Drop the Needleheads

"Kids are running around naked, podcasting in the bushes . . . "As the popularity of Britpop declined, Oasis found themselves at a bit of a crossroads. So, they decided to switch things up. They ditched their iconic logo for one with a more futuristic typeface, added some psychedelic flourishes to their songs, and used a completely non-British photo of the New York City skyline. for the album cover. The end result was Standing on the Shoulder of Giants, an uneven affair that nonetheless features some top-notch Noel Gallagher compositions and some of his brother Liam's best vocal performances. The public may not have gobbled it up like their previous releases, but it kept the band top of mind as they graduated into reliable stadium-rock mainstays in Europe.

On a very special episode of Drop the Needleheads, Schmiggy and Yahtzee discuss Oasis' triumphant return to the United States on their Live '25 tour. They both attended the Chicago show on August 28, 2025, and were among the tens of thousands blown away by what has become the tour of the year . . . nay, decade.They talk about the long-anticipated show 16 years in the making, the vibes in the city leading up to show time, and the myriad of emotions throughout Oasis' 23-song set. They also discuss why this tour is having such an impact on hardcore and casual fans alike, resurrecting guitar-based stadium rock in a way no other band could pull off.

"Kickin' up a storm from the day that I was born / Cast a pod with me, one from 'Let it Be', open up your eyes get a grip of yourself inside . . . "In 1997, Oasis was the biggest rock band in the world. So, it was befitting they released an album grand in scope, length, guitar overdubs . . . well, grand in everything. Unleased onto the public at the end of the summer, Be Here Now flew off the shelves, blasting out of stereo speakers and Sony Discmans around the world. The fans and critics raved, with some going so far as to call it Oasis' best yet.When the mania subsided, a critical reappraisal took place. Was Be Here Now an overindulgent, cocaine-addled mess? Maybe. Was it the symbolic end of Britpop? Possibly. Nearly three decades later, though, it remains an important piece of the band's history. "D'You Know What I Mean" and "Stand By Me" are classics, "All Around the World" is an earworm, "My Big Mouth" and "Be Here Now" are driving rock songs, and there are other gems throughout. Ambitious, overly-long, bone-crushingly loud . . . but most importantly, a whole lot of fun.Follow Drop the Needleheads on Instagram and Facebook: @needleheadspodCHAPTERS:Intro (00:00)Background (Recording, Production) (21:53)D'You Know What I Mean (41:36)My Big Mouth (50:43)Magic Pie (57:15)Stand By Me (01:00:26)I Hope, I Think, I Know (01:09:03)The Girl in the Dirty Shirt (01:17:43)Fade In-Out (01:21:53)Don't Go Away (01:24:58)Be Here Now (01:31:23)All Around the World (01:37:28)It's Getting Better (Man!!) (01:41:13)Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (01:45:00)

"Someday you will find me caught beneath the landslide, in a champod supercasta in the sky . . . "After Definitely Maybe exploded onto the scene, Oasis was charged with the ever-difficult task of following up its success. In the spring of 1995, they decamped to Rockfield Studios in Wales armed with Noel Gallagher's newly-minted tunes. Just over two weeks later, they completed their second album (with a ton of soon-to-be-classic B-sides left over) - by all accounts, a breezy and productive session only marred by one dust-up between Noel and Liam.Released in October 1995, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? was an immediate smash in the UK. It expanded upon their debut LP while maintaining the band's stadium rock bona fides; the power pop of "Some Might Say" and "Roll With It", lighters-in-the-air anthems "Champagne Supernova" and "Don't Look Back in Anger", and pulsating rockers like "Hello" and "Morning Glory". Oh, and some acoustic song by the name of "Wonderwall".Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X: @needleheadspodCHAPTERS:Introduction (00:00)Background (Recording, Production) (28:15)Hello (44:25)Roll With It (53:15)Wonderwall (01:00:43)Don't Look Back in Anger (01:14:16)Hey Now (01:28:53)Some Might Say (01:33:52)Cast No Shadow (01:44:10)She's Electric (01:53:50)Morning Glory (01:57:15)Champagne Supernova (02:10:00)Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (02:18:00)

