VRP Rocks - Classic Rock Interviews

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...

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...