CooperTalk

Steve Cooper talks with musician Jack Hues. Jack is best known for being the lead singer and guitarist for the band Wang Chung. Between 1983 and 1987 Wang Chung had five Top 40 hits including Dance Hall Days, Everybody Have Fun Tonight and Let's Go. The band recorded the soundtrack for the film To Live and Die in L.A. and had a song in John Hughes' movie the Breakfast Club. They have broken up and gotten back together over the years and recently released Orchesography which is a greatest hits compilation recorded with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. He also plays with the jazz influenced Jack Hues Quartet.

Steve Cooper talks with doctor/musician Neil Ratner. Neil learned the music business working as a tour manager, assistant manager and producer for groups like Edgar Winter, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Pink Floyd and T-Rex, among others. After a number of successful years working in the music biz, he had an epiphany and decided to pursue his other childhood dream of becoming a doctor. He finished college, learned Spanish, spent four years at a medical school in Mexico, completed two years of surgical training and an anesthesia residency, and helped create the new specialty of office-based anesthesia in Manhattan. In doing so, he became an expert in the use of the new drug, Propofol. Although he encountered many celebrities in his anesthesia practice, one would change his life... Michael Jackson. One day Michael walked into an office in which Neil was the Director of Anesthesia. He became a trusted friend and personal physician of Michael's from 1994 to 2002, periodically going on tour and spending time with Michael at Neverland. He recently wrote the book called Rock Doc which talks about Rock & Roll, Michael Jackson, Nelson Mandela, a prison sentence with very unexpected results and how helping the poorest of the poor became a key part of his life.

Steve Cooper talks with musician Chris Ballew. Chris is best known as the former lead singer and 'basitarist' of the band The Presidents of the United States of America. Their debut album has been certified triple Platinum and contained the hits Lump, Peaches and Kitty. In their 23 year existence they recorded 6 studio albums, toured the world and appeared on such TV shows as Late Show with David Letterman, MAD TV and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Currently Chris performs as a children's artist under the pseudonym Kaspar Babypants and has released a total of 14 albums.

Steve Cooper talks with musician Martin Page. Martin is responsible for writing and co-writng massive hits including We Built This City (Starship), These Dreams (Heart), King of Wishful Thinking (Go West, featured in Pretty Woman), Fallen Angle (Robbie Robertson), and many more for such artists as The Commodres, Barbra Streisand, Tom Jones, Paul Young, Brian Ferry, Phil Collins, Josh Groban and Robbie Williams. He gained success in America for his own band Q-Feel with the dance hit, Dancing in Heaven, and earned a substantial pop and adult contemporary hit with In the House of Stone and Light, the title track from his debut solo album. He has since released five more solo albums on his own Ironing Board records.  

Steve Cooper talks with musician Ricky Byrd. Ricky is a well-recognized musician who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the lead guitarist and former original member of Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. He played with Joan from 1981-1992, and has also recorded or toured with Roger Daltrey, Ian Hunter, Southside Johnny and many other talented musicians since that time. He most recently has been combining his love for music with his passion and mission to help carry the torch of change surrounding the stigma of drug and alcohol use. His recent album Clean Getaway focuses on recovery lyrics which moves people to laugh, cry and think. 

Steve Cooper talks with musician Vinnie Dombrowski. Vinnie is best known for being the lead singer of the band Sponge. Sponge has released 8 studio albums and recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of their debut, Rotting Pinata, which achieved platinum status. The band’s music has been featured in popular movies such as The Craft, Chasing Amy, Mall Rats and Empire Records and they have made network appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and the Conan O’Brien Show.

Steve Cooper talks with drummer Glen Sobel. Glen is best known for being the drummer for Alice Cooper since 2011. He has also worked with other musicians/groups including Motley Crue, Hollywood Vampires, Richie Sambora, Orianthi, Beautiful Creatues, Gary Hoey, Tony MacAlpine, Vasco Rossi, Paul Gilbert and Saga.

Steve Cooper talks with musician Steve Hackett. Steve is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for his years with Genesis. He played with them from 1970 until 1977. During his tenure with them he helped create their sound and was an early proponent for the guitar methods of two-handed tapping and sweep picking. He left the band to pursue his solo career. He has recorded over 20 studio albums and is a popular draw on the concert circuit when he tours. He was also part of the supergroup GTR that included Steve Howe. They released a self-titled album in 1986 which went gold and featured the song When the Heart Rules the Mind which hit number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Steve Cooper talks with musician Wally Palmar. Wally is best known for being lead singer and founder of the band The Romantics. The Romantics were one of the most popular American bands of the 80's scoring a gold album with In Heat and releasing the two classic hits What I Like About You and Talking in Your Sleep. They have recorded six studio albums and still tour the USA. Wally is also the founder of the supergroup The Empty Hearts which consists of The Cars' Elliot Easton, Blondie's Clem Burke and The Chesterfield Kings' Andy Babiuk. They are currently working on their second album. he has also toured Ringo Starr & his All-Starr Band.

Steve Cooper talks with musician/actor Gary Kemp. Gary is best known as the lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and principal songwriter for Spandau Ballet. He wrote all 23 hit singles for the band including True, Gold, Through the Barricades and Only When You Leave. His songs were hits all over the world when Spandau Ballet became one of the biggest British bands of the 1980s, generating over 25 million record sales. His acting roles include being one of the leads in the film The Krays as well appearing in Killing Zoe, The Bodyguard and The Larry Sanders Show. He is also a fixture on the London theatre scene and currently plays guitar for Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets.