VRP Rocks - Classic Rock Interviews

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul Stephenson is joined by guitarist Chris Poland, best known for his time in Megadeth. Chris is back with a major new project, Nuclear Messiah, and the album Black Flame — a star-studded release featuring an incredible lineup including Arthur Brown, William Shatner, Rick Wakeman, Joe Lynn Turner, Sebastian Bach, Bumblefoot, Marty Friedman, Pat Travers and many more...

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul Stephenson welcomes back legendary drummer Carmine Appice — one of rock’s most enduring and well-connected musicians. Carmine returns to talk about the brand new Cactus album, Temple of the Blues 2, a powerful blues-rock release packed with an incredible all-star lineup. Featuring contributions from Dee Snider, Joe Lynn Turner, Billy Sheehan, Rudy Sarzo, Tracii G...

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul Stephenson is joined by acclaimed guitarist Matt Backer, a musician whose playing has appeared alongside some remarkable artists including Alice Cooper, Marcella Detroit, ABC, and many more. Matt stops by to talk about his brand new album Red Guitars, a record packed with expressive blues-rock guitar playing and great songwriting. Along the way he shares stories...

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul Stephenson is joined by the original Queen of Rock and Roll, Suzi Quatro. In the first half of the episode, Suzi talks about her brand new album Freedom, due for release on March 27th, and reflects on why she’s still driven to create new music after more than five decades in the business. Then in part two, she takes on the My 5 Favourite challenge, revealing the...

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul chats with the voice of Canadian hard rock legends Helix – frontman Brian Vollmer. With a career spanning over 50 years, Helix have lived through the highs and lows of the rock world — and Brian’s been there for every single step. From the band's humble beginnings in 1974, through their breakthrough success with Heavy Metal Love, to tours alongside Motörhead, Kis...

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul is joined by legendary drummer Steve Ferrone — the rhythm powerhouse behind some of the most iconic names in music. From playing with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for over two decades, to sessions and tours with Eric Clapton, Christine McVie, George Harrison, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, Chaka Khan, and many others — Steve’s career reads like a hall of fame r...

In this very special episode of VRP Rocks, host Paul Stephenson swaps his Highland studio for the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London — joining Foghat legend Roger Earl backstage just hours before the band’s historic return to the UK stage for the first time since 1973! Invited as a special guest by Roger and his wife/manager Linda, Paul takes you behind the scenes of a truly unforgettable night —...

He’s played with some of the biggest names in rock history and now, for the first time, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John McFee reveals his five favourite albums that he’s played on himself! From Elvis Costello to The Doobie Brothers, Van Morrison to Huey Lewis and the News, John’s guitar, pedal steel and production work have shaped decades of classic rock, country rock and Americana. In this exclusi...

What happens when rock legends from two iconic bands lock themselves in a studio with no rules, no label pressure and total creative freedom? In this very special episode of VRP Rocks, Paul Stephenson sits down with Stu Cook of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John McFee of The Doobie Brothers to unearth the incredible lost story of Jackdawg — a band made up of three Rock & Roll Hall of Famers who...

He was a member of one of America’s most iconic rock bands — and in this exclusive interview, Stu Cook takes us deep into the story of Creedence Clearwater Revival. From the band’s humble beginnings as a high school trio to headlining Woodstock, scoring a UK No.1 with Bad Moon Rising and releasing six albums in just over two years — Stu shares a front-row perspective on the meteoric rise of CCR. W...

Foghat’s Fool For the City is an iconic 70s album — and in this episode, drummer and founding member Roger Earl returns to VRP Rocks to celebrate its 50th anniversary. From the legendary anthem Slow Ride to deep cuts that helped make Foghat a household name in the U.S., this is a full deep-dive into the record that changed everything. In this extended conversation, Roger reveals the stories behind...

In this brand-new episode of VRP Rocks, legendary bassist Greg T. Walker (Blackfoot, Lynyrd Skynyrd) joins Paul for an epic two-part conversation you won't want to miss. First, we dive into Greg’s new band, Two Wolf, whose debut album is a blistering mix of southern rock and hard blues — full of raw energy, killer riffs, and rock ’n’ roll attitude. Hear the story behind the band’s formation, the n...

