The Rider, with Becko

We all know the success that Hanson had in 1997, from "MMMBop" to "Where's The Love" and the mania that followed. 

Hanson are celebrating 30 years of music with "Red Green Blue" - coming out May 20. This time around, it's each band member working separately, rather than a collaborative effort, to write and record. 

We'll hear all the stories of how this came together during covid and the usual dilemmas of releasing music when you can't tour. 

Hanson are a machine, they survived record company takeovers, having 80 songs rejected and then deciding to launch their own record company - which was a genius move. Also since the podcast is called "The Rider" - you'll hear what Hanson have in their green room and what the usual demands are. 

This is Taylor Hanson, on The Rider with Becko 

Shane Nicholson really is the quiet achiever of the Aussie music industry. 

Nicholson's story begins with Brisbane band Pretty Violet Stain in the late 90s and then a magnificent solo career. 

After winning 3 ARIAs, 11 Golden Guitars (with 5 more nominations this year), it's clear he's one of the great Aussie song writers. His next album, "Living in Colour" is out now and as you check out the tracks from 'And You Will Have Your Way' and 'Helena' you see how the story has continued from the last album. It's clearly the next chapter, just 2.5 years later. 

He's got a lot of stories from a career on the road and being known as "Kasey Chambers' Ex" - he'll tell you a funny tale about that in the podcast. 

This is The Rider with Becko, and Shane Nicholson

The Hoodoo Gurus are one of Australia's favourites coming out of the pub scene. It was such a fertile era, bands like Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, Mental As Anything and The Angels ruled the 'sticky floors' of Australia. 

In their 40th (well.. 41st) year, the Gurus have released their new album "Chariot of the Gods" coming with some wicked tracks - their farewell to Donald Trump "Hung Out to Dry" was one of the most notable. 

I got to visit them in the studio while recording in Surry Hills and in the podcast you'll hear about some of the history of that studio. Also the limitations, when recording during covid. 

Dave opens up on the music that influenced him, when growing up and what is on the Gurus' Rider after all these years. 

Their tour may be postponed at this stage, but we can't wait to see the Hoodoo Gurus back on the road with the Dandy Warhols celebrating 40 years.

This is Dave Faulkner, on The Rider with Becko

The Whitlams waited 15 years to release "Sancho" but it felt like the right time. The 7th record is out and the "Gaffage & Clink" tour continues - you'll find out what that is, a little later in the podcast!

Tim Freedman was ready to start on a new project when The Whitlams' long time tour manager, Greg Weaver tragically passed away. This gave Tim more inspiration and a chance to salute "Sancho" in this new album. 

The Rider gets plenty of great stories from Tim as he navigates through touring life and even being a father. "Eternal Nightcap" fans will also get some positive news on what is to come!

This is The Rider with Becko and Tim Freedman, from The Whitlams  

Brandon Boyd is nothing less than a musical genius, so to sit down and chat to him about the stories behind his latest album is a real privilege. 

The lead man of Incubus, Brandon Boyd has come back with his new album "Echoes and Cocoons". This comes after new Incubus releases in 2019/2020 with "Trust Fall" Side B: "Into The Summer" and "Our Love" which was a gift to Incubus fans in the middle of lockdown. 

Yes, that Covid lockdown... it sucked, but it lit the flame of many song writers, including Brandon. But it wasn't isolation that sparked this creativity, it was a newly moved-in girlfriend with a passion for music that got John Congleton (Sigur Ros, Lana Del Ray) on Brandon's radar. In fact, they started writing new music in isolation without having met! 

This is an honest and warm chat, direct from his home. 

This is Brandon Boyd, on The Rider with Becko 

Slash has released his 4th album with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators and this one didn't come easy. 

Post-Covid, recording comes with its risks. They jumped in a tour bus and travelled across the country to Nashville, to record in the historic RCA Studios - famous for Elvis and the Everly Brothers. 

The band wanted to get in the right head-space to record an album "as LIVE" and the tour bus trip was the perfect opportunity, especially after the isolation of Covid lockdowns to get to know each other again. What they didn't know, is that Myles Kennedy at the time had Covid and was about to sit out a week after a positive test. Then Todd and Brent Fitz caught it, and the album stalled. 

