The Rider, with Becko

Grinspoon are back on the road and another reminder we are all getting old!!

24 years since the release of the album 'Easy' and 21 years of 'New Detention.' A great reason to re-release the albums, both on vinyl for the first time.

The Easy Detention Tour will also kick off in October playing great venues across the country.

The Grinners are always solid live: a huge show and huge pyro & confetti guns!! Pat talks about what is to come on the tour and how will the set list work when you have two albums in the mix - play them in full or play the best!?

Get the tour dates at grinspoon.com.au

This is The Rider with Becko and Pat Davern from Grinspoon

When you sit opposite someone of the presence of Billy Corgan, you are reminded how important Smashing Pumpkins was to the sound of a generation.

Billy has taken risks over the years, he doesn't doubt it - but he knows this 3-part album Atum, is making an impact with the fans. The riffs are all new - don't believe the hype from fan pages and music publications.

You'll find out some cool twists to this album, and how it almost leaked early.

From 46 songs they were working on mid-Covid, to now - 33 tracks, 3 acts written and produced by Corgan over 4 years.

This is The Rider with Becko, and Billy Corgan

Leo Sayer is the musician who has had it all. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Lennon, Richards, Daltrey and Dylan - you'll hear the Bob story a little later in the podcast.

Number one hits around the world, the fame and the setbacks and even a moment with Elvis that changed his life.

This is an episode that is full of incredible moments, and hey - let's now claim him as an Aussie because we can.

This is The Rider with Becko and Leo Sayer

We've all heard the stories of child-stars falling on tough times, it's not something new. But you very rarely hear the success stories, like Nathan's. A loving family, supportive parents and an amazing wife and kids - and some great stories to tell.

He has made some amazing music over the years, and this new album "Miracles" is special - he built it from the ground up, in front of his fans online.

If you saw his Australian Story on the ABC, you'll also know his private struggles, but also how he pushed through.

This is Nathan Cavaleri, on The Rider with Becko

Jeff Martin is a legendary name in rock and Canadian royalty.

His band, The Tea Party had already released albums and toured extensively before they rose to worldwide fame in the early 90s.

His latest album, '7 Deadly Sins' is out 7 July (7/7/23) and we find out what he did differently this time around and the lessons learned post-covid.

Jeff also opens up why the Tea Party had a break and the reasons for hitting the stage with his 'brothers' again 5 years later.

This is Jeff Martin, on The Rider with Becko

Matt Sorum, legendary drummer and the many of a million rock n roll stories. 

His book "Double Talkin' Jive" came out this year with so many brilliant stories of the touring life and what was it like to be sacked by Axl Rose. He has had so much success, but it didn't come without the dark times and a few bumps along the way. 

Finally, his passion project Kings of Chaos - a band which started off as a jam band with a rotating list of legends involved like Slash, Steven Tyler, Billy Gibbons and Duff McKagan debuted their new single "Judgement Day". It's what you expect from a combination of Slash and Duff with Matt - a driving rocking track and you have to check out the clip on Youtube. 

Matt also tackles what it's like to get back in the studio with Slash and Duff despite some disappointment from the GN'R Hall of Fame induction and then the reunion tour. 

He's the happiest he's ever been, and you'll hear that. 

This is The Rider with Becko, and Matt Sorum. 

We all have a Soundwave memory, seeing Iron Maiden on the main stage or a debut from Parkway Drive - it was a festival we all were proud to say "I was there at the beginning! 

Now, that same DNA carries on with Good Things Festival. It's on this December and we couldn't be more excited with NOFX coming back doing 'Punk in Drublic' and TISM returning for the first time in 19 years. 

Chris O'Brien started off managing The Mavis' and Bodyjar and then started booking punk nights in Melbourne. Then he met AJ Maddah, and things grew from there!

Get ready for some great stories, this is The Rider with Becko and concert promoter Chris O'Brien.

What can you say about legendary producer Mark Opitz, that hasn't been said before? 

Just look at the track record:

Cold Chisel - EAST, AC/DC - Powerage, Angels - Face to Face, INXS Shabooh Shoobah, Jimmy Barnes - For the Working Class Man. 

In this episode, you will get a feel for what takes to succeed in the music industry. Mark is an incredibly hard worker... a perfectionist (although he denies that!). The pressure of being a music producer is you are only as good as your last album. Lucky for Mark, his resume is solid. 

This is one of the great chats, an absolute pleasure to spend an hour with someone who is such a huge part of the pub rock sound we all know today. 

The is Mark Opitz, on The Rider with Becko. 

I was reflecting on how important The Superjesus were to the 'scene' in the 90s and then reinventing themselves with an incredibly polished sound after 2000. Gravity, Down Again, Saturation, then later Enough to know and Secret Agent Man.  

It's so exciting to hear the news they are returning with new music in 2023. 

Sarah during the pandemic made a huge change in her life and moved to Brisbane - a new start right in the middle of lockdowns (and a week in a quarantine hotel!). These days she's balancing her life of rock n roll with acting, starring in 'Jane Eyre' as it tours around the country.

I'm proud to say she's a mate, and always a great chat. 

The is Sarah McLeod, on The Rider with Becko  

I've spoken to Jim Kerr many times over the years, even once while he was sitting by the pool in his hotel in Sicily. (Hotel Villa Angela.. if you want to check it out) But I've never spoken to him while on promo for a new album, and this 18th album "Direction Of The Heart" is bloody impressive. How can a heritage artist stay hungry and still create new music, we'll find out. 

Despite line up changes over the years, the core songwriting partnership continues with Charlie Burchill. They went into 'music lockdown' during Covid to create this new album and then the other members of the band contributed remotely as there were difficulties crossing borders. Make sure you check out 'First you Jump' and the cover of 'The Walls Came Down' by The Call - amazing. 

It's always a pleasure to talk to Jim Kerr and let's keep our fingers crossed for an Aussie tour (after two false starts) for the 40th anniversary. 

This is Jim Kerr, on The Rider with Becko.