical ADHD!)”. She looks back here at the first shows s…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

How pioneer tape-rat Roger Armstrong found vintage America a whole new audience

Episode 817

Roger Armstrong co-founded the legendary Rock On record shop and was running the Chiswick label long before the punk rock explosion of independents, a believer that you could license rare R&B, soul a…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Why Van and Fairport make the perfect send-off, Robert Redford & the best-looking rock stars

Episode 816

On the menu at the rock and roll state banquet …

… Into the Mystic, Meet On The Ledge, In My Life, Tom Waits’ Take It With Me and other perfect songs for a last farewell

… the day we joined the world…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

John Prine, Elvis Costello and a jukebox on fire

Episode 815

Novelist and journalist Tom Piazza struck up a friendship with the irreplaceable John Prine in the last years of his life. This relationship, which began as a profile for a magazine, almost blossomed…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Alex's star-studded week in Hollywood

Episode 814

Having disposed of the surprising history of pop stars who posed for Playboy, discussing whether the universe really needs another album called "Play", come up with a couple of nominations for Best A…

Published on 1 month, 4 weeks ago

Peter Hammill on Bowie, other superfans & 47 albums of ‘self-sabotage and chaos’.

Episode 813

Peter Hammill, adored by Bowie, Mark E Smith and many others, co-founded Van Der Graaf Generator when he was 19. And he’s made 47 albums since, powered by “hubris, enthusiasm and sheer bloody-mindnes…

Published on 2 months ago

Talking Heads, where they came from and where they went - with Jonathan Gould

Episode 812

Has there ever been a group like Talking Heads? Jonathan Gould’s Burning Down The House explores their affluent background, the root of their ambition and the springboard of the New York scene of the…

Published on 2 months ago

Freddie Mercury has a daughter’ – and Lesley-Ann Jones can prove it

Episode 811

Freddie Mercury had an affair with a close friend’s wife and, in 1977, became a father. He’s now a grandfather. That’s the foundation of a new book ‘Love, Freddie’ by his highly respected biographer …

Published on 2 months ago

Oasis in 2026, the Troggs and what Morrissey’s only gone and done now!

Episode 810

All the leaves are brown and the sky’s a bit unruly but mellow fruitfulness abounds in this week’s pick of the rock and roll news. Add to basket …  

… is Morrissey hacked off, broke or just desperate…

Published on 2 months ago