The day Christy died, I decided not to repost this podcast. I went for a podcast based on a celebratory chat we had about music. But things have changed. I am now reposting this podcast because Dave Fanning, an Irish DJ, seems to have suggested on RTE radio that Christy may have been lying about the link between rape at a young age and drug addiction later in life. It would have been better had Fanning remained silent. Here Christy Dignam tells me the truth, a truth I would never contest, about the black hole in his soul. 

I am truly saddened to read about the death of Christy Dignam today, June 13th. I met the guy only a few times, but whenever we did interviews, Christy spoke his truths fearlessly and was mercilessly honest in the hope that by doing so, he might help other people. Too many rock stars I interviewed were full of bullshit or full of themselves. He was neither. I send my deepest condolences to his family, loved ones, friends and fans. 

In 1993, I had a weekly. music slot for The Irish Times and, frankly, there were few musicians who didn't want a three-quarter page spread in that newspaper. Amid the hundreds I interviewed, there were those, such as Joan Baez, who I admired deeply, in her case politically as well as musically, and it was a joy to talk with her. 

A re-post to mark the thirtieth anniversary of this interview I did with Michael D, which was hugely controversial at the time. More recently, in 2016, I tapped into the tapes for an edition of my radio show The Joe Jackson Tapes Revisited. This is it. Higgins unleashed ina way that, as President, he can't be today.  

I fought on the side of Elvis against the Beatles during the 1960s as a child, but who couldn't love the music of the Beatles? It was an absolute joy for me to sit and chat with their producer, George Martin. 

Since I made this podcast, Baz Luhrmann has released his version of Elvis's story, which is mostly lies! Elvis himself  once said, "I never sang a rhythm tune until I went to Sun Records." I'd read that line as a kid but forgot it when I finally got to interview Sam in 1989. Yet, I still believe Elvis set out to be a singer in a gospel quartet or a pop singer. All his early demos were ballads! But here, Sam gets pissed when I suggest all this. Nevertheless, we went on to become friends, and I shall post other podcasts from my hours of taped material with Phillips. 

I am reposting this podcast because people have reminded me that the film, The Ghost of Richard Harris, is screened on almost a weekly basis on Sky Arts in the UK. I did a two-hour interview for the film, of which I am an associate producer, and that is based on my interviews with Harris, but the best parts of this interview were cut from the film, I believe! As Richard Harris so often told me about movies he had made! The full text of all my interviews with Richard is in the 2022 book Richard Harris: Raising Hell and Reaching for Heaven. 

I interviewed Pamela in 1989, and we discussed aspects of her book, and life, that maybe not many male journalists discussed with her. I sure as hell didn't ask her who had the biggest .... and she loved the fact that I didn't care about such trivia! 

I have written two Ebooks about Scott, but I am re-posting this podcast because it seems that many people agree with his assertion that The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore, as recorded by the Walker Brothers, is one of the best pop singles ever made. I bought it as a kid; I never thought I'd get to meet its lead singer and talk with him about it. Join us and enjoy! 

"So, are you Joe Jackson, the singer?" I admit I have been asked that question so often - usually outside my homeland of Ireland, where it's widely known which Joe Jackson I am! - that I may start to say, "Yeah, I am!" 

More seriously, to clarify that I am not Joe Jackson, the singer, and can't even sing, but I love doing interviews; here I am with the other JJ back in 2001.