Foreigner is one of the world's best-selling bands of all time, with worldwide sales of more than 80 million records, but they are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Yet. Rick Wills, bassist for the band, joins the podcast not only to push for Foreigner's entry into the Rock Hall, but to chat with us about his renowned career, including stints playing with David Gilmour, and discovering he was owed a lot of money as the co-writer of Peter Frampton's "Do You Feel Like We Do". Learn more about...
Apr 05, 2024•59 min•Season 13Ep. 5
Pearl Harbour has a deep love of Rockabilly music. So much so that instead of recording another album on a major label with Pearl Harbor and The Explosions, she left the band to record a solo record. The result was the 1980 release, Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost Too. Unfortunately, the album was slightly ahead of its time, missing out on the 80s rockabilly revival from bands like The Stray Cats and The Blasters. Fortunately, we now have this re-release. Pearl joins the podcast to relive those times ...
Mar 22, 2024•48 min•Season 13Ep. 4
Dave Tarnowski, like everyone, has voices in his head, confirming and/or denying his worst fears. Unlike everyone, Dave has created an Instagram Account around the concept, with 2.2 million followers and counting. He has now turned that social media success into a book, entitled Disappointing Affirmations: Unfollow your dreams! However, for this episode, Dave talks about his true loves, Nick Cave, The Cure, and 80s teen sensation, Tiffany. We do manage to talk about the book as well, and Dave gi...
Mar 08, 2024•48 min•Season 13Ep. 3
Dave Beasing joins the podcast this week. Dave is the CEO of Sound That BRANDS, a company that helps Brands tell their stories through audio-based marketing content…aka PODCASTS! Dave also has his own stories to share about growing up in Omaha, and his long career in radio. After the stories, Dave adds his thoughts about a ten-song chunk of music played on The World Famous KROQ in Los Angeles back in 1987, specifically #80-71 from the year-end chart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...
Mar 01, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 14Ep. 5
Ireland native and radio geek, Enda Caldwell, has been heard on Atlantic 252, Radio Luxembourg, Today FM and Radio Nova in Ireland, Kiss in The UK, and many other radio stations worldwide, like 106.5 Rivera Radio in Monaco. He’s currently the afternoon drive host at New York's EDM station, Pulse 87. However, in this episode, Enda steps into the way-back machine to talk about his career, and to review some of the music played on The World Famous KROQ in Los Angeles from the year 1987. Learn more ...
Feb 23, 2024•57 min•Season 14Ep. 4
Karen Glauber is the President of HITS Magazine. She started her career with the legendary label, A&M Records, back in the 80s. She's also got strong opinions about the music. This makes her the perfect guest for our look at the music the World Famous KROQ in Los Angeles played back in 1987. This week we look at songs 100 to 91, based on their year-end chart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 16, 2024•58 min•Season 14Ep. 3
We at What Difference Does It Make love love and what better way to say it, than with a song from the 80s? We discuss a number of our favorites that make us feel all warm inside. Happy Valentine's (and Gal-entine's) Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 09, 2024•48 min•Season 8Ep. 2
The What Difference Does It Make Podcast begins our 1987 musical journey with an analysis of songs 106.7 to 101 from the World Famous KROQ 1987 year-end chart. The bottom of the chart includes novelty songs (Swinging Erudites, Mojo Nixon), cover songs (Ball Of Confusion), and bands that have been forgotten over time (The Silencers). We're here to bring them back to life, and to determine whether they shall be deemed worthy to remember, or sent back into the ether. Learn more about your ad choice...
Feb 02, 2024•39 min•Season 14Ep. 2
It was quite a year, from U2 and The Beastie Boys, to Spuds McKenzie and 21 Jump Street. While we can't cover it all, we start off a new season of What Difference Does It Make with a look back at some of those iconic moments from 1987. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 26, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 14Ep. 1
Veteran music journalist Katherine Yeske Taylor steps into our virtual studio to tell the tales of 20 badass musicians that she documented in her book, She’s a Badass: Women in Rock Shaping Feminism. The book features candid conversations about Feminism with Twenty Inspiring Female Artists including Ann Wilson (Heart), Exene Cervenka (X), Gina Schock (The Go-Go’s), Suzi Quatro, Suzanne Vega, Tanya Donelly (Throwing Muses, Belly), Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Orianthi, Amanda Palmer, and more. Learn m...
