Long Way to the Top

Stan Bush, the iconic voice behind “The Touch” and “Dare” from The Transformers: The Movie, joins Long Way to the Top with Shayne Brian for a powerful conversation about Transformers, 80s rock, motivational music and how to write an anthem that lasts forever. Best known for his unforgettable songs from the 1986 Transformers movie soundtrack, Stan Bush has become one of the...

In this exclusive interview on Long Way to the Top, Shayne chats with  John Brewster , founding member and guitarist of The Angels , as the band celebrates 50 years of their iconic Australian rock anthem “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again.” From its origins as a deeply emotional song inspired by loss through to becoming one of the most recognisable singalongs in Australian music...

Australian music legend Beeb Birtles joins Shayne Brian on Long Way to the Top for a fascinating deep dive into one of the most remarkable careers in Australian rock history. From the colourful pop explosion of Zoot to the international success of Little River Band, Beeb reflects on six decades in music, songwriting, fame, faith, and the ever-changing music industry. Celebrating the 60th anniversa...

What was it like creating one of the most iconic guitar solos of the 1980s? How do you go from recording with Tears for Fears to performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people with Robbie Williams? And after a lifetime at the top of the music industry, what inspires the next chapter? In this episode of Long Way to the Top , Shayne Brian sits down with legendary guitarist Neil Taylor for a...

Australian rock powerhouse Rose Carleo joins Shayne Brian on Long Way to the Top for a powerful, honest, and deeply personal conversation about her brand-new album 42 Days . In this episode, Rose opens up about the emotional journey behind the record — a raw, blues-rock driven album born from real-life experiences, grief, resilience, and healing. Best known for her commanding vocals and stan...

Australian country rock star Casey Barnes joins Shayne Brian on Long Way to the Top for an in-depth conversation about his brand-new album Made For This , his powerful duet with Pete Murray called Time To Burn , and the incredible journey that has made him one of the biggest names in Australian country music. In this exclusive interview, Casey opens up about the personal stories behind the new alb...

The queen of 80s pop is back — and this is one of the most revealing interviews Kim Wilde has done in years. In this special episode of Long Way to the Top , Shayne Brian sits down with global pop icon Kim Wilde ahead of her 2026 Australian Closer Tour for an in-depth conversation about fame, reinvention, music, creativity, and surviving one of the most defining decades in pop culture histor...

In this episode of Long Way to the Top , host Shayne Brian sits down with legendary New Zealand singer-songwriter Tim Finn for a deep dive into one of the most influential careers in Australasian rock history. From the art-school origins and global breakthrough of Split Enz, to his pivotal role in Crowded House, and a celebrated solo career including the iconic Escapade album, Tim Finn shares the...

What happens when legendary musicians from Procol Harum, Tears for Fears, Robbie Williams and Simple Minds come together to form a brand new band? Welcome to Blue Water Giants — a true rock supergroup made up of some of the most respected players in music. In this exclusive episode of Long Way to the Top , Shayne Brian sits down with: Josh Phillips (Procol Harum) Neil Taylor (Tears for Fears...

INXS sold over 75 million records worldwide, boasting an impressive catalogue of hits that include ten Australian Top 10 singles and seven US Top 10 singles. The band’s accolades include three Grammy nominations, a BRIT Award for Best International Group, five MTV Music Awards, and seven ARIA Awards, with induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001. This year INXS is nominated for the Rock...

As the frontman of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Lloyd burst onto the scene in the mid-80s with a sound that blended jangly guitar pop with deeply intelligent, often cinematic lyricism. Songs like Rattlesnakes , Perfect Skin , and Lost Weekend didn’t just stand out on radio… they painted pictures. They made you lean in. They made you think. But Lloyd Cole was never interested in stan...

Welcome to Season 4 of Long Way to the Top, the podcast where we dive deep into the stories behind rock’s biggest names, their defining moments, and the road that brought them here. I’m kicking off this year with a bang. Maybe a little later than planned, but with some incredible guests on the way. Andrew Farriss, Tim Finn, members of Spandau Ballet, and we’ll also be revisiting...

Enjoy this quick little chat with Dave Graney as he finishes up his Coral Snakes tour.  It is the Soft and Sexy Sound of the King of Cool this week. Hit plus or follow to subscribe to the podcast. Check out our socials - https://www.facebook.com/TheLongWayToTheTopPodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Hit and Run and Shape I’m In to Chained to the Wheel and Harley and Rose , Joe Camilleri has written the soundtrack to Australian life. As the frontman of The Black Sorrows and founder of Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons , Joe is one of the most influential voices in Australian rock, soul, and blues. In this special episode, I sit down with Joe Camilleri for an in-depth conversation about his...

From the shadows of Manchester’s post-punk explosion to the neon pulse of the world’s dance floors, few musicians have shaped modern music the way Peter Hook has. As the founding bassist of Joy Division, Hook’s distinctive melodic basslines defined a generation, carrying the raw power of songs like ‘Disorder’ and ‘Transmission’ into the history books. When...

From the psychedelic poetry of ‘The Real Thing’ to the blues-soaked grit of ‘Sharkmouth,’ Russell Morris has lived every verse of the Australian rock story. Across six decades, he’s reinvented himself again and again—never chasing trends, always chasing truth. As he prepares to take his final bow on tour, we sit down with a man who didn’t just witness the...

They’re not just a band — they’re a revolving door of rock royalty. With members who’ve shared stages with Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Dio, Mötley Crüe, and INXS, The Dead Daisies have become something bigger than a supergroup. They’re a living, breathing celebration of loud guitars, road-worn truth, and the raw power of rock 'n' roll. On this episode of Long Wa...

If you grew up in the 70’s and 80’s you would have heard at least one of the records that my guest produced. With a string of huge artists like U2, Rolling Stones, Simple Minds, Talking Heads, Ultravox, Peter Gabriel, Steve Lillywhite has been responsible for over 500 records during his career. He has been awarded 6 grammy awards, including U2’s Beautiful Day & Walk On, and t...

My guest on today's show was described to me by Kate Ceberano as the God of Australian music. Apart from The Church, he's been in too many alt music bands to count, worked with countless artists here and abroad and with The Church has recorded over 26 full length albums and they're about to embark on a singles tour around Australia. Today's guest is lead singer & bass guitarist of The Church,...

Excited to have spoken with my next guest, Alan Edwards, the godfather of British music PR. Alan has worked with some of the most legendary artists of our time, from David Bowie to the Spice Girls via the Rolling Stones, the Stranglers, Blondie, Prince and Amy Winehouse. His book "I Was There" is a snapshot of his life in the fast paced rock world with stories like working with Keith Moon, heading...

My next guest was a founding member of 80’s rock band Killing Joke, influencing bands like Metallica, Nirvana, Soundgarden. A self taught super producer, Youth started a label was responsible for artists like Take That, Wet Wet Wet, Tom Jones and Maria McKee. He has produced, worked and remixed Kate Bush, The Verve, Guns n Roses, Pink Floyd, U2, INXS and he even managed to get Crowded House...

My next guest is an English cricket commentator, former English Test Cricketer from 1992 until his retirement in 2009. He made his Test debut in 1997 in the Ashes series against Australia, Captained England once, known as the Runaway leader then in traded it all in for a music career. Mark Butcher has performed with former Stranglers front man Hugh Cornwell and performed on TV with Sarah Brightman...

With a discography described as floorless, 12 studio albums, 12 compilations, four EPs, and 43 singles while accumulating 25 top 75 singles, two Kerrang! Awards beating Muse and Stereophonics and over 5 million sales worldwide, welsh band Feeder are heading down under for the first time in 14 years to give fans a taste of what made them love feeder all those years ago. With songs like ‘...

In 2023 a group was formed called Kindred Spirit, releasing a song called Think Loud to raise funds for Cure Parkinsons. The project was spearheaded by UK Manager, Ian Grant (Big Country, The Stranglers), who has been a long term Parkinson's Disease sufferer.  Fast forward 18 months and the project has now released an album with a who's who of the UK music industry. I caught up with Ian Grant...

We are kicking off the new season of Long Way to the Top with a very cool band. The most famous band you have never heard of. They were featured in a documentary called Yacht Rock prior to Christmas and now they are heading to Australia.  If you love Toto, Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oats, Kenny Loggins or Christopher Cross then you will love Yächtley Crëw. I chat wi...