The Strange Brew - artist stories behind the greatest music ever recorded

Rosalie Cunningham chooses eight key tracks from across her career, highlighting both personal and musical turning points. From her early days with Purson to her evolving solo work, she reveals into the inspirations behind songs that mix 1960s and 1970s rock influences with her own distinctive voice. As she talks about songs like Dethroning of the Party Queen to the title track of her latest album...

Jeff Wayne shares the influences that shaped his acclaimed musical adaptation of The War of the Worlds . From the dramatic opening of The Eve of the War to unforgettable collaborations with artists like Richard Burton and David Essex, Wayne reflects on the creativity and perseverance that shaped this remarkable project. He also shares behind-the-scenes stories of overcoming production challenges,...

Mark Wilkerson uncovers the fascinating story of Thunderclap Newman, the group known for their 1969 hit ‘Something in the Air’ and guided by Pete Townshend. Highlighting the unique collaboration of outsider musicians Speedy Keen, Andy ‘Thunderclap’ Newman, and young guitar prodigy Jimmy McCulloch, Wilkerson reveals that they were far more than just a one-hit wonder. Further...

John Paul White discusses his recent album ‘The Hurting Kind’, which was inspired by classic country, rock, and torch singers from his childhood. White talks about the creative process behind the album, aiming to create a modern record with a nostalgic, dramatic sound. White also reflects on his musical upbringing in the American South, the influence of the Muscle Shoals sound, and suc...

David Wells breaks down the irresistible world of late 60s American bubblegum pop, exploring its catchy hit singles, cult collectables, and forgotten album tracks. From The Archies to The Monkees, Ohio Express to the 1910 Fruitgum Co., and The Lemon Pipers, Wells examines the rise of this manufactured pop sound that dominated the charts. With a spotlight on industry figures like Don Kirshner and t...

Few collaborations feel as natural as Those Pretty Wrongs, where Big Star drummer Jody Stephens teams up with multi-instrumentalist Luther Russell. Their podcast offers a deep dive into the art of songwriting, where personal stories and shared experiences shape their music. Reflecting on his time with Big Star, Jody recalls the chemistry that transformed the group, a bond he finds again with Luthe...

Chris Leslie shares a selection of his favourite songs with Fairport Convention and reflects on his highlights with the group. He discusses his approach to songwriting and the experience of performing Dave Swarbrick’s parts during Fairport’s ‘Full House’ Cropedy performance. Chris also reveals what makes Fairport Convention’s legacy as a touring band so unique, as they emba...

Susan Cowsill reflects on her musical journey, from her time with the Continental Drifters to growing up as a member of The Cowsills. She shares stories behind the formation of Continental Drifters, the band’s songwriting process, and the joy of live performances. Susan also opens up about how music has been a constant source of connection and healing in her life. Further information Details...

Ahmet Zappa and Joe Travers celebrate the 50th anniversary of Frank Zappa’s landmark album Apostrophe (‘) . They explore the album’s lasting impact, offering a deep dive into Frank’s innovative creative process both in the studio and on stage. Alongside Frank’s life and influences, they highlight the album’s lyrical wit and satire, evident in tracks like “...

Terry Reid unlocks a treasure chest of stories, being one of the most influential figures in rock history. He warmly describes his early days writing songs like ‘Without Expression,’ as well as his collaborations with Graham Nash, David Lindley, and Gilberto Gil. Superlungs also recalls his wild times touring with The Rolling Stones, giving us a glimpse into the life of a music legend....

Richie Furay shares how his country influences shaped his music and role in Buffalo Springfield and Poco, and his evolution as a solo artist. He reflects on his friendship with Stephen Stills, the founding of Buffalo Springfield, and how his songwriting flourished in Poco and Souther-Hillman-Furay Band. Richie also passionately speaks about the challenges of balancing his music career with his per...

Alan Parsons reflects on the Alan Parsons Project including the new reissue of their landmark album Pyramid . He also recalls his time at Abbey Road Studios, including his early years in the studio with The Beatles and the technical challenges of the rooftop concert, as well as working with Pink Floyd on The Dark Side of the Moon . Further information The Alan Parsons Project, Pyramid alanparsons....

