This episode is with Skid… again! 😂

Episode 68 was when we first got together, and I discovered Skid’s fascinating journey through heavy rock music. But there was one big part of his story we didn’t even touch on…

How he became a DJ and ended up with his own show — Skid’s House of Sound! 🎧🤘

Well… all is revealed in this episode!

Skid talks about why and how he became a DJ, the music he plays, and how his show is helping to shine a light on some fantastic, lesser-known heavy rock bands from Wales and Scandinavia.

One of his biggest enjoyments is receiving brand-new music from artists, listening to it and then giving those artists a platform by playing and promoting them on the radio. 🎶

And then there’s the incredible story of how he got the chance to see private photographs of David Bowie being “normal”, thanks to Tom Visconti — Bowie’s session musician, producer and close friend.

We also chat about:

🤘 Why Skid isn’t a huge fan of rap or the shouting/growling style of music

🎤 Why he’s seen Coldplay numerous times

🎸 Why smaller rock bands can be just as good as the big names but often struggle to reach the next level

💷 The impact of finances, time and… sometimes, all you really need is a little bit of good luck!

This episode is with Anna, a friend and work colleague of Michael Angell, my joint host on “You Made Me Listen To This.”

What a brilliant insight into what music means to Anna — and believe me, it means a LOT! 🎶

Anna talks about growing up singing around the piano with her parents. Her dad was a huge jazz fan, while her mum leaned more towards the commercial side of popular music. Those early musical influences clearly stayed with her.

As a teenager, Anna enjoyed going to see and listen to bands such as Blur and the likes of the bands at Knebworth (yes… that Knebworth! 😉), but her musical tastes were much broader than that. Her love of Van Morrison, jazz, Elkie Brooks, Barbra Streisand and, perhaps most importantly, dance music — especially Donna Summer — became a huge part of her musical journey.

Then there are the artists she didn’t enjoy… The Police, Sting and The Smiths. 😂 The reasons why genuinely made me laugh — although, strangely enough, I completely understood where she was coming from!

What really came across during our conversation was Anna’s love of lyrics and the emotional connection she has with particular songs and artists. Sam Fender is a great example, with his music bringing her comfort, but also stirring up a little sadness and memories of family.

There were some lovely similarities between us too. We both went to boarding school for several years, and we both experienced how much our friends and the music they were listening to could influence our own musical journeys.

But more than anything, Anna became an inspiration to me as our chat went on.

Her passion for music, the memories it creates, the emotions it brings back and the comfort it can provide really reminded me why I love doing “The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music.”

Music is so, so important to Anna.

And maybe, just maybe… it should be that important to all of us. ❤️🎶

Have you ever had one of those moments in life where you see something for the very first time…and it changes everything?

Well, Skid had that very moment in 1978 while watching the iconic Top of the Pops. The band? AC/DC. From that day on, he was hooked…not just a fan, but a passionate follower of heavy metal and rock music.

In this episode, Skid talks about seeing AC/DC with Bon Scott on lead vocals, witnessing Motörhead in their heyday, catching Guns N’ Roses at The Marquee in London back in 1986, and, of course, experiencing Monsters of Rock.

Yes…he was there at Donington 1988, where the tragic deaths of two fans made him rethink his enjoyment of large commercial music festivals.

As a huge Iron Maiden fan myself, we also dive into the band’s incredible catalogue, discussing albums, line-ups and how the band evolved over the years.

This is a fascinating conversation with someone whose love of heavy metal and rock comes from decades of collecting records, attending unforgettable gigs and living the music.

Oh…and that’s not all!

Skid’s wife recently took him to see ABBA Voyage in London…and you might be very surprised by what he thought of it. Trust me…you’ll want to hear his verdict!

Did I mention Skid is also the DJ behind the House of Sound radio show?

Ever dreamed of performing in front of an audience… especially at a world-famous venue?

In this latest episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music, I sit down with someone I’ve known for many years through the world of karting – Lianne.

Lianne has experienced what many musicians only dream of… performing at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s in London. Naturally, I had to find out how it happened and what the experience was really like.

A talented singer, Lianne performs jazz, blues, ballads and opera. Whether busking, entertaining in clubs and retirement homes, or fronting local bands in pubs, music has always been a huge part of her life.

We chat about why she’s such a perfectionist and often her own toughest critic after a performance. We also explore her love of goth rock, the fascinating connection between goth and opera, and why songs such as This Corrosion by The Sisters of Mercy perfectly demonstrate that link.

Our conversation also turns to today’s music industry and whether image, fashion and appearance too often take priority over genuine talent.

