Booked On Rock with Eric Senich

Def Leppard’s story is filled with massive hits, groundbreaking albums, incredible triumphs, and devastating setbacks. In this episode, author Scott Robinson joins me to discuss his book Def Leppard: Every Album, Every Song, part of Sonicbond’s On Track series, and take us through the music and moments that shaped one of rock’s most enduring bands.

We dig into Def Leppard’s early days in Sheffield, the influence of producer Mutt Lange, and the making of landmark albums like Pyromania and Hysteria. Scott shares the fascinating stories behind songs including “Photograph,” “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak,” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” while we also discuss Rick Allen’s remarkable comeback, what the band lost creatively with the death of Steve Clark, the reinvention of Slang, and overlooked later albums such as Songs from the Sparkle Lounge and Diamond Star Halos. Plus, Scott explains why, after more than four decades of tragedy, changing musical trends, and an evolving industry, Def Leppard remains one of rock’s great bands of brothers.

Purchase a copy of Def Leppard: Every Album, Every Song in the US
Purchase a copy of Def Leppard: Every Album, Every Song in the UK

Find more books by Scott Robinson

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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

The Grateful Dead spent decades building one of the most devoted followings in rock history without ever needing a conventional hit single. Then came “Touch of Grey.” In 1987, the song became the band’s first—and only—Top 40 hit, introducing the Dead to MTV and an entirely new generation of fans.

Author John Brackett joins Booked On Rock to discuss his book Touch of Grey, or How the Grateful Dead Became Pop Stars. We explore the song’s long evolution before it reached the studio, Jerry Garcia’s remarkable comeback following his 1986 diabetic coma, the making of In the Dark, the impact of the “Touch of Grey” video, and what happened when a countercultural institution suddenly found itself in the mainstream.

Was “Touch of Grey” simply a great Grateful Dead song that happened to become a hit—or did its success fundamentally change the band and the culture surrounding it? Brackett takes us inside one of the strangest and most consequential success stories in Grateful Dead history.

Purchase a copy of Touch of Grey, or How the Grateful Dead Became Pop Stars 

Visit DeadScholar.com

Visit John Brackett's Substack page

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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

Terry Kilgore has spent decades as one of Southern California’s most respected guitarists, coming up in the same Pasadena-area scene as Eddie Van Halen and later playing and writing with David Lee Roth. In this episode, Terry shares firsthand stories about his friendship and friendly rivalry with Eddie, the origins of the finger-tapping technique that became synonymous with Van Halen, and his experiences working with Roth on albums including Your Filthy Little Mouth and DLR Band.

Terry also opens up about the devastating 2025 Eaton Fire, which destroyed his Altadena home, studio, guitars, and irreplaceable personal belongings. Now, at 71, he’s rebuilding his life and returning to music alongside singer-songwriter Korpus Kristy with the upcoming album The Devil’s in the Details. It’s a conversation about Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, guitar history, survival, friendship, and why Terry Kilgore still has plenty of music left to make.

Audio update: This episode has been remastered with enhanced audio for improved clarity.

Visit Terry Kilgore's website

Listen to "Terry Kilgore's Love Song" from the forthcoming album The Devil's In The Details

Visit Korpus Kristy's website

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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

Bonnie Dobson wrote the haunting folk classic “Morning Dew” in 1961, inspired by the fear of nuclear annihilation. The song would go on to be recorded by the Grateful Dead, Jeff Beck, Robert Plant, Nazareth, Devo and countless others—but along the way, singer Tim Rose claimed co-writing credit, beginning a decades-long struggle for Dobson to reclaim recognition for the song she wrote.

Author John Einarson joins Booked On Rock to discuss his new biography, Take Me For A Walk In The Morning Dew: The Life and Times of Bonnie Dobson and the Story of Her Iconic Song. We explore the remarkable origins of “Morning Dew,” Bonnie’s experiences in the 1960s folk scene and with a young Bob Dylan, how the Grateful Dead helped immortalize the song, the controversy surrounding Tim Rose, and the battle to restore Bonnie’s rightful credit. John also shares the wonderful story of Bonnie knocking on Robert Plant’s door and how Plant ultimately helped her get her song back.

Pre-order a copy of Take Me For A Walk In The Morning Dew: The Life And Times Of Bonnie Dobson And The Story Of Her Iconic Song

Order a signed copy of Take Me For A Walk In The Morning Dew from Rough Trade

Find more books by John Einarson

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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

Neil Young has never followed the rules—and that's exactly what made him a rock legend.

In this episode of Booked On Rock, legendary rock journalist and author Sylvie Simmons joins me to discuss the updated and revised edition of her acclaimed biography, Neil Young: Reflections in Broken Glass. We trace Neil's remarkable journey from driving a hearse from Canada to Los Angeles to becoming one of the most influential artists in rock history.

We explore Buffalo Springfield, Crazy Horse, Harvest, the emotionally devastating Doom Trilogy, Rust Never Sleeps, Trans, Harvest Moon, his influence on Pearl Jam and the grunge movement, and the stories behind his most daring creative decisions. Sylvie also shares what she learned from interviewing Neil over four decades, including the brand-new Neil Young: Unfiltered interviews featured in this expanded edition.