"Is it worth the aggravation to find yourself a pod when there's nothing worth casting for?"In the history of rock music, few debut albums have had the seismic impact of Oasis' Definitely Maybe. Released in 1994 at the height of the grunge movement, this group of Mancunians countered the nihilism of the day with their own brash brand of life-affirming rock 'n' roll. Their mix of loud guitars, sneering vocals, pop sensibilities, and stadium-sized hooks immediately took hold in England, propelling them to the forefront of the "Britpop" movement.Over three decades later, Noel and Liam Gallagher mended fences and took their band (including founding member Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs) back on the road. The Live 25 tour has been a triumph, balancing 90's nostalgia with crackling performances that sound fresh as ever. With a songbook featuring cuts like "Live Forever", "Supersonic, "Slide Away", "Cigarettes & Alcohol", and more, it's no surprise Oasis is finding themselves yet again as the world's biggest rock band.Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X: @needleheadspodCHAPTERS:Introduction (00:00)Background (Recording, Production) (24:18)Rock 'n' Roll Star (44:45)Shakermaker (51:25)Live Forever (58:05)Up in the Sky (01:10:11)Columbia (01:14:12)Supersonic (01:22:00)Bring it On Down (01:33:15)Cigarettes & Alcohol (01:38:45)Digsy's Dinner (01:46:06)Slide Away (01:48:50)Married with Children (01:56:30)Reception (Critical, Commercial) (01:59:30)Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (02:03:45)

"Hey, it's lonely at the bottom, Man, it's dizzy at the top / But if you're casting in the middle, oh, ain't no way you're gonna pod . . . "The year was 1979. Disco and punk were the rage, and bands like Led Zeppelin were considered "dinosaurs" by the rock music intelligentsia. Wounded from personal loss (the death of Robert Plant's son), addiction (Jimmy Page and heroin, John Bonham and alcohol), and the lukewarm reception of Presence in 1976, the band came together to record their (unintended) final studio album.In Through the Out Door is an anomaly in Zep's catalog, a keyboard-heavy album with a distinct lack of guitar riffs. Yet, its eccentric nature makes for an interesting listen, from the samba-infused earworm "Fool in the Rain" to the ambitious prog-rock epic "Carouselambra". John Bonham's death before a schedule US tour in 1980 closed the door on any possible follow-up, so this LP remains the band's swan song.CHAPTERS:Background (Recording, Production, Cover Art) (28:45)In the Evening (42:05)South Bound Saurez (49:02)Fool in the Rain (53:48)Hot Dog (01:02:35)Carouselambra (01:05:10)All My Love (01:14:29)I'm Gonna Crawl (01:21:28)Reception (Critical, Commercial) (01:25:35) Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (01:31:52)Series Wrap-Up (01:53:15)

"For the mighty arms of podcast hold the heavens from the Earth . . . "In the summer of 1975, Led Zeppelin was on top of the world. Ahead of an upcoming US tour, Robert Plant and his family took a vacation, but a terrible car crash left him and his wife badly injured. The shows were canceled, and a hobbled Plant met up with Jimmy Page in Malibu to channel their frustrations into new songs.Released in 1976, Presence is a guitar-heavy album with a sense of urgency. The opening epic "Achilles Last Stand" sets the tone for what's to follow, while "Nobody's Fault But Mine", "For Your Life", and "Hots On for Nowhere" feature Plant's angriest lyrics to date. The lack of a catchy single or supporting tour meant lower sales and a lukewarm critical response, but time has been kind to this anomaly in Zeppelin's discography.CHAPTERS:Introduction (00:00:00)Background (Recording, Production) (00:32:50)Achilles Last Stand (00:54:33)For Your Life (01:06:05)Royal Orleans (01:12:45)1976: Year in Review (01:21:18)Nobody's Fault But Mine (01:31:25)Candy Store Rock (01:51:50)Hots On for Nowhere (01:57:40)Tea For One (02:02:45)Reception (Critical, Commercial) (02:10:25)Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (02:13:40)

"Oh let the sun beat down upon my cast, with pods to fill my dream . . . "At the peak of their popularity in the mid-70's, Led Zeppelin retreated to Headley Grange once again. The goal was to write enough songs for a new record, but they came up with more than could fit on one LP. The solution? Dig back into the vaults and put out a sprawling double album.Physical Graffiti was met with near-unanimous critical praise and huge sales numbers. Featuring epics like "Kashmir" and "In My Time of Dying", rockers like "Trampled Underfoot" and "The Wanton Song", and enjoyable filler sprinkled throughout, the sprawling 2-LP set finds Zeppelin at both their most focused and adventurous.CHAPTERS:Intro (00:00:00)Background (Recording, Production, Cover Art) (00:25:00)Custard Pie (00:47:20)The Rover (00:53:16)In My Time of Dying (00:58:15)Houses of the Holy (01:01:35)Trampled Underfoot (01:06:36)Kashmir (01:14:43)Year in Review: 1975 (01:18:55)In the Light (01:28:00)Bron-Yr-Aur (01:36:00)Down By the Seaside (01:37:50)Ten Years Gone (01:43:50)Night Flight (01:49:20)The Wanton Song (01:55:10)Boogie With Stu (01:58:10)Black Country Woman (02:00:10)Sick Again (02:02:38)Reception (Critical, Commercial) (02:08:35)Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, Etc.) (02:08:50)

