Rock's Backpages

In this week's podcast – the second to be recorded remotely under the lockdown — Mark, Barney & Jasper are joined by special guest Paul Gorman to discuss his long and multi-faceted career — and his epic new biography of Malcolm McLaren. We also hear clips from the week's new audio interview: a 1989 conversation with "Malcy" himself, wherein the former Sex Pistols manager and professional provocateur voices his disdain for the music industry, his becoming an artist in his own right… and his despair at the passing of rock's pagan gods.

Paul also pitches in with his thoughts on the late Bill Withers, joining his hosts in celebrating the life and work of a unique singer-songwriter – and the dignity of a man who came late to fame and chose to walk away from it without regret. After hearing a clip of Bill speaking in 2004, the makeshift gang of four pay tribute to two more victims of the coronavirus: John Prine, discussed at much greater length in Episode 62, and Hal Willner, maverick mastermind behind such unorthodox tribute albums as 1988's Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music from Vintage Disney Films.

Finally, Mark talks us through his highlights of the week's new library load, including pieces on Nancy Sinatra and her walking 'Boots' (1966), Joel Selvin's Sid Vicious obituary (1979) and Annene Kaye interviewing the other Gang Of Four on a park bench in 1983. Jasper offers his tuppenceworth on a So Solid Crew profile from 2003 and a 2018 review of Prince's posthumous Piano and a Microphone album… and we say goodbye until the next time.

Pieces discussed: Fanzines, Spice Girls, The Life and Times of Malcolm McLaren excerpt, Malcolm McLaren audio, 8-Bit Punk, Bill Withers audio, Bill Withers, John Prine, Hal Willner, Nancy Sinatra's Boots, Bill Graham, Sid Vicious, Gang of Four, Chet Baker, So Solid Crew and Prince's Piano & a Microphone 1983.

Many thanks to special guest Paul Gorman; his new book The Life and Times of Malcolm McLaren is published by Constable. Visit his website at paulgormanis.com.

The Rock's Backpages podcast is proud to be part of the Pantheon podcast network.

After its enforced break, the RBP podcast returns for its first remotely-recorded episode. Mark, Barney & Jasper — all splendidly self-isolated, if not entirely locked down — are reunited online to run through everything that's new or free on Rock's Backpages. Noting the sad losses of Cristina, Manu Dibango and Fountains Of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger — all recent victims of the virus – RBP's troika discuss the week's new audio interview, a 2000 conversation with a supremely droll Warren Zevon, who talks to Adam Sweeting about Jackson Browne, David Geffen and Scottish Makar poet William Dunbar.

From there, they move on to the week's free feature, which focuses on the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis' groundbreaking Bitches Brew. RBP's very own Three Degrees revisit Richard Williams' original Melody Maker review of the 1970 album, along with Al Aronowitz's account of hanging out with Miles in the fall of that year. Then it's on to featured writer Lois Wilson and her near-definitive account of the making of 1969's Dusty in Memphis and her profile of British rhythm & blues mainstay Georgie Fame.

Among the new library pieces singled out for general discussion by Messrs. Pringle & Murison-Bowie are interviews with Elton John from 1971, Billy Cobham from 1974, Agnes Bernelle from 1985 and Kate Tempest from 2014…

Pieces discussed: Warren Zevon audio, Bitches Brew, What Made Miles Davis Go Pop?, Rock is a white man's word, Dusty Springfield, Georgie Fame, Robert Finley, O.C. Smith, Elton John, Billy Cobham/Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jesse Winchester, Agnes Bernelle, Neil Young, Elvis' first love, Roots reggae, Papa Roach, Girls Aloud and Kate Tempest.

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

In this week's episode, RBP's self-styled "power trio" pay tribute to the late Charlie Gillett, without whose seminal 1970 book The Sound Of The City Rock's Backpages probably wouldn't exist. It is a decade since we lost Charlie – one of the first RBP writers to come on board, back in 2000 – so we wanted to do justice to the enduring influence of The Sound, as well as to his wonderful "Honky Tonk" radio show, his Oval Records label and his passionate championing of African and other "world" music genres.

Two clips from Bill Brewster's 1999 audio interview with Charlie prompt reflection and reminiscence from Mark & Barney, as does a Record Mirror piece in which Charlie describes the infamous 1970 press junket that took 134 UK rock journalists to New York to watch the little-known Brinsley Schwarz play Bill Graham's Fillmore East.

From there, we segue neatly into a clip from Cliff White's 1978 audio interview with Cajun "swamp-pop" star Johnnie Allan, whose immortal 1971 cover of Chuck Berry's 'Promised Land' – featured on Charlie's 1974 compilation Another Saturday Night – made Oval Records beloved of a generation of rootsy UK pub rockers. Mark, Barney & Jasper wax lyrical about the wonders of 'Promised Land', and about Cajun music in general, before Mark guides through his weekly library highlights. Among the latter are pieces about "Peter No-One" of Herman's Hermits, tenor legend Stan Getz and 'Cuddly Toy' boy Roachford. Jasper finishes things off with closing remarks about pieces on Missy Elliott and Clean Bandit.

Pieces discussed: Charlie Gillett audio, Charlie Gillett, Tributes to Charlie, 'World' music, Paul Hardcastle, Brinsley Schwarz, The Promised Land, Johnnie Allan audio, Herman's Hermits, Gene Clark, Byron Ferrari, Stan Getz, Digital recording, Eddy Grant, Roachford, Mötley Crüe, John Oswald, Missy Elliott, Clean Bandit and Jack White.

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.

In this week's episode, Mark & Barney are joined by a not-so-"Anonymous" Michael Watts, who regales his hosts with tales of life as the Walsall Observer's "Mick" Watts before reminiscing about his halcyon days as one of Melody Maker's star '70s scribes.

Watts waxes poetic – not to mention humorous – about his encounters with David Bowie, Bob Dylan, the Sex Pistols and others, and about the Maker's rivalry with the N(ew) M(usical) E(xpress). Mark & Barney grill him on the MM's response to punk and hear about colleagues such as Richard Williams and Caroline Coon.

After a brief discussion of the week's featured artist, hilarious country-soul eccentric Swamp Dogg, the trio hear the first of two clips from Martin Aston's 1986 audio interview with Lux Interior and Poison Ivy Rorschach, prompting conversation about the Cramps' inspired mash-up of '50s psychobilly and sub-Hollywood horror – and, 11 years after Lux's death, the band's unique place in post-punk rock'n'roll.

Finally, as Mark presents his highlights of RBP's new library additions, Barney & Michael pitch in with asides on Lou Reed, Talking Heads… and Michael's Chiswick neighbour Sophie Ellis-Bextor!

Many thanks to special guest Michael Watts; for more of his writing, please visit his writer's page.

Pieces discussed: Sex Pistols, David Bowie, Grateful Dead, Swamp Dogg, Swamp Dogger, and Swamp Doggest, Cramps audio, Sam Cooke, Beach Boy Bruce Johnston, Lou Reed, Talking Heads, Tiffany, Giorgio Moroder, Mark E. Smith and theaudience/Sophie Ellis Bextor.

Part of Pantheon Podcasts.

In this week's episode, RBP's original "house band" pays homage to New Orleans funkmeisters the Meters, enjoys Frances Morgan's 2004 interview with the 22-year-old Joanna Newsom, and listens to the late Buzzy Linhart telling Steve Roeser about Lenny Bruce's 1964 bust at New York's Café au Go Go.

Road-weary veterans Mark & Barney saddle up with hip young gunslinger Jasper to explore the Meters' close involvement with Crescent City maestro Allen Toussaint – and the unique grooves of funk classics like 'Cissy Strut' and 'Just Kissed My Baby'. They also savour the prose of Frances Morgan's Newsom profile for Plan B and her meditation on the first four albums by Can.

A clip from Roeser's 2008 audio interview with Linhart reveals the cult Greenwich Villager's disdain for Café au Go Go owner Howard Solomon. Unfortunately, an almost equal amount of disdain is meted out to Buzzy's music by Mark & Jasper. Mark then zips through new additions to the RBP library — including Chris Welch's 1966 Melody Maker interview with the Bonzo Dog (Doo-Dah) Band, featuring quotes from the late Neil Innes; Pete Silverton's 1979 Sounds encounter with punk poet John Cooper Clarke; and Loudon & Rufus Wainwright weighing up their paternal/filial issues in 1999 for the benefit of Rolling Stone's Fred Schruers. Jasper discusses a Times live review of Steven "Flying Lotus" Ellison from Bristol's Colston Hall and Pip Williams (and others) getting in questions for One Direction's Harry Styles and Niall Horan in 2015…

Pieces discussed: The Meters, The Meterers, The Meterest, Joanna Newsom, Can, Arcade Fire, Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Paul McCartney: Proto-Brexiteer, Johnny Guitar Watson, John Cooper Clarke, Sly & Robbie, Loudon & Rufus Wainwright, The Associates, Teenage Dirtbag, Flying Lotus and One Direction.

The Rock's Backpages podcast is proud to be part of the Pantheon podcast network.

In this week's episode, Mark & Barney invite the ever-entertaining Neil Tennant to look back on his time at Smash Hits magazine — and on how he became pop's ultimate poacher-turned-gamekeeper.

Neil talks about mid-'70s London and about interviewing a pudgy Marc Bolan for Marvel UK. He recalls the laughter and irreverence of his 1982-85 stint at Smash Hits before the Pet Shop Boys shot to No. 1 in Britain and then America. After hearing clips of himself speaking to Steven Daly in 1996, he attempts to explain the longevity of the PSBs but takes issue with the term "national treasure".

Mark & Barney pay tribute to the late Andrew Weatherall as we hear a clip of the legendary DJ/producer/remixer talking to DJ History's Bill Brewster in 2009. Neil offers his perspective on the evolution of the UK's club culture through the '90s and then pitches in as Mark guides us through highlights of the week's new library additions. Discussion follows on Hawkwind's topless dancer Stacia, Michael Watts' 1976 dinner with Laura Nyro and the 10th anniversary of Manchester's Haçienda club…

Many thanks to special guest Neil Tennant details about the Pet Shop Boys’ new album Hotspot and upcoming tour are available via petshopboys.co.uk. The new editions of Chris Heath’s Pet Shop Boys, Literally and Versus America are published by Heinemann and out on March 19th.

Pieces discussed: Neil Tennant, Neil Tennant audio, Soft Cell, Wham!, The Power of Negative Thinking, Andy Weatherall audio, Andy Weatherall's Mixed Emotions, Andy Weatherall: Pick and Remix, Cilla Black, Jimi Hendrix, Hawkwind's Stacia, Laura Nyro, Curtis Mayfield, the Haçienda, 0(+>/Prince, Steve Earle and Willie Nelson's drummer Paul English.

The Rock's Backpages podcast is proud to be part of the Pantheon podcast network.

In this week's episode, RBP's power trio reforms to talk about all that's new – and everything that's free – on the site this week. Los tres hombres start with the solo Bryan Ferry, a.k.a. "Byron Ferrari", a.k.a. "Friern Barnet", revisiting the Roxy Music frontman's makeover as a dinner-jacketed lounge lizard and aspiring country gentleman. 

They then mark the publication of Mike Barnes' Prog-Rock magnum opus A New Day Yesterday with a free-ranging chinwag about the pros and cons of said genre – with specific reference to Mike's great pieces on Pink Floyd and Peter Hammill.

We hear a hilarious clip of beloved country-folk troubadour John Prine reminiscing about an improbable visit to Phil Spector's L.A. mansion, followed by a good-humoured debate on the merits or otherwise of, well, country-folk troubadours such as John Prine.

Finally, Mark walks us through his personal highlights of the week's "library load", focusing on quotes from pieces about Paul Simon, the Bang(le)s and an unlikely 1997 hook-up between the Wu-Tang Clan and Sharleen Spiteri's Texas. Discussion of maverick axeman Marc Ribot and electro-swingers Caravan Palace rounds the episode.

Pieces discussed: Bryan Ferry, Brain Fury, Biryani Ferret, Pink Floyd's Ummagumma, Peter Hammill/Van der Graaf Generator, Captain Beefheart, John Prine audio, the Mersey Scene, The Supremes, Charlie Watts, Paul McCartney on Jimi Hendrix, Jimi Hendrix live, Paul Simon, Kilburn and the High Roads, The Bangs, R.E.M., Deborah Harry, Wu-Tang Clan meets Texas, Pet Shop Boys, Marc Ribot, Foals' Yannis Philippakis, Lianne La Havas and Caravan Palace

The Rock's Backpages podcast is proud to be part of the Pantheon podcast network.

In this week's episode, Mark and Barney are joined by the delightful Colleen "Cosmo" Murphy to mark the 50th anniversary of David Mancuso's legendary first Loft party in New York City. Colleen talks about her friendship with Mancuso and about her own musical journey as a revered DJ (not to mention host of Classic Album Sundays).

Barney notes the week's featured writer Daryl Easlea — and specifically his pieces on Elvis Presley the movie star and (tying in with this week's reissue of his excellent book Everybody Dance) Chic protegée Norma Jean Wright. Colleen concurs that the latter's 'Saturday' (1978) is a stone disco classic.

The New York theme continues with discussion of the week's new audio interview, featuring No Wave queen and fearless transgressor Lydia Lunch talking to Martin Aston in 1989. We hear a clip of Lydia holding forth on her staunch refusal to be part of any cultural mainstream — and conversation ensues about her huge influence and complicated relationship with radical feminism.

Finally, Mark talks us through such new additions to the RBP library as a 1969 Jimi Hendrix interview from the L.A. Times, Nick Kent's 1978 encounter with Elvis Costello, and Sean O'Hagan's account of his 1998 trip to Belfast with U2. A second clip from the Lydia Lunch audio takes us out of the episode…

Many thanks to special guest Colleen Murphy; like her Facebook page at Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy and visit classicalbumsundays.com.

Pieces discussed: David Mancuso, The Art of Deejaying without Deejaying, DJ Cosmo, Norma Jean Wright, Elvis in Hollywood, 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong, Lydia Lunch audio, Mick Jagger, Jimi Hendrix, Disco Demand, Elvis Costello, Was (Not Was), U2, Viv Stanshall, Primal Scream, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, Them Crooked Vultures and Sister Rosetta Tharpe

The RBP podcast is part of the Pantheon Podcasts network.

In this week's episode, we wave a sad goodbye to the EU with the aid of Dorian Lynskey, Guardian contributor, author of 33 Revolutions Per Minute and The Ministry Of Truth, and host of the excellent Remainiacs podcast.

Dorian talks Mark, Barney & Jasper through his stellar career in music writing, focusing on his interviews with German superstar Paul van Dyk and French electro-House robots Daft Punk. Dorian also discusses Remainiacs on the eve of the Brexit countdown, and the four remoaners collectively lament the end of the beginning of the withdrawal… or is it the beginning of the end?

The Euro theme continues with a clip from the late Andy Gill's delightful 1997 audio interview with Irmin, Holger & Michael of krautrock kings Can, heard chuckling about the "erotic dreams" embedded in soldiers' mattresses. A brief discussion of Can's uniqueness as an experimental unit ensues.

Also for RBP subscribers is the selection of new library pieces presented by Mr. Pringle, including fashion tips from Mods in 1964, a tour of Philly's Sigma Sound studios in 1975, and a cab ride across London with jazz legend Archie Shepp in 1985…

Many thanks to special guest Dorian Lynskey; visit his website dorianlynskey.com for further information about his books and the Remainiacs podcast.

Pieces discussed: Paul van Dyk, Röyksopp, Daft Punk, Air, Serge Gainsbourg, Amon Düül et al., Kraftwerk, Can audio, Mod fashions, Marc Bolan, Philly Sound, Elvis Presley R.I.P., Archie Shepp, Whitney Houston's Bodyguard soundtrack, 5ive, Matthew Herbert Big Band, The new blues and Chris Darrow

In this week's episode, Mark & Barney welcome the wonderful Laura Barton and learn all about her career as a star Guardian writer – and as an author and broadcaster.

Laura talks about her travels in America, and about working with photographer Sarah Lee on the newly-published collection West Of West. The hosts ask her about her pieces on Bon Iver, Daniel Johnston and Riot Grrrl power – and more generally about her deeply personal approach to music writing.

A new Sam Cooke box set prompts a conversation about the pin-up gospel star who crossed over to become an icon of "proto-soul" before his shocking and tragic death in 1964. A 2010 hymn to Sam by the legendary Lenny Kaye provides the platform for ruminations on the man's sublime voice and his immeasurable influence on everyone from Otis Redding to Rod Stewart.

A clip from the late Andy Gill's 2005 audio interview with ex-Belle & Sebastian member Isobel Campbell is the catalyst for a discussion of the latter's collaborations with brooding grunge survivor Mark Lanegan. Having interviewed the Scots singer-songwriter when the duo's Ballad of the Broken Seas came out in 2006, Laura helps to place the pair in the tradition of such "beauty-and-the-beast" hook-ups as Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra.

Mark talks us through highlights of the week's additions to the RBP Library, including pieces on the unsavoury Jonathan King (1971), the fabulous Freddie Mercury (1975) and David Bowie's personal tour of his London landmarks (1993). The episode concludes with discussion of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's just-announced Class of 2020 – with specific reference to the covert racism (not to mention misogyny) underpinning reaction to the inclusion of Whitney Houston…

Many thanks to special guest Laura Barton, who is on Twitter @missbarton. West of West, by Sarah Lee with an introduction by Laura, is published by Unbound.

Pieces discussed: Bon Iver, Daniel Johnston, Grrrl Power, Sam Cooke, Sam Cooker, Sam Cookest, Boyce and Hart, Jonathan King, Queen's Freddie Mercury, Beach Boys, Milli Vanilli, David Bowie, Kenickie, The Libertines, Beck and Big Mama Thornton.

This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts.