VRP Rocks - Classic Rock Interviews

On this weeks show I’ve got a Scottish singer who’s worked with some real legends of rock! He was part of Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and sang for many years with Yngwie Malmsteen and Michael Schenker, toured with Graham Bonnet on many occasions and was recently confirmed as the new lead singer of Alcatrazz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paul Carrack has had an incredible career with so many hits on both sides of the Atlantic for a huge number of incredible groups. He's the main man behind Ace’s 1974 hit “How Long”, vocalist on the Squeeze song “Tempted”, lead singer in Mike + The Mechanics, he’s also toured with Eric Clapton for a decade or more, played Roger Waters famous The Wall show in Berlin singing "Hey You", been part of R...

Jorma Kaukonen is not only a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee but with his band Jefferson Airplane he was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Grammy’s too while Rolling Stone magazine ranked him in the top 100 guitarists of all time. In this interview Jorma talks all about the burgeoning psychedelic scene in San Francisco in the 60s, performing with Janis Joplin before they were both fa...

This weeks Side 2 features an interview with Cutting Crew frontman NICK VAN EEDE! (I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight was a worldwide hit for the band and the man behind it has a great story to tell which includes touring behind the iron curtain with Slade, being championed by Chas Chandler of the Animals, being Richard Branson's first success with Virgin Records in America, Branson's famous partie...

Steve Lukather is the legendary ever-present guitarist in Toto. In this fun interview we talk all about Toto's big records, including (of course) Africa, plus his stories of working with so many of music's greatest names including Paul McCartney, George Harrison & Ringo Starr, Lionel Richie, Bob Dylan & Jeff Beck and about working on every track on the worlds biggest selling album of all time; Mic...

Jeff Pilson rose to fame as an integral member of DOKKEN in the heady days of 80s. 3 platinum albums and 10 million record sales in 5 years put the group at the top of the scene, but the tumultuous balance in the group meant it wasn't to last. Jeff talks openly about his time in DOKKEN, how he felt when they broke up and more.  He also talks of his admiration for his friend RONNIE JAMES DIO, whom...

He rocked the Sunset Strip during the decade of decadence as frontman of one of the leading metal bands of the era. 4 multi-platinum albums, 20 million record sales and a string of hit singles puts RATT at forefront of the hair metal/glam rock movement. Stephen Pearcy talks to me all about the 80s in L.A., his friendship with Eddie Van Halen, the sad passing of Tawny Kitaen, his hit records and ab...

As founder and ever present member of FREE and BAD COMPANY, Simon Kirke has had an incredible career! In this extensive interview he talks openly about many things including his friendship with Paul Rodgers, regrets over what happened to Paul Kossoff, addictions, the stories behind one of the most played rock songs of all time, his honest thoughts on the Brian Howe era of Bad Company, playing live...

Rat Scabies, a name synonymous with the 70's punk scene was an integral part of punk pioneers, The Damned! Hear him talk all about those early formative years of the movement with stories about Malcolm McLaren, Sid Vicious and the Anarchy in the UK tour, the bands transition into the darker goth rock scene, the relationships in the band, the planned reunion for the 2022 tour and about his cigar bo...

Ten Years After shot to worldwide fame with their blistering set at the legendary Woodstock Festival in 1969. Platinum albums, hit singles and more followed with new music on the cards more than 50 years on. RIC LEE tells the story of the band, Woodstock, sharing a room with Janis Joplin and her band, the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, getting a standing ovation in a French pub and much more!  Learn...

On this episode you will find out directly from some legendary musical stars, what their own favourite songs are from their own back catalogue. You'll hear Joe Lynn Turners favourite Rainbow track, Geoff Downes favourite ASIA track, Doug Cosmo Cliffords choice from Creedence Clearwater Revival, the favourite Uriah Heep song from Mick Box, which song meant the most to Lee Aaron, Jim Peteriks favour...

Doug 'Cosmo' Clifford has just turned 76 and is battling the effects of Parkinsons disease - but that's not stopping him from releasing another album! As part of Creedence Clearwater Revival, one of the worlds biggest selling groups of the late 60s/early 70s, Cosmo kept the beat as they released hit after hit, selling millions of records, performing at the legendary Woodstock Festival of 1969 and...

Live music is slowly returning! On this weeks 'VRP Side 2' we speak to Chris Sumby, an organiser of the Stonedead Festival in the UK about the challenges of organising a music event during these difficult times. We also speak to a big concert fan from the US and get the latest classic rock news with from Tim Peacock, an author and music journalist with Record Collector Magazine and Universal Music...

Having a hit song at 15, partying with Led Zeppelin at 19, a brush with death, the call from Sylvester Stallone that led to The Eye of the Tiger and so much more - Jim Peterik tells some incredible stories from his life and times with bands like Ides Of March, Survivor, Pride of Lions and more with a few songs played on guitar along the way!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad...

Thunder's latest album crashed into the UK Album Chart at number 3 on its first week of release and the bands frontman stopped by this week to talk all about it! Thunder are one of the biggest English hard rock bands of their generation, formed in the late 80's, they saw off the alternative and Britpop movements to consistently produce music that sold into the 90s and beyond. I caught up with lead...

Blinded By The Light may be a Bruce Springsteen original, but it was Manfred Mann's Earth Band who had the worldwide hit with it that still sounds great today! On this episode I'm joined by Mick Rogers, guitarist and vocalist who joined Manfred in 1970! He talks openly about his time with the band, having huge hits with other peoples songs, why he lost his head and left the group and then re-joini...

Robert Berry is a Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer and has worked with some of the biggest names in rock - Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer (ELP), Sammy Hagar, Steve Howe (YES) and more. In our interview he talks about being invited over from America to London, working with his musical heroes, the great work he does with the Decemberists and his new album featur...

Another exclusive interview! Mick Box, the legendary guitarist from URIAH HEEP, spoke first to VRP Rocks about the band having to reschedule their 50th anniversary tour. Mick also opens up about his 50 years in rock, the camaraderie and competition with Deep Purple and Black Sabbath in the early 70s, his sadness about not being able to persuade David Byron to re-join the group and the incredible f...

Including one of the most fun interviews I've ever done, this episode is another double interview show with the great entertainer Greg Kihn telling his wonderful stories that include Bruce Springsteen, flying saucers, after hours events at a church and so much more! Also interviewed is Greg Gilmore, drummer with Mother Love Bone, to talk about previously unreleased music set to be heard from his t...

Steve Fossen formed the band that went on to become a multi-million selling phenomenon and Rock Hall of Fame Inductees, Heart! Hear him tell us some incredible stories about his time in the group and with the Wilson sisters plus much more including tours with Nazareth and Rod Stewart and the Faces. Also on this episode we hear from author Edwin Ammerlaan talking about his new Pink Floyd book, 'Los...

We have 2 more rock star interviews on this episode, both shooting to fame in the 70s! Thijs Van Leer yodelled his way to the world's attention when his group, prog rockers FOCUS, hit the big time with their single Hocus Pocus. Also on this show we hear from bass player Chris Hook from the band Voyager whose song, Halfway Hotel, became a hit in Europe and in Australia! We also find out the latest...

What a show! It doesn't come any more rock n roll than stories about The Beatles, Thin Lizzy, David Bowie, Alice Cooper and Elvis - and that's what you'll hear from our two guests on this episode! DAMON JOHNSON had number 1 singles in the US rock charts in the 90's and has played with some incredible bands; hear about his musical story and about his new band and fantastic new album. Plus we speak...

Geoff Downes has had an incredible life and career, effortlessly succeeding in pop, new wave, prog and rock as part of groups like The Buggles, Yes and Asia! Hear him talk about all the highlights in this wide ranging interview, including news on his new album and possible future releases featuring bandmate John Wetton who sadly passed away a few years ago.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Lee Aaron was one of the few successful hard rock female vocalists of the 80s, going multi-platinum in Canada and having hit records across Europe. In this insightful interview hear her tell us openly about her early life and musical influences, gruelling tours, falling out of love with her hit songs, going bankrupt, bouncing back in the jazz world and then returning to rock with a new album on th...

His band has been rocking for over 50 years, inspired Axl Rose, released what is seen as the first rock ballad and had one of the biggest selling singles in Norway's history! In this episode you'll hear an interview with charismatic Scottish rocker, PETE AGNEW from NAZARETH! He tells wonderful stories which include Deep Purple and Guns n Roses plus plans for a new album and his thoughts on retirem...