Rock's Backpages

Barney Hoskyns, Mark Pringle, Jasper Murison-Bowie

Tales from the world's largest archive of music journalism: entertaining interviews with luminaries such as Neil Tennant, Billy Bragg, Pamela Des Barres, Gary Kemp, Vashti Bunyan, Midge Ure, Nick Hornby and Robyn Hitchcock. Thoughtful and informative conversations about all aspects of popular music history, interspersed with clips from exclusive audio interviews that date back to the mid-'60s.

The RBP podcast is hosted by Barney Hoskyns and Mark Pringle and co-hosted & produced by Jasper Murison-Bowie. We're a proud part of Pantheon — the podcast network for music lovers.

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231 episodes
Updated July 20
Explicit

Episodes231

Newest first

Sep 12, 2025 · 33 min
This Episode Goes 2 11: A Spinal Tap special with Alexis Petridis
Special "bonus" episode discussing timeless rock mockumentary This is Spinal Tap and its breathlessly-awaited sequel Spinal Tap II: The End Continues...
Sep 8, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
E210: Alexis Petridis on Acid House + The Guardian + CMAT + KISS
We're joined by Alexis Petridis, The Guardian's head rock and pop critic
Aug 26, 2025 · 1 hr 19 min
E209: David Nathan on Dionne Warwick + the Bee Gees + Michael Lydon R.I.P.
We invite David Nathan to look back on his illustrious 60 years as "the British Ambassador of Soul"
Aug 11, 2025 · 1 hr 23 min
E208: Byron Coley on Beefheart + Lydia Lunch + Terry Reid R.I.P.
We're joined by Byron Coley, champion of all things weird and non-mainstream
Jul 29, 2025 · 1 hr 24 min
E207: Val Mabbs on Record Mirror + Jimi Hendrix + Walker Bros. + Ozzy R.I.P.
Val Mabbs talks to us about writing for Record Mirror in the late '60s and early '70s
Jul 14, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
E206: John Niven on rock fiction + Bobby "Blue" Bland + Lou Reed audio
Novelist and screenwriter John Niven joins us to talk about his career and his acclaimed books
Jun 27, 2025 · 1 hr 22 min
E205: Tony Cummings on soul music + The Sound of Philadelphia
The great soul scribe Tony Cummings joins us to discuss the subject of his classic 1975 book The Sound of Philadelphia.
Jun 16, 2025 · 1 hr 37 min
E204: Chris Bohn in Europe + Sly Stone & Brian Wilson R.I.P.
We're joined in our Hammersmith lair by the highly respected Chris Bohn, known better these days by his alias Biba Kopf
Jun 2, 2025 · 1 hr 34 min
E203: Jonathan Gould on Talking Heads + Otis Redding + Richard Manuel
We're joined by acclaimed author and sometime drummer Jonathan Gould
May 19, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
E202: Paul Gambaccini on the radio + Rolling Stone + Beyoncé audio
We ask Paul Gambaccini about his 50+ years as one of Britain's best-loved broadcasters
May 5, 2025 · 1 hr 19 min
E201: Bob Merlis on Warner Bros. + Little Feat + Neil Young audio
For this episode we're joined – all the way from L.A. – by special guest Bob Merlis. The former head of publicity at Warner-Reprise Records in Burbank talks us through his musical odyssey from his Brooklyn childhood to his continuing PR work for the likes of ZZ Top and Carlene Carter. We hear about Bob's start at Record World in late '60s New York and the early '70s pieces he wrote for that trade publication and for Warners' short-lived Words & Music. Our guest then talks about his brief stints at RCA and Albert Grossman's Bearsville Records before touching on key acts and moments in the nearly three decades he spent in Burbank: Little Feat's Lowell George, Jerry Wexler producing Etta James and Warners president Joe Smith roasting the infamous Morris Levy. Clips from Dave Zimmer's 1988 audio interview with Neil Young prompt discussion of that quintessential Reprise artist (and his comrades in CSNY). After Mark quotes from pieces about Elektra Records dropping the MC5 and free-improv guitarist Derek Bailey, Jasper talks us out with reflections on the musical passions of footballer Rio Ferdinand and Houston rapper Chamillionaire. Many thanks to special guest Bob Merlis. For info on Bob's PR work, visit https://mfhpr.com/m-f-h-at-20. Pieces discussed: R&B is B(l)ack and Involved, Jerry Wexler Crosses Tracks for Tony Joe, Todd Rundgren Warps Time, Lowell George Talks About Little Feat, Little Feat Keeps On Truckin', Little Feat: How To Construct a "Critics' Band", Neil Young audio, Elektra Records Kicks Out MC5, Derek Bailey: Themes on Improvisation, The Record Doctor: Rio Ferdinand and Chamillionaire: Change.
Apr 22, 2025 · 1 hr 21 min
E200: Celebrating 200 episodes of the Rock's Backpages podcast
We celebrate the last four years with clips from twelve of the best 100 shows we've recorded in that time
Apr 7, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
E199: Phil Sutcliffe on Sounds + Gang of Four + Eric Clapton
Veteran music scribe Phil Sutcliffe joins us to discuss his years on Sounds, Q and MOJO
Mar 24, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
E198: Havelock Nelson on Hip Hop + Missy Elliott + Atlantic Records
We're joined all the way from Harlem in New York City by venerable hip hop writer Havelock Nelson
Mar 10, 2025 · 1 hr 17 min
E197: Siân Pattenden on Select + the Bangles + David Johansen
We're joined in person by the delightful Siân Pattenden, author of the Agatha Bilke and Magical Peppers children's book series
Feb 24, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
E196: Daniel Wolff & Danny Alexander on Dave Marsh + Curtis Mayfield
Our guests reflect on Dave Marsh's powerful writing, his impassioned politics and his career from Creem and Rolling Stone to the Rock & Roll (subsequently Rock & Rap) Confidential newsletter
Feb 10, 2025 · 1 hr 18 min
E195: Danny Goldberg on Led Zeppelin + Nirvana + Gil Scott-Heron
Music-biz legend Danny Goldberg joins us to discuss Led Zeppelin, Kurt Cobain and Gil Scott-Heron
Jan 27, 2025 · 57 min
E194: Gene Sculatti on San Francisco + the Band's Garth Hudson R.I.P.
Gene Sculatti talks us through his career from Crawdaddy! magazine to the Atomic Cocktail radio show
Jan 13, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
E193: Michael Goldberg on photography + Taj Mahal + Addicted to Noise
Former Rolling Stone staffer and Bay Area photographer Michael Goldberg joins us to reminisce about his music journalism
Dec 23, 2024 · 1 hr 14 min
E192: Pat Kane on Hue & Cry + Sinatra + Chic + '80s Brit soul
Pat Kane joins us to discuss his dual career as a musician and writer