Legendary drummer Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio) returns to VRP Rocks to reveal his 5 favourite albums from his own incredible career. From iconic metal milestones to hidden gems, Vinny shares the stories behind the music, the sessions and the legends he worked with. Plus, don't miss Vinny's full career interview back on episode 104 of VRP Rocks for even more epic tales from the world of rock!...

In this special episode of VRP Rocks, legendary drummers Carmine and Vinny Appice pay tribute to their friend and former bandmate, Rick Derringer, who sadly passed away just a few weeks ago. The brothers share personal stories of first meeting Rick, what it was like recording and touring with him and reflect on the kind of person and musician he truly was. Carmine also reveals the details of his f...

This week on VRP Rocks, we pay tribute to the late Rick Derringer, the iconic guitarist, singer and songwriter behind Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo and countless other rock staples. Joining me is Kenn Moutenot, Rick’s long-time drummer, manager and close personal friend. Kenn shares heartfelt memories, behind-the-scenes stories and a glimpse into the Rick that fans didn’t always get to see, fun, loya...

This week on VRP Rocks, things take a slightly different turn! With a couple of last-minute interview cancellations and a holiday just around the corner, Paul dives into a really fun topic — "10 Supergroups and Side Projects Only Classic Rock Experts Will Remember!" Featuring stories behind forgotten collaborations from legends like Robert Plant, Paul Rodgers, Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, David Bowie an...

He’s back! Legendary drummer Simon Kirke returns to VRP Rocks for the third time, and this time it’s all about the songs that defined a band and a legacy. In this special edition of My 5 Favourite, Simon takes us inside his world with his five favourite Bad Company songs—from the unforgettable hits to the deep cuts that still mean the world to him today. With each pick, Simon shares personal memor...

In this special episode of VRP Rocks, guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer Steve Postell joins Paul Stephenson to talk about his incredible musical journey. From his deep personal and creative connection with David Crosby to his role in the powerhouse band The Immediate Family, Steve shares stories, insights and reflections from a remarkable career. We dive into his emotional tribute project...

He’s back! After a brilliant deep-dive into his incredible career on last week’s episode, legendary bassist Nathan East returns to VRP Rocks – this time to take on My 5 Favourite. In this special episode, Nathan reveals the five favourite albums he’s ever played on, spanning decades of iconic recordings and unforgettable sessions. From chart-toppers to personal highlights, each pick comes with sto...

You've heard his basslines your whole life — you just didn’t know it. In this incredible episode, Nathan joins Paul to share jaw-dropping stories from his decades at the top of the music industry. Hear how he got his start with Barry White as a teenager, the spontaneous moment that led to writing Easy Lover with Phil Collins, what it was really like recording Bad with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jo...

Russ Ballard is back on VRP Rocks! In this exclusive interview, the legendary singer, songwriter, and musician talks to Paul about his brand new double album Songs from the Warehouse: The Hits Rewired. Russ opens up about the creative process behind 13 brand-new tracks written during lockdown, including the powerful and emotional “Courageous,” and shares insight into how he reimagined 13 of his bi...

On this episode of VRP Rocks, I sit down with Paul Rappaport, the legendary rock promotions executive who helped shape the careers of The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and so many more. His new book, Gliders Over Hollywood, reveals the craziest behind-the-scenes stories from the golden age of rock—some of which have never been told before! Paul shares ho...

On this episode of VRP Rocks, Peter Holsapple joins me to talk about his incredible career in music—from co-founding The dB’s, touring and recording with R.E.M., and spending 20 years with Hootie & the Blowfish, to his brand-new solo album, The Face of 68. Peter shares fascinating stories about: The dB’s – Their rise, critical acclaim, and struggles to break through in the U.S. R.E.M. – Touring th...

On this episode of VRP Rocks, I’m joined by legendary guitarist Tracii Guns—founder of L.A. Guns and an early member of Guns N’ Roses. From the Sunset Strip’s wildest days to the release of L.A. Guns’ brand-new album Leopard Skin, Tracii takes us on a journey through his incredible career. We dive into the new record, its bluesy, sleazy rock ‘n’ roll feel, and why Tracii sees it as a fresh chapter...

In this episode of VRP Rocks, I sit down with Tony Butler, best known as the bassist for Big Country and a musician with an impressive career spanning collaborations with Pete Townshend & The Pretenders. Tony shares fascinating stories from his time in Big Country, including the making of The Crossing, the pressures of the music industry and why he ultimately stepped away from the band. We also di...