Now Spinning Music Magazine - Artist Interviews and Music Reviews

Deep Purple keyboard legend Don Airey joins me on the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast to discuss the band's new studio album Splat!.In this exclusive interview, Don talks about working with Simon McBride, the band's creative chemistry, recording together in the studio, Bob Ezrin's influence on the songwriting process, the role of the Hammond organ, and why Deep Purple continue to sound i...

Dr. Otis Williams, founding and sole surviving original member of The Temptations, joins Phil Aston of Now Spinning Magazine for a fascinating conversation about Motown, music, friendship and legacy. From growing up in Texas and moving to Detroit, to meeting Berry Gordy, recording My Girl, performing alongside The Four Tops, and seeing his life portrayed in the Broadway hit  Ain't Too Proud ,...

Bruce Soord joins me on the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast to discuss his deeply personal new solo album Ghosts in the Park. In this emotional and thoughtful conversation, Bruce talks openly about grief, memory, losing parents to Alzheimer’s, songwriting, silence in music, and how certain places and moments stay with us forever. We also explore Bruce’s remix work on Jethro Tull’s Under Wraps deluxe...

Composer and producer Jeff Wayne joins me for a rare and exclusive interview about the creation and evolution of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. We discuss:the influence of his father Jerry Wayneproducing David Essex’s Rock Onmeeting H.G. Wells’ sonworking with Richard Burton, Justin Hayward and Phil Lynottthe original CBS budget exploding from £35k to £240kthe arena tou...

New interview with Jon Davison from YES about the band’s new studio album Aurora, released on June 12th. In this new Now Spinning Magazine interview, Jon talks about his creative growth within YES, the spiritual and uplifting themes behind Aurora, working with Steve Howe, the long-form track “Countermovement”, meditation, artificial intelligence, and why YES continue to move forward rather than si...

Lawrence Payton Jr from the legendary Four Tops about legacy, family, Motown, and carrying forward one of the greatest soul music catalogues of all time. Lawrence shares deeply personal stories about growing up with his father, original Four Tops member Lawrence Payton, memories of Motown legends visiting the family home, stepping into the group himself, and the emotional responsibility of perform...

A new series of Beginner’s Guides, starting with one of the greatest and most influential rock bands of all time: Led Zeppelin. This is not a ranking video. Instead, I goe through the Led Zeppelin catalogue album by album, choosing key gateway songs while sharing personal memories of discovering the band, growing up with the music, and understanding why Zeppelin still matter today. Whether you are...

Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band - Legs Larry Smith Interview In this episode of the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast, I talk to Legs Larry Smith — drummer, tap dancer, artist and one of the key figures behind the wonderfully eccentric world of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. Larry shares stories about the band’s art-school origins, recording classics like “Jazz: Delicious Hot, Disgusting Cold” and “The Intro and...

Why Ronnie James Dio was such an important figure in rock music history. From his powerful vocals to his iconic stage presence, Dio made a lasting impact on the rock world that continues to inspire fans and musicians today. My top DIO moments include, Last In Line, Light in The Black, Bible Black, Stagazer, Man on A Silver Mountain, Gates of BabylonPlease share your top 5 or 10 DIO moments Phil As...

Darran Charles from Godsticks about the band’s new album VOiD — their darkest, heaviest and most uncompromising record to date. In this in-depth conversation, Darran discusses the themes behind the album, the loss of nuance in modern life, writing lyrics from a more personal place, the importance of melody, the challenge of performing complex progressive metal live, and how Tom Price, Gavin Bushel...

In this episode of the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast, I talk to Ian Crockett, consultant for Madfish Records and Snapper Music, about the art of creating truly definitive box sets. We go behind the scenes of the new Sensational Alex Harvey Band set, discuss the detective work involved in finding rare tapes and memorabilia, and explore why Madfish has become such an important label for collectors o...

In this episode of the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast, I am joined by John Lees of John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest for a thoughtful and emotional conversation about the superb album Relativity, the Philharmonic orchestral performances with Slaithwaite Philharmonic Orchestra, the Live at RosFest 2009 recording, John’s distinctive guitar style, songwriting, and the emotional power of BJH’s music. Jo...

