VRP Rocks - Classic Rock Interviews

Legendary session bassist Guy Pratt returns to VRP Rocks to share his five favourite albums that he’s played on and the stories behind them. With a career spanning decades, Guy has worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Pink Floyd, Madonna, Bryan Ferry, Michael Jackson and Robert Palmer. In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes of the studio and on the road, revealing what...

Chris Thompson – The Voice of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band on Blinded By The Light, War of the Worlds & His Final Live Album Chris Thompson, the powerhouse voice behind Blinded By The Light, Davey’s on the Road Again, and co-writer of You’re The Voice, joins VRP Rocks for an in-depth conversation about his incredible career. From fronting Manfred Mann’s Earth Band to working with legends like Jeff Wa...

VRP Rocks is back for 2025! After a short break to build up a bank of interviews, we’re kicking off the year in style with a rock legend whose voice has defined multiple eras of classic rock. In this episode, I sit down with the one and only Graham Bonnet as he reflects on his incredible career, sharing his five personal favourite songs from his time in the music industry. From chart-topping hits...

In this very special Christmas episode of VRP Rocks, Paul Stephenson sits down with Merseybeat legend Billy J. Kramer to reflect on his incredible career and enduring passion for music. As one of the key figures of the British Invasion, Billy shares unforgettable stories about his early days on the Liverpool music scene, being discovered by John Lennon—who personally championed Billy’s career and...

From escaping communist Hungary through a perilous 7-mile tunnel to creating one of the most innovative supergroups in music history, Leslie Mándoki's life is nothing short of extraordinary. In this episode, I sit down with the legendary musician, producer and bandleader behind Mandoki Soulmates. We dive into Leslie's incredible journey, from bootlegging Western music behind the Iron Curtain to hi...

Ronnie James Dio: the name alone embodies heavy metal greatness. From Rainbow to Black Sabbath to his legendary solo band, Dio’s unmistakable voice and larger-than-life presence forever changed the world of rock and metal. In this very special episode of VRP Rocks, we celebrate the legacy of one of the greatest voices in music history. You’ll hear incredible stories from those who worked alongside...

 Zebra frontman Randy Jackson has a career spanning five decades. In this interview, Randy reflects on the incredible journey of Zebra, from their rise in the rock scene with classics like Who's Behind the Door and Tell Me What You Want, to the difficult second album and its follow up. We delve into Zebra’s history, their musical evolution and the upcoming celebration of their 50th anniversary - i...

Paul Langlois, guitarist of Canadian rock legends The Tragically Hip, reflects on the band’s journey from their early days recording their debut record in Memphis, to working with legendary producers like Don Smith and Bob Rock. He shares insights into the newly released Up to Here commemorative box set, packed with unreleased tracks, liner notes and a restored live show from 1990. With 9 #1 album...

In this My 5 Favourite episode of VRP Rocks, host Paul Stephenson chats with legendary session guitarist Waddy Wachtel, who reveals his top five favourite songs from his storied career. As one of rock’s most sought-after session guitarists, Waddy has shaped the sound of countless hits, working alongside some of the biggest names in music, including Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Keith Richards...

In this special My 5 Favourite episode of VRP Rocks, host Paul Stephenson sits down with legendary guitarist Bruce Kulick as he reveals his top five favourite albums from his prolific career. Known for his iconic work with KISS, Grand Funk Railroad, and a successful solo journey, Bruce takes listeners behind the scenes of some of his most treasured recordings. From early days as a budding guitaris...

In this special My 5 Favourite episode of VRP Rocks, host Paul Stephenson welcomes back Britt Lightning, the powerhouse guitarist of the legendary all-female rock band Vixen. Following last week’s in-depth interview about her career, Britt returns to reveal her five favourite guitarists, the legends who’ve inspired her the most! Find out who they are in this fun chat with one of rock's rising star...

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul interviews Britt Lightning, the lead guitarist of the legendary all-female rock band Vixen. Britt shares her incredible journey, from her early days of touring at just 17 years old to playing with Vince Neil (Mötley Crüe) and Steven Pearcy (Ratt). She also opens up about her work as musical director at Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, where she mentors musicians along...

