The Strange Brew - artist stories behind the greatest music ever recorded

Steve Berlin revisits Los Angeles during its most volatile creative period, the late 1970s and early 1980s, when rent was $170 a month and sewage regularly seeped into the Cathay de Grande, the basement club where Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs held their Monday night residency. Berlin recalls producing and playing on their newly reissued album Pigus Drinkus Maximus and joining Los Lobos after they’d spent years developing east of the LA River, completely off the west side scene’s radar. He also addresses the Graceland controversy head-on: Paul Simon’s failure to credit Los Lobos for writing the music to ‘All Around the World or The Myth of Fingerprints.’ Berlin also discusses his work with REM, producing Faith No More, and offers a moving tribute to Mavericks frontman Raul Malo. Further information Pigus Drunkus Maximus Steve Berlin podcast tracks Podcasts also available: Steve Wynn – The Dream Syndicate, Matt Piucci – Rain Parade, John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson, Harold Bronson – founder of Rhino Records This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Gods Walking the Earth: Steve Berlin Remembers the LA Music Scene That Made Los Lobos and Top Jimmy appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Vox, lead vocalist of Chameleons, discusses the group’s successful reformation and their latest album Arctic Moon. The conversation explores the Chameleons’ origins in Manchester’s late 1970s post-punk scene, their breakthrough John Peel session, and challenging relationships with CBS Records and producer Steve Lillywhite. Vox reflects on their early years and the tensions that led to the band’s original dissolution. Throughout, the conversation highlights the Chameleons’ status as one of the most influential guitar bands of the 1980s, whose atmospheric sound has cemented their legacy as Manchester’s most underrated musical export. Further information chameleonsband.com Chameleons podcast tracks Podcasts also available: Steve Diggle – Buzzcocks, David Gedge – The Wedding Present, Peter Perrett – The Only Ones, Andy Gill – Gang of Four, Barry Adamson – Magazine This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Vox – Chameleons appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Damon Minchella, founding bassist and songwriter of Ocean Colour Scene, and longtime collaborator with Paul Weller and Richard Ashcroft, talks about his time in music. Damon reflects on a remarkable career spanning Britpop’s rise, creative battles with major labels, his friendship with Oasis, and performing with The Who for Live 8 and Paul McCartney for War Child. He also discusses his autobiography You’d Look Good on a Donkey, the realities behind Ocean Colour Scene’s success, and how a life-changing injury led him into academia while continuing to tour at the highest level. Further information Damon Minchella: You’d Look Good On A Donkey: Britpop, Basslines & Bad(Ish) Decisions Podcasts also available: Steve Cradock, Stephen Street, Billy Bragg, Lynval Golding, Bruce Foxton This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Damon Minchella – Ocean Colour Scene appeared first on The Strange Brew .

In 1968, a group of Luton apprentices started creating a rock opera. Chris Stokes and his band Genesis (not that Genesis) conceived a concept album with baroque piano arrangements and experimental passages, then packed it away and got on with their day jobs. For over 50 years, this album and other material spanning a decade, existed only on deteriorating tape and acetates. Chris recorded with various lineups from the mid-1960s including The Mantis Set, Genesis, and Sunday Painter, mostly at home on a Revox tape machine; self-financed, largely improvised, never properly released. Then Dimorphodons from Hand of Glory Records bought a battered Hohner keyboard on eBay for £10, heard a sample track, and discovered a treasure trove of lost British psychedelia. Chris and Dimorphodons share highlights from this incredible archive, with the bulk of these tracks heard in public for the first time. Further information handofglory.co.uk A Story By The Genesis The Genesis – podcast tracks Podcasts also available: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1967, A Kaleidoscope Of Sounds Psychedelic & Freakbeat Masterpieces, Arthur Brown, Hawkwind’s Days of the Underground, Pete Brown – Cream/Jack Bruce This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post The Genesis That Time Forgot: Unearthed British Psychedelia appeared first on The Strange Brew .

