Morecambe-based poet and author Chris Gregory talks about his latest book that celebrates one of the most influential musicians of all time.....Bob Dylan...

As Dylan turns 80, we chat with Chris about the last few decades of the songwriting re-invention of his music which has been put into a new book Determined To Stand (The Re-Invention Of Bob Dylan).

Series 2: Episode: 27

For more information on Chris Gregory, go to his official website HERE

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LESLEY-ANN JONES on Who Killed John Lennon?

ROAG BEST TALKS EARLY BEATLES

⁠SUZAN HOLDER⁠ on Shake It Up Beverley

Beach Boy co-founder Al Jardine takes time out in the run-up to the planned re-release of his acclaimed 2010 album A Postcard from California to chat about lockdown life in Big Sur...

With the East Coast version of Waves Of Love 2.0 released and getting plenty of airplay around the World, Al talks about future plans afoot approaching the 60th anniversary of the Beach Boys, bringing Bach back to Germany, working with his sons, and rescuing a cow he named Jenny from being slaughtered. The latter of which he wrote and dedicated a love song to! 

It seems Surfs Up again for Al to ride those airwaves in our latest podcast. 

Series 2: Episode: 26

For more information on Al Jardine, go to his official website HERE

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WHO KILLED JOHN LENNON?

ROAG BEST TALKS EARLY BEATLES

MARK WYNTER Pt.1

DION

MARTY WILDE

CRAIG DOUGLAS

Guitarist, singer and songwriter Joey Molland, founder member of Badfinger who were one time touted as the next Beatles...

The story of Badfinger is one of rock’s saddest and most tragic tales. But one thing is for certain: the group that practically invented “power pop” was abundantly filled with talent. To have three great songwriters in one band was reminiscent of the group’s original label founders, the Beatles. Badfinger’s singles are still regarded as pop gems some 50 years later: “Come and Get It,” “No Matter What,” “Day After Day,” and “Baby Blue.”

Perhaps the most unheralded of the three in Badfinger was Liverpudlian guitarist Joey Molland. His songwriting talent started to blossom with the group’s finest album, 1971’s Straight Up. Molland contributed five songs to the group’s fourth platter including “I’d Die Babe,” “Sweet Tuesday Morning” and “Suitcase.” Joey continued to play and write as Badfinger motored through the ’70s recording and touring. But great albums like 1974’s Wish You Were Here were met with the record company and personal mismanagement. And in 1975, the group’s leader, Pete Ham, tragically passed away.

Molland eventually left the group, returned, and left again to launch his own solo career. He’s played in various groups and under the name Joey Molland’s Badfinger since 1983. His several solo albums won critical acclaim but nothing could have prepared us for his latest album.

In this podcast, Joy talks about his life and career, plus working with the likes of Julian Lennon and ex-Monkees Micky Dolenz on his latest album - Be True to Yourself.

Series 2 Episode 25

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LES McKEOWN (Bay City Rollers)

AL STEWART

NICKY STEVENS (Brotherhood of Man)

GORDON GILTRAP

DEAN FRIEDMAN

TONY CHRISTIE

JOHN OTWAY

GILBERT O'SULLIVAN

ROD CLEMENTS (LINDISFARNE)

LEO SAYER

Now with the 35th anniversary of My Favourite Waste Of Time, Scotland's Owen Paul's new forthcoming album is already creating a stir over the airwaves...

At 15 years of age, from the basement of his house came the sound of a single which was going to greatly influence him for the rest of his life. Little did he know that one of the musicians on that song would play on one of his. We chat about his early days when he was scouted and signed to one of the great British football clubs which he turned down to pursue his love in the music business. A chance hearing of one of Bette Midler's songs and a memorable appearance on BBC's Pebble Mill that would change his destiny forever.

We also talk about producing an album for the popular Japanese 80's band Buck-Tick, his chance meeting with Boy George to hire his venue to stage Taboo and being invited to work and tour with Mike Rutherford and Mike & The Mechanics. Now with new material for his new 2021 album Overblown Superstar and a country remake of his big hit My Favourite Waste Of Time, he's back in the charts once more.

Series:2 Episode: 24

For more information about Owen Paul, visit his website at www.theowenpaul.com

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TONY HADLEY

CHERYL BAKER

LIMAHL

SHAKIN' STEVENS

EDDY GRANT

PAUL YOUNG

MARK SHAW (THEN JERICO)

As one-half of Yell, actor and singer Daniel James knows a thing or so about working a crowd. He started out as a cheerleader on Top of the Pops!

With a failed attempt to represent the UK in the Eurovision, he came to the attention of Simon Cowell who paired him up with Paul Varney under the name of Yell! Despite having initial success worldwide, the duo split up and went their separate ways which resulted in Daniel going back to his career as an actor. With varied roles on TV and film, his cameo appearance in Eastenders just before the lockdown was short-lived. 

In our podcast, he tells of how pounding the streets of London gave him the inspiration to start writing songs again after becoming disillusioned with the breakup of his band. The result is his new single 'Set Your Spirit Free' which has unsurprisingly received a lot of airplay with it's uplifting lyrics and melody. 

Series 2: Episode:23

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THE FAR NORTH

DANIELLE MORGAN

Over the past forty years, Gordon Giltrap MBE has graced the music business with his dedication to his craft and his affection for his audience. As one of the UK's most respected guitarists, he has consistently proved the adage that respect cannot be bought, it must be earned. Now with yet another new album coming out, this 73-year-old shows no sign of slowing down his creative juices...

Over the years, Giltrap has worked with an amazingly broad range of artists, from rock musicians such as Brian May, Rick Wakeman and Midge Ure to the jazz virtuoso Martin Taylor, classical guitarist Raymond Burley and the London Symphony Orchestra. In 1996, Gordon realised a dream of playing guitar alongside Cliff Richard, on stage in Cliff's West End musical Heathcliff. 

In this podcast, we talk with Gordon about what in his wife's words is "maintaining the standard". Through his early life, family tragedy and health scares that made him revalue his career, now Gordon is back with his latest musical masterpiece.

Series 2: Episode:22

For more information about Gordon Giltrap, visit his website at www.giltrap.co.uk

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LES McKEOWN (Bay City Rollers)

AL STEWART

NICKY STEVENS (Brotherhood of Man)

DEAN FRIEDMAN

JOEY MOLLAND (BADFINGER)

TONY CHRISTIE

JOHN OTWAY

GILBERT O'SULLIVAN

ROD CLEMENTS (LINDISFARNE)

LEO SAYER

One of life's true survivors, Hazel O'Connor has come a long way since feeling like a square peg in a round hole...

In this podcast recorded from her French retreat, Hazel looks back on her troubled years growing up which resulted in her rebelling against the system. Escaping to Amsterdam, Paris, Japan and Beirut before returning to England, she recalls that memorable Buzzcocks gig that set her on her musical path. She intimately chats about her big break starring alongside Jim Broadbent, Phil Daniels and Jonathan Pryce in Breaking Glass through to her admiration for David Bowie. She also reveals some great anecdotes, her dream of singing with Ed Sheeran and appearing on Strictly if she was ever asked.

Whether it's performing with her band members Sarah Fisher and Claire Hirst in her Breaking Glass - 40 years on - Hallelujah! tour or being reunited with Toyah for their long-awaited Electric Ladies of the 80's tour, she is back doing what she loves best. 

(Series 2: Episode 21)

For more information on tour dates, go to her website HERE

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TONY HADLEY

CHERYL BAKER

LIMAHL

SHAKIN' STEVENS

EDDY GRANT

OWEN PAUL

PAUL YOUNG

MARK SHAW (THEN JERICO)

In the week that The Wanderer, a musical based on Dion’s life world premiers at the Tony Award-winning Paper Mill Playhouse on April 8th, 2021 and tells a story of transformation end personal redemption. we catch up with the man himself to talk about his latest album Blues With Friends and career to date...

