Music Maps Podcast

This week esteemed writer & broadcaster Robert Elms joins us to tell us about the legendary Blitz nightclub in London’s Convent Garden. Back then Central London looked very different to today - back then it was an empty & desolate wasteland of abandoned buildings & crumbling blocks. But from this rose a cultural phenomenon - starting at Billy’s as a David Bowie night & then moving onto The Blitz came a nightclub so legendary at least 70 of its regulars went onto achieve global prominence in some form. Punk had peaked & in the gap came the extravagantly dressed creatures that inhabited The Blitz - regulars included founders Steve Strange & Rusty Egan, Boy George, Sade, Gary & Martin Kemp of Spandau Ballet, Mudge Ure, Billy Idol, Siobhan Fahey of Bananarama & many more. Within 18 months of this club night starting many of its regulars are in the charts both at home and& in the US with Visage, Ultravox, Spandau Ballet, Sade, Banarama, Culture Club & more all achieving huge success. Affirmation came in July 1980 when David Bowie visited The Blitz. It was over within 18 months, drawing to an end towards the end of 1980. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us to celebrate 100 episodes of Music Maps with the mighty Kevin Rowland to discuss hew recent memory Bless Me Father & the story of Dexys Midnight Runners. We start with Kevin’s early years in Wolverhampton, the families relocation to the London suburbs & how he ended up attending the 1966 World Cup Final & briefly meeting Cassius Clay. Kevin’s tells us about his early years as a skinhead, his early musical influences including Bob Dylan & Bryan Ferry, his brief career in hairdressing & the beginnings of his first band Lucy & The Lovers. The band morphed into punk band The Killjoys with future bandmate & collaborator Kevin Archer. Kevin develops a very specific idea for a band right down to the clothes, the dancing & the unique brass sound. We hear how Kevin missed Joy Division while having a haircut, how close Dexys ever came to signing to Two Tone & their appearance on the famous Two Tone tour.Geno reaches number 1 & Dexys become much better known with their debut album Searching For the Young Soul Rebels (we also hear what actually happened with the demo tapes for the album). However just as success arrives Kevin veers in a different direction & develops a new version of Dexys with multiple new members & a different sound. This incarnation go on to score huge hits with Come On Eileen & Jackie Wilson Said both featuring on the Too-Rye-Ay album. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our starting point is the breakup of The Beatles as writer Tom Doyle joins us to talk through the life of Ringo Starr, his biography is out now. His debut album Sentimental Journey arrives in March of 1970 & is quickly followed up with Beaucoup of Blues, a set of country standards. Ringo has also began to build an acting career with The Magic Christian alongside Peter Sellars. An appearance in Frank Zappa’s 200 Motels follows. He appears on not only George Harrison’s blockbuster All Things Must Pass but also John Lennon’s Imagine album. Meanwhile he unexpectedly initially becomes the most successful of the solo Beatles, scoring a number of hits including It Don’t Come Easy, I’m The Greatest & Photograph (with the latter becoming the first Beatle to score a number 1 single). You’re Sixteen also becomes a number 1 & his third album Ringo becomes his commercial peak with all 3 other Beatles appearing. Ringo goes on to feature in the hit film That’ll Be The Day along with some not so successful releases including Son Of Dracula with Harry Nilsson & taking the lead in Caveman. The 70’s see Ringo as one of the ‘Hollywood Vampires’ alongside Alice Cooper, Micky Dolenz, John Lennon, Harry Nilsson & Keith Moon. Moving into the 1980s & Ringo unexpectedly becomes a hit on children’s television as the voice of Thomas The Tank Engine (or Shining Time Station to American viewers). The 90s see Ringo mostly out on the road with his All Starr Band but will be remembered by Beatles fans for the Anthology reunion project & the comeback single Free As a Bird. Ringo is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 & continues to perform to this day. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for a live conversation linked to the recent release of ACR:NYC - Live at Hurrah 1980, with A Certain Ratio, director Merrill Aldighieri - moderated by Dave Haslam.45 years after A Certain Ratio’s first performance in the US (at Hurrah, NYC in September 1980) the band premiere a film of the performance. The Hurrah performance took place on 12 Sept, just before the band took to the studio to record their 1981 album, To Each, so the live set included tracks that would later appear on the album. The film exudes some of the energy that the band must have felt being out in NYC at that time, and the excitement of the people they met on the way. ACR will be expanding on stories and memories from that time. The conversation includes recollections of the trip, the gig, the New York City venues of the era & features stories about Tony Wilson, Madonna, Joy Division, Grace Jones, Johnny Marr & even Robert De Niro's wife.It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us to hear all about Pulp with Mark Webber - Mark found his way into the band by way of running the fan club (Pulp People) before eventually joining full time in 1995.Mark's wonderful new book 'I'm With Pulp Are You' traces the band's history in forensic detail via the many bits of Pulp ephemera Mark collected over the years. We hear about his initial Pulp fandom, getting to know the band long before joining (his first bands first gig was opening for Pulp), his early influences including David Bowie & the Velvet Underground. One of his first sessions as a full time member was with producer Chris Thomas recording the iconic Common People & while working on the subsequent album Mark played a key role including coming up with the now famous guitar part for Disco 2000. We hear about how Pulp came to step in to replace the Stone Roses to headline Glastonbury in 1995, filling in for The Verve - opening for Oasis at Sheffield Arena, working with Scott Walker, the furore over the Sorted For E's & Whizz cover & the infamous BRIT Awards incident with Jarvis Cocker & Michael Jackson. Mark also tells us about Pulp's recent renaissance which began in 2023 with a huge gig at Finsbury Park in London, their new album More & their plans for 2026 & beyond. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us to round out 2025 by travelling back 30 years to 1995 with writer Anna Doble. Among much more we discuss the battle of Britpop with Blur v Oasis, the disappearance of Richie Edwards & the return of the Manic Street Preachers, the emergence of Supergrass, the joy of making tapes, our favourites from 1995, Pulp headlining Glastonbury, Oasis playing Earls Court, queuing up for gig tickets, Robbie Williams leaving Take That, the colossal success of Friends & of course Mariah Carey’s entry into the world of the Christmas single. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are joined by music writer Paul Morley to guide us through the early years of David Bowie - from his early life in Brixton & Bromley through to his formative experiences in Soho, his early bands & his original desire to be a saxophone player. We find out what led to his rebranding of himself from David Jones into the David Bowie the world came to know. After meeting Marc Bolan, Bowie was signed by Leslie Conn & released his debut album in 1967, featuring the novelty release The Laughing Gnome. Space Oddity follows & after producer Tony Visconti dismissed the song as a novelty, Gus Dudgeon ends up coming in to produce. The song has a singular quality & becomes a hit although such is its uniqueness David struggles to follow it up. His 2nd album (also titled David Bowie) follows shortly after & David’s time as an unknown comes to an end. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we welcome Del Amitri frontman Justin Currie to talk us through the history of the band - starting in Glasgow in the early 1980s following in the footsteps of the success of the Sound Of Young Scotland on Postcard Records.She bands first releases appear to significant fanfare after Melody Maker featured the band on the cover before they’ve released anything - bit their debut on Chrysalis proves to be a false start. 4 years pass before their 2nd album Waking Hours appears on A&M in 1989 featuring their breakthrough single Nothing Ever Happens. Always The Last To Know becomes another hit & 1995’s Roll To Me breaks the top 10 in America.In 1998 Del Amitri make the official World Cup song for the Scotland national team after they quality for the World Cup. The bands go on hiatus in the early 2000’s but make a triumphant return in 2014 at the Hydro in Glasgow & have continued to tour periodically since & a new album came in 2021. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The story of the Beach Boys begins in Hawthorne, California in the late 1950s as the band come together led by Brian Wilson, originally as The Pendletones & Dennis Wilson suggests they focus on surfing themed material. They sign with Capitol Records in 1961 & soon have chart success with Surfin’ Safari, Surfin’ USA & Surfer Girl. There is also more introspective material appearing on their albums such as In My Room, The Warmth of the Sun & Don’t Worry Baby. They score their first number 1 in 1964 with I Get Around & go onto have a string of hits including California Girls, Barbara Ann, Wouldn’t It Be Nice & Good Vibrations. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us to discuss a music book classic ‘I’m With The Band - Confessions of a Groupie’ with Pamela Des Barres. Pamela’s first touchstone in music was the Beatles & she became on obsessive Beatlemaniac after the Fab Four arrive on US soil in early 1964. The following year she met Captain Beefheart & it opened up a new world to her on the Sunset Strip in LA. Before long she was mixing with the likes of The Byrds, Frank Zappa, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Gram Parsons & Led Zeppelin (legend has it the Zeppelin track ‘Going To California’ is about her & her friends). Her many relationships over the years include Keith Moon, Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger, Chris Hillman & Jim Morrison. Her band the GTOs were formed by Frank Zappa & went onto release an album. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us & writer Mark Blake to hear about the formation & early years of Pink Floyd - from their beginnings in Cambridge, ultimately relocating to London where the band gets going. Syd Barrett's songwriting develops quickly & before long the band are playing iconic gigs & 'happenings' at UFO, the Marquee & the Roundhouse. Joe Boyd produces debut single Arnold Layne but is replaced after Pink Floyd sign with EMI by Beatles engineer Norman Smith for follow up single See Emily Play & debut album The Piper at the Gates Of Dawn. Syd Barrett's behaviour becomes increasingly unpredictable as the bands profile rises after a tour with Jimi Hendrix & their first US tour. Bassist Roger Waters begins to assert a greater influence on the band & eventually takes over as the bands principle songwriter when Syd Barrett is replaced by David Gilmour. Mark's book Shine On - The Oral History of Pink Floyd is out now. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are joined by Ride bassist Steve Queralt to discuss his new album Swallow - which is out now on Sonic Cathedral featuring contributions from Emma Anderson (Lush) & Verity Susman (Memorials). We also delve into the history of Ride starting in Oxford in the late 1980s where Steve met Andy Bell & Mark Gardner at college, even making a recording of Freedom by George Michael with Andy. What we now know as the classic Ride sound comes together organically in rehearsals & after almost signing for Warners the band come to the attention of Alan McGee & end up signing with Creation Records. The first 3 EPs come out in quick succession followed by debut album Nowhere in the autumn of 1990. Tours with Lush, Slowdive & the Pale Saints follow & 2nd album Going Blank again is produced by Alan Moulder following a positive experience with Alan mixing the previous album. The lead single Leave Them All Behind clocks in at over 8 minutes in length & breaks the top 10 of the singles chart, reaching number 9, marking probably the commercial peak of the shoegaze genre. Things start to unravel on 3rd album Carnival of Light with John Leckie producing. The album comes out in 1994 but fails to reach the heights of its predecessors - and amid tensions within the band & after quickly releasing the Tarantula album, Ride come to an end in 1996. Ride do reform in 2015 & it becomes one of the more successful reunions of recent years producing 3 albums & a number of tours & high profile festival appearances, including playing debut album Nowhere in its entirety. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we travel back 20 years to 2005 with writer Paul Vallely to hear about Live 8, the G8 summit, Bob Geldof & Bono & more. So it starts in 1997 with the landslide general election win for Tony Blair & New Labour. The government will ultimately be sympathetic to the issues of debt & aid which come to the fore eight years later with the huge gig in Hyde Park in London the week before the crucial G8 leaders summit in Gleneagles. We hear about Bono's appearance at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton where he famously likened Tony Blair & Gordon Brown to Lennon & McCartney. Also in 2004 is the new Band Air recording headed by Nigel Godrich featuring Paul McCartney, Chris Martin from Coldplay & Bono amongst others. But Bob Geldof doesn't think another gig would have the same impact as the original Live Aid in 1985 at Wembley Stadium, but he changes his mind when Bono pitches to him 'it was 20 years ago today' with Paul McCartney opening the show with U2. We hear about the difficulty in getting Hyde Park as the venue & convincing the Royal Parks people to allow an extra 200,000 people to watch on screen in addition to the 300,000 attendees. Bob also convinces original Band Aid cover artist Peter Blake to produce a new artwork for the 2005 edition. But perhaps the toughest feat he pulls off is convincing Pink Floyd to appear for their first gig in years - we hear how he convinced them to reform & share the stage with more modern acts such as Coldplay with Richard Ashcroft, Elton John with Pete Doherty, Dido, Razorlight, , Ms Dynamite, Travis, Scissor Sisters, Mariah Carey, Joss Stone & Stereophonics with Bill Gates, Will Smith & Brad Pitt all appearing too. We hear about the near misses including the Rolling Stones & a possible mini Beatles reunion & the old guard are also represented with Paul McCartney closing the show & George Michael returning after also appearing back in 1985. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are joined by Peter Jesperson as he tells us about his time spent with R.E.M. & his role in Twin Tone Records in the twin cities of Minneapolis/St.Paul. We also squeeze in a couple of stories about his time around Alex Chilton & the 1993 Big Star reunion. Peter's career began importing records into Minneapolis from the UK at legendary record store Oar Folk, specifically the first release Beatles albums with the UK tracklistings. While at Oar Folk the store pioneered in-store appearances & gigs from bands passing through Minnesota including Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Graham Parker, Pere Ubu, Blondie, the Dead Boys, Devo, Ian Dury, The Only Ones & The Ramones (on no less than 3 separate occasions. We hear about the important Twin Cities venues of the time - The Longhorn, The Depot, First Avenue, The Labor Temple & the 7th Street Entry, From there Peter plays a key role in the founding of legendary indie label Twin Tone records with over 300 records released over 20 years & distributed by Rough Trade. Bands based in the area during this time include Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Husker Du, the Suicide Commandos, Flamingo & more. In 1981 Peter first hears 'Radio Free Europe' the debut release by R.E.M. & they play their first gig in the area on Thanksgiving of that same year. Over the next year the band are back in Minneapolis on 3 separate occasions & Peter gets to know them & starts joining them at gigs elsewhere. The band invite him to become their Tour Manager & he unexpectedly ends up sharing a room with Michael Stipe. Peter drives the van into Shea Stadium as one of seven dates the band share with Sting & The Police. After a year or so with R.E.M. Peter joins back up with the Replacements & his time with the band comes to an end. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we get to talk about one of the best music books of recent years Revolutionary Spirit by Paul Simpson. Paul was born in Liverpool but grew up in Lancashire alongside future members of Echo & the Bunnymen - Les Patterson & Will Sergeant. After relocating back to Merseyside Paul was frequented legendary Liverpool venue Eric's & became a founder member of The Teardrop Explodes alongside Julian Cope. He left the Teardrop Explodes to form his own band The Wild Swans & their classic debut single Revolutionary Spirit is funded by Paul's flatmate, Echo & the Bunnymen drummer Pete De Freitas, who also played on the session. It comes out on Bill Drummond's Zoo Records. After Courtney Love stays in Paul & Pete's flat for 9 months he disbands the Wild Swans & goes on to form Care with future Lightning Seeds frontman Ian Broudie. Briefly a pop star, Paul shares an unexpected encounter with Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder while making a record at AIR Studios in London. The 2nd incarnation of the Wild Swans end on Seymour Stein's Sire Records but also comes to a premature end. Inbetween Paul enjoys cult success under the name Skyray before a 3rd version of the Wild Swans comes into being & enjoys huge success in the Philippines. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/eventsInstagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is truly a pleasure to welcome Donovan to Music Maps - a true legend of the 60s. His book The Hurdy Gurdy Man is available on Penguin. We start with his early life in Glasgow in the 1950s & the family relocate to Hatfield in Hertfordshire when Donovan was a teenager. His early influences included Buddy Holly, Hank Williams & Jack Kerouac. After a trip to Southend on Sea with the blue rock crowd from St. Albans, Donovan is spotted & taken to Tin Pan Alley to make his earliest recordings (The Rolling Stones were also making demos on Denmark Street at the same time). Into 1965 & Donovan has key encounters with Bob Dylan (contributing to the video for Subterranean Homesick Blues) & The Beatles at the Savoy in London. He also saw the arrival of Jimi Hendrix to London in 1967 first hand. An A to Z of session players appear on Donovan's records including 3 future members of Led Zeppelin - Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones & John Bonham as he scores big hits with Mellow Yellow, Sunshine Superman & more. In 1968 Donovan travelled to Rishikesh in India with the Beatles, Mia Farrow, Mike Love & others to study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, where he taught John Lennon a style of fingerpicking he later used on Julia & Dear Prudence. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we travel back to the 1950's & 60's to hear all about one of the most influential acts of all time The Everly Brothers with biographer Barry Mazor. Don & Phil's Dad Ike was a musician & the brothers are already playing live & on the radio as children. They sign with Cadence Records in 1956 & record the iconic Bye Bye Love at their very first session. The record sells over a million copies but they follow it up with Wake Up Little Susie which is an even bigger hit. We find out how they achieved their incredible acoustic guitar sound & hear about their pioneering techniques in the recording studio as well as their friendship with Buddy Holly. The Everlys sign with Warner Brothers in 1959 & immediately deliver their biggest hit Cathy's Clown. Their first UK tour takes place in 1960 with George Harrison & Graham Nash amongst those in attendance. The duo become a huge influence on the Beatles particularly on their early hit Please Please Me. Their guitar sound can also be heard on Bob Dylan's Highway 51 & It's Alright Me (I'm Only Bleeding). While they fall out of fashion in the US they remain a big act in the UK & Europe & make some of their best records in the late 60s despite lower sales than at their peak. The brothers split after a final show at the Knott's Berry Farm theme park in California in 1973, but they return in 1983 for a reunion show at the Royal Albert Hall in London. They record a Paul McCartney track & release a number of new records. They continue until their victory lap on a 2004 farewell tour with Simon & Garfunkel. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we discover the history of The Raincoats - formed by Gina Birch & Ana De Silva in 1977 after they meet at Hornsey Art College in London. The Sex Pistols & The Slits are influences on the burgeoning band & they end up signing to Rough Trade. The classic all female lineup debuts at Acklam Hall in London in January of 1979 & debut single Fairytale In The Supermarket is followed by their debut album later in the year. The Raincoats release several further albums but the band comes to an end in 1984 however a huge resurgence in the band comes in the 90s spearheaded by super fan Kurt Cobain. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for a LIVE episode with Lawrence, Will Hodgkinson & Sian Pattenden to discuss STREET LEVEL SUPERSTAR - one of the best music books of all time. We retrace Lawrence’s career from Felt & Denim to Mozart Estate & through to the present day. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy MaxwellIt takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellRecorded at The Ivy House, NunheadMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us & take a trip to Essex as we focus in on the early years of Blur with drummer Dave Rowntree. His new photograph book is called No One You Know: Early Blur Photos. We begin in Colchester where a young Dave meets future Blur guitarist Graham Coxon on the local music scene. Graham later invites Dave to a mate's gig at local venue the Colchester Arts Centre, that mate turns out to be Damon Albarn. The trio begin to play together in Colchester & London after Graham moves from saxophone to lead guitar. A vacancy on bass opens up & is filled by Graham's neighbour in his Goldsmiths College hall of residence, Alex James. The first Blur (then known as Seymour) gig takes place at the East Anglian Railway Museum in the summer of 1989 & after a positive write up in the pages of Music Week, the band are signed within 6 months of forming. Blur end up on Food Records & following a name change become known for their chaotic & energetic gigs. The label are keen for the band to pursue a 'baggy' sound with the Manchester scene still prominent in 1990 & debut single She's So High is released in October of 1990. Things really take off once producer Stephen Street comes into the fold. Follow up single There's No Other Way breaks the top 10, peaking at number 8. Debut album Leisure follows in the summer of 1991 & features a 1954 Charles Hewitt photograph on the cover. Dave begins to document this early period by taking photographs, eventually taking hundreds which were edited down for the book. They cover the bands first trips to the US, Japan & Mexico & document a time when the world did not yet know Blur. You can buy Dave's book here. It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmapsIt is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it. You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17X: @simonmusicmapsFacebook: E17rockbookclubHosted, Produced & Edited by Simon CardwellMusic by Andy Maxwell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.