Jan 19, 2024•54 min•Season 13Ep. 2
In this episode, we take you to the edge...as in the Western Edge exhibit currently featured at the Country Music Hall Of Fame in Nashville. Western Edge examines the close-knit community of Los Angeles-based singers, songwriters, and musicians who, from the 1960s through the 1980s, embraced country music, frequented local nightclubs, and created and shaped the musical fusion known as “country-rock”. We get into that and a whole lot more with Michael Gray, VP of Museum Services, and Michael McCa...
Jan 12, 2024•55 min•Season 13Ep. 1
Well, the saying goes, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.", but as Holly says, "I would be happy if we could have another year like this year." So we now look back at 2023 with a few highlights from our chats with many memorable guests. If you're new to What Difference Does It Make, this might very well be a good place to start, or simply a good place to catch up on what you've been missing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 05, 2024•58 min•Season 12Ep. 20
What Difference Does It Make, the 80s music podcast, celebrates our favorite 80s Christmas songs. Holly tells us how she wooed her future husband with some skiing lessons and we also do a wrap on a couple old school rap classics. We are a proud member of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 15, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 145
Ilana Kaplan uses her superpower ability to read the 1000 page Barbara Streisand memoir, My Name Is Barbra, in only three days! Ilana wrote the book review for the Los Angeles Times, and now joins us not only to discuss Babs, but Britney Spears, Sophia Coppola, and a preview of her own upcoming biography on Nora Ephron. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 01, 2023•36 min•Season 12Ep. 19
Friend of the show, Annie Zaleski, joins us this week to talk about the stories behind 100 beloved Christmas songs. It's also the title of her new book, This Is Christmas, Song by Song: The Stories Behind 100 Holiday Hits. We can’t get through all 100 songs, but we hit on many of our favorites. It's the episode to get you into the spirit of the season! Are you now in the mood for some Christmas Music? Check out this Amazon Music playlist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adcho...
Nov 24, 2023•55 min•Season 12Ep. 18
If you thought you were an obsessive music fan, we'd like to direct your attention to Peter Jesperson. He's known for establishing the Minneapolis-based Twin/Tone Records, initial home to bands like The Replacements and Soul Asylum, but he also had his hand in everything related to the Twin Cities music scene. From record stores to music clubs to radio, Peter was practically everywhere, and now he's released his memoir entitled, Euphoric Recall: A Half Century as a Music Fan, Producer, DJ, Recor...
Nov 10, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 12Ep. 16
It's the most wonderful time of the year...at least for those allowed to grow a moustache in the month of November, aka Movember. The reason for this moustache celebration is because two Aussies (Travis Garone and Luke Slattery) wanted to create awareness for men's health issues. Cut to twenty years later, and the movement is bigger than ever. To celebrate the month, we invited Max Skinner, Community Development Manager representing Movember. We talk about the history, the ideas, and the causes ...
Nov 03, 2023•41 min•Season 12Ep. 15
Jason Thomas Gordon came up with a brilliant idea. Why don't I talk to some of the best- loved singers, and ask them about their voices? Seven years later, we have The Singers Talk, a mind-blowing book featuring interviews with 75 iconic artists, from Bryan Adams to Thom Yorke. Jason asks the same set of questions to each singer, to understand the various ways they approach the same subject. Now, JTG enters our virtual studio and allows US to ask HIM the same type of questions. All proceeds from...
Oct 20, 2023•58 min•Season 12Ep. 15
Music icon and social activist Joan Baez has clearly made a difference for the better in our lives, through her songs and by her bravery in standing up for her beliefs. Directors Karen O’Connor, Miri Navasky, and Maeve O’Boyle have made the documentary Joan Baez: I Am A Noise. In it, Joan takes an honest look back, and a deep look inward, as she tries to make sense of her large, history-making life, and the personal struggles she's kept private. We talk with the Directors about how they were abl...
Oct 13, 2023•32 min•Season 12Ep. 14
Howard Jones is celebrating his 40th anniversary creating the music we love in a very big way. First is the release of Celebrate It Together: The Very Best Of Howard Jones 1983-2023, a 4 CD set of his music, broken down into four categories — Popular Hits, Electro, Chill, and Curiosities. Second is the release of his “fanthology” book, entitled Howard Jones – We’re In This Together, comprised of over 350 contributions from fans sharing their favorite memories and anecdotes about his concerts, mu...