If you're a lifelong Neil Young fan—or you're just discovering one of rock's most uncompromising artists—this is a conversation you won't want to miss. 

Purchase a copy of Neil Young: Reflections in Broken Glass (Updated and Revised)

Visit Sylvie Simmons' website

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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

How did Blister in the Sun go from an underground college radio favorite to one of the most recognizable songs in America?

In this episode of Booked On Rock, author Nic Brown (33 1/3: Violent Femmes) explores the remarkable story behind the Violent Femmes' groundbreaking 1983 debut album. Discover how three Milwaukee outsiders created a sound unlike anything before it, why Blister in the Sun was never intended for the band, how The Pretenders helped launch their career, and why the album became one of alternative rock's greatest slow-burn success stories.

We also discuss Gordon Gano's songwriting, the band's unconventional instrumentation, the mystery behind the lyrics, the recording sessions that captured lightning in a bottle, and how Blister in the Sun became a fixture at sporting events, in movies, and throughout popular culture. 

Purchase a copy of Violent Femmes' Violent Femmes (33 1/3)

Vist Nic Brown's website

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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

The Velvet Underground may not have sold millions of records during their early years, but few bands have had a greater impact on the history of rock music. In this episode of Booked On Rock, author Richie Unterberger discusses his new book, Do What You Fear Most: The History of the Velvet Underground, exploring the band's remarkable journey from New York's underground art scene to becoming one of the most influential groups of all time.

We dive into Lou Reed's songwriting, John Cale's avant-garde influence, Andy Warhol's real role in the band's success, Nico's place in the group, the groundbreaking 'Velvet Underground & Nico', 'White Light/White Heat', 'Loaded', and the band's enduring legacy. If you're a fan of Lou Reed, classic rock, punk, alternative music, or the Velvet Underground, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Purchase a copy of Do What You Fear Most: The History of the Velvet Underground

Visit Richie Unterberger's website

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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

From the Gibson Flying V and Explorer to the Jackson Randy Rhoads, Dean ML, B.C. Rich Warlock, and Ibanez RG, pointy guitars helped define the look and sound of hard rock and heavy metal. But how did these outrageous designs go from being dismissed as oddities to becoming some of the most iconic instruments in rock history?

Author and musician Sean Kelly joins Booked On Rock to discuss his new book, Battle Axes: A Hard Rockin' History of Pointy Guitars. We explore the stories behind the guitars, the builders who created them, and the legendary players—including Randy Rhoads, Michael Schenker, Eddie Van Halen, Billy Gibbons, Paul Stanley, Twisted Sister, ZZ Top, Def Leppard, and more—who turned these instruments into rock icons. 

🎸 Topics include:

• The surprising origins of the pointy guitar
• Why the Flying V was initially a failure
• How Dean Guitars exploded during the MTV era
• The influence of Randy Rhoads and Grover Jackson
• Twisted Sister, B.C. Rich, Ibanez, Kramer & ESP
• Sean Kelly's pick for the greatest pointy guitar ever made

Purchase a copy of Battle Axes: A Hard Rockin' History of Pointy Guitars

Follow Sean Kelly: 
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Instagram

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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

Few bands have been as consistently successful in Canada—or as underrated outside of it—as April Wine. From early classics like "Fast Train" to arena rock staples including "Roller," "I Like to Rock," "Just Between You and Me," and "Sign of the Gypsy Queen," the band built a remarkable catalog spanning more than three decades.

Author Tim Durling joins me to discuss his new book, On Record: The April Wine Album Review, an album-by-album journey through all 16 studio albums. We explore the band's fascinating origins, the misread letter that changed their future, Myles Goodwyn's songwriting brilliance, their breakthrough in the U.S., the albums every fan should hear, and why April Wine remains one of classic rock's most overlooked bands.

Whether you're a lifelong fan or discovering April Wine for the first time, this is the ultimate guide to one of Canada's greatest rock bands.

🎸 Topics include:

• The story behind April Wine's formation
• Myles Goodwyn's lasting legacy
• The making of Stand Back, Harder... Faster, and The Nature of the Beast
• Why "Roller" changed everything
• April Wine's biggest hits and hidden gems
• Why the band deserves far more recognition

Purchase a copy of ON RECORD: The April Wine Album Review

Visit Tim's Vinyl Confessions Linktree page for more

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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

Jeff Beck wasn't just one of the greatest guitarists of all time—he was one of rock's most fearless innovators.

In this episode of Booked On Rock, I welcome Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill, authors of Blow By Blow: The Jeff Beck Story, for an in-depth conversation about the legendary guitarist's remarkable life and career. We explore Jeff's groundbreaking work with the Yardbirds, the Jeff Beck Group, 'Truth', 'Blow by Blow', his friendship with Jimmy Page, his collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Johnny Depp, the story behind "Superstition," the car accident that changed his career, and why he remained one of the most respected musicians in rock until his passing. 

Along the way, Brad and Chris separate fact from fiction, share stories uncovered through years of research and interviews, and explain why Jeff Beck's relentless creativity made him one of the most influential guitarists in music history.

Purchase a copy of Blow By Blow: The Jeff Beck Story

Follow Chris Gill on Instagram

Follow Brad Tolinski on Facebook

Subscribe to Brad Tolinksy's Substack Page

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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe