Rock's Backpages

In this week's episode of the RBP podcast, Mark Pringle and Barney Hoskyns are joined by special guest David Hepworth to talk about his experiences as a journalist, editor, publisher and now bestselling author.

In a free-ranging conversation, your hosts hear how Dave got his start at the bottom of the NME totem pole before joining the nascent Smash Hits under Nick Logan. They also discuss his longstanding friendship with Mark Ellen, from founding Q, MOJO and The Word to presenting The Old Grey Whistle Test and the TV coverage of Live Aid. Finally, they quiz him on his new book, The Rock and Roll A Level: A Very Hard Pop Quiz.

There is a brief discussion of free-featured artists Elbow, noting the Bury quintet's unlikely ascent to the status of National Treasure and the all-round decency and right-on-ness of the band's "shambling everyman" of a singer, Mr. Guy Garvey.

The week's audio interview is with the late and reliably irascible Ginger Baker, speaking on the phone to Jim Sullivian in 2015. Mark, Barney & Dave hear a clip in which the Cream legend refuses to be drawn on his relationship with his family. There follows a discussion of Baker's status as rock's first superstar drummer – and conjecture as to whether he might possibly be the single most unpleasant man in the history of rock and roll.

Finally, Mark presents some of his highlights from the week's other additions to RBP, including interviews with Pete Townshend, Billy Paul and rapper (and "complete tosser," says Mark) Just-Ice. Barney touches on the passing of Eddie & the Hot Rods frontman Barrie Masters.

Many thanks to special guest David Hepworth, whose book The Rock and Roll A Level is published by Bantam Press.

Produced by Jasper Murison-Bowie

Pieces discussed: Michael Jackson's Off the Wall, Ian Dury & Wilko Johnson, Emmylou Harris, Guy Garvey, Elbow, Elbow's Asleep in the Back, Ginger Baker audio, The Who, L.A. underground, Billy Paul, Lowell George's retreat from Little Feat, The Specials, Madonna in the movies, Just-Ice and Robbie Robertson.

Content warning: This episode contains a description of violence that some listeners may find distressing.

In this week's episode of the Rock's Backpages podcast, RBP's Mark, Barney & Jasper pay tribute to Robert Hunter, discussing his role within the Grateful Dead and how he helped unlock Jerry Garcia's voice with his lyrics.

Featured writer for the week is Phil Symes with three articles: Neil Diamond is mocked and disparaged by your hosts; a young Michael Jackson talks on the phone about his sideline solo career; and Sylvia (Robinson)'s 1973 smash 'Pillow Talk' is acknowledged as the American version of 'Je t'aime (moi non plus)'.

Your hosts then listen to a clip from the week's audio interview, in which disco diva Loleatta Holloway talks to Cliff White about the transition from gospel to secular soul – and the attendant issues. Mark argues that Holloway's gospel roots enabled her to succeed as the euphoric disco chanteuse whom Black Box sampled (sans permission) on 'Ride On Time'.

Mark presents his highlights from the week's new library additions, including the earliest mention on RBP of songsmith Randy Newman (in a Cilla Black interview); a contemplative Bill Withers talking to Disc's Robin Katz; and the violent tale of Coxsone Dodd attacking Joe Higgs over royalties. Jasper brings tales from the deep with Laurie Anderson's take on Melville's Moby Dick; Coldplay supported by Jay-Z; and just how streaming is skewing the pop charts.

Produced by Jasper Murison-Bowie

Italian language consultant: Giacomo Bruzzo of RareNoiseRecords

Pieces discussed: Robert Hunter (Bruce Pollock), Robert Hunter (Ken Hunt), Grateful Dead's American Beauty, Neil Diamond, Michael Jackson, Sylvia Robinson, Loleatta Holloway audio, Beat Show @ Royal Albert Hall, Cilla Black, Bill Withers, Jimmy Page, Richard Strange, Joe Higgs, Rock fashion, Henry Rollins, Jam & Lewis, Peter Jenner, Nick Cave, Laurie Anderson, Coldplay/Jay-Z, Streaming's impact on the charts, A Tribe Called Quest, Marvin Gaye and Dr. John.