Steve Wynn discusses his new memoir ‘I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True’ and musical career. Steve covers the early days of The Dream Syndicate, their rapid rise to prominence in the 1980s Los Angeles music scene, his songwriting process and touring with U2 and REM. He also reflects on meeting musical idols like Alex Chilton, his evolution as an artist and forthcoming solo album &#821...

Owen Elliot-Kugell, daughter of ‘Mama Cass’ Elliot, offers a heartfelt look into her mother’s life and career while reflecting on the writing of her memoir, My Mama, Cass , in honour of her mother’s legacy. Owen delves into Cass’s early years, her rise in the music industry, and her experiences with The Big Three, The Mugwumps, and The Mamas & The Papas, as well a...

Alan Whitehead, former drummer of The Marmalade, shares his experiences with the group as well as time in The Attack and Loose Ends. He covers Marmalade’s journey to success with hits like ‘Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da’ and ‘Reflections of My Life’, the 60s scene with Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, and what led to the end of their classic line-up. He also discu...

Larry Tamblyn, founder and original lead singer of the Standells, discusses their origins, recording ‘Dirty Water’ and other garage rock classics like ‘Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White’ as well as their experiences appearing in TV and film. Larry also shares his memories of other musicians including Richie Valens, Connie Francis, and the Rolling Stones, as well as...

Graeme Thomson, author of the acclaimed biography Under the Ivy , explores the life and music of Kate Bush. He describes her idyllic childhood and early musical influences, tracing her journey from her groundbreaking debut album The Kick Inside to experimental masterpieces The Dreaming and Hounds of Love . Thomson offers insights into Bush’s transition to studio-focused work and her enduring...

The music world is mourning the loss of blues guitarist John Mayall, who passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on 22 July 2024. Mayall’s passing marks the end of a remarkable life for the “Godfather of the British Blues”. His health issues had recently brought his epic touring career to a close. In this 2019 podcast interview with Jason Barnard covering his 85th Anniversary Tour to h...

Chris Slade, drummer for the greatest names in rock history, shares his highlights behind the drumkit. Chris delves into his early days with Tom Jones, playing with Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, and his collaborations with David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Gary Moore, and AC/DC. Additionally, he opens up about his own band, The Chris Slade Timeline, and their debut album, TimeScape . Further informati...

Russ Giguere of The Association shares the story of the group and million sellers ‘Cherish’, ‘Windy’, and ‘Never My Love’. He recounts their early days, the writing and recording of their material and playing at major festivals like Monterey Pop. He reflects on his solo work, friendship with Judee Sill and Glenn Frey and the The Association’s reunion in th...

David Wells explores the hit singles, cult classics and tracks from 1968’s key albums as the American music scene moved on from the Summer of Love. While psychedelia had been the dominant musical force in 1967, the scene fragmented to garage-punk, psychedelic pop and early hard rock. Further information Can’t Seem To Come Down – The American Sounds of 1968, Various Artists 3CD Bo...

Albert Hammond discusses his new album ‘Body of Work’ and reflects on his extensive musical career. He talks about collaborating with songwriters like Mike Hazelwood, Roger Cook, Hal David, Graham Lyle, Roy Orbison, Diane Warren and John Bettis. Albert shares stories about writing hit songs including ‘The Air That I Breathe’, ’99 Miles From LA’, ‘One Momen...

John Flansburgh discusses They Might Be Giants’ latest single ‘Lazy’, and shares details of their upcoming UK tour , which features songs from their classic album Flood . John also opens up about TMBG’s songwriting process and the remarkable longevity and creativity of They Might Be Giants. Further information theymightbegiants.com John Flansburgh podcast tracks Podcasts al...

Gerry Beckley of America reveals the guiding principles behind his songwriting craft. Gerry highlights the inspirations fueling his latest self-titled album, while also reflecting on the creative process behind America’s greatest hits including ‘A Horse With No Name’, ‘Sister Golden Hair’, and ‘All My Life’. Along the way he highlights his collaborations w...

Deep Purple co-founder, Nick Simper, dives deep into his career. We start in the mid-60s playing bass with Buddy Britten and Johnny Kidd. Nick then recalls recording Deep Purple’s first three albums and their early singles ‘Hush’, ‘Help’ and ‘Kentucky Woman’. Tensions led to Deep Purple Mark 1 splitting, the formation of Warhorse and Fandango in the 1970s,...