Rock And Grapes Presents:

Send a text Meet your hosts, James Oatway and Jack Ashton , who are going to take you on a ride through the last several decades,  diving into the Rock'n'Roll scene and mapping out what the music industry looked like back then - and where its going. 

Send a text In this episode you'll hear Jack Ashton talk about what an album promotor did back in the 1970's, and how that job has been turned inside out by the internet. 

Send a text This week Jack and James speak with world renown rock photographer Tom Weschler about life on the road as Bob Seger's Tour Manager and more than fifty years of being one of the most prolific rock photographers in the businesss. Tom's Book, "Travelin' Man, ON THE ROAD AND BEHIND THE SCENES with Bob Seger" will soon be turned into a Hollywood movie. Tune in to fi...

Send a text This week Jack and I speak with Steve Meyer, former long time National Promotion Director for Capitol Records. Steve has the pleasure of working closely with Bob Seger and his management team as well as four other guys...John,  Paul, George and Ringo - and many, many more. Hearing is believing!

Send a text Joel Denver, President and Co-Publisher of All Access Music Group (all access.com) THE information portal for the radio and music business, sits down and speaks with James and Jack about his well storied career in the radio business.  From the very beginning to rubbing shoulders with John Lennon and Freddie Mercury, Joel gives us a brief history of how one excels in the music industry....

Send a text Bob Catania, former National Director for RCA and Island records, innovator and co-owner of whatsin-storemusic.com, talks to us about how he went from college radio and the mail room to the big leagues, and having the time of his life working in the music business and creating a new kind of launchpad for new music, whatsin-storemusic.com.

Send a text Jack and James speak to CREEM magazine's former editor, Dave DiMartino,  in part one of  a special two part episode. Dave talks about the early days at CREEM magazine, Jim Morrison exposing himself in Miami and The Clash's Joe Strummer almost breaking Dave's tape recorder. And of course, way, way more...

Send a text Jack and James speak to CREEM magazine's former editor, Dave DiMartino,  in part two of  a special two part episode. Dave talks about grocery shopping with Rock Stars, sharing a urinal with George Harrison, getting snubbed by Freddie Mercury, and oh ya, exposing KISS to the world for the first time with NO MAKE UP!

Send a text James and Jack speak with legendary rock guitarist, Paul Warren, whose storied career takes him from Motown to working with a string of bands,  and touring the world with some of the biggest names in rock. Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Richard Marx, and Rod Stewart are just a small sample of the people Paul has had the pleasure to work with over the years. First hand stories of life on the...

Send a text James and Jack conclude their discussion with rock guitarist Paul Warren in this special PT 2 segment. Paul talks about working for Rod Stewart, Pacific Gas & Electric ,  (almost) with Bob Seger , and bit about Ron Wood , Jeff Beck and others...

Send a text James and Jack have their old friend, former National Promotion Director for Capitol Records, Steve Meyer, back for round two. Steve has even more stories about The Beatles, Elton John, Grand Funk Railroad, Juice Newton and much more...

Send a text James and Jack have their final instalment with former National Promotion Director for Capitol Records, Steve Meyer. Steve has even more stories about The Beatles, Elton John, and much more. You can never have enough Steve....

Send a text This week James and Jack speak with  world renown powerhouse back up singer Shaun Murphy.  Shaun, throughout her long and impressive career has provided vocals and percussion for Bob Seger, Eric Clapton and has worked with Meatloaf, Phil Collins, Glen Frey, Joe Walsh, The Moody Blues, Bruce Hornsby, Little Feat and many more. Tune in for a great show!

Send a text This week James and Jack speak with Paul Kingery of Three Dog Night. Paul lets us in on what it was like to tour with Rick Springfield, pop-sensation Tiffany, and his long stint being a core member of Three Dog Night. Tune in for a great show!

Send a text This week James and Jack speak with Canadian Radio Legend Jake Edwards, "Bro Jake". We spoke to Jake about the creation of "The Champ"( a  timely radio skit that would cause 2021 to have Jake locked up if he tried that today), Jake's time as he worked his way across Canada (getting fired and re-hired) and making his lasting mark on Canadian radio. Tune in for a...

Send a text Russ Little , trombonist, composer, arranger, and conductor has had a fairly storied career in the Canadian music business. Starting off with a little band by the name of Lighthouse , in the late '60's, Russ had already established himself as one of the scene's go-to studio musicians and was already composing music for Canadian radio and television by his early thirties....

Send a text This week I visit Dobbin Estate. Dobbin Estate has been designed to be a premium winery and the consulting team of Ann Sperling and Peter Gamble have made certain that all conditions are perfect for this ambitious endeavour. With North and South facing slopes, Dobbin Estate is primed to bring forth Riesling, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc with a European sensibility that comes though i...

Send a text Again we skip the Grapes and go directly to the Rock. Former record exec from Capitol Records , Steve Meyer , and Part II speaking about the great Al Coury, Vice President of Capitol Records , co-fouder of RSO Records , and founder of Network Records that eventually led him to Geffen Records . It's another week of Rock talk.  Next week we're back on track with the Ontario Win...

Send a text Today we skip the Grapes and go directly to the Rock. Former record exec from Capitol Records , Steve Meyer , speaks with me about the great Al Coury, Vice President of Capitol Records , co-fouder of RSO Records , and founder of Network Records that eventually led him to Geffen Records . Al worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Guns'N'Roses - who else can claim that?? 

Send a text Well, the January Rock And Grapes Count Down has come to an end. I will count down the Top Ten wines until we get to #1, that honour going to Leaning Post , for their 2020 Senchuk Vineyard Chardonnay . Also, Niagara native John Neudorf has a new album coming out, and a lot more to speak about. 

Send a text This week I speak with Thomas Reid , sales and marketing manager for Lailey Winery . This week Lailey has had two wines in the Top Wines of Ontario count down and we will be speaking to Thomas about the 2022 Lailey Riesling and the Stonebridge 2019 Estate Chardonnay . We've got another 13 wines to go before we see who holds the #1 spot on our Rock And Grapes count down.

Send a text Season 2 is here! Marc Pistor , of Fogolar Win es and the group effort Collab Wine and Beverage is here to talk about 2024 and what we have to look forward to. Marc and I discuss the Top Wine of Ontario (as chosen by M.S. Bruce Wallner, Nabila Rawji and me) , where his collaborative team has landed so far on the list and what Marc sees for the future of Ontario's wine industry. I...

Send a text Well, its been a good start so far. Twenty-five episodes of winemakers, musicians, politicians and record execs, and I think we're getting somewhere. I'd like to thank all of you who have been listening, and I'd also like to thank all my guests thus far. 2023 was only the start and 2024 will bring even more. Look out for The Top 25 Wines of Ontario coming out in January...

Send a text Bob Gruen is regarded as one of THE foremost Rock Photographers in the music business having captured images of Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The New York Dolls, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Ramones, Blondie, Elton John, Kiss and many, many more. He struck up a friendship with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1971 and became a friend and confidant to both. I thought this...

Send a text My first guest this week is May Pang . May spent most of 1973 and 1974 being the most important person in John Lennon 's life. May and I discuss the new documentary streaming now, " The Lost Weekend: A Love Story" , the story that chronicles the years she spent as John Lennon's girlfriend  - first at the insistence of Yoko Ono , but then  things got....complicated. ...