Phil Collen of Def Leppard about Man Raze, the power trio he formed with Simon Laffy of Girl and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols. With Cherry Red Records releasing the new 5CD box set Lock, Stock & Barrel: Complete Recordings 2008–2011, Phil looks back on how the band came together, the chemistry of the three-piece format, the influence of punk, reggae, dub and hard rock, and why Man Raze still f...

Robin McAuley joins Phil Aston on the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast to look back on the McAuley Schenker Group years, from how he first connected with Michael Schenker to the making of Perfect Timing, Save Yourself and M.S.G. In this wide-ranging conversation, Robin discusses songwriting with Michael, the challenge of breaking through in the late ’80s, why some of those albums were overlooked at t...

Andy Bown –  Out There : The Status Quo Musician’s Space Opera Finally Comes to Life Andy Bown from Status Quo joins the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast to talk about Out There, his long-gestating “mind-bending operatic deep space love story” created with the late novelist Russell Hoban. Best known for his work with Status Quo, as well as connections to The Herd, Peter Frampton, Pink Floyd and Roger...

Jon Lord was far more than the Hammond organ player in Deep Purple. In this episode of the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast, Phil Aston talks to author Ovais Naqvi about his new book Before We Forget — a deeply researched and highly original study of Jon Lord’s life through his sound, instruments, influences and compositions. From Deep Purple and Whitesnake to Pictured Within and Durham Concerto, thi...

Metal Monthly Ep2- The Monthly Heavy Metal Show from Now Spinning Magazine, with Phil Aston and co-host Wayne McAloon. In this episode we dive into the huge Darkthrone vinyl box set, talk black metal old and new, discuss the new Melvins / Napalm Death collaboration, revisit the recent Rainbow box set, and look ahead to releases from Heaven & Hell, Exodus, Hellripper, Myrath and Winterfylleth....

Robin Trower talks about two live albums released from very different periods of his career. We talk about the newly expanded and remixed Robin Trower Live! from 1976, and the superb new One Moment In Time: Live In The USA, recorded on his 2025 tour. Robin also discusses:how he chooses the best live performanceswhy the power trio format still works so wellhow he keeps classic songs like Daydream a...

In this episode, me and Sue Aston sit down with Katherine Priddy to explore her third album These Frightening Machines (out March 6 via Cooking Vinyl). Katherine discusses the lyrical themes running through the record — time, memory, womanhood, identity, relationships, and the feeling of being a “work in progress.”We talk in depth about the stories behind key tracks including “Matches” (reclaiming...

Blues Rock Guitarist Danny Bryant returns to the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast for a powerful, honest conversation about his new album Nothing Left Behind — and the life-changing journey behind it. Since our last interview, Danny has come through alcohol addiction, rebuilt his health, and found a new clarity as a songwriter, vocalist and guitarist. We talk sobriety, anxiety, recovery, and how that...

Kenney Jones — legendary drummer with the Small Faces, Faces and The Who — joins me on the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast alongside Nigel Adams from Nice Records. We discuss the brand new deluxe reissue of Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake, the story behind the iconic album, and how the label is restoring classic recordings with care and attention to detail. During the conversation they also reveal exciting f...

In this episode, me and Sue Aston sit down with Katherine Priddy to explore her third album These Frightening Machines (out March 6 via Cooking Vinyl). Katherine discusses the lyrical themes running through the record — time, memory, womanhood, identity, relationships, and the feeling of being a “work in progress.”We talk in depth about the stories behind key tracks including “Matches” (reclaiming...

Jon Davison from YES joins me on the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast to discuss performing the legendary album Fragile live, stepping into the role once held by Jon Anderson, and why YES continue to push progressive rock forward. Jon reflects on discovering YES as a teenager through “Owner of a Lonely Heart”, exploring the band’s earlier music, and the surreal experience of singing songs like “Round...

Geoff Downes joins me on the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast to talk Asia, YES, Icon, and the emotional weight of legacy. Fresh back from Japan with Asia, Geoff reflects on revisiting the legendary Asia in Asia era — performing the original 1983 set — and how it feels playing those songs now, without John Wetton. We also dive into the upcoming YES UK tour, where the band will perform 1971’s Fragile...

Rock legend Suzi Quatro joins me on the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast to discuss her powerful new album Freedom, released March 27. In this in-depth conversation Suzi talks about working with her son and guitarist L.R. Tuckey, returning to her Detroit rock roots, recording a duet with Alice Cooper, and why the new album is one of the most honest records she has ever made. She also reveals how she...