In this week's episode of the Rock’s Backpages podcast, Mark & Barney are joined by the "Fab"-ulous Mat Snow to discuss the 50th anniversary of Beatles swansong Abbey Road. Mat also regales them with his tale of setting off a firework in the NME reviews office... plus his further adventures in the world of music journalism (including a pivotal stint as editor of MOJO).

The week's audio interview is a 1977 conversation with Blondie, so the trio hear a clip of Debbie Harry recalling her life as a waitress at Max's Kansas City. Archive highlights as selected by Mark include yodelling Frank Ifield, the Monkees' Davy Jones, and a Steven Wells review of Napalm Death's cheerily-titled Fear, Emptiness, Despair...

Pieces discussed: The Beatles, George Harrison, Abbey Road, Abbey Roader, Abbey Roadest, Ramones + Blondie + Talking Heads, Blondie audio, Blondie live in Hammersmith, Frank Ifield, Davy Jones of the Monkees, David Cassidy, The Osmonds, The Clash, Pat Benatar, Mission of Burma and Napalm Death.

n this week's episode, RBP's original power trio is reunited as Barney Hoskyns returns from holiday, joined by Mark Pringle and Jasper Murison-Bowie. Los tres hombres commence with a discussion of the Sugarhill Gang's groundbreaking 'Rapper's Delight', considering its place in the history of hip hop with reference to three contemporary articles about the record.

The week's featured writer is Hit Parader's girl-about-town in swinging '60s London, Miranda Ward, whose scenester piece on Otis Redding and TV interview with George Harrison are discussed. Talk then turns to the week's audio interview, which features Madonna in conversation with Steven Daly in 2002. La Ciccone talks about her forthcoming (and widely-mocked) film Swept Away, as well as the difference between British and American class and her lapsed Catholicism and devotion to Kabbalah.

Mark begins the archive highlights section with Karl Dallas interviewing Woody Guthrie's son Arlo in 1966, moves swiftly on to John Mendelssohn poo-poohing Humble Pie live in 1969 and sparks a conversation about whether or not the live album is dead with a review of Free: Live. Jasper rounds out the episode by discussing an interview with Héloïse Letissier of Chris/Christine and the Queens and a review of Common's Black America Again.

Pieces discussed: Sugarhill Gang, Sugarhiller Gang, Sugarhillest Gang, Otis Redding, George Harrison, Madonna, Arlo Guthrie, Island Records, Humble Pie, Free: Live, Dick Hestall-Smith, Teo Macero, Salt 'N Pepa, Brian Eno, Early days of Arcade Fire, Bassists, The Roots with Ornette Coleman, Tame Impala's Currents, Christine and the Queens and Common's Black America Again

In this week's episode of the RBP Podcast, Mark Pringle and Jasper Murison-Bowie are joined by Mr. Simon Witter to talk about his career in music journalism, from Zapp to acid house by way of Cameo and his forays into the early days of Chicago house with pioneering DJs Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy. 

Simon's interviews with Larry Blackmon and Roger Troutman inform conversation about afro-futurist funk and D.C.'s go-go music. The trio also discuss what kinds of powders taste better dissolved in cream soda and the impact of said powders (and other drugs!) on the second summer of love in 1988.

Mark, Jasper and Simon briefly talk about the week's featured artists the Pixies and pay tribute to the late Daniel Johnston, before moving on to the new audio interview, a 1991 conversation with The Band's Robbie Robertson conducted by Tony Scherman. Robbie talks about his pre-Band days with Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, how they weren't allowed to have steady girlfriends... and getting kicked out of a barbecue joint with Sonny Boy Williamson by racist Arkansas cops. 

In the archive section, Mark picks the week's highlights – including an interview with Marc Bolan of T(yrannosaurus) Rex plus the Village People doing their damnedest to remain ambiguous about their sexual preferences, while Jasper picks a review of Burial's Untrue and an interview with Anderson "best teeth in the game" .Paak.

Many thanks to special guest Simon Witter.

Produced by Jasper Murison-Bowie

Pieces discussed: Cameo, Zapp, Clubbing in Chicago with Frankie Knuckles & Ron Hardy, Acid House, Pixies, Pixier, Pixiest, Daniel Johnston, The Band's Robbie Robertson audio, Heinz, T(yrannosaurus) Rex, Jackie Wilson, Village People, Donna Summer, Johnny Cash, Stone Temple Pilots, Dusty Springfield, Burial, The xx and Anderson .Paak.

In this week's episode of the RBP Podcast, Mark Pringle and Jasper Murison-Bowie are joined by David Stubbs to talk about his book Mars By 1980, which traces the story of electronic music from its beginnings in the mechanical experiments of the late nineteenth century through Stockhausen and musique concrète to Stevie Wonder's cosmic funk, the 80s electropop of bands like Depeche Mode and beyond.

Mark and Jasper hear how David got his start at Melody Maker after co-founding Oxford magazine Monitor as a student; he confesses that at the time he was in a 'slightly pompous phase' where the only music he was listening to was avant garde classical and jazz or funk. These areas inform much of the discussion that follows, as the three of them consider the initially slow and then suddenly meteoric rise of the synthesizer in popular music.

The week's audio interview is with Francis Rossi of Status Quo in 2010, with the chosen clips concerning the adjustment of Her Majesty the Queen's undergarments as well as his relationship with bandmate Rick Parfitt. The free feature is Slade, with three pieces about Noddy and co up for grabs.

In the archive section, Mark highlights a few pieces including Cecil Taylor's hands blurring with the speed of his playing live in Hammersmith, Muddy Waters interviewed by Max Jones and Dennis Wilson opening up about his time with Charles Manson for the first time to Joel Selvin. Jasper selects Evan Parker playing the Invisible Jukebox game with Mike Barnes for The Wire plus a piece by their illustrious guest about whether humour and music can mix.

Mars By 1980: The Story of Electronic Music is available via the Faber website at https://www.faber.co.uk/9780571351299-mars-by-1980.html. 

Produced by Jasper Murison-Bowie

Pieces discussed: Janet Jackson, Aphex Twin, DJ Shadow, Yo! Bum Rush Foucault!, Status Quo audio, Slade, Slader, Sladest, Cecil Taylor, Al Green, Muddy Waters, Cherrelle, Manfred Eicher/ECM, Evan Parker and seriously funny music.

In this week's episode of the RBP podcast, Mark & Barney are joined by She Bop queen Lucy O'Brien to discuss her life in journalism – from her days distributing Spare Rib magazine at her convent school to being a member of the "soulcialist" faction at the NME. They explore how creeping consumerism and confusion about the paper's identity caused it to lose much of what set it apart, precipitating its eventual demise.

To celebrate the new revised and updated edition of Lucy's classic Dusty Springfield biography, they discuss what set Dusty apart as a singer and the problems she faced as a result of her sexuality. In the context of Lucy's definitive She Bop: The Definitive History of Women in Popular Music, the three of them consider a number of female artists including Madonna, Taylor Swift and Skunk Anansie's Skin, before listening to a clip from the week's audio interview with Alicia Keys, conducted by Maureen Paton in 2010.

Finally, exploring what else is new in the RBP archive, Mark reads from some of his highlights, including a somewhat perplexing Iggy Pop interview, Lemmy talking about Mods and combs, and Tim Westwood's cultural appropriation of hip hop.

Find Lucy O'Brien's website at http://lucyobrien.co.uk and order Dusty: The Classic Biography from the publisher's website at https://www.mombooks.com/book/dusty/. 

Produced by Jasper Murison-Bowie

Pieces discussed: Dusty Springfield, Skunk Anansie, Madonna, Taylor Swift's first album, Taylor Swift straying from Country, The Cult of Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys audio, Small Faces, The Temptations, Iggy Pop, Motörhead, Amy Grant and Tim Westwood.

In this week's episode, Barney Hoskyns and Jasper Murison-Bowie are joined by Richard Williams to discuss his long and august career in music journalism, from his writing about avant-jazz giant Albert Ayler for his local Nottingham newspaper through his stewardship of Melody Maker to his time as the Guardian's chief sportswriter. 

The three men talk about Ayler and the great Laura Nyro, as well as about Richard's early interview with Bob Marley, at whose UK label (Island) Richard became Head of A&R for over two years. Asked what sort of music excites him these days, Richard (and Jasper) enthuse about the contemporary London jazz scene.

The week's free feature marks the passing of Peter Fonda, with contemporary appraisals of Dennis Hopper's 1969 classic Easy Rider that spark discussion of the film's soundtrack.

We then hear clips from John Tobler's 1980 interview with Arthur Lee, wherein the sometime Love frontman toys with the notion of getting the original band back together and reminisces about meeting Jimi Hendrix for the first time in 1964.

The episode concludes with a brief look at highlights among new articles in the RBP library, including an early Pink Floyd interview, a review of Panjabi MC's The Album and a live review of rapper Dave at Koko. 

Find Richard Williams' blog at https://thebluemoment.com.

Pieces discussed: Richard Williams interviewed by Simon Warner, Albert Ayler, Laura Nyro, Bob Marley, Kamasi, Kendrick and co, Charlie Gillett on Easy Rider, Miller Francis Jr. on Easy Rider, Rock at the Movies, Love's Arthur Lee audio, The Pink Floyd, Puff Daddy, Boz Scaggs, Panjabi MC, Akala and Dave @ Koko.

In this week's episode of the Rock's Backpages Podcast, Jasper Murison-Bowie and Barney Hoskyns are joined by the great Ian Penman to discuss his new essay collection It Gets Me Home, This Curving Track – along with his late '70s/early '80s years at the NME and his subsequent writing for The Wire and the London Review of Books.

Thus commences a wide-ranging conversation about everything from Frank Sinatra to Charlie Parker to Prince, via John Fahey, Nina Simone and Kate Bush. Along the way, Penman passionately disputes the received wisdom that he brought down the NME with his infrequent references to French theorists Roland Barthes and Jacques Derrida.

Los tres hombres hear clips from a 1990 audio interview with Billy Gibbons, wherein the urbane ZZ Top frontman recalls meeting Muddy Waters and pays homage to Stevie Ray Vaughan. Finally, having had far too much fun with this episode, your hosts run swiftly through a handful of the new library pieces available to RBP subscribers.

It Gets Me Home, This Curving Track is published by Fitzcarraldo Editions; purchase the book here.

Find Ian Penman on Twitter @pawboy2.

Produced by Jasper Murison-Bowie

Pieces discussed: Pole, John Fahey, Nina Simone, Kate Bush, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons audio, The Truth About the Pop Idles..., Arif Mardin, Modern Lovers, The Cramps, Madness, Stone Roses, Swells on War, Prince

In this week's episode, Mark & Barney are joined by American singer/performance artiste extraordinaire Tammy Faye Starlite to talk about grande dame of British art-pop Marianne Faithfull. Tammy discusses her upcoming run of New York shows based around Faithfull's 1979 classic Broken English – plus the week's new audio interview, with the lady herself. The trio mull over Faithfull's relationships and/or friendships with Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Anita Pallenberg. They also discuss parallels between her and Nico, another object of Tammy's hommage.

Talk turns to David Dalton, featured writer of the week and co-author of Faithfull's autobiography. The recent passing of filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker is marked by discussion of Dalton's 1999 interview with "Penny".

The week's free feature is about Miles Davis, marking the 50th anniversary of groundbreaking "ambient jazz-rock" masterpiece In A Silent Way. Discussion touches on the album's sessions and the influence on Miles of funky Betty Davis (née Mabry), in terms of both music and fashion.

Mark picks his highlights from the archive pieces, which include a 1970 interview with Love's Arthur Lee, a David Hepworth review of Michael Jackson's Off The Wall and Nick Coleman talking to Anita Baker in 1986.

To buy tickets for Tammy Faye Starlite's run of Marianne Faithfull shows, please visit the Pangea website.

Produced by Jasper Murison-Bowie

Pieces discussed: Marianne Faithfull audio, David Dalton talks to Marianne, D. A. Pennebaker, Pennebaker looks back, Janis Joplin, Miles Davis' In A Silent Way, Miles Davis: Rock is a White Man's Word, What Made Miles Davis Go Pop?, The Changing Face of the Byrds, Love's Arthur Lee, Michael Jackson's Off the Wall, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Anita Baker, Paula Yates, Rolling Stones