Emerging from the Bronx in the fifties, Dion di Mucci talks candidly about how the death of his friend Frankie Lymon in 1968 turned his life around. Now 52 years later, Dion has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music business to pay homage to his love of Blues. Artists like Jeff Beck, Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Joe Bonamassa, Samantha Fish, Stevie van Zandt, Brian Setzer - the list goes on. 

Dion also talks about as he calls it the 'British Infusion', when music from the early blues artists like Muddy Waters in America catapaulted these artists to Worldwide recognition. He also talks about his admiration for Sam Cooke which resulted in him writing Abraham, Martin and John.

Whether you are a lover of rock and roll, doo-wop or blues - then this podcast with one of the true original pioneers in music is a must!

SERIES 2 - EPISODE 18

Blues With Friends is out now. For more information, go to his website HERE

About Keeping The Blues Alive Records: The label is an offshoot of Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation, Joe Bonamassa’s non-profit that aims to conserve the art of music and the rich culture and history of the blues, recognized as a true American art form. Bonamassa along with his long-time manager, Roy Weisman, have taken the next step by creating a new record label, Keeping The Blues Alive (KTBA) Records. The label’s objective is to provide a platform for musical talent in blues and blues-rock-based music and helping promote the careers of extraordinary musical talent. The label works synergistically with the non-profit’s mission of supporting musicians to continue the legacy of the blues. 10% of all profits from KTBA Records will be donated to the non-profit. The label is an important step in the co-evolution of the music and the business of making it. It represents another of Bonamassa’s continuing efforts over the last 25 years in support the artistic community. It reflects the philosophy of paying it forward just as so many did for Joe in the hope of paving the way for blues-rock stars in the future. www.KTBArecords.com

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MARTY WILDE

AL JARDINE (BEACH BOYS)

MARK WYNTER Pt.1

ANITA HARRIS

CRAIG DOUGLAS

In this podcast, we chat with Lee Wylding about his latest creation with Andie Packer called The Far North...

Following on from the success of their debut single This House Is Ours and second single ‘Runaway’ from their debut album ‘Songs For Gentle Souls’, the UK-based Americana duo The Far North will release their third single 'Branches' out on March 26th, 2021.

Formed in 2019 and evolving from the ashes of The Fireflys, whose grungey Americana won them many friends in the UK, solidified by a run of acclaimed albums. Following the band’s dissolution, and having spent some time in Canada and been influenced by acts such as City And Colour, Lee was keen to head in a more pared-down, acoustic direction, and began working with noted UK producer Nigel Stonier (famed for his work with such luminaries as Joan Baez, Lindisfarne, Robert Plant and Martha Wainwright). the result was Songs For Gentle Souls which has been going down a storm both sides of the Atlantic.

For all lovers of Americana, folk, and alternative country coming out of the UK in 2021, The Far North are leading the way.

For more information about the band, go to their social media page HERE

Series 2 Episode 19

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DANIELLE MORGAN

DANIEL JAMES

Eddy Grant has seen and done it all...from breaking new ground with his 60's multi-racial band The Equals to nurturing his love for Guyana and Caribbean music, including soca to ringbang.

In our first podcast of two, Eddy goes back to his roots when his band broke into the pop charts with Baby Come Back and talks intimately about those scary health traumas in his life which resulted in him having to quit the band. After the seven years of bad luck he broke the mould by becoming the first black musician to own his own studios. He also chats about his love and respect for his recently departed friends Toots Hibbert and Bunny Lee.

With his latest album Plaisance riding high in many charts, Eddy talks about what the singer-songwriter Carole King meant to him growing up as a kid in Guyana which resulted in writing Is Carole King Here, now released in its own right as a single.  .

Series 2 - Episode 17 (part 1 of a 2 part podcast)

For more information about Eddy Grant, visit his website HERE

Want to listen to more 80's podcasts?

TONY HADLEY

CHERYL BAKER

LIMAHL

SHAKIN' STEVENS

HAZEL O'CONNOR

OWEN PAUL

PAUL YOUNG

MARK SHAW (THEN JERICO)