Now Spinning Music Magazine - Artist Interviews and Music Reviews

Michael Des Barres - The Now Spinning Magazine Interview with Phil Aston

Silverhead - Detective - Chequered Past - Obsession - The Powerstation - Live Aid - Clint Eastwood - Steve Van Zant - Don Johnston - The Mistakes

Michael Des Barres is a Rock n Roll Star, a visionary, a motivational speaker, a dream maker and renaissance man. This is roller coaster of an interview, funny,brutally honest and full of energy.

Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine

Celebrating Physical Music In All Its Forms

Michael Des Barres

#michaeldesbarres #nowspinning

The Captain of The Lost Waves - Interview

This is a pastoral PROG album that mixes elements of ELO, Tears For Fears, Japan, Tangerine Dreams to make a quite remarkable album.

This is visceral music for the mind and body, full of dreamy verses, life affirming choruses and sheer audacity. Where melodic invention meets alternative folk, progressive, world and ambient sounds.

Listen to the album

Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine

https://www.nowspinning.co.uk

The Bonham - Bullick Interview - Now Spinning Magazine Podcast

In this episode of the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast I am delighted to be joined by Deborah Bonham and Peter Bullick.

In the interview they talk about their new album the current tour, growing up with John Bonham, Bad Company, Free and playing with Paul Rogers and lots more.

Deborah Bonham has established herself as one of the finest blues, rock and soul singers the UK has produced. A string of critically acclaimed original album releases, captivating standing ovation concert performances at the Royal Albert Hall, London Palladium and on the USA Stars Align Tour with Paul Rodgers, Jeff Beck and Heart’s Ann Wilson, have continually followed her while also garnering rave reviews. “Strong voiced, personable and quite the rock & roll singer. This woman, Deborah Bonham (the sister of the late Led Zeppelin drummer) earned a standing ovation at the end of her set, clearly a welcome addition to the tour.” (Stars Align Tour, Holmdel, New Jersey) – Elmore Magazine

Belfast born guitarist Peter Bullick, lauded by the press for his passionate and exceptional playing, paid his dues playing clubs and theatres across the UK and Europe for many years. The constant touring allowed Peter to develop his own style while holding dear guitarist Rory Gallagher and others who were a big influence on his playing. Of all the guitarists that influenced Peter it was Paul Kossoff with whom he connected with the most. Years later Pete’s playing would not go unnoticed by none other than Paul Rodgers who selected Pete and the rest of Deborah’s band to back him on his Free Spirit concerts and tours of the UK and USA. “Guitarist Peter Bullick constantly showed why Paul Rodgers touted him as a replacement for Kossoff should Free ever reform. His bluesy but always economic fills and solos lit up the stage.” – Tight But Loose

Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine

HiFi Tips - Regular Now Spinning contributor and Facebook group member Chris Wright provides music collectors with a framework for upgrading their music HiFi systems to get the most from their vinyl and CD collections.

This is intended as non-technical advice for all budgets, providing some useful pointers for those of you who are thinking about making improvements to your HiFi sound. 

Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine

https://www.nowspinning.co.uk

The CD at 40 Celebrating the CD Format

This Podcast features my guest Charlie White who many of you will know from his collaboration on the YouTube channel and the Now Spinning Magazine Facebook Group.

In this video we talk about when we first started buying CDs and the effect it has had on our collections over the years.

Thank you for your support

Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine

In this episode I interview Peter Goalby who talks about his album ‘Easy with The heartaches’.

Peter was the lead vocalist in Uriah Heep in the 1980s and sang on three of their albums Abominog, Head First and Equator.

Peter also talks about his career and goes into great detail about how this album came about.

This really is a lost album, hidden for over 30 years and to my ears the best melodic Rock / AOR albums I have heard period!

Phil Aston

Now Spinning Magazine

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On this Episode, I hand over to Now Spinning Magazine Collaborator Joe Geesin who went to visit artist Rodney Matthews to talk about his latest projects.  Phil Aston

Rodney Matthews' art has always fascinated me, ever since I acquired Nazareth's No Mean City in the early 80s, and I enjoyed his work on other albums I loved, largely Magnum, Praying Mantis and Eloy. I started collecting his other work and mentioned this in Record Collector in the early 00s, which lead Rodney to contact me, and we have remained friends ever since.

On this Episode I hand over to Now Spinning Magazine Collaborator Joe Geesin who went to visit artist Rodney Matthews.

Rodney Matthews' art has always fascinated me, ever since I acquired Nazareth's No Mean City in the early 80s, and I enjoyed his work on other albums I loved, largely Magnum, Praying Mantis and Eloy. I started collecting his other work and mentioned this in Record Collector in the early 00s, which lead Rodney to contact me, and we have remained friends ever since.

On Saturday 5th March I had the opportunity to visit him and his wife Sarah at their home in a remote part of Gloucestershire (roads where cyclists would have trouble passing).

As we sat drinking tea and eating cakes, he had lots to discuss, some off the record (and will remain as such), but he was keen to talk about the current Yendor books and forthcoming animation (which may appear on Amazon Prime), and also to clarify the situation with Magnum and why he didn't provide the artwork, as untrue rumours seem to be being taken as fact.

In passing he also related a story about Magnum and Jet records, and I've always been aware of his love of nature and his religious beliefs, both of which are prominent in many works. With this background knowledge, and that of the second rights work (the return on album covers alone is diminishing), I was able to steer the interview. 

If it sounds like two old dudes on a couch having a conversation that happened to be recorded, it was!

Joe Geesin

Thank you to Joe Geesin and our guest Rodney Matthews

Phil Aston

Now Spinning Magazine

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My guest on this Video Podcast is Amanda Lehmann who I first saw in 2011 playing guitar and singing with Steve Hackett.

Amanda Lehman’s latest album, Innocence and Illusion, is a wonderful collection of nine original songs that showcase her talent as a singer and multi-instrumentalist.

Originally a classically trained pianist, Amanda found herself falling in love with the power of rock and the overdriven guitar. She is not constrained to any one musical genre and blends the boundaries throughout this album between folk, blues, rock and classical.

Work with Steve Hackett

From 2009 Amanda has been playing guitar and backing/lead vocals with Steve Hackett, joining the band on the UK 2009 tour, and continuing throughout 2010 - 2013.

Amanda also features on several of Steve Hackett's albums and live DVDs, and regularly appears as a guest at some of his shows.

In this interview Amanda talks about her life, working with Steve Hackett and talks about each teack on her new album.

You can find out out more about Amanda Lehmann on her website

The album Innocence and Illusion is available from Burning Shed Records

Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine

www.nowspinning.co.uk

In this episode I am joined by Simon Mayor and Hilary James who talk about their new album 'When Summer Comes Again'.

I reviewed this album in my first 'New Music Round Up' Feature on the Now Spinning Magazine YouTube Channel and Website.

I described it as music that conjured up relaxing on a lazy Summer's day while enjoying a glass of crisp white wine. The is pastoral folk music with a Classical edge.

Simon and Hilary describe themselves as 'folk music musicians' but they also cover classical music on the album making it an electric combination that is at once enjoyable and very varied.

In the interview, they talk about how the album came together, how they met and their plans for the future. This podcast follows very well the one I did with Sarah McQuaid. The Song 'Buttermere Waltz' has been on the Now Spinning Magazine playlist for a while now, it is a wonderful track.

‘Superb instrumentalists, Simon Mayor is an acclaimed mandolin virtuoso, as well as a fine guitarist and fiddler, and Hilary James plays mandobass and guitar. Her elegant, articulate voice, however, is her greatest asset and a compliment to Mayor’s gentle, friendly baritone.’

Dirty Linen (USA)

The Album When Summer Comes Again is available here

Phil Aston

Now Spinning Magazine

As you know I spend a lot of time with rock-driven music and then something comes along that completely floors me.

The St Buryan Sessions by Sarah McQuaid is already in my top 5 albums of the year. It is just spellbinding.

If you like Joni Mitchell, John Martyn, Kristin Hersh, Janis Ian and Eva Cassidy then give this a listen.

One member of the Now Spinning Magazine Facebook Community described Sarah's voices as being like melting chocolate, that is a very good description.

In this Podcast Sarah talks about the new album and her career so far.

Sarah also talks about her love of Nick Drake, John Martyn and Pentangle. (Both Pentangle and Nick Drake have been featured on the Now Spinning Magazine Website).

“One of the most instantly recognisable voices in current music … Shades of Joni Mitchell in a jam with Karen Carpenter and Lana Del Rey.”

—Neil March, Trust The Doc

“She reached parts other singers fail to do ... There is emotion, beauty, passion and musically great arrangements and fab playing. It’s a complete package. I loved the show and was very moved.”

—Rob Bozas, Bozas International (Publisher, Peter Gabriel/Real World)

“Captivating, unorthodox songwriting … layered satin vocals ... enthralling, harrowing arrangements … a gateway into a true innovator’s soul.”

—PopMatters

“Her subtle mastery onstage launches her straight into my fave shows ever.”

—Huffington Post

Sarah McQuaid Links

Website : https://sarahmcquaid.com/

Online Store : https://sarahmcquaid.bandcamp.com/

Phil Aston

Now Spinning Magazine

https://www.nowspinning.co.uk