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul welcomes back legendary Grand Funk Railroad frontman Mark Farner for another incredible conversation. Mark shares the inspiration behind his first new album in almost 20 years, "Closer to My Home", and the fascinating story of re-recording his iconic hit "I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)" in 432 Hz. Mark also reflects on his near-death experience, discusses his...

In this exciting episode of VRP Rocks, Paul sits down with legendary guitarist Bruce Kulick for an in-depth conversation spanning his entire career. From shredding with Kiss during their iconic non-makeup era where he helped shape the band’s sound on iconic albums like Asylum and Revenge. He also takes us back to his early days on the road with Meat Loaf during the Bat Out of Hell tour, reflecting...

In this episode of VRP Rocks, we dive deep into rock history with two legendary segments. First, we pay tribute to the genius of Jeff Beck, as six rock icons share their personal stories and insights on why Beck was the greatest guitarist of all time. Then, we crank up the volume for the ultimate showdown between The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. We analyze their streaming numbers on Spotify to...

In this episode of VRP Rocks, host Paul Stephenson sits down with legendary session musician, guitarist and producer Danny Kortchmar. Known for his work with iconic artists like James Taylor, Carole King, Don Henley and Jackson Browne, Danny shares his top 5 favourite songs that he’s worked on throughout his incredible career. From behind-the-scenes stories to insights into the creative process, t...

Today I speak with the founder and CEO of Drum Talk TV, Dan Shinder! Dan is here to talk about his personal 5 Favourite Drummers of all time - and he shares some fascinating stories along the way! Dan's life in drumming started at a really young age and he was in bands supporting the likes of Heart and Blue Oyster Cult when he was just 15 years old! His knowledge and love of music and musicians sh...

As sad news reached me about an hour ago of the sad passing of Greg Kihn, I thought I'd put out a short episode paying tribute and including some of the funniest stories Greg told me during our interview back in 2021. To hear the full interview check out episode 21 of VRP Rocks Hear behind-the-scenes tales, including a humorous encounter with Bruce Springsteen, and his collaboration with "Weird Al...

In this captivating episode, legendary drummer Simon Phillips takes us on a journey through his illustrious career, sharing insights into his favourite albums he's played on. Simon gives a behind-the-scenes look at recording tracks with musical luminaries like David Gilmour, Pete Townsend, and Jack Bruce. He delves into the intricacies of creating music, the significance of certain tracks he worke...

Buck Dharma, founding member of iconic rock band Blue Öyster Cult, takes centre stage on todays episode. Buck discusses his latest single "The End of Every Song," and delves into the band's reimagined record "Ghost Stories," using AI to revitalize previously unreleased tracks. Buck also reminisces about the band's early years, sharing insights about their massive hits like "Don't Fear the Reaper"...

In this weeks show we dive deep into some great records for a change. Tony Carey is back to talk about a brilliant collective of musicians who count Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson, Supertramp's John Helliwell and Simon Phillips amongst their number - plus his new efforts to remaster some of his most creative concept records as Planet P Project. The dark matter of Go Out Dancing Part 1: 1931 is fascina...

In this episode of VRP Rocks, we delve into the captivating world of music with Tony Carey as he unveils his top 5 most memorable recording sessions. As a renowned musician celebrated for his work with Rainbow and as a solo artist, Tony Carey intricately details the enchanting stories behind his collaborations with some of music's biggest legends. We hear about sessions that prompted the involveme...

In this episode renowned drummer Chris Slade shares captivating stories from his illustrious career. From his time with classic rock legends like AC DC, Jimmy Page, and David Gilmour, to his hits with Tom Jones and Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Chris Slade's journey is a treasure trove of music history. Get an inside look at his new album "Timescape," featuring original material and covers, highlight...

Terry Reid shares stories from his incredible career. From his early start in the industry, touring with the Rolling Stones on his 16th birthday, Reid's experiences are nothing short of legendary. The interview features captivating tales of his interactions with icons like Aretha Franklin, Steve Marriott, and Jimmy Page, offering a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the music industry during...

Step into the world of music history with renowned drummer Russ Kunkel as he unveils the captivating stories behind his top five favorite records. Experience the behind-the-scenes magic of influential albums that have left an indelible mark on the music industry. From studio collaborations with legendary artists to the creation of timeless classics, Russ shares exclusive insights into the making o...