The Hustle

This week we celebrate our 200th episode with the immortal Marco Pirroni! His partnership with Adam Ant created some of the most unique, catchy and enduring hits of the 80s. Smashes like "Stand and Deliver," "Prince Charming," "Goody Two Shoes," and "Strip" have never been equaled and sound as fresh today as the day they were recorded. These days Marco and Adam aren't on speaking terms, but Marco's kind-hearted, jovial nature makes him a fun conversationalist and he shares stories of their time together. We discuss the creation of some of the hits, his early days with Siouxie and the Banshees, his time working with Sinead O'Connor and everything in between including Bowie, Prince and many others. Sit back, relax and enjoy this sprawling ramble! 

Canadian power pop legends The Kings have just released an excellent new single called "Circle of Friends/Man That I Am" that calls upon perhaps their greatest musical legacy, "This Beat Goes On/Switching to Glide." With help from old compadre, the legendary Bob Ezrin, the band polished off a nugget they've had in the vaults for many years and proven they haven't lost a step. Guitarist Mr. Zero discusses the potential for a new Kings album, the challenges of releasing new music in this day and age, and we try to figure the technical term for songs with / in them. These guys are the best and the track is amazing. It's well worth the 99 cents! No excuses! 

http://thekingsarehere.com/home.php

Phil's journey through the music industry has been one for the ages. At just 21 years old, Phil was brought in to produce The Cure's Pornography album in 1982. That even lead to an 18 month stint as their touring bassist. What it also lead to was a partnership with the late-great producer Alex Sadkin, which had him producing some major albums of the era like Duran Duran's Seven and the Ragged Tiger and the Thompson Twins' Into the Gap (which got him a Grammy nom). We also discuss his work with favorites like Andrew Gold, Robbie Nevil, Prefab Sprout, Bryan Adams (who he also toured with), Johnny Hates Jazz (who he also joined) and even Ricky Gervais! But, what he might be best known for his co-writing the song "Torn" which went on to be one of the biggest singles of the 90s for Natalie Imbruglia. His love of music began when he fell in love with Todd Rundgren and he recently paid tribute to his hero with the release of his second solo album under the name Astral Drive, which is one of the best bursts of sunshine you'll ever hear and borrows heavily from Todd's DIY spirit. Astral Drive is one of the best albums of 2018, you don't want to miss it! Enjoy!

https://www.facebook.com/astraldrive/

In 1986 this sophisticated pop group with the weird name  scored a huge worldwide hit with "Digging Your Scene." Listening to just that song, you probably thought you knew what this band was all about - slick production, loungy horns,  and a fey lead singer. But, when you listened to Animal Magic as a whole you heard blues and country guitar licks covered in bongos, saxophones a plenty, and beautiful ladies singing backup. Over the years, Animal Magic  has become one of my favorite albums of all time and it deserves some appreciation. This is not a sophisti-pop record. This is a pop/rock record with horns. Front man Dr. Robert (episode 20) returns to Deep Dive the Blow Monkey's second album, express his feelings about it now, and give the stories behind the songs. Hopefully, you get turned on the same way I am every time I hear it! 

https://www.theblowmonkeys.com/

In my opinion, no group in the history of pop music went on as drastic a journey as the band Talk Talk. Beginning in the early 80s as an excellent and capable synth-pop group in a similar mold as Human League and Duran Duran, Mark Hollis, Lee Harris and Paul Webb's style changed over the course of five albums into something that stymied critics resolved to calling "post-rock." In the beginning of the 90s, the band called it quits with lead singer Hollis retiring into complete anonymity. In 2002 bassist Paul Webb collaborated with Portishead singer Beth Gibbons for an album under the name Rustin Man called Out of Season and just a couple weeks ago, Rustin Man came through with the follow up (17 years later), Drift Code. In this rare conversation, Paul discusses the making of Drift Code, what the Rustin Man project is, and we get some insights on the music of Talk Talk. Enjoy! 

https://www.rustinman.com/

It seemed fitting to kick off a new series on The Hustle with the man that kicked off the podcast back in May of 2015. Starbuck mastermind Bruce Blackman was our very first guest and still one of the best. His knack for telling stories infused with southern charm is unparalleled. It's what made Starbuck's music so good and what makes his new memoir The Road to Moonlight Feels Right so entertaining.  Bruce has a Faulkner-esque knack for bringing color to his childhood in Mississippi and the many characters that decorate that time. You also get to understand his approach to show business and how he wasn't willing to sell his soul to become a typical rock star. It's a blast of a book and worth a read whether you're a fan of his music or not. But, c'mon, who doesn't love "Moonlight Feels Right"!

Bruce Blackman - The Road to Moonlight Feels Right

If there was ever a time to bring back the chill 90’s, it’s now.  You saw it in the loose fitting clothes, and you definitely heard it in the music. It was just a laid back time. A calm before the storm, if you will. Duncan Sheik’s blockbuster hit personified that era.  With well over a million radio plays, it followed you everywhere; inside your Toyota Camry, on VH1, aisle 7 at Costco and the changing room at Structure.

Perhaps today, as you sang along to it on Nineties On 9, you felt a tinge of sadness for this ultimate one-hit-wonder.  Save your barely breathing breath!  He’s doing just fine.  Nowadays, you’re more likely to find Mr. Sheik where the neon lights are bright than on some legacy tour with Deep Blue Something and Dishwalla. Duncan’s composing for Spring Awakening earned him two Tony Awards and he’s still one of the hottest names on Broadway.

I catch Duncan on a reflective day.  We pour over his entire career and I share a handful of my favorite songs that should have received more acclaim.  Quite a few are of past relationships and Duncan is as open, honest, funny and self-deprecating as any guest I’ve ever had. And did I mention we’re buddies now? 😂

British rock band Embrace may have come out in the wake of Oasis and Blur during the second British Invasion of the late 90s, but they had a sound that separated them greatly from the pack. Rarely has a Brit-pop group concocted grandiose rockers and epic ballads with more heart, inspiration and beauty.

allmusic.com called them the "Orson Welles of rock" which is about right. While they've had a few #1 albums in the UK, their road to success in the States has been rocked with some of the worst luck imaginable.

Bassist Steve Firth and I discuss the ups and downs, the downside of meeting your heroes, and what motivates their amazing sound. We also celebrate the 21st anniversary of their debut album, The Good Will Out (there's a UK tour happening in March) and their latest release, 2017'sLove Is a Basic Need. I often say a band's music can make your life better - never has it been more true than it is with Embrace. They're probably my favorite band of the last 20 years. 

http://www.embrace.co.uk

Despite being a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter in his own right, Don Dixon's legacy as an important figure in American rock was cemented when he co-produced the first two albums by R.E.M. (Murmer and Reckoning) with Mitch Easter. Helping to bring their sound to the world changed everything. He would go on to produce other excellent artists like Guadalcanal Diary, the Smithereens, Marshall Crenshaw and Matthew Sweet, while also forging his own solo path with excellent tunes like "Praying Mantis" and "A Million Angels Sigh." He's still at it today continuously releasing new albums, producing up and coming artists, and collaborating with his wife, the acclaimed singer/songwriter Marti Jones.  In this chat we discuss his long and excellent solo career as well as the stories behind the greats he produced. Enjoy!

In part one of our new series Deep Dive, we've invited back former guest, Matthew Seligman to discuss the recording of Thomas Dolby's underappreciated masterpiece, 1984's The Flat Earth. At a time when listeners were expecting "She Blinded Me With Science Part 2", Dolby delivered a challenging piece of art that still doesn't get enough attention. Matthew played bass on the record and shares his stories and recollections of the era.