VRP Rocks - Classic Rock Interviews

THE TROGGS, became superstars all around the world, topping charts globally with 'WILD THING'. They've been cited as influences for so many bands that followed as pioneers of heavy, raw guitar rock, garage rock and punk rock too. Their raunchy lyrics and memorable melodies helped set them as one of the great British bands of the 60s. Pete Staples was a main part of the band that achieved so much s...

American Pie has become a part of the fabric of America. Don McLean joins me this week to talk about the 50th anniversary of the album/song and to give his wider feelings on a awful lot of things. He talks about working on new material, being watched by the FBI, those early days of his career in the 60's with Pete Seeger and his family lineage which winds back here to a small Scottish island! Amer...

'MY SHARONA' was the biggest selling song in American in 1979 and was a number 1 hit all over the world. The album it came from, 'Get The Knack' was also a massive hit, number 1 in the US for 5 weeks and went platinum in a matter of months! Prescott Niles is The Knack's ever present bass player and on this episode he goes deep into the history of the band, the incredible highs and the incredible l...

Tony Martin is the former lead singer of the legendary, Black Sabbath. Sabbath's 'lead singer roll of honour' includes Ronnie James Dio and former Deep Purple men Ian Gillan and Glenn Hughes but Tony Martin remains the second longest serving lead singer of the band after Ozzy Osbourne! Tony fronted Sabbath for the best part of a decade recording five studio albums and a live album too. In this int...

With 3 top 10 albums - including the biggest selling UK album of 1972 - and 4 top 10 singles, Lindisfarne are one of the North East of England's most iconic groups! Songs like 'Run For Home', 'Meet Me On the Corner', 'Fog on the Tyne' and 'Lady Eleanor' are classics of the genre. Their legendary live performances in the early 70's garnered the band a huge following which still follow the group hal...

Mark Stein is the lead singer and keyboard player with influential band Vanilla Fudge and in this episode he tells stories that contain The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, Dave Mason and much more. Vanilla Fudge crashed into the public awareness with the release of their brilliantly re-arranged and reimagined version of "You Keep Me Hanging On". It gained them friends and fans on both side...

I get into the nitty gritty of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with American comedian JOE KWACZALA. He co-hosts "Who Cares About The Rock Hall" and is a self confessed Rock Hall obsessive. I bet he knows more about the Rock Hall than the people running the place! I grill him on the contentious topics, some of the controversies and put your questions to him - including the big one "Why don't they ju...

Dire Straits legend JOHN ILLSLEY returns to Vintage Rock Pod to tell me about the busy year he's had following the release of his highly acclaimed autobiography "My Life In Dire Straits" and ahead of his new studio album "VIII" and tour. We talk all about his friendship with Mark Knopfler, how Mark was involved in the book and audiobook, themes for the new album, what to expect from the intimate t...

Ellen Foley is famously known as the female singer on Meat Loaf's 'Bat Out of Hell' album, significantly duetting on 'Paradise By The Dashboard Light'. But she also had a great solo career, worked with The Clash and many others including Blue Oyster Cult as well as having a career on Broadway, on TV and in movies such as Cocktail with Tom Cruise. In this episode you'll hear Ellen tell me all about...

Ian Anderson has been the driving force behind JETHRO TULL for over half a century! With more than 60 million records sold worldwide, Jethro Tull can look back on a catalogue that contains classics such as 'Aqualung', 'Thick As A Brick', 'A Passion Play', 'Minstrel In The Gallery' and 'Stand Up' and now look forward when the release of 2022's 'The Zealot Gene'. In this fascinating interview, Ian,...

This special tribute show to Marvin Lee Aday, known to the world as MEAT LOAF, features contributions I've recorded with ELLEN FOLEY (female singer on the Bat Out Of Hell album), JOHN PARR (St Elmo's Fire singer and good friend) and UK national radio presenter CLAIRE STURGESS from Absolute Classic Rock. We also hear fan reactions to his sad passing from Mike Norris (My Classic Album podcast), Step...

We pay tribute to the stars of the classic rock world that sadly passed away in 2021. With contributions from some special guests we look back at the heroes that are sadly no longer with us and the legacy they leave behind. Part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Great Rock Stories Volume 1 is a mix of some of amazing tales told by some legendary stars, including 3 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees! You'll hear about The Beatles before they were famous, kicking the door down for women in rock, an iconic song that helped to bring down the iron curtain, the early days of punk in the UK, how Sting came to sing on one of MTV's most played videos, how it felt...

Jim McCarty is a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, inducted with his band, the legendary, ground breaking and iconic 60's group The Yardbirds! He played alongside some of the greatest guitarists of all time as the band boasted Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page among their number! Hear Jim talk about playing with these guys, plus stories of replacing the Rolling Stones, hearing a famous Beatles song...

Donnie Vie is the former frontman, lead singer, songwriter and guitar player with the band Enuff Z Nuff. Best known for their big singles 'New Thing' and 'Fly High Michelle', they were on heavy rotation on MTV, Howard Stern was a big fan and so too was David Letterman, having them multiple times on his show. Rolling Stone magazine even called them “The Hot Band of the Year” following their second...

Dave Brock has been the driving force behind legendary space rockers Hawkwind for over half a century! Although he's now 80 years old, he's steered the group to their 34th studio album release "Somnia" which superbly adds to the back catalogue which already includes 15 records that have made the UK Top 40! Hawkwind's career is a twisting tale and they count among their alumni legends such as Ginge...

John Lodge is a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer as part of the legendary British group, The Moody Blues. With sales of more than 70 million records worldwide 'The Moodies' broke new ground with their iconic "Days of Future Passed" album, one of the first successful concept albums. With big hits like 'Nights in White Satin', 'Ride My See-Saw', 'Your Wildest Dreams', 'Go Now' and 'I'm Just A Singer (In A...

Something a little different this week, I've been asked a few times to include some new wave or synth - so here you go! With platinum selling albums and multiple top 10 hits in the UK, US, Canada and Ireland plus playing at Live Aid Wembley Stadium, Howard Jones has had a great career so we'll hear some of his stories. Plus - we get an update of our fabulous VRP Rocks Artists Choice playlist, whic...

(Don't Fear) The Reaper is a masterpiece Blue Oyster Cult created in the mid-70's and almost half a century on it's still loved and played on the radio today. Albert Bouchard was a founding member of the group and tasted all the highs including hit albums Agents of Fortune and Fire of Unknown Origin as well as the hit singles Godzilla, Burning For You and the previously mentioned (Don't Fear) The...

This weeks show features one of my favourite interviews to date! My guest is an absolute legend, Carmine Appice! He's known as one of the true innovators of the heavy rock scene, in fact John Bonham learnt from him, as did many of the worlds greatest drummers.  In this extensive interview you'll hear Carmine tell some incredible and crazy stories about legends like Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin, Ozzy...

Dave Mason is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with his band Traffic, but there's so much more to his story! As well as a successful solo career in America, Dave also played and recorded with legends like The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac and his good friend, Jimi Hendrix! It's an incredible career for a man born in rural Worcest...

With 9 'Top 10' albums and 23 'Top 40' singles in the UK, Marillion are one of the most successful and enduring bands of the prog genre - and that's despite launching in the 80's, when prog was apparently dead following the punk and new wave movements! Their mix of prog, hard rock and AOR with distinctive lyrics and vocal styles has kept them on top of the game. Founding member and ever present gu...

The legendary, Rock n Roll Hall of Fame drummer who's worked with some of the biggest names in the business, shares his stories on this episode of Vintage Rock Pod! With his early band he cut his teeth as the opening act for The Beatles and the Rolling Stones before joining Midlands supergroup THE MOVE. The story of The Move is incredible with some huge records and a number 1 single, their song wa...

STYX garnered a huge following in the 70s and 80s with a fusion of hard rock, prog and acoustic styles that saw them sell more than 50 million records worldwide and have a string of hits with songs like "Babe", "The Best of Times", "Mr Roboto" and "Show Me The Way". Following Dennis DeYoung's departure in 1999, Lawrence Gowan has been lead vocalist and keyboard player with the band, joining after...

Slow Ride is a rock classic and Roger Earl from the band Foghat talks all about the hit and more on this weeks show! Roger is an Englishman who moved to the US in the early 70s and tells tales about the difficult early days, auditioning for Jimi Hendrix, breaking big in America and the current bands new live album "8 Days on the Road", US tour and their exclusive wine range! Plus a Mick Jagger mee...