VRP Rocks - Classic Rock Interviews

Legendary songwriter and producer Desmond Child spills all the juiciest details from his career including working with Kiss, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper and more! He shares the quirky backstories and surprising inspirations behind timeless classics such as "Living on a Prayer", "I Was Made for Loving You", "Dude Looks Like a Lady", "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and many more. It's a fascina...

Paul is joined by the legendary drummer Simon Phillips, known for his work with classic rock icons like Judas Priest, Toto, The Who, Jeff Beck, and many more. Simon shares captivating stories from his illustrious career, including his experiences as a session musician, his work with different bands, and the challenges he faced along the way. Join us as Simon Phillips takes us on a journey through...

In this special Side 2 episode, Paul sits down with Stewart Copeland, the renowned drummer and co-founder of The Police, to discuss the release of his new book, "Stewart Copeland's Police Diaries." The book provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the formative years of The Police, chronicling their journey from struggling musicians to conquering superstars. Get ready to hear Stewart Copeland sha...

For the first time in VRP Rocks history, this episode is out on location! WinterStorm Festival 2023, held in the small west coast town of Troon in Scotland, attracted an unbelievable array of classic rock bands to the three day spectacular and Paul was there to soak up the atmosphere and mingle. Headliners included Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth and Graham Bonnet as well as many other classic acts...

Known for his impressive work with bands like Dokken, Warlock and Doro, Jon Levin takes us on a journey through his musical career, sharing insights, stories, and his passion for creating authentic music. From a young age, Jon showed his musical talent by playing various instruments but it was the guitar that captivated him and ignited his passion for rock music. Inspired by guitar gods like Eric...

Todays very special guest, is Mike Derosier, the renowned drummer of the iconic band Heart. Mike Derosier, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, shares his fascinating experiences from his time with Heart, from the 1970s to the early 1980s, contributing his incredible drumming skills to multiple platinum-selling albums. Listen in as Mike talks about his early days with Heart, joining the band, an...

Rudy Sarzo—an iconic figure in the world of rock music—opens up about his fascinating journey, from his early days playing in club bands with his brother to his professional career with renowned bands like Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Blue Oyster Cult, and Dio. An insightful and multifaceted individual, Sarzo takes us on an intriguing exploration that spans from music to quantum physics,...

Legendary drummer Vinny Appice, known for his iconic work with Black Sabbath and Dio, has had an incredible career that spans decades and includes collaborations with some of the biggest names in rock. In this episode, Vinny shares exclusive stories and insights about his time working with John Lennon, recalling playing with the legendary musician on his last ever live show when Vinny was just 16...

Today's special interview is with Dutch guitarist Adrian Vandenberg! In this episode, Adrian, renowned for his work with bands like Vandenberg and Whitesnake shares captivating stories from his early struggles in Holland to his time in Whitesnake, including encounters with legends like Jimmy Page, Brian May, AC/DC, and David Coverdale. You'll hear what it was like to join Whitesnake just before th...

In this special Side 2 episode of VRP Rocks, host Paul Stephenson sits down with blues rock guitar legend, Joe Bonamassa, for a quick chat about his new album Blues Deluxe Vol.2 and tour. Joe reflects on the first Blues Deluxe album and the inspiration behind this latest release, Vol 2. With his melodic guitar playing and rich vocals, Joe talks about his growth as a musician and singer over the pa...

VRP Rocks takes listeners on a musical journey through the fascinating career of guitar player Doug Aldrich. From his early influences and auditions with iconic bands like Kiss to his time working alongside legends Ronnie James Dio and David Coverdale, Doug shares intriguing stories and valuable insights. The conversation delves into his early years with Lion and Hurricane, where their success in...

Join us for as we dive into the world of one of the most influential bands in rock history, The Yardbirds! In this special edition of "My 5 Favorites," we sit down with the legendary Jim McCarty, drummer and founding member of The Yardbirds, as he takes us on a journey through his personal selection of the band's best songs. In the first part of the episode, Jim McCarty talks about the band's brea...

VRP sits down with the legendary guitarist Martin Barre, former member of Jethro Tull, to discuss his remarkable journey and the highs and lows of his career. Martin Barre's success didn't come easily, and he openly shares the challenges he faced after getting his foot in the door. Despite feeling like he was on his own, Barre remained loyal to his band and appreciated the hard work they put in. H...

Welcome to the milestone 100th episode of VRP Rocks, where we bring you exclusive interviews with the biggest names in rock music. In this special episode, Paul plays you his exclusive new interview with the one and only Peter Frampton. Join us as we celebrate this momentous occasion and thank our incredible listeners for their unwavering support over the years. We give a special shoutout to those...

We have a special treat for guitar enthusiasts as we sit down with the legendary Uli Jon Roth! Known for his incredible talent and iconic contributions to bands like the Scorpions, Uli shares his journey with the guitar and how he honed his craft. From his early years to his dedication and practice, Uli reveals the secrets behind his exceptional playing ability. But that's not all! We also delve i...

Paul sits down again with John Illsley, renowned member of the legendary band Dire Straits. As part of the new series "My Five Favourite," John takes us on a journey through his most beloved songs from the bands back catalogue. Join us as we dive deep into the stories, meanings, and creative processes behind these classic tracks. John shares stories from the songs, such as being transported back t...

Dee Snider needs no introduction. With huge success in the 80s, his career seemed unstoppable. Dee takes us through his career, recounting some incredible and hair-raising moments from his time in Twisted Sister From being the target of bottle-throwing crowds to the intense energy of iconic festivals like Reading and Donnington, he has seen it all. Through his candid storytelling, you'll learn how...

This man has played with the best of the best! Voted Number 1 session drummer in the world by Modern Drummer Magazine 5 times and 3 times by Drum Magazine - not to mention appearing on Rolling Stone Magazines list of the 100 Greatest drummers of all time! He's played and recorded with McCartney & Ringo, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Tony Iommi, Meat Loaf, John Fogerty, John Mellenca...

Paul sits down with the legendary lead singer and guitarist of Status Quo, Francis Rossi! Join us as we delve into the incredible journey of one of the most iconic rock bands in the history of the UK Charts. With a staggering 60 Top 40 singles, including an impressive 22 that soared into the Top 10, and an astonishing 25 Top 10 albums, Status Quo's impact is undeniable. Tune in as we uncover the s...

Welcome to VRP Rocks, where today we dive deep into a legendary moment of rock history! In this episode, titled "Live Aid: Musicians Remember," we are joined by 3 musicians who played the Wembley show as they take us on a journey back to the iconic concert for Live Aid in 1985. Our guests share their personal memories of being part of Live Aid, the groundbreaking fundraising initiative organized b...

Check out VRP Rocks Radio : https://live365.com/station/VRP-Rocks-Radio-a61270 - the 24/7 online classic rock station unlike any other classic rock radio! Playing deep cuts and forgotten bands, give it a try, you won't regret it! We have an exclusive interview with the legendary guitarist and composer, STEVE VAI! Join us as we dive deep into the fascinating journey of this musical icon, from his e...

Welcome to a special bonus episode of the VRP Rocks, where we take look at the life and legend of the one and only Jimi Hendrix. Join us as we embark on a captivating journey through time, as legendary musicians such as Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Mark Farner from Grand Funk Railroad, Dave Mason, Albert Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult, Mark Stein from Vanilla Fudge, and Roger Earl of Foghat reveal t...

On Episode 94, we have a treat in store for you as we sit down with the incredible Tony Carey, keyboard extraordinaire! We explore his career which of course includes his time with Ritchie Blackmore in Rainbow and the invaluable contributions he made to their iconic album Rainbow Rising! But that's not all. We also dive deeper into Tony Carey's career, his remarkable solo journey, delivering Billb...

Join us as we delve into the remarkable career of Guy Pratt, a true virtuoso of the bass guitar. From his iconic collaborations with Pink Floyd, joining the group after Roger Waters left, to his work with renowned artists like Madonna, Bryan Ferry, Gary Moore, Echo and the Bunnymen, Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart and Kirsty MacColl, Guy's bass lines have shaped the sound of music for decades. In thi...

On this week's big interview show we are delving back into the past to play you some more brilliant clips from the archive! This week we hear from 2 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, a Canadian star, a Brit whose band found fame in the US, an American drummer whose career goes back to the 60s and a British prog rock guitarist! We hear stories about being sued by the British Prime Minister, rec...