Long Live Rock 'N' Roll

In 1995, Blur released 'The Great Escape', an album that not only marked the height of the Britpop movement but also reflected the cultural and musical shifts of Britain in the mid-90s. Coming at the peak of their rivalry with Oasis in the infamous Battle of Britpop, the album saw Blur pushing beyond traditional Britpop boundaries, incorporating lush orchestration, genre experimentation, and chara...

‘The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan’ marked a significant turning point in Dylan's career and folk music in general. Dylan's transition from traditional folk songs to original songwriting revolutionised folk music, introducing a new era of the singer-songwriter. The album's socially and politically charged lyrics addressed contemporary issues, influencing the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war protests. I...

Following the success of the eponymous, grunge inspired debut album, Dave Grohl recruited Pat Smear and Nate Mendel to join the Foo Fighters and help him write the next record. Also enlisting producer Gil Norton to infuse some pop sensibilities into the album, 1997’s ‘The Colour And The Shape’ would go on to be one of the definitive post-grunge albums - bridging that gap between the distorted, hea...

Fats Domino was born in Louisiana on 26th February 1928 to a musical family. He enjoyed and was heavily influenced by the vibrant Jazz and Blues scene of New Orleans in the 1940s. Credited as one of the pioneers of Rock ‘N’ Roll, his music incorporated elements of boogie-woogie, R&B and traditional New Orleans Jazz - creating a sound that was both innovative and accessible!    Episod...

Oasis are back! Having announced a multitude of dates in what promises to be the biggest live music occasion of the decade, Noel and Liam have put their differences aside to return and bring that 90s Britpop goodness back to UK audiences! We talk about the reunion and our thoughts on it!   But first, 30 years prior to their 2025 tour…   In 1995, Oasis departed from the raw, energy of ‘De...

In the wake of a 1978 Genesis World Tour, Phil Collins found himself alone and without his family - having been left by his then-wife who took their two children to Canada. Amidst the heartache and the uncertainty, Collins wrote and executed one of the most honest and emotional pop albums of the 80s. ‘Face Value’ utilises great production, genre-blending and emotional lyrics to portray Phil Collin...

As Britpop began to wane, certain British bands started to abandon the emphatic, polished sound that we were used to from Blur and Oasis in favour of a more gritty, energetic rock style. ‘Word Gets Around’ by Stereophonics is a very easy to listen to album that transcends both Rock and Pop individually and was one of those transitional albums that kept the ideals & attitude of the 90s, but add...

In these episodes, we aim to determine which type of song rules supreme: The Cover or The Original! Does writing the music and lyrics grant you immortality in having come up with the initial work? Or is it how you take those lyrics/music and develop it into something special that matters more? In our next battle of the ‘Covers vs Originals’ war, we take a look at 3 more covers chosen by ourselves...

Following the success of ‘Californication’ and its corresponding world tour, the Red Hot Chili Peppers were in a good space when they began writing ‘By The Way’. John Frusciante was said to be back to his normal self and brimming with confidence as he co-wrote and collaborated with Anthony Kiedis. ‘By The Way’ took a more accessible approach containing a lot more musical diversity than the Chili’s...

Delving into longer and more sophisticated music, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker experimented with various band lineups for each song on ‘Aja’ to craft and perfect their Jazz, Pop, Rock hybrid of an album. Mixing their own songwriting skills with the jazzy prowess of the likes of Wayne Shorter and Tom Scott legitimised Jazz in Rock and marked a significant moment in the relationship between the tw...

In 1991, Guns N’ Roses brought in a new drummer and keyboard player and, in an ambitious and confident statement to the music world, released ‘Use Your Illusion I & II’ on the same day. Following immense anticipation from the Rock world, ‘Use Your Illusion’ impressively spans multiple styles and genres; including: Rock, Blues, Metal, Punk and Classical elements - veering away from their dedica...

The Solo. A single performer showing off his/her musical talent and skill. Adding an interesting, alternative part to a song’s structure and, potentially, giving the audience a passage of music unlike what the rest of the song entailed. Whether it’s a short-but-sweet 8 bars or an extended showcase that takes the listener on a long journey, a lot can be said in a short space of time with a talented...

Following the introduction of Bruce Dickinson and his success on ‘Number Of The Beast’ and ‘Piece Of Mind’, Iron Maiden were the ones to watch in the early 80s. Progressing and developing Heavy Metal from its British roots in the 70s into the newly established New Wave Of British Heavy Metal that the likes of Maiden, Saxon and Angel Witch were pioneering. In 1984, they presented us with an album b...