James Warren joins us to talk through a life in songs, from the playful invention of Stackridge to the studio-bound success of The Korgis. James reflects on writing Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime, why its acoustic reworking finally restored a lost verse, and how choices around touring shaped the band’s fate. Along the way he discusses working with George Martin, later reformations, and highlights from recent Korgis releases. Further information thekorgis.com James Warren podcast tracks Podcasts also available: James Warren (2017), Chris Difford, Gordon Haskell, Steve Harley, Karl Wallinger This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post James Warren – Stackridge, The Korgis appeared first on The Strange Brew .

In The Strange Brew’s 500th episode, Colin Blunstone returns to talk about his One Year and More live box set. Colin reflects on the development of his songwriting, collaborating with Rod Argent and Chris White and the making his early solo albums. He looks back on The Zombies and Odessey and Oracle and the lasting impact of their music. He also discusses working with Alan Parsons and his plans for live dates and new material in 2026. Further information One Year and More: Live from Union Chapel Colin Blunstone website Colin Blunstone 2025 podcast tracks Podcasts also available: Colin Blunstone (2021), Colin Blunstone (2015), Chris White (2025), Chris White (2019), Rod Argent, Hugh Grundy, Russ Ballard, Mike Hurst, Alan Parsons This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Colin Blunstone on One Year, The Zombies and New Music appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Matt Piucci joins us for a journey through Rain Parade’s story from the early 1980s Los Angeles music scene to the present day. Across a hand-picked set of tracks, Matt looks back at the group’s earliest recordings, the friendships that grew out of the Paisley Underground, and the way their influences found their way into Emergency Third Rail Power Trip and Explosions in the Glass Palace LPs. The conversation follows Rain Parade into their Island years and the projects that kept Matt and Steven Roback writing. Matt closes by reflecting on the rediscovery of their music by a new wave of groups and the run of new releases that has carried them to today. Further information Rain Parade website Matt Piucci podcast tracks Podcasts also available: Steve Wynn – The Dream Syndicate, John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson, Iain Matthews, Will Sergeant – Echo & the Bunnymen This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Matt Piucci – Rain Parade appeared first on The Strange Brew .

John McFee speaks in depth about his work with Southern Pacific, Jackdawg and his session career. He explains how Southern Pacific evolved, why Jackdawg’s album has been rediscovered, and why the focus of his songwriting is not with The Doobie Brothers. He also looks back at Clover’s time in the UK, backing Elvis Costello on My Aim Is True, and the steady flow of session work with Van Morrison, the Grateful Dead, and Steve Miller. John closes with an update on his solo project. Further information Jackdawg’s album Podcasts also available: Stu Cook – Jackdawg and Creedence, Pete Briquette – The Boomtown Rats, Jorma Kaukonen – Jefferson Airplane, John Mayall This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post John McFee – Clover, The Doobie Brothers, Southern Pacific, Jackdawg appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Graham Parker reveals the story behind his debut album Howlin’ Wind. Parker recalls his journey from suburban Surrey to the London music scene, his early jobs, and the moment he found his sound – a mix of soul, R&B and sharp songwriting. He looks back at the formation of The Rumour, his partnership with Dave Robinson, and the whirlwind that led to Howlin’ Wind and Heat Treatment being released within months of each other. Parker also reflects on his later work, collaborations, and enduring independence as an artist. Throughout, we hear why his debut stands as one of the strongest opening statements in British rock. Further information Graham Parker’s Howlin’ Wind by Jay Nachman The Official Graham Parker website Podcasts also available: Bruce Thomas – Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Clem Burke – Blondie, Pete Briquette – The Boomtown Rats, Pub rock and the birth of new wave This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Graham Parker appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Billy Bragg talks about his life in music and activism, from his early days and the DIY spirit of Life’s a Riot with Spy vs Spy to new book Billy Bragg – A People’s History. He reflects on his experiences during the miners’ strike and Red Wedge, and the belief that songs can inspire people to think the world can be changed. Bragg also discusses the influence of Woody Guthrie, the meaning of progressive patriotism, and why he still finds purpose in writing songs that challenge and connect. Further information billybragg.com Podcasts also available: Will Sergeant – Echo & the Bunnymen, Rick Buckler – The Jam, Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon, Martin Carthy This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Billy Bragg appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Annie Haslam and Jim McCarty discuss the origins and evolution of Renaissance ahead of their special run of four shows. They reflect on how the band was formed after Jim’s time in The Yardbirds, Annie’s audition and early tours, the impact of lyricist Betty Thatcher, and how Renaissance found their audience in America. This is one of the rare times Annie and Jim have appeared together, and they speak openly about the changing lineups, and creative turning points that shaped the group’s sound. Further information The History of Renaissance live – Nov 21 & 22: IL Edwardsville The Wildey Theatre, Nov 28: NJ The Newton Theatre, Nov 29: NJ Lansdowne Theatre Podcasts also available: Annie Haslam, Jim McCarty (2021), John Fiddler – Medicine Head, John Lodge – The Moody Blues, Rick Wakeman This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Annie Haslam & Jim McCarty: The Story of Renaissance appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Peter Hammill and Van der Graaf Generator have influenced artists from David Bowie to John Lydon, yet Peter has always worked on the edge of the mainstream. In this conversation, he reflects on why revisiting the past felt strange and affirming, the spirit of progressive rock and punk, and the satisfaction of sustaining an independent musical life. Further information sofasound.com The Charisma & Virgin Recordings 1971-1986 and Joe Banks – Rock and Role Podcasts also available: Ian Anderson, Steve Howe on Dylan, Hendrix & YES, Mark Andes – Spirit, Anthony Phillips  This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Peter Hammill appeared first on The Strange Brew .

