The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music

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.

This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music features Olly, a friend of Chris Cole, who previously joined us for a podcast back in the summer of 2025.

Olly, who spends most of his year living in the UAE, took some time while visiting the UK to sit down and talk about his life and his deep connection with music. Growing up, his early influences were shaped at home—his mum leaning toward Rod Stewart, while his dad filled the car with bands like Fleetwood Mac and Electric Light Orchestra. Safe to say, Olly didn’t have much choice in the matter back then.

As he found his own taste, bands like Blink-182, Feeder, and Sum 41 pulled him further into guitar-driven rock. But the real turning point came in 2012, when he saw Bruce Springsteen live at the Isle of Wight Festival. That performance sparked what can only be described as a full-blown love affair—one that’s arguably made him one of Springsteen’s biggest fans (much to the amusement of his friends).

Olly dives into the albums that have shaped him, his experiences seeing Springsteen live multiple times, and the sheer energy of shows that can stretch to three or four hours while still selling out stadiums worldwide.

We also get into his appreciation for folk music, and an honest take on live performances—including why seeing Bob Dylan ranks as one of the most disappointing gigs he’s attended.

The conversation broadens into the realities of the music scene—how tough it can be for bands to break through in the UK, compared to Olly’s experiences in places like Texas, where live music thrives in local bars almost every night of the week, often with strong support from local crowds (and, unsurprisingly, a heavy dose of country music).

It’s a thoughtful and personal insight into what music really means to Olly—how it shapes identity, connection, and experience over time.

This episode sees me joined by Craig and Rob for a proper, laid-back chat about the music that shaped our childhoods 🎶

We kick things off with our favourite albums and the stories behind why they mean so much, before getting into a bigger conversation about the modern music world—has streaming platforms like Spotify taken the shine (and income) away from artists, and is that fair?

We also dive into the reality of the grassroots “pub circuit” scene, and why so many talented musicians never get a look-in from the big reality TV giants like Pop Idol.

Along the way, we chat about legendary bands like Radiohead and The Beatles, and how their ability to evolve musically has kept them relevant across generations.

It’s honest, nostalgic, opinionated—and genuinely feels like sitting in a pub with your mates putting the world to rights 🍻

J’s arguably favourite 80s album is the classic Songs From The Big Chair by Bath-based Tears for Fears. In this episode, I chat with J about why this album means so much to him — the memories it brings back and the standout tracks that still resonate today.

We also dive into The Seeds of Love and The Hurting — three albums, three different styles, but all equally brilliant in their own right.

J also talks about picking up the drumsticks at a young age, inspired by the drummer from one of his favourite bands, Level 42. That influence led him into playing in amateur bands — and trust me, that’s a story in itself!

I also share my thoughts on their latest album, The Tipping Point, and how good it really is — J hasn’t heard it yet, so I’m looking forward to hearing what he thinks when he does.

We then head to Ibiza — an iconic island, especially known for its 90s chillout music scene. It’s a place that fuels J’s passion for mixing his own music. With J being the writer and producer of his new track called ‘Garlands’ there’s a real sense of anticipation about what he might bring to a wider audience.

Oh, and of course, we talk about his love of being a DJ.

An episode that’s thoughtful, nostalgic, and full of great music chat — definitely one to check out.

This episode features Rob, a barber I previously recorded a podcast with back in November 2025.

We dive into his love of music, exploring his passion, knowledge, and why artists like the Pet Shop Boys and U2 hold such an important place in his life.

Rob is also a huge film fan, so naturally the conversation turns to iconic movie soundtracks. We chat about classics like Pulp Fiction, Grease, and the legendary 90s soundtrack from Trainspotting—just a glimpse of the many topics we covered.

Rob’s infectious enthusiasm for music and his depth of knowledge made this a real joy to record.

This episode sees me having a great chat with the wonderful Alastair — partner of Jill Mitchell, who you may remember from a previous episode.

We dive into Alastair’s musical journey, starting from his childhood, where music was always around him thanks to his parents. His father had fairly conservative tastes, which makes his own evolution in music all the more interesting — from learning piano to eventually picking up the guitar.

Alastair shares his love for what he calls “proper” music, with influences including UFO, Genesis, and, perhaps most passionately, the Canadian rock legends Rush.

We also chat about his time as a DJ back in the day — spinning vinyl on the decks, the way it was meant to be done — and the unique connection that came with that era of music.

Another fascinating part of our conversation touches on tribute and replica lead singers in bands, with Queen being a great example, and how audiences connect with those performances.

This really was an incredible, relaxed conversation. And with Alastair heading to Canada later in 2026 to see Rush live, I’ve already got him pencilled in for a follow-up episode — I can’t wait to hear his review!

This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music features Jason “Jay” Hayward — someone I’d only actually met once before on a mutual friend’s stag do a few years ago.

Being roughly the same age, it turns out we share a lot of the same memories and opinions when it comes to music and growing up.

Jay talks about his love of 80s funk legends Level 42, wishing he’d been just a bit older to experience the early days of The Blitz nightclub scene, and how he and a friend watched Live Aid from start to finish on that scorching day in July 1985.

We also chat about how special it is going to gigs with your children — and Jay’s first concerts: Showaddywaddy and Gary Numan, both within a few years of each other!!

All that and plenty more in this nostalgic trip through music and memories.

This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music is a little different from usual. I’ll be diving into my (rather small!) vinyl collection, picking out some of my absolute favourites and having a short chat about why they mean so much to me.

In this episode, I’m talking about Prince’s Sign ‘O’ The Times. For me, it’s his true masterpiece. Every track has something special about it – the songwriting, the emotion, the variety, the sheer creativity. In my eyes and ears, there isn’t a bad song on this 1987 classic.