'21st Century Progressive Band' In 1969, a new Progressive Rock band stormed onto the scene. King Crimson made several appearances throughout the year and exposed themselves to large, attentive and accepting audiences with big, impactful live shows. Following this success came an album that would pioneer, innovate and lay down the foundations for Progressive Rock. ‘In The Court Of The Crimson King...

‘Winging It’ Welcome to another episode of The Long Live Rock ‘N’ Roll Podcast - where we dive deep into the world of music and dissect iconic albums that have left an indelible mark on the industry. In this episode, we're turning our attention to one of the most celebrated albums of the 1970s: ‘Band on the Run’ by Wings. Having lost some of his musical credibility for his work post-Beatles amongs...

‘True, Fine Rock ‘N’ Roll’ By the mid 1950s, Rock ‘N’ Roll had established itself and its sound, but there were still artists pushing the boundaries and exploring the avenues of the genre.‘Here's Little Richard’ is one of those albums that made such a significant contribution to the genre’s progression and development. In this episode, we dive deep into the energetic performances, raw sound, and i...

In this show, we aim to determine which type of song rules supreme: The Cover or The Original! Does writing the music and lyrics grant you immortality in having come up with the initial work? Or is it how you take those lyrics/music and develop it into something special that matters more? In our next battle of the ‘Covers vs Originals’ war, we take a look at 4 more covers chosen by ourselves and o...

'Rock Ain't For Keeping' The Who cemented themselves as one of the most iconic and important Hard Rock bands with their 5th album, ‘Who’s Next’. We explore the groundbreaking sounds, innovative techniques, and timeless themes that make this album a cornerstone of rock music. Bringing a host of progressive and innovative features to the forefront - such as the use of synthesisers and electronic eff...

‘The Freedom Of Music’ Rush’s 7th studio album, ‘Permanent Waves’, marked a departure from their earlier sound and embraced a more diverse musical palette. Incorporating synthesisers more heavily and refining songs into simpler structures with a more radio friendly accessibility, Rush changed their own trajectory and gained many new fans/plaudits from this release. Whether you’re a die-hard Rush f...

Episode 64 - ‘Praise For Absolution’ Muse’s third album, ‘Absolution’, presents us with everything that worked for ‘Origin Of Symmetry’, but elevated to the next level! The genius of Matt Bellamy, Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme is on display as electronic soundscapes, symphonic elements and classically inspired passages are combined with Hard Rock to give us this innovative record that didn...

Are Holograms and Avatars the future of live music?  Last year, KISS announced that they would “live on eternally” through their brand new avatars who would take over the roles of KISS from their human counterparts and opened up a world of touring and viewing options for them. ABBA successfully executed the Voyage tour - using 160 cameras to capture facial expressions and body movements to si...

‘You Can Hear The Hats & The Beards!’ ZZ Top’s US breakthrough came in 1973 - in the form of the short, but sweet ‘Tres Hombres’! Tastefully and seamlessly combining Rock, Blues, Soul and Boogie, ZZ Top carried the torch for the traditional Blues/Soul efforts, but fused it with the 70s Hard Rock of the time, whilst also paving the way for many future Rock bands to adopt this multi-genre approa...

‘Sweet Sounds Of Stones’ Dubbed as their best work in decades, The Rolling Stones are back with a brand new album! ‘Hackney Diamonds’ is their 24th (UK) studio album and is their first original work since 2005’s ‘A Bigger Bang’. Receiving great critical praise and enjoyed by the fans, Laz & Felipe ask: how did The Rolling Stones create another brilliant album so deep into their career? Episode...

‘Rock’s Run Riot’ Following Rick Allen’s loss of his left arm after a car accident, Def Leppard’s follow up to their momentous ‘Pyromania’ was a long process. Beginning in 1984 and ending in 1987, ‘Hysteria’ took 3 years and several producers to complete! The band set out to make a Rock version of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ - hoping every song could be a hit single. This goal came to fruition wh...

Episode 59: Understanding Eddie Van Halen - Interview with Steven Rosen In the newest episode we have the absolute pleasure of chatting with and interviewing Steven Rosen - a renowned rock journalist who has finally released his long-awaited book about the friendship he shared with the late great guitar player Edward Van Halen. Steve has previously authored seven other books including biographies...