This episode is a chat with Dan Hunt, an ex-military man who now resides on the Isle of Wight.

These days Dan is enjoying life behind the decks as a DJ, one of his greatest passions. He tells me how hearing The Prodigy’s “Charly” back in 1991 – inspired by the famous 1970s health and safety advert featuring “Charly Says” – set him on a path of becoming a lifelong fan of the band.

We discuss their music, the albums that influenced him, and why seeing them live, even after all this time and despite the loss of the late, great Keith Flint, still delivers a thunderous assault on the senses.

Dan also talks about his admiration for DJs such as Carl Cox and Fatboy Slim; performers who engage their audiences through personality, spectacular light shows, and the art of remixing classic tracks with a healthy dose of techno energy.

We delve into his time in the RAF, serving in the Balkans alongside American soldiers, and how the differing musical tastes and cultures of two countries opened his ears to new sounds. It’s a fascinating conversation about his route into the world of DJing and much, much more.

And to be honest, that’s only the tip of the iceberg…

Well, you have the political show Question Time where the general public question politicians…well, I had Michael Angel hammering me with questions about my life in music.

What snack would I take to Glastonbury Festival?

Do I use Shazam?

What name would I call Duran Duran instead of their actual name?

Should mobile phones be banned at concerts?

What do I play when I’m cycling?

Those were just a few of the random, thoughtful, inquisitive and rather humorous questions I was bombarded with…all revealed in a really fun chat you can listen to by clicking on any of the links below…enjoy ☺️

“All or Nothing” by the Small Faces is Eileen’s favourite song…ever. Something I wasn’t aware of when I sat down for a wonderful chat with Eileen, a lovely family friend, about her musical journey through the decades.

From the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s onwards, Eileen shared some fantastic memories of music and life. Having travelled around the world due to military life, we instantly connected over our love and memories of BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service)…ohh, the nostalgia.

From actually seeing Queen LIVE in Brussels on their final ever tour, to her love of rock bands such as Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses and Meat Loaf — especially the powerful ballads they produced — this was only the tip of the iceberg in what turned out to be a fascinating conversation.

Erm…Eileen’s not too keen on classical music either, but she does love a great musical! 🎭🎶

This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music is a rather short one…

It’s just me sending my condolences following the recent passing of the lead singer of Dr Hook.

I also give my personal thoughts and views on this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. You may agree, you may completely disagree… but that’s part of the fun, right?

After all, there’s a reason the podcast is called The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music….😉

This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music was a rather special one for me, as I chatted to my uncle for the first time in many years…and what a reunion conversation it turned out to be. I’ve always known my uncle Melvin has a huge passion for music, but hearing the stories firsthand was something else.

Growing up in Birmingham, where he still proudly resides, Melvin shared stories about seeing and even chatting with Paul & Linda McCartney, watching arguably one of his favourite bands Queen not once, not twice, but many times throughout the 70’s at Birmingham Odeon. And speaking of the Odeon…just how many legendary artists has Melvin seen there over the years? Quite a few…and somehow he even managed to see some of them for free!!!

We spoke about why he believes Bruce Springsteen is one of the greatest artists around, his admiration for 10cc, and the moment he nearly fell off his seat when I explained one of the band members used to live where I now live and was even a regular customer where I worked as a chef! Add in memories of seeing The Jam, The Ramones and so many others, and the stories just kept flowing.

Most poignant of all was hearing how his brother…my dad…helped influence his love and involvement in music over the years.

This really was a special episode for me personally, and trust me, another conversation with Melvin will definitely be happening soon…and I genuinely can’t wait.

This episode sees me catching up with Craig Bloom for the first time since our boarding school days back in the 80s—and it honestly felt like no time had passed at all.

We dive straight into music, with Craig sharing his deep admiration for Queen, and in particular the legendary Freddie Mercury. We chat about Freddie’s unmatched charisma and energy as a frontman, and like many, Craig reflects on how he wishes he’d had the chance to see him perform live.

Craig then takes us through his playlist—and what a mix it is. From the pure pop of Barbie Girl by Aqua, to the timeless classic Stand by Me by Ben E. King, and plenty in between. It’s a fascinating look at how wide-ranging musical taste can be, including his appreciation for blues and what draws him to that sound.

We also get into a couple of really interesting personal insights—Craig talks about one particular song he’ll never play (and the story behind that), plus what it’s like working security at a live music venue…standing with the crowd in front of him while the artists perform just behind. A proper “other side of the stage” perspective.

A great catch-up, full of nostalgia, stories, and a shared love of music.