My guest in this episode is Mark Spickett who I have known for over 25 years as both a colleague and friend. in 2019 I had the pleasure of his company for 4 days at the Austin City Limits (ACL) Festival and given the 2021 ACL festival starts today it felt like a good time to have Mark on the show I have known for many years that Mark’s story is an interesting one but as if often the case with Music Talks, I have only now realised exactly HOW interesting that story is, and how many facets there a...
Sep 30, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 19
David Breeze has been friends with Steve Beswick (my guest on Episode 45) since they were at Lancaster University together in the early 80’s. David heard Steve’s episode and got in touch to say he would like to be on the show, and I love it when that happens David was born and grew up near Chesterfield in Derbyshire and had an idyllic and very stable childhood. That geographical stability changed when he started his career in the transport sector which has seen him live and work in numerous plac...
Sep 16, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Nick was born the year AC/DC were formed (1973)) in the historically significant town of Hastings, which by then was more than a little tired. His parents John and Chrissie later moved the family up the coast to Bexhill-on- Sea, which Nick brilliantly sums up as a place where the main industry is care homes, London is the North and ambition is modest. At University something clicked for Nick and with that came a desire for "MORE" and he was in a hurry to get it. In Nick's own inimitable words in...
Sep 02, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 17
My guest in this episode is Dan French. As is often the case with my guests there is a work connection however in this case Dan worked with my brother Jim in the 90’s, not with myself. His name has come up regularly since that time and I am delighted he came on the show. To say Dan is an avid consumer of music is an understatement. This episode is a veritable Cook’s tour of the last six decades of music and in this 75-minute episode we manage to reference a 124 artists and songs spanning a whole...
Aug 19, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 16
My guest today is a dear friend I met whilst living in Seattle. Ben is a likeable, larger than life character with a strong social conscience and we bonded over beer, bars, sport and most importantly music. Born and raised in Utrecht Ben’s working life started with four years in the Dutch Navy followed by a long career in I.T with Cap Gemini and then Microsoft. He is now happily retired and living in Spain with his wife Illonka and their son Joe who will shortly be returning to university in Can...
Aug 05, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Getting to Episode 50 is an important milestone for me and one that I wanted to celebrate in some way. I didn't want to get into choosing my "favourite " clips as that would be a harder task even than choosing a song from each decade of my life :-) It also didn't feel the right thing to do as I have genuinely enjoyed every one of the 49 episodes. In recent months I have been flattered that a few people, thinking about starting a Podcast, have reached out for some advice and guidance and that gav...
Jul 22, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Season 3Ep. 14
In listening back to this episode with my guest Mike Lloyd I was reminded of John Miles 1976 hit “Music”. It’s not a track I particularly like musically but I have always loved the sentiment in the lyrics: “Music was my first love, and it will be my last, music of the future, music of the past”. It’s very clear that those lyrics apply to Mike, and in this episode, he takes us on his journey since the 70’s to seek out fun, interesting, innovative and challenging music, that at times has also been...
Jul 08, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 13
My guest in this episode is Richard Tooth, a colleague and friend who I have always known to have a long and deep love of music. An extended Playlist, curated by Richard, containing almost 100 different artists is testament to the fact that Richard's tastes are wide and varied. But anyone who knows him is aware that there is one band that sits above all others for him, and they have for approaching 50 years and that is The Grateful Dead. We talk about being a "Dead Head”, how important Bootlegs ...
Jun 24, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Today's guest is Brian Hawkins. In painting his pen portrait at the start of the episode Brian recounts a story of being described recently as "disruptive" and the fact that this pleased him because "there cannot be change without disruption and my life has been about change”. As we go through his choices and stories it’s clear that he has a point! As well as being a husband and father to two daughters, living in Scotland, London and Cyprus and travelling the world, Brian has had five distinct c...
Jun 09, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 11
My guest in this episode is actor and musician Levi Petree, who I met through our mutual friend Jesse Jackson, the man behind the Set Lusting Bruce Podcast. Born in 1982, Levi grew up in the Southern US near Lafayette in what he describes as the “Cajun Hub” Since 2008 he has lived in LA having moved there via Chicago (sorry Wilco fans I couldn’t resist!) Levi is clearly proud and grateful for his Southern Heritage and the story about his Ronnie Milsap choice is just priceless. But he is also ver...
May 26, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 10
My guest in this episode is Steve Beswick who was the first person from Microsoft I ever met. We became firm friends and he is now a 27-year-old veteran of the company (and counting) . Steve is married to Naomi and is the proud father of Hattie and Billy and is grandfather to 3-year-old Leon. As well as exploring Steve’s career journey we also talk about: · The importance of family, friends, and memories · The delights of football, fishing, and cricket · Seeing Dire Straits in an ice rink · Sara...
May 12, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Andrew Reid is, in his own words, a - "Husband, father, technologist, musician, tri-athlete, part French, part Kiwi and heavily Scottish " A long-time resident in Switzerland with his wife Celine his musical passions centre around a certain Paul John Weller and The Cure. He claims he can’t decide between them although in our discussion I think the former clearly won out. That was one of the reasons for the episode title although it also accurately describes the life and career Andrew has led to ...
Apr 29, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 8
My guest in this episode is Simon Poile who I first met in 2018 on my annual sojourn to the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Simon was born in Hounslow and grew up in Maidenhead but for almost all of the past 25 years he has lived in Seattle, with his wife Lex and their two children. In amongst some great song choices (and accompanying film score choices ) we talked about a host of things including : · Seeing Rick Wakeman live when he was 5 years old · French Summer Holiday's in the 80's · Dis...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 7
I am honoured that my guest in this episode is peace activist Jo Berry. Jo is an inspiring speaker, mentor and consultant who works to resolve conflict around the world. Her father Sir Anthony Berry was killed by the IRA in the 1984 IRA Brighton Bombing. Sixteen years later Jo first met with the man responsible, Pat Magee. This initial three-hour meeting led to them speaking on over three hundred occasions, on a shared platform around the world. Their unusual relationship was the subject of the ...
Mar 31, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 6
My guest in this episode is Andy Smith. In between some great song choices we talk about, amongst other things : · Growing up in Grimsby "The Garden City" · Surviving Trinity College Cambridge as a working-class boy · The delights of flangers! · How The Smiths generated a love for poetry · Taking part in the downfall of the Soviet Union · Being mistaken for a member of Razorlight · The magical communal experience that is a gig. His song choices are: · 1969 - Led Zeppelin - Babe I'm Gonna Leave Y...
Mar 17, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 5
My guest in this episode is Matt Lambert, a lifelong George Harrison fan hence the reference to "Dark Horse" in the episode title. Matt's story, like so many of us, contains real highs and some challenging, painful lows. As Matt and I talked three important themes emerged for me which were the importance of focusing on people's strengths, the need to push yourself out of your comfort zone and how vital it is to find your own voice, through whatever route. This approach to life has held Matt in g...
Mar 04, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 4
My guest in this episode is Richmond Stace, a leader and pioneer on pain management, a fellow Podcaster and a soon to be published author. Richmond is uniquely qualified in pain science, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, sport science, nursing and coaching and in his own words his goal is to "help people understand their pain and move on to shape a positive future”. Getting to that point has been an interesting and fascinating journey involving time in nursing, four University degrees and youthful ...
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 3
My guest in this episode of Music Talks is Gary Burt who I describe in my intro as “Innovative, creative, not short of opinion, and someone who doesn’t take themselves too seriously”. Born and bred in Blackpool he now lives in the Ribble Valley with his wife and two children. Gary has built a successful career in the I.T industry but, at the title of the episode suggests, the road to that career was an interesting one taking him from Fancy Goods, through Photography, being a Light Jockey and Bin...
Feb 04, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 2
As was the case in part 1 the second part of this episode is full of great music choices and fantastic stories from John's 40 years as a musician, producer and sound guy. John titled his bio "My Bizarre Life of Happy Accidents and Near Misses" and given the stories he tells here you can see why . Spanning a Top 40 album with Loop , being supported by Nirvana , The Dance of the Seven Veils to "Beat It" on a boombox in a Belgrade Nightclub , a Top 50 show at the Edinburgh Festival and the BBC turn...
Jan 21, 2021•49 min•Season 3Ep. 1
My guest in this episode is John Wills who has been involved in the underground music scene in the UK for almost 40 years. During that time has made a lot of music, played in many bands, seen a lot of the world and collected a raft of great, fascinating, and funny stories. So many in fact that this episode is a two-parter and it’s a great way to kick off the new year. The bio John sent through to me was entitled “My Bizarre Life of Happy Accidents and Near Misses” and as you listen to this episo...
