The Rock Podcast with Denny Somach

Celebrate Steve Howe's fifty years of playing just about anything with strings with Denny, who's known Steve most of those fifty years. They cover the early years, pre-Yes, up to their latest release, Mirror in the Sky, leaving nothing unsaid - including some intriguing details about who's touched Steve's guitar. Steve's been honored five times as Best Overall Guitar Player of the Year by Guitar M...

What the Hell Ever Happened to Blood, Sweat and Tears? is a new documentary about the band that sold millions of records, won multiple Grammy Awards including Album of the Year, and headlined at Woodstock. Denny interviews Steve Katz, co-founder of the band, in this episode, which takes its title from Steve’s autobiography. You’ll hear about The Blues Project, Steve’s prodigious career, and the st...

Ian Anderson has been fronting Jethro Tull since it formed. He and Denny have known each other a long time, more than forty years, so they kick back and catch up on everything from the old days to the band’s newest release – their 23rd album. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may not know this, but the Zombies are the only band still touring after 50 years whose lead singer is not Mick Jagger! The Zombies are more than their biggest hits, “She’s Not There” and “Time of the Season.” Denny goes way back and deep with Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent as they launch their newest album, documentary, and tour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Denny and Jon know each other for nearly 50 years, so you know this conversation will range from the earliest times to the latest tours for 2023, with brief stops at all of Jon’s works-in-progress. While you may have heard one or two of these stories in the past, even hard-core fans will be telling their friends about something from this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...

You’ll hear a rare historic interview with the legendary Black Irish bassist, who tragically died at age 36. Phil Lynott was known for his work both with Thin Lizzy and solo, and his influence on the heavy metal artists who followed him. The episode ends with Denny telling the story of how he and Phil got to sing on the same number one record! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

The most influential band in British rock, after the Beatles and Rolling Stones, has included three of the most accomplished guitarists of all time - Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. You’ll hear from all three in this episode, plus Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Alice Cooper, Geddy Lee, and Joe Perry – all from Denny’s Classic Rock Archives.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...

Denny tells the little-known story of how Nazareth came to record Love Hurts, and the Scottish group’s connection to his hometown – and his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this 1984 interview, Roger Waters talks about how he came to his solo career; the meaning behind The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking; and he even offers an opinion on the possibility of Pink Floyd coming together again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Best known for his long association with the Beach Boys, award-winning writer, director, and producer David Leaf talks about Brian Wilson, and the new edition of his classic, God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys & the California Myth. Listen for the clips of Brian and Mike from The Classic Rock Archives! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Classic Rock Archives, an exclusive interview with Nick Mason, founding member of Pink Floyd, from 1985. Nick talks about the history of band, including the tragic Syd Barrett, how David Gilmour joined, why they didn’t play Live Aid, meeting the Beatles at Abbey Road Studios while recording their first album, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the Classic Rock Archives, an exclusive interview with Curt Smith from 1985 - just as the iconic, “Everybody Wants to Rule the Wild” was being released – reveals the meaning of the name, their early years, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Founding member of Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and the Souther-Hillman-Furay band, the legendary Richie Furay, pioneer of Country-Rock, talks about his new album, In the Country, life, love, spirit, and career, including being signed by Atlantic Records. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Johnson is the guitar player’s guitar player. His Platinum certified album, Ah Via Musicom, contains his Grammy award winner, Cliffs Of Dover. In this very candid conversation between old friends, the Austin-based inductee in the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats, also listed among the 100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century by Musician Magazine, talks about his two new albums, his favorite...

Whiter Shade of Pale is one of the greatest songs of all time – AND one of the cold cases of rock ‘n’ roll. In what was to become Brooker’s final interview, he talks about his career and Denny talks about the legal entanglements concerning the writing of this song. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kate Bush was a star in the UK back in the 80s, but didn’t make it in the US till her Running Up That Hill was prominently featured in Season 4 of the Netflix series Stranger Things, and she hit the top at Spotify. This episode features a 1982 interview from the host’s Classic Rock Archives. Kate rarely gave interviews, making this one a must-listen treasure! Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

Ben Fong-Torres, famed Rolling Stone editor, talks about his life, career, and new documentary, Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres, as well as Almost Famous, the movie that made him even more famous. This episode features a classic interview Ben did with Bob Geldof after Live Aid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Lennon’s Lawyer Tells All! Ripped from the headlines – but all true. Jay Bergen, author of Lennon, The Mobster & The Lawyer tells the story of the dispute between the famous Beatle and the infamous mobster. The ultimate insider interview! Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From walking in on the Beatles who were opening for Joey Dee, with Felix on organ – before they came to America – to playing with Jimi Hendrix, campaigning for Bobby Kennedy, and the drama of working in the industry. More than fifty years later, Felix is still a rascal, in every sense of the word! Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Waite tells all, beginning with The Babys and remembering how he and Denny met almost 45 years ago! You’ll hear about John’s acoustic album series, Wooden Heart, forthcoming documentary, tour plans - and why becoming a US citizen was so important to him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dion DiMucci is in his seventh decade of performing. In this exclusive interview, celebrating the release of his new album, Stomping Ground, we talk about life, love, and rock ‘n’ roll...and Dion reveals how his face made it onto one of the most iconic rock albums of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of The Nylon Curtain, which included the hit single, Allentown, Denny Somach tells the story of Billy Joel’s first headline gig. Starting with how Denny recorded the show, lost the tape, and - years later - found it, this story stars 23 year old Billy Joel, up close and personal. Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

In 1975, John Lennon walked into a New York radio studio, unannounced, and played DJ. It was the world premiere of his brand-new album, Rock and Roll. You’ll hear him talk about the early days of rock, his influences - Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino - and the first day he met Paul McCartney. Candid and off the cuff, this is one of the most revealing conversations with Lennon...

Led Zeppelin was the biggest band in the world, and it still is. This episode features an exclusive interview with C.M. Kushins, author of the new, first-ever biography of the iconic drummer, Beast: John Bonham and the Rise of Led Zeppelin. Includes classic interviews from Jimmy Page and stories from Bonham's early days you won't hear anywhere but The Rock Podcast! Learn more about your ad choices...

Nancy Wilson, RRHOF-inductee, guitarist and singer in Heart, talks about life, love, her new solo album and Led Zeppelin. Later in the episode, Linda Perry weighs in on her love of Led Zeppelin and secrets of her songwriting process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices