On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we speak with drummer Pete Best, one of only 3 living men who can rightfully claim the designation “former-Beatle”. We discuss his two year role in the band's development, which took them from teenaged amateur rockers, to road-hardened seasoned musicians – culminating with the band' signing with EMI Records, and his infamous firing from the group literally on the eve of their worldwide success. Pete also recounts The Casbah, the teenage liv...
Aug 11, 2024•1 hr 11 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we feature a wide-ranging, cathartic interview with LOU GRAMM, the former lead singer and principal co-songwriter for 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees Foreigner. Topics covered include his early life growing up in Rochester, a parent-defying trek to a 1965 Rolling Stones concert, the lean years with his first band Black Sheep (including losing the supporting slot for the '75 Kiss tour), shooting pool with John Lennon, and an often...
Feb 18, 2024•1 hr 7 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, legendary Texas blues guitarist and founding member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jimmie Vaughan talks about his life in music, starting in his early teens working with Dallas's best established bands, sharing stages with major acts like Jimi Hendrix. Jimmie discusses both his and his baby brother, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan's roles in the 1980's blues and roots-rock & roll resurgence, as well as the connection between Austin, Texas' a...
Jan 14, 2024•49 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we revisit my 2007 interview with singer/guitarist DENNY LAINE, who tragically passed away this week at the age of 79. Our conversation covered his entire career including his early influences, forming his first band Denny & The Diplomats (with future Move/ELO drummer Bev Bevan), and co-founding two of the most celebrated musical acts of the rock era, The Moody Blues and Wings. Denny also set the record straight on several points – a re...
Dec 10, 2023•52 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, record producer, arranger, musician, and music business veteran TONY VISCONTI discusses his life both in and out of the recording studio, working with future legends like David Bowie and Marc Bolan at the start of their careers, straight through to superstardom. Additionally, Tony recounts how a kid from the streets of Brooklyn became an indispensable presence in the studio for sessions like Joe Cocker's "With A Little Help From My Friends”...
Nov 19, 2023•58 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, record promoter / press liaison / artistic director TONY KING discusses his seven decades as a behind the scenes figure in rock & roll, whose work proved vital in both the careers and lives of artists like Roy Orbison, John Lennon, Elton John, and most notably The Rolling Stones, as tour press director for over 20 years. From his days as a young man looking after artists for Decca Records, to attending the infamous live taping of The Be...
Mar 26, 2023•1 hr 5 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, guitarist and hit songwriter for one of rock's most mythical and influential bands The Doors, ROBBY KRIEGER talks about his early years as a Jewish kid living in an upper-middle class “waspy” neighborhood, and how a penchant for blues slide-guitar earned him a slot in the now iconic quartet. We also discuss the band's early gigs, the story behind him writing their first #1 hit “Light My Fire”, how they each received Vietnam draft notices, a...
Jan 29, 2023•41 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we feature 1960's hit-maker TOMMY JAMES, who along with his band The Shondells, released a string of classics including “Crimson and Clover”, “Mony Mony”, “Hanky Panky”, “I Think We're Alone Now”, and others. Tommy discusses how he went from a middle-America upbringing, to working and recording for Roulette Records, which in reality was a front for the Genovese crime family. Topics also include which of his biggest hits initially featured h...
Dec 04, 2022•51 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we feature true rock royalty – producer, session musician, A&R man, and omnipresent figure throughout the rock era, AL KOOPER. We discuss a career that began at age 15 playing guitar with The Royal Teens (“Short, Shorts”), and later included playing Hammond on Bob Dylan's “Like A Rolling Stone”, French Horn & organ on The Rolling Stones “You Can't Always Get What You Want”, working extensively with guitar legend Mike Bloomfield, fou...
Oct 23, 2022•46 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, renowned rock sideman / guitarist EARL SLICK regales us with tales along his musical journey, starting in the clubs of New York City to years of touring the world and recording with David Bowie, as well as working on sessions for what would be John Lennon's final albums “Double Fantasy” and the posthumous release “Milk & Honey”. We also talk solo projects, including him joining up with The Stray Cat's rhythm section to form Phantom Rock...
Sep 18, 2022•1 hr 3 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and founding member of the legendary band Traffic, DAVE MASON talks about his sometimes-tumultuous tenure with the band, and how moving from England to the United States over fifty years ago introduced him to a slew of like-minded musicians from Gram Parsons to Cass Elliot. Mason also discusses his session work with Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney & Wings, George Harrison, and The Rolling Stones, as well as h...
Aug 07, 2022•47 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, founding member and drummer of The Yardbirds, JIM McCARTY talks about the band's multi-decade career, starting out as England's most authentic rhythm & blues band, that gave rise to guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and helped usher in progressive and heavy rock. We discuss the backstory behind classics like “For Your Love” and “Dazed and Confused”, why Clapton really left the group, recording one of their hit singles at S...
Jul 10, 2022•57 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, Tuscon native CHRIS O'DELL tells how she parlayed a chance meeting with Beatle's publicist Derek Taylor into a career behind the scenes in the world of rock, first as secretary for The Beatles owned Apple Records, personal assistant to The Rolling Stones on their “Exile On Main Street” tour, then later as one of rock's first female Tour Managers working for George Harrison, Santana, CSNY, and Bob Dylan and more. We also cover her singing ba...
Jun 19, 2022•1 hr 2 min
On today's episode of the It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we sit down with DENNIS LOCORRIERE, the voice behind a laundry-list of Top 40 hits released by Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show (later shortened to Dr. Hook) between 1971-1985, including “Sylvia's Mother”, “When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman”, “Sexy Eyes”, “Sharing The Night Together”, and the inimitable “The Cover Of Rolling Stone”. He recounts the band's ability to shift from long-haired, free-spirited, wild live act, to a radi...
May 29, 2022•1 hr 6 min
On this episode of the It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we talk to drummer GINA SCHOCK, the outspoken, hard-rocking heartbeat behind rock's first #1 charting all-female band, The Go-Go's. Gina gives us a peek into her inner sanctum, pulling out some of her favorite 45's from an immense collection of not only vinyl, but additionally forty plus years of Go-Go's memorabilia – much of which is featured in her new coffee-table photobook: “Made In Hollywood – All Access With The Go-Go's”. She also off...
Apr 03, 2022•57 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we visit with American folk-rock troubadour and founding frontman of The Lovin' Spoonful, JOHN SEBASTIAN. We talk of his childhood in NYC as the son of show-business parents, growing up around frequent house guests like Woody Guthrie, Burl Ives, and godmother Vivian Vance. He recounts his early start in the Greenwich Village folk scene, co-founding The Loving Spoonful, and how a pot bust led to the firing of bandmate and dear friend Zal Yan...
Mar 20, 2022•1 hr 6 min
On today's episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast we speak to ALLAN CLARKE, former singer and songwriter for the legendary British Invasion band The Hollies. Topics include his longtime partnership with Graham Nash (including his eventual departure to form CSN&Y), their first U.S. Concert tour on a bill with Little Richard (whose group featured then-unknown guitarist Jimi Hendrix), what really went down with Terry Sylvester on stage at the 2010 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, ...
Feb 06, 2022•54 min
On today's episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, famed drummer for the iconic band The Doors, JOHN DENSMORE tells of his tenure with the legendary act that pushed the artistic limits, and in the process created some of rock's most enduring music. We also discuss several of the individuals who influenced him personally, professionally and spiritually, detailing anecdotes from his latest memoir “The Seekers: Meetings With Remarkable Musicians (and Other Artists)”. -----------------------...
Nov 21, 2021•50 min
On today's episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we have a multi-topic, jam-packed conversation with heavy-metal's most prolific bass player, RUDY SARZO. The former Cuban refugee turned metal-master details his embrace of the LA heavy rock scene of the late-70's - including how working with his friend the late Randy Rhoads in Quiet Riot landed him the bass player spot in Ozzy Osbourne's touring band, and why a plan to sabotage the song that would put Quiet Riot on the map, didn't quite...
Oct 24, 2021•1 hr 22 min
On today's episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, the World's Most Dangerous keyboardist, PAUL SHAFFER talks highlights from his 50 years in show business, including dropping the “F-bomb” on network television, his "conversation" with Mick Jagger backstage at Saturday Night Live, how backing up his hero James Brown left The Godfather of Soul wanting more, and the time a spontaneous on-mic moment triggered a 33-year career as comedic sidekick for David Letterman. ------------------------...
Oct 03, 2021•1 hr 12 min
On today's episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, heavy rock drumming pioneer and innovator CARMINE APPICE recounts his illustrious and musically-varied career, starting with his days in the 1960s hard psychedelic band Vanilla Fudge, to his years on the road with Rod Stewart (including co-writing two of his classics “Do You Think I'm Sexy” and “Young Turks”). He additionally sets the record straight on why he parted ways with Ozzy Osbourne, what really happened with that infamous mudsha...
Sep 05, 2021•1 hr 1 min
On this episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, rock's first celebrated female bass-playing frontwoman, SUZI QUATRO talks about leaving behind her native Detroit (as well as her resentful, former band-mate sisters) to achieve super-stardom across the pond with mega-hits like “Can The Can”, “The Wild One”, and “Devil Gate Drive”. And after a handful of cameo appearances on Happy Days as fictional rocker 'Leather Tuscadero', found belated success at home with her 1978 Billboard Top 5 hit “...
Aug 15, 2021•1 hr 15 min
On today's episode of The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, founding member and former frontman/keyboardist for Styx, DENNIS DEYOUNG sits down for a wide-ranging, no-holds barred interview talking everything from lazy rock journalism, to his new and final studio album, to the true reasons behind why Styx are no longer the multi-platinum-selling band a generation of loyal fans remember from the 1970's and early 80s. ------------------------------------------------ ● For more on Dennis DeYoung visi...
Jul 25, 2021•1 hr 15 min
On today's show, powerhouse drummer BEV BEVAN gives us a bird's eye view of what it was like to be a founding member of two of rock's biggest acts - notorious 1960's British band The Move, and 1970's world-dominating rock juggernaut, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Additionally, he covers his early days working with Denny Laine, touring in the mid-1980s with Black Sabbath, and future plans with his latest band Quill. ------------------ ● For more on Quill visit www.quilluk.com ● To see Bev Bevan...
Jun 27, 2021•1 hr 20 min
Frontman/guitarist for 70's supergroup Argent and prolific songwriter, RUSS BALLARD joins The It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, covering a career which began as a teen and included writing rock classics like “Liar” (Three Dog Night), “New York Groove” (Hello / Ace Frehley), “Since You've Been Gone” (Rainbow), “Winning” (Santana), “God Gave Rock & Roll To You” (Argent / Kiss), and his 1984 solo hit “Voices”. Russ opens up about a range of topics including working with Roger Daltrey, and how a ...
Jun 06, 2021•1 hr 17 min
We kick-off year two of the It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast with founding member and frontman / pianist for Procol Harum, GARY BROOKER. He discusses a wide array of topics, from co-writing the band's classic singles like “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and “Conquistador”, to working with George Harrison on “My Sweet Lord”, and how he once pissed off the mob by walking out of a gig over an out-of-tune piano! -------------------------------------------------- ● For more on Procol Harum - www.procolharum....
May 16, 2021•1 hr 18 min
On this episode of the It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, in-house session drummer for Memphis's legendary Sun Studios, J.M. VAN EATON tells of his time recording and touring in the 1950s with Roy Orbison, Billy Lee Riley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis, playing on classics like “Whole Lot Of Shakin' Going On”, “Crazy Arms”, and “Great Balls Of Fire”. He also shares rare, personal insight into his friends like Elvis Presley and Sam Phillips. ------------------------------------------------------...
Mar 28, 2021•1 hr 2 min
On this episode of the It's Only Rock And Roll Podcast, we talk with famed keyboard / piano player Chuck Leavell about his enviable career, which includes being a member of The Allman Brothers Band, to recording and touring with the likes of Eric Clapton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, David Gilmour, George Harrison, and since 1982 The Rolling Stones. He also highlights his other passion, tree farming and forestry, which has earned him great acclaim and accolades for his work in nature conservation....
Mar 14, 2021•1 hr 32 min
On this episode of the It's Only Rock And Roll PODCAST, we talk with legendary singer-songwriter MELANIE. With worldwide hits to her credit such as “Brand New Key”, “What Have They Done To My Song, Ma”, and “Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)", this natural-born storyteller shares insight into her career with anecdotes about performing at Woodstock, surviving music industry backstabbing, the day Clive Davis made her cry.... and we finally discover what's behind the meaning of “I've got a brand new p...
Feb 21, 2021•1 hr 27 min
On this episode of the “It's Only Rock And Roll PODCAST”, we bring you Part 2 of our discussion with drummer SIMON KIRKE. In it, he details his near half-century tenure with the legendary British supergroup Bad Company - from being managed by the notorious Peter Grant, to being signed to Led Zeppelin's Swan Song record label, as well as recounting all of the multi-platinum success accomplished by one of rock's all-time greatest bands! -------------------------------------------------------------...
Jan 24, 2021•1 hr 10 min