Jan 07, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 1
This is the second of this year's Christmas B-Sides and it’s the BIG one , the Best Albums of 2020. I'm joined again by fellow music nerd Steven Routledge and whilst our combined choices aren't totally all encompassing, they do cover a wide range of musical genres and I hope that there is something in hear which is new to you and appeals. Who knows there might even be the odd comment from one of us that provides some insight as well :-) The format of the episode is that Steven and I pick 10 albu...
Dec 24, 2020•1 hr 17 min
This is the first of two special "Christmas B-Side" editions. Yes, its that time of year where my good friend Steven Routledge and I choose our Top 10 Songs and Albums of the year and tell you why they made the cut. In this first edition we get to review our Top 10 (or 11?) songs. You the listener will of course be the final arbiter but I think this is a nicely varied set of choices and I do hope you find some new music to enjoy over the holiday and into 2021. If you do please do let me know. Be...
Dec 09, 2020•1 hr 15 min
I got to know my guest Ellyn Foltz during my time in Seattle. Ellyn brings energy, enthusiasm, and total commitment to everything she does but that is combined with the natural ability to not take herself and her work too seriously and to make fun a priority. Those talents are now being applied to probably the most important role she has ever had which is VP of nannying to her 5-month-old granddaughter the "Lovely Libby". In her previous corporate life, Ellyn had a successful and impressive care...
Nov 25, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 24
My guest in this episode is Will Lulofs. The observant amongst you will notice that there is a connection to my previous guest Tim Lulofs, as Will is his son. Dad would be the first to say that what is more significant than Will's parentage is that over the past 13 years he has released six critically acclaimed albums (with a seventh on the way) under the name of Will Stratton. Born in California in 1987, mostly raised in New Jersey and currently an upstate New Yorker, Will has a family backgrou...
Nov 11, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Today’s guest is Tim Lulofs. Born in Fresno California in 1951 Tim is Husband to Cheri (since 1973) , Father to two sons Matt & Will , English Scholar, Writer, Teacher , Musician , Song Writer , Singer , Fly Fisherman, all round lovely bloke and as you will hear one heck of a storyteller. He has amassed a wealth of stories in his 69 years only matched by the rich and varied musical journey he has undertaken through Elvis Presley, East Coast Psychedelia, Funk, Soul, Jazz and Americana and thi...
Oct 28, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 22
As well as doing Music Talks every two weeks , each month or so I catch up with my friend Jesse Jackson, who is the host of the Set Lusting Bruce Podcast, and we review the latest release in the Springsteen Archive Series of live concerts. We talked two days after the release of Letter to You and needless to say that's where the conversation started. Given several people have pinged me asking for my thoughts on the new album I thought it would be fun to share the chat Jesse and I had on here. I ...
Oct 28, 2020•21 min
My guest in this episode is Sanaz Namdar who was born in Tehran in 1979. She rightly points out that 1979 was a great year for music but, if you lived in Iran, it was also the year the music died due to the Iranian Revolution. Sanaz grew up in a world where music was not just difficult to get hold of but was actually illegal. Just as Covid has made me realise how many things I take for granted Sanaz's story made me reflect on what a gift it is to have, as we do today, access to all the music in ...
Oct 14, 2020•59 min•Season 2Ep. 21
My guest on this episode of Music Talks is one of my very favourite conversationalists, Brian Painting . Brian is never short of a story to tell , an observation to make or an insight to give. A talented writer and a fellow Podcaster he is also a passionate music lover with varied and wide ranging tastes. In our chat we cover a raft of artists from all areas of the musical palette but one band we do not touch on is the Raconteurs, which is a shame because that is what Brian will always be to me ...
Oct 01, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 20
My guest in this episode is one of my ACL Festival Buddy's , a delightful, charming man called Michael Sullivan Born in Sacremento, California in 1971 Michael has cornered the market in only living in places that begin with the letter "S" having subsequently moved to Santa Barbara , San Francisco and in 2001 Seattle. In that journey music has been a constant companion starting in his early childhood when his step father indulged in his passion for music , hi-fi and technology on a Friday night a...
Sep 17, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Named after the Elton John song “Daniel” it was inevitable that music would play a big part in Dan’s life as it has and in a very positive way I met Dan in the early noughties when I was running Public Sector for Microsoft UK. Dan was a young, fresh faced contractor with lots of energy and commitment and with a real desire to join Microsoft as a full-time employee. I am proud that I was able to give him that opportunity, I just wish I’d done it sooner! Over time, Dan and I bonded and built a fri...
Sep 02, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Season 2Ep. 18