Despite the set-backs, the latest album 4 comes with a killer sound. "The River is Rising" and "Call off The Dogs" are clear highlights.

Becko chats with Todd about life before working with Slash and how the audition went to get the gig - imagine growing up with 'Appetite' and 'Use Your Illusion' and then getting to work with Slash! Todd also opens up about his chats with GN'R legend Duff McKagan.

This is The Rider with Becko, and Todd Kerns from Slash, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators 

We are so excited to have international bands back on tour with Under The Southern Stars kicking off last week. The band, Cheap Trick weren't an overnight success. They relentlessly toured warehouse parties and taverns until they were signed to a major label - funnily enough, discovered playing at a bowling alley! The first 2 albums weren't a huge success either, but after a 'Beatlemania like' trip to Japan and the release of 'Live at Budokan' it all just happened! That lead to 'Surrender' and 'Dream Police' and worldwide attention.

As part of Under the Southern Stars, they are coming back to Australia and a lot has changed! UTSS was revolutionary, trying to bring international bands to Australia while we were cut off from the world during covid. The solution was, they all stay at a resort together for two weeks in quarantine. It would have been wild! Luckily it hasn't come to that, and it's on until March 27 in Brisbane.

(Make sure you catch up on the chat with Gavin Rossdale from Bush and Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots)

This is Robin Zander from Cheap Trick, on The Rider with Becko

and.... bonus, Rusty from Electric Mary

Stone Temple Pilots are one of the great bands to come out of the 90s. Out of San Diego, the original lineup was Scott Weiland, Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo and of course Eric Kretz on drums. Their insane debut album Core blew us all away in '92 and somehow this band found their place while the market was crowded with other bands at the time, like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden and Porno for Pyros. The album Purple came soon after in '94 and that confirmed they were onto something special. One thing they couldn't control was their relationship with Scott, who joined Velvet Revolver after the band took a break / broke up in 2002. They eventually reconciled and recorded more music only to have him sacked in 2013 and then the gifted lead singer passed away in 2015. 

They are back to prove they can carry on with a brand new lead singer, Jeff Gutt and recently released a new acoustic album. 

As part of Under the Southern Stars, they are coming back to Australia. UTSS was revolutionary, trying to bring international bands to Australia while we were cut off from the world during covid. The solution was, they all stay at a resort together for two weeks in quarantine. It would have been wild! Luckily it hasn't come to that, and it all kicks off March 11 - 27.

Still to come next week, the iconic Robin Zander, the lead singer of Cheap Trick. (and make sure you catch up on the chat with Gavin Rossdale from Bush and Rick Neilsen)

This is Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots, on The Rider with Becko

I may have used the word legendary a few too many times in this podcast to describe Rick Nielsen. The band, Cheap Trick weren't an overnight success. They relentlessly toured warehouse parties and taverns until they were signed to a major label - funnily enough, discovered playing at a bowling alley! The first 2 albums weren't a huge success either, but after a 'Beatlemania like' trip to Japan and the release of 'Live at Budokan' it all just happened! That lead to 'Surrender' and 'Dream Police' and worldwide attention. 

As part of Under the Southern Stars, they are coming back to Australia and a lot has changed! UTSS was revolutionary, trying to bring international bands to Australia while we were cut off from the world during covid. The solution was, they all stay at a resort together for two weeks in quarantine. It would have been wild! Luckily it hasn't come to that, and it all kicks off March 11 - 27.

Still to come we chat to Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots and Robin Zander, the lead singer of Cheap Trick. (and make sure you catch up on the chat with Gavin Rossdale from Bush)

This is Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick, on The Rider with Becko

Bush formed in London, in 1992 - right in the middle of a cultural change in music. The band were hard to define initially, it wasn't grunge. it wasn't classic rock - but my god, they had a polished sound. He could have easily not been a lead singer in a rock band, and you'll hear why in the podcast. 

As part of Under the Southern Stars, they are coming back to Australia for the first time in about 6 years, and a lot has changed! UTSS was revolutionary, trying to bring international bands to Australia while we were cut off from the world during covid. The solution was, they all stay at a resort together for two weeks in quarantine. It would have been wild! Luckily it hasn't come to that, and it all kicks off March 11 - 27. 

Still to come we chat to Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick and Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots next week. 

This is Gavin Rossdale from Bush, on The Rider with Becko