The Rider, with Becko

Imagine leaving the band you've spent most of your adult life in, (over 20 years) and then trying to figure out what's next. That's very much how things were when Powderfinger broke up, leaving Ian Haug with the search for 'what's next." 

In 2013, he joined The Church, a band he looked up to in his teenage years and beyond - it's like playing with your idols. 

Hear the story of post-Powderfinger with Ian.

The is The Rider with Becko, and Ian Haug

Awolnation's "Sail" was one of the biggest songs in the world in 2011. So far, the song has achieved 1.5 billion streams and is certified Diamond - that doesn't happen by accident. 

This anonymous (and humble) musician was all of a sudden on every radio station and thrust into the spotlight after achieving a small deal with Red Bull Records. 

His 5th album is now out, a collection of covers all recorded in isolation during Covid - "My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers And Me." This features some high profile vocalists:

Jewel on "Take a Chance on Me"

Beck - "Eye in the Sky"

Branden Boyd & Portugal The Man - "Wind of Change"

Taylor Hanson - "Material Girl"

The question is, did Covid help with access to these vocalists or the opposite?? 

This is Awolnation, on The Rider with Becko

Tim Wheatley comes from a special family. His Dad Glenn and Mother, Gaynor gave him very much a rock & roll upbringing but somehow he stayed grounded. His father, bass player for the Master Apprentices went on to manage Little River Band and took them from filling pubs in Australia to stadiums of America. 

Of course we know his history managing John Farnham (and let's not forget the Telecom ads) and launching EON FM / Triple M. 

There are so many stories Tim has to say, but the first one is how he has coped with the loss of his Dad and turned that sadness into great music. The release of his cover of "Because I Love you" was a beautiful tribute and now EP "Shiny Tacoma" is officially out there. 

2022 has certainly had the highs and the lows for Tim and we will hear all about it and a couple of cool tales from living in Los Angeles too!

This is Tim Wheatley, on The Rider with Becko. 

Lit paved the way for the modern rock scene in the late 90s with "My Own Worst Enemy" getting airplay not just in their home, California but right around the world. 

The rock wave later introduced bands like Good Charlotte, Blink 182, Simple Plan and Sum 41 to the mainstream, pls being part of major sound tracks like American Pie. 

Ajay and Jeremy have made a huge change, moving to Nashville to adapt to the evolving music scene but have stayed true to their sound and what made them famous. 

You'll hear some great stories from the guys including a classic stuff-up at the AVN Awards in front of Gene Simmons and how they managed to get Steven Tyler to sing on one of their tracks. 

This is Ajay and Jeremy from Lit on The Rider with Becko 

Kav Temperley is working on his 2nd solo album, "Machines of Love and Grace" and after hearing the title track - you know he is carrying on from where he left off with Eskimo Joe. The song is a straight-up Eskis track and you'll find out in this interview that it almost was. 

The song was workshopped during covid and as Kav explains, it is heavily influenced by the attachment we all have to our phones and the voyeuristic nature of social media. 

Kav tackles the pressures of writing an album but also the benefits of not having record company pressures and being truly independent. 

We also hear about his new projects with NFTs and how Eskimo Joe was always ahead of the curve with fundraising for a new album (remember when they crowd funded in 2013??) 

Kav's new album includes the talents of John Butler and Katy Steele, so there is a lot to look forward to from the Perth music "mafia". 

This is The Rider with Becko, and Kav Temperley

Simple Plan are back with their 6th album and it couldn't come at a better time. The usual Covid dilemmas pushed back the release to 2022, since bands couldn't tour or promote their new music and as Chuck says, it didn't really feel appropriate to release and celebrate a new release while people were going through such tough times. 

We all grew up with Simple Plan as the sound track for many life experiences and Chuck will explain why that doesn't change as the band enter their 40s.

In this episode of The Rider you'll find out why Simple Plan have always been conservative with their rider expectations and also how they managed to get signed to a major label when they hadn't even done any big concerts - the story is amazing. 

