The Tapes Archive

This 1974 Ozzy Osbourne interview has never been heard until now. It's the earliest known long-form audio interview with the Prince of Darkness. It’s also the only audio interview with Ozzy relating to Black Sabbath’s Sabbath Bloody Sabbath album.  It is recommended this interview be watched on YouTube so you can see the captions. Ozzy is hard to understand at times.  https://youtu.be/-yRVDfrjs54...

Last week, we released an interview with David Lee Roth from 1984. This week, we are releasing another Roth interview, but 35 years later. We go from the height of Roth’s Van Halen career to his twilight years. I believe this interview is one of the most honest and humble interviews he’s ever given; he speaks very candidly on many topics.  At the time of this interview in 2019, Roth was 65 years o...

A never-published interview with Van Halen's Diamond David Lee Roth. At the time of this interview in December 1984, Roth was 31 years old, and only months away from no longer being in Van Halen. In the interview, Roth talks about the future of Van Halen, his need for attention, whether he’s a bad role model, and what he wants on his tombstone. And in a Tapes Archive exclusive, Mr. Roth busts into...

A never-published interview with the Red Rocker Sammy Hagar. At the time of this interview in 1997, Hagar was 50 years old, freshly out of Van Halen, and promoting his new album Marching to Mars and his upcoming tour. In the interview, Hagar talks in detail about how he saw the break-up between him and Van Halen, his dislike for manager Ray Daniels, and his new musician best buddy Mickey Hart. 00:...

A never-published interview with Alex Van Halen. At the time of this interview in 1995, Alex was 42 years old and was promoting an upcoming Van Halen concert in British Columbia, Canada. In the interview, Alex talks about growing up and playing with his brother Eddie Van Halen, "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" producer Bruce Fairbairn, and the best thing about being in Van Halen. The interview is c...

In this episode, we have Eddie Van Halen and Michael Anthony. At the time of this interview in 1989, Van Halen was in Japan promoting their OU812 tour and record.. In the interview, Van Halen talks about how Eddie wants to be remembered when he dies, David Lee Roth and Ted Templeman, their album OU812, why Eddie is still not 100% sober, and so much more.  We have also added a bonus interview with...

In this episode, we have the one and only Diamond David Lee Roth. At the time of this interview in 1988, Roth was 34 years old and was promoting his Skyscraper tour and record.. In the interview, Roth talks about Diamond Enterprises, if he thinks Ed and Al are sober, and what’s wrong with Van Halen, and he critiques Axl Rose, Ozzy, and Bon Jovi.  The interview is conducted by Steve Harris. To lear...

In this episode, we have one of the greatest heavy metal vocalists of all time, Ronnie James Dio. At the time of the interview in 1985, Dio was 43 years old and was promoting his Sacred Heart album and tour.  In the interview, Dio talks about filling Ozzy Osbourne’s shoes in Black Sabbath, a mystical experience that almost killed his wife, his thoughts on Ritchie Blackmore’s playing, and his metal...

In this episode, we have Black Sabbath’s guitarist and the godfather of heavy metal, Tony Iommi. At the time of the interview in 1984, Iommi was 36 years old and was promoting Black Sabbath’s Born Again album and tour. In the interview, Iommi talks about Ian Gillian joining Black Sabbath and blowing up his boat, thoughts on Ozzy Osbourne remaking old Sabbath tunes, the Born Again live show, Randy...

In this never before-heard 2016 interview, Vai talks with author Greg Renoff about the landmark David Lee Roth album Eat ‘Em and Smile. At the time, it was the 30th anniversary of the iconic album. In the interview, Vai talks about the song he thought he wrote but didn’t, the jock that wasn’t happy with Vai, the rumored Kim Mitchell song, and the infamous Lucky Strike reunion show that didn't happ...

PLEASE WATCH ON YOUTUBE. https://youtu.be/ui_kEJ7C3O0 The documentary has hundreds of Vai-centric facts and stories that even the most ardent fan will not have known. Complete with a Vai’esque quirky sense of humor, the video covers Vai’s life growing up, attending Berklee College, playing with several artists like Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, the David Lee Roth band, and Whitesnake, the recording of b...

PLEASE WATCH ON YOUTUBE. You can watch the video version here. https://youtu.be/A6GTf6rOepQ We take a look at Black Sabbath's masterful third album Master of Reality. For more information including other credits, articles, and images, please go here. https://bit.ly/385aj2L Timestamps: 00:00 - Start 00:43 - Intro 01:19 - Evil Woman and Paranoid 02:29 - Changing Management 03:07 - Jim Simpson is fir...

PLEASE WATCH ON YOUTUBE. https://youtu.be/CH8c4TKrIOo Sabotage is the sixth studio album by metal pioneers Black Sabbath, released in 1975. It was recorded in the midst of litigation with their former manager Patrick Meehan. The stress that resulted from the band’s ongoing legal woes infiltrated the recording process, inspiring the album’s title. This documentary looks at all the drama surrounding...

In this episode, we have the Ramones’ frontman, Joey Ramone. At the time of this interview in 1988, Ramone was 37 years old and was in Japan for a tour. In the interview, Ramone talks about whether he considers The Ramones a punk band, the most exciting time in music history, how most bands lack originality, and whether rock and roll have paid him back for all of The Ramones' contributions.  The i...

A never-before-published and first known interview with Boston's original singer Brad Delp. At the time of this interview in 1978, Delp was 27 years old and was in the midst of recording Boston’s second record. Two years earlier, Boston released what would become the best-selling debut album of all time until Guns ‘N Roses’ first album. Full transcript The Tapes Archive In the interview, Delp talk...

A never-before-published interview with Adrian Belew from 1981. Full transcript The Tapes Archive In this episode, we have a multi-instrumentalist and the secret weapon for so many bands, Adrian Belew. At the time of this interview in 1981, Belew was 31 years old and was promoting King Crimson’s album Discipline. In the interview, Belew talks about various aspects of playing with the Talking Heads...

In this episode, we have a founding member of The Who, Pete Townshend. At the time of this interview in 1996, Townshend was 51 years old and was promoting his greatest hits record. In the interview, Townshend talks about his plan to no longer make records, the remixing process of Quadrophenia, what’s now important to him, and finding a Jimi Hendrix master in his warehouse.  The interview is conduc...

A never-before-published interview with Roger Daltrey from 1994. In the interview, Daltrey talks about: Whether he has gotten his due from his solo albums Which album was a writing breakthrough for him Why he thinks fans have a hard time accepting him outside of The Who What’s great about The Who’s music Why The Who isn’t touring How hard it is singing Who songs How anger changes in middle age If...

In this episode, we have Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose. At the time of this interview in 1987, Rose was 25 years old and was promoting an upcoming tour of Japan. Appetite for Destruction hadn’t even cracked the top-selling 50 albums, and it would be at least another seven months before the band really took off. In the interview, Rose talks about growing up in Indiana, the making of Appetite for...

Today we are releasing two interviews -- one with Axl Rose and one with the man who interviewed him, Steve Harris.  Steve grew up in San Francisco but went to Japan as a college exchange student and loved it there. He felt like it was the place for him. After graduating in 1980, he started to work as a freelance translator in Tokyo. Through one of his college buddies, he got connected to a music m...

A never-before-published interview with guitarist Warren Haynes from 1992. In the interview, Haynes talks about: Moving out of Duane Allman's shadow How it feels to play Duane's licks Whether Duane was an influence His connection to Memphis and Motown Going to see concerts when he was a kid The musical differences between him and Duane His love for fusion rock and what it did for his playing The d...

A never-before-published interview with guitarist Paul Barrere from 1992. In this episode, we have Little Feat guitarist Paul Barrere. At the time of this interview in 1992, Barrere was 44 years old and was promoting Little Feat’s upcoming concert at Deer Creek Music Center. In the interview, Barrere talks about his fond memories of Little Feat founder Lowell George, how well the band is playing,...

A never-before-published interview with Dimebag Darrell from 1992. In this episode, we have metal guitar legend Darrell Abbott, also known as Dimebag Darrell. At the time of this interview in 1992, Dimebag was 25 years old and was out on tour in support of Pantera’s album “Vulgar Display of Power.” In the interview, Dimebag talks about his guitar trick that he wants everyone to learn; how Randy Rh...

A never before published interview with Sammy Hagar from 1991. In this episode, we have the Red Rocker himself, Sammy Hagar. At the time of this interview in 1991, Hagar was 44 years old and was promoting Van Halen’s upcoming concert at Deer Creek Music Center. In the interview, Hagar talks about his experience with UFOs, the secret to Van Halen, his father’s death, and his advice for Axl Rose. In...

A never before published interview with Flea from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers in 1996 In the interview, Flea talks about: If it’s strange to think of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers as an arena band If this is the band’s best lineup Was it a goal for the band to become this big What made him pick up the bass What other instruments he plays The meaning behind the song Pea Whether he is different offstage...