Famous Lost Words

The Doobie Brothers went through massive changes during their first commercial peak in the mid ‘70s. This week, we’ll feature both eras of the Doobies – the Tom Johnston era and the Michael McDonald years. They talk about the origin of the band’s name, the stories behind their biggest hits and the health issues that led to McDonald joining the group. All told, these intervi...

      In 1978, Steven Tyler and Aerosmith made the mistake of starring in the movie flop “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. It was beginning of a downturn for the band’s fortunes. This week’s interview comes from that time period – as they gamely try to hype the film and talk about the band’s past success. Tyler even explains why they d...

In our Season 7 debut, we feature a fantastic 1989 interview with The Rolling Stones. Burying the hatchet after the turmoil of the mid ‘80s, Mick and Keith are positively giddy as they talk about the “Steel Wheels” album and tour.  Keith says he knew they were going to be okay when they spent 5 minutes in a room together and didn’t want to kill each other. We also pay...

Our Season 6 finale is a celebration of Canadian music as we speak to some of Canada’s greatest performers about their cities and experiences.  -        Randy Bachman on the Winnipeg concert that changed his life.  -        Blue Rodeo on how a trip to New York made them better musicians and prepared them to conquer the Toronto scene and the C...

Our first all-‘90s episode reflects the wildly divergent music of that decade: The Goo Goo Dolls talk about their unexpected success Posh Spice explains Girl Power amid the early days of Spice-mania Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty recalls the stories behind their biggest hits Amanda Marshall gets a huge boost from Elton John Jewel goes from living in a van to wearing a $14,000 dress to the Gra...

This week: an incredible 2004 Janet Jackson interview, recorded just weeks after her infamous Super Bowl appearance. Janet is reticent at first, but then she relaxes and talks about everything from her childhood, her love of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder (who were family friends), her personal life, her live performances and yes, the Super Bowl. A great chat.  We also have an early ‘80s...

Who do you prefer – The Beatles or Stones?  Tom catches Christopher off-guard with a new game as he puts Christopher on the spot!  We learn that he loves Joni (we knew that) but Journey?… not so much.             We’ll also continue with our epic tribute to songwriting!  Elton John talks about writing with Ber...

This week – an epic episode (epic-sode?) on great songwriters! Paul McCartney talks about working with John Lennon. John Mellencamp explains why he doesn’t get fancy with his lyrics. Joni Mitchell reveals the funny reason she first took up the guitar. Gordon Lightfoot breaks down the craft of creating songs. Carly Simon talks about how being in motion helps her be creative. And Neil Yo...

In one of the best interviews from our archives, we have a chat with Peter Gabriel from 1986, as he talks about “So”, which is about to become the biggest album of his career. Peter also talks about his work with Amnesty International and how he feels about “charity fatigue”. Gabriel also fights back at the notion that he has sold out just because “So” is a succ...

We start this week’s show with Supertramp. And the more you listen, the more you can hear the rift between Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies. Then, during our extensive Peter Cetera chat, the old wounds between him and the rest of the guys in Chicago are laid bare.   Are you sensing a theme here?             For the rest of the epi...

What happens when the world’s most famous musician is forced to stay at home during lockdown? Why, he records an album, of course!  In a new interview, Paul McCartney tells us what he’s done during “rockdown” – including the creation of “McCartney III”. He also explains how working with his daughter Mary is very much like working with his late wife Li...

In part 2 of our Motown tribute, Stevie Wonder talks about his very first hit and how his music reflects who he is.  Michael Jackson explains how the Jackson 5 were discovered. Lionel Richie talks about attending “Motown University”. Legendary songwriter Lamont Dozier shares the very funny story behind “Stop! In The Name Of Love”. Martha Reeves tells us how her first b...

            This week, a spectacular tribute to Motown. We begin with the legendary Smokey Robinson talking about his start with the label, his biggest hits, writing for others and his favourite Motown performer. Smokey also talks about Diana Ross, The Temptations and other Motown legends. In the most powerful interview clip, Smokey reveals th...

       We’ve got an excess of INXS this week! First up is a 1982 chat with Michael Hutchence from the band’s early days, talking about honing their sound in Australia, plus his partnership with Andrew Farriss. Then, we have a new interview with Andrew himself, who looks back at those heady days in the ‘80s and ‘90s when INXS toured the world and ruled th...

   Famous Lost Words is back! In our Season 6 premiere, it’s a tribute to Eddie Van Halen, in which we discuss Eddie’s career and play ‘80s-era interview clips of his bandmates.  And Tom talks about his very embarrassing real-life encounter with Eddie and Valerie Bertinelli. Plus, we have a classic interview with the legendary Roy Orbison, who talked about his unli...

On this special episode of Famous Lost Words, we honour John Lennon on the 40th anniversary of his death. We dig deep into the archives for a career-spanning collection of incredible interview clips with Lennon – from the early days of the Beatles through his solo years. The centrepiece of this episode is an exclusive 1974 chat with John. Plus we’ll talk to the legendary Canadian broad...

We wrap up Season 5 with some of our favourite moments from our previous 79 episodes! Stevie Nicks talks about her “coke & brandy days” George Michael on why his very public “outing” might have been the best thing to happen to him George Harrison takes a swipe at Paul McCartney that leaves Christopher shocked Tom gets personal with Alanis Morissette Pink talks about wha...

Having a hit record is hard enough – try doing it twice!  Today’s special episode is filled with the stories behind the songs you know so well… from the artists that you don’t.  How did the real-life “Sharona” and “Jenny” feel about the songs written for them?  (Spoiler – one of them loved it. The other? Not so much.) Also - Wha...

The Beach Boys were a weird combination of genius and fun. This week, we feature Mike Love and Dennis Wilson from the mid ‘70s. Mike talks about his cousin Brian Wilson and Dennis discusses the importance of recreating the Beach Boys’ distinct sound onstage during their tours. We also have a late ‘60s interview with the great Eric Clapton, talking the dissolution of Cream and the...

     If there is one thing that Christopher can’t understand, it’s Tom’s love for KISS.  That argument is front and centre in this episode, which features clips from Gene Simmons from the ‘70s and Paul Stanley from 1999. Gene talks about everything from the importance of their live shows, to whether the makeup will ever come off (Gene says no – fou...

          When Marilyn Denis interviewed Stevie Nicks in 2001, it led to a deep friendship between the two.  During that chat, Stevie talked about Fleetwood Mac, her “coke & brandy days”, her Klonopin addiction, her friendship with Tom Petty and the best song she’s ever written.         ...

Steve Perry was none too pleased with his bandmates from Journey at the time of this 1994 interview. Tom asks Steve to describe the drama behind the scenes and Steve does, in painful detail.  Christopher describes his one and only (rather unusual) encounter with Steve. Meanwhile from 2001, Jennifer Lopez talks to Marilyn Denis about her personal life, her music and the movie role that made he...

The irrepressible Lionel Richie is featured this week in a very engaging and energetic chat with Marilyn Denis from 2001. He talks about his favourite songs from his solo career and The Commodores – and his biggest regret.  Plus, we have Mick Jagger as you’ve never heard him – totally relaxed! Mick is in conversation with Roger Ashby from Eddy Grant’s studio in Barbado...

We have an entertaining collection of interview clips with The Police this week.  It’s Sting & Stewart Copeland at the height of their popularity… and arrogance.  Meanwhile, Tom defends the song “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” with a straight face!  Also, we feature a couple of ‘80s interviews with Bryan Ferry and Phil Manzanera from Roxy Music.  A...

Phil Collins was one of the busiest, friendliest and most talented musicians of the ‘80s. He was also one of the most disrespected. We have a great early ‘80s interview with Phil to share with you this week – plus Tom & Christopher discuss his legacy. We also have a wild interview with The Foo Fighters from 1997 that shows how rabid their fans are – and just what an ama...