brendan b. brown of Wheatus marks 25 years since Teenage Dirtbag first turned the band from New York outsiders into a phenomenon. brendan talks about the dark story behind its lyrics, and why it continues to connect with new generations. He reflects on the freedom and struggle of going independent, and how their live shows have been driven by audience requests. Along the way he revisits fan favourites, explains the group’s love of cover versions, and looks ahead to their 25th anniversary UK tour. Further information wheatus.com – shows Podcasts also available: John Flansburgh – They Might Be Giants, Steven Page – Barenaked Ladies, Prescott Niles – The Knack, KT Tunstall This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post brendan b brown – Wheatus appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Stu Cook, bassist and founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival, talks about the band’s early years, their rise and the chemistry that fuelled their success. He speaks frankly about working with John Fogerty, including his reaction to Fogerty’s recent re-recordings of Creedence material, and reflects on the tensions that led to the band’s split. Stu also introduces the long-lost Jackdawg recordings, made with John McFee and Keith Knudsen and now finally being released after more than three decades. Further information Jackdawg’s album Podcasts also available: Doug Clifford, Leland Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, John Illsley – Dire Straits This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Stu Cook – Creedence Clearwater Revival and Jackdawg appeared first on The Strange Brew .

More than fifty years after Barclay James Harvest helped define a uniquely English strain of symphonic rock, John Lees remains its quietly determined heart. With John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest, he continues to balance grandeur with introspection. Their new album Relativity, revisits familiar terrain of love and the search for meaning, guided by the notion that time and emotion are intertwined. Lees reflects on the long road to completing Relativity, his formative years in Barclay James Harvest, nights recording at Abbey Road, playing John Lennon’s guitar, and why songs like Child of the Universe and Hymn still carry a plea for peace in a world that feels out of balance. Further information barclayjamesharvest.com John Lees podcast tracks Podcasts also available: Wally Waller – The Pretty Things, John Lodge – The Moody Blues, Gary Brooker – Procol Harum, Ian Anderson – Jethro Tull, Steve Rothery – Marillion This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post John Lees – Barclay James Harvest appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Archivist and producer Rob Caiger talks about the painstaking work behind Nice Records, the label dedicated to restoring classic recordings from the archives of Small Faces and Humble Pie. Caiger recalls discovering forgotten master tapes in Kenny Jones’s flight cases and explains how these finds have allowed albums like The Autumn Stone and As Safe As Yesterday Is to be heard as they were originally intended. He reflects on the creative energy of the late 1960s, the collapse of Immediate Records, and why physical records still matter in an age of streaming. Further information nicerecords.co.uk Podcasts also available: Phill Brown on Small Faces’ Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake, Andrew Loog Oldham, PP Arnold, Billy Nicholls This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Nice and Immediate: Rob Caiger on Rescuing Small Faces and Humble Pie appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Judie Tzuke has always been slightly out of step with the story people wanted to tell about her. The industry tried to polish her into a pop star, but she was too honest, too much herself. When ‘Stay With Me Till Dawn’ hit in 1979, the press had her down as the glamorous new face of British songwriting, but in truth she was navigating personal tragedy. That contrast has never really left her work. Since then she’s written songs that feel both fragile and defiant, moving between intimacy and drama with an ease that is hers alone. Along the way there have been Elton John’s Rocket Records, Brian May turning up as a fan, Nigel Kennedy adding his bow, and more than a few albums that deserve the word “overlooked.” For Judie, music has been therapy, armour and survival kit. Stage fright, harsh critics, illness; all of it has been folded back into the songs. In this podcast, Judie reflects on her remarkable life and imminent UK Tour with Beth Nielsen Chapman. We hear her near misses, the unexpected triumphs, and the quiet resilience that has kept her in music. Further information Judie Tzuke website Judie Tsuke podcast tracks Podcasts also available: John Rhino Edwards, Sam Brown, KT Tunstall, Kate Bush – Her Life and Music This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Judie Tzuke appeared first on The Strange Brew .

