Graham Parker, Pt. 1

From his 1976 debut album with the Rumour, Howlin’ Wind, through the all-time classic Squeezing Out Sparks through his 1980s commercial peaks and much excellent work since then, Graham Parker stands as one of the all-time great singer/songwriter/performers. In Part 1 of a lively, insightful conversation, Parker recalls growing up in Deepcut (!), England, and falling under the spell of the Beatles, the Stones, American R&B and a certain Motown singer he would try to emulate. He was a hippie singer-songwriter before developing his “nasty voice” and creating scorching albums with the Rumour. He recounts his decades-later reunion with that killer band, their appearance in Judd Apatow’s This Is 40 and why he is working with other musicians again. And he lets us know what he really thinks of the term “pub rock.” (Photo by Dion Ogust.)