Oct 06, 2023•33 min•Season 12Ep. 13
Barry Manilow may write the songs that make the Boomers sing, but when it comes to Gen X, look no further than Holly Knight. This member of the Songwriters Hall Of Fame has written smash hits for Pat Benatar, Aerosmith, Heart, KISS, Rod Stewart, and she is most noted for her collaboration with Tina Turner on nine songs, including "The Best" and "Better Be Good To Me". Holly steps into our virtual studio to talk about her memoir, I Am The Warrior: My Crazy Life Writing The Hits and Rocking The MT...
Sep 29, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 12Ep. 12
Jock Bartley, co-founder of the band Firefall, steps into our virtual studio to share stories about the friends and family that helped shape the sound of the band. Friends & Family also just happens to be the album title of Firefall's new album, a collection of cover songs inspired by the artists with whom they've played in the past. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 22, 2023•56 min•Season 12Ep. 11
Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson, aka The 80s TV Ladies, guest star on a very special episode of What Difference Does It Make. We remember our favorite TV theme songs, debate sides when Ross and Rachel were on a break, and pay homage to Mike Post. Spoiler alert! Our talk continues when WE are the very special guests on The 80s TV Ladies podcast. Stay tuned! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 15, 2023•48 min•Season 12Ep. 11
It all started back at The Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip when Steve Rosen, an up and coming music journalist met a young up and coming guitarist by the name of Edward Van Halen. The two hit it off immediately and Steve documented the rise of Edward's band for the next 26 years through numerous interviews . The result is Steve's book, Tonechaser, a detailed look into the life of Edward Van Halen. Steve steps into our virtual studio to give us the details and how this all came together. Learn...
Sep 08, 2023•43 min•Season 12Ep. 10
Our previous episode with Denny Tedesco discussing The Immediate Family documentary gives us a great opportunity to revisit our talk from October 2020 with Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel and Steve Postell. If those names are not familiar, just know that they are the musicians that play with Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, James Taylor, Phil Collins, Keith Richards, and Carole King, to name just a few. The Immediate Family not only have their debut self-titled...
Aug 25, 2023•51 min•Season 12Ep. 9
Author Mick Wall used to live life in the fast lane, back when he was a music publicist in the 70s for Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, and Dire Straits among many others. Nowadays he writes books about artists like Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin and Metallica. Life In The Fast Lane: The Eagles' Reckless Ride Down The Rock & Roll Highway is his latest book. Mick takes us into the Laurel Canyon music scene, the egos and in-fighting, and of course, the songs that helped launch one of the most iconic Am...
Aug 11, 2023•51 min•Season 12Ep. 7
Music Industry veteran Lynn McDonnell answers to many names, "Gunga Din Lynn", "Gungolla The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla", "Lynner, Lynner What's for Dinner" or just plain "Nails". She enters the What Difference Does It Make virtual studio to take us on her career journey, from Doctor's assistant to Life Coach. Oh yeah, in between, she has been one of the most passionate music industry professionals in the business. Lynn shares stories of mall shopping with Gwen Stefani, waiting for Marilyn Mans...
Aug 04, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 12Ep. 6
Annie Zaleski returns to What Difference Does It Make to discuss her latest book, P!NK: Raise Your Glass. Besides being an enormously talented writer, Annie is just a big ol' music nerd at heart. With that in mind, she's more than happy to talk about Chrissie Hynde's jacket, the location of Nate Ruess, and why she has yet to see a P!NK concert. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 28, 2023•53 min•Season 12Ep. 5
Dean Sabatino aka Dean Clean drummer for The Dead Milkmen steps into our virtual studio to virtually show us around the Quaker City aka Philadelphia. Quaker City Quiet Pills is the latest album from the band and Dean talks us through the process of creating new songs and lets us in on stories behind some of the band's best known songs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 21, 2023•42 min•Season 12Ep. 4
"They're here", "Ellll-eeeee-ooooot", "Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!". If you're like us, you immediately recognize these are quotes from Poltergeist, E.T. and Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan. And they all arrived in the year 1982. Mark Altman is so aware of what a magical time this was for movies, that he produced a 4-part series entitled Greatest Geek Year Ever: 1982. Mark was all too happy to step inside our virtual studio to elaborate on the films that helped shape who he is today. Greatest Geek Year ...
Jul 14, 2023•53 min•Season 12Ep. 3