It’s Halloween night, 1975. A bunch of Irish lads are halfway through their first gig when Bob Geldof rubs out the band name on a blackboard and replaces it with something better: The Boomtown Rats. Half the set as The Nightlife Thugs, half as The Boomtown Rats. Fast-forward fifty years and I’m talking with Pete Briquette, the man who decided to pick up the bass at the first rehearsal and never looked back. We chat about the Rats’ brand-new anthology, their upcoming tour, and the realisation that their songs still pack a punch. Pete remembers how ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ broke them internationally, the thrill of hearing ‘Rat Trap’ go to number one from a pub phone box in rural Ireland, and the slightly surreal feeling of being on stage at Live Aid. He also tips us off that there are 10–15 unreleased Rats tracks still waiting in the wings. Fifty years on, the Boomtown Rats still make audiences smile, jump around, and leave a venue buzzing. Not bad for a band that started out as an escape plan. Further information theboomtownratsofficial.com Podcasts also available: Paul Rappaport, Clem Burke – Blondie, Eric Bell – Thin Lizzy, Will Sergeant – Echo & the Bunnymen, Martin Gordon – Sparks, Radio Stars This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Pete Briquette – The Boomtown Rats appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Michael Schenker talks about new album Don’t Sell Your Soul, the second part of a trilogy that reclaims his story. Too many people think it all began with MSG in 1980, but Schenker is here to set the record straight, going back to his UFO years in the 70s when his riffs became the backbone of some of the greatest hard rock ever put to tape. He also explains why he walked away from the lure of working with Ozzy Osbourne, and why freedom and self-expression have always mattered more than money or fame. He describes why he rediscovered the songs from UFO’s classic live LP, Strangers in the Night, and the energy he chases when writing. This is Schenker reflecting on a lifetime of invention and the relentless pursuit of his own sound. Further information Michael Schenker website Podcasts also available: Herman Rarebell – Scorpions, Chris Slade – AC/DC, Eric Bell – Thin Lizzy, John Mayall This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Michael Schenker appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Carlos Alomar reflects on a career that spans decades of innovation and collaboration. He speaks about his early years performing with Luther Vandross, and his crucial role in David Bowie’s mid-70s D.A.M Trio, alongside drummer Dennis Davis and bassist George Murray. Alomar recounts the creation of ‘Fame’ with Bowie and John Lennon, and the unorthodox recording sessions that shaped the Berlin Trilogy under the guidance of Brian Eno. He also discusses his contributions to Iggy Pop’s albums from the same period, offering insight into a fertile and experimental phase in rock history. Beyond his work with Bowie, Alomar outlines a wide-ranging career as a session guitarist for major artists and his interest in technology, which led to one of the first solo music projects. The conversation turns to his upcoming Back to Berlin tour, a live show dedicated to the legacy of the D.A.M Trio and Bowie’s creative peak in the late 1970s. Further information carlosalomar.com Podcasts also available: Gerry Leonard, Mark Plati, Earl Slick, Kevin Armstrong, Tony Fox Sales, Ken Scott, Woody Woodmansey, John Cambridge, John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Carlos Alomar: Bowie, Berlin and Beyond appeared first on The Strange Brew .