Check out their album, "Hard Than it Looks" - it's out now.

This is Chuck from Simple Plan, on The Rider with Becko 

Tony Mott (not actually his real name - you'll hear what it is later in the podcast) has collected rock stars like 'Trainspotting' (like the book). 

He's had access to the biggest names in music, but it's not all about the photos - it's the stories he's collected along the way. 

In this podcast, you'll hear about:

Queen's last concert at Knebworth (and the afterparty!) 

Mick Jagger being yelled at by his mum during a photo shoot in Sydney.

Why Chrissie Amphlett was the greatest female lead singer he's ever seen.

Which artist brought in the '3 song rule' in rock photography.

Who is the greatest Tony has ever seen, and who was the worst.

This is Tony Mott, on The Rider with Becko 

As Season 2 of The Rider kicks off, it feels right to invite another member of INXS to tell his story - Tim Farriss. 

INXS at their peak were the biggest band in the world, but this didn't happen by accident. It was pure hard work and constant touring. You had the winning formula of a tight band: Jon, Andrew, Tim, Kirk and Garry with lead-singer perfection up front - Michael Hutchence. 

Chris Murphy as Manager was pivotal to the success of the band. Not just back then, but even today with INXS songs regular appearing in the charts. He knew they had skill and talent but above all, the right work ethic. Tim reveals how Chris reached out to him before his death and sadly never got to say goodbye. 

We'll talk about their greatest gig, Wembley 'Summer XS', how he's coping with not being able to play guitar, was there any consultation in the decision to call it quits in Perth in 2012, and how they got the news about the loss of Michael in 1997.

It's one of the most honest chats Tim Farriss has ever had.

This is the Rider with Becko, with Tim Farriss from INXS. 

Series 2 kicks off Monday with Tim Farriss from INXS in one of his most honest interviews ever. 

This is a chance to go back and celebrate the last 23 episodes of Series 1 of The Rider with Becko.

If you use Spotify, you can hear a "with music" version, and get the stories behind the artists.

Remember you can catch-up anytime on any of the interviews on whatever platform you choose and leave a rating if you have time - it all helps!!

Series 1 included chats with:

Andrew Farriss from INXS

Ben Lee

Nic Cester from Jet

Andrew Stockdale from Wolfmother

Dave Gleeson from the Screaming Jets and The Angels

Mark Gable from The Choirboys

Fifa Riccobono from Alberts Music

Tim Rogers from You Am I

Novak from Polish Club

The Legendary Michael Chugg

Rob Hirst & Peter Garrett from Midnight Oil

Gavin Rossdale from Bush

Rick Nielsen & Robin Zander from Cheap Trick

Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots

Todd Kerns from Slash, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators

Brandon Boyd from Incubus

Tim Freedman from The Whitlams

Dave Faulkner from The Hoodoo Gurus

Shane Nicholson

Taylor Hanson

This is a chance to go back and celebrate the last 23 episodes of Series 1 of The Rider with Becko. 

If you use Spotify, you can hear a "with music" version, and get the stories behind the artists.

Remember you can catch-up anytime on any of the interviews on whatever platform you choose and leave a rating if you have time - it all helps!!

Series 1 included chats with:

Andrew Farriss from INXS

Ben Lee

Nic Cester from Jet

Andrew Stockdale from Wolfmother

Dave Gleeson from the Screaming Jets and The Angels 

Mark Gable from The Choirboys

Fifa Riccobono from Alberts Music

Tim Rogers from You Am I

Novak from Polish Club

The Legendary Michael Chugg

Rob Hirst & Peter Garrett from Midnight Oil

Gavin Rossdale from Bush

Rick Nielsen & Robin Zander from Cheap Trick 

Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots

Todd Kerns from Slash, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators

Brandon Boyd from Incubus

Tim Freedman from The Whitlams

Dave Faulkner from The Hoodoo Gurus 

Shane Nicholson

Taylor Hanson