"We've done four already but now we're steady, and then they went . . . one, two, pod, cast . . . "How does a band follow up its most iconic album? For Led Zeppelin, they turned in their loosest LP yet. Houses of the Holy included crowd-pleasers like "Over the Hills and Far Away" and "The Ocean", live staples like "The Song Remains the Same" and "No Quarter" - along with some downright cheeky filler with "The Crunge" and "D'yer Mak'er".Despite their massive success, Zeppelin's fifth LP made it clear they didn't take themselves too seriously. Some critics were puzzled by the eclectic mix of songs, but eager fans bought the florescent-colored album in droves. Uneven as it may be in places, Houses of the Holy showcases a band at the top of their game, unrestrained by expectations or pressure.Follow us @needleheadspod on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.CHAPTERS:Introduction (00:00)Background (Recording, Production, Cover Art, Historical Context) (35:00)The Song Remains the Same (48:17)The Rain Song (56:55)Over the Hills and Far Away (01:06:56)The Crunge (01:20:35)Dancing Days (01:30:00)D'yer Mak'er (01:37:50)No Quarter (01:46:45)The Ocean (01:59:00)Reception (Critical, Commercial) (02:07:40)Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (02:10:40)

"Yes, there are two casts you can go by, but in the long run - there's still time to change the pod you're on . . . "IV, Zoso, Four Symbols . . . whatever you call it, Led Zeppelin's fourth album is ubiquitous with rock music. After the mixed reception to their third album, the band was on a mission to put out their best work yet. They hunkered down at Headley Grange, a creaky mansion in the English countryside, and produced an LP that would go on to become one of the biggest selling of all-time.Unlike its predecessor, Led Zeppelin IV received near-universal praise. "Stairway to Heaven" became a timeless classic, perfectly melding the band's acoustic and electric sensibilities. "When the Levee Breaks" transformed an old blues record into an otherworldly sonic trip. "Black Dog", "Rock and Roll", "Misty Mountain Hop", "Going to California" . . . all staples of classic rock radio. With their fourth release, Zeppelin firmly established themselves as the biggest band of the 1970s.Follow us @needleheadspod on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.CHAPTERS:Introduction (00:00)Background (Recording, Production, Cover Art, Historical Context) (26:00)Black Dog (53:22)Rock and Roll (01:06:17)The Battle of Evermore (01:15:14)Stairway to Heaven (01:24:25)Misty Mountain Hop (01:46:23)Four Sticks (01:56:07)Going to California (02:03:53)When the Levee Breaks (02:12:45)Reception (Critical, Commercial) (02:28:46)Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (02:39:33)Billboard Game (03:08:22)

"The hammer of the gods will drive our pods to new casts . . . "Within two years of its formation, Led Zeppelin had become the biggest rock band in the world. Instead of following up their second album with more of the same, Jimmy Page and Co. made a sharp left turn with their third LP, placing undeniable riffs like "Immigrant Song" and "Out on the Tiles" alongside acoustic numbers like "Gallows Pole" and "That's the Way".Upon its release, Led Zeppelin III confused critics and fans alike. The mostly-acoustic Side B, while hinted at in the first two albums, seemed like a radical departure. Yet, the passage of time has seen a critical reappraisal, firmly placing the LP alongside the band's very best.Follow us @needleheadspod on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.CHAPTERS:Introduction (00:00)Background (Recording, Production, Cover Art, Historical Context) (22:00)Immigrant Song (38:22)Friends (58:46)Celebration Day (01:15:25)Since I've Been Loving You (01:27:18)Out on the Tiles (01:46:00)Gallows Pole (01:53:30)Tangerine (02:04:55)That's the Way (02:10:00)Bron-Y-Aur Stomp / Hats Off to (Roy) Harper (02:14:30)Reception (Critical, Commercial) (02:37:18)Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (02:41:10)Billboard Game (03:07:35)

"Squeeze me, baby, 'til the pod runs down my cast . . . "Like the German bombardiers depicted on its sepia-toned cover, Led Zeppelin II blitzed onto millions of turntables in October 1969. Mike Carpenter and Ben Yates continue their deep dive into the band's discography, dropping the needle on the nine-track album featuring Zeppelin's only top-ten single "Whole Lotta Love", along with other classics like "Heartbreaker" and "Ramble On".Recorded in fits and starts during a frenetic summer touring schedule, Led Zeppelin II set the blueprint for what a hard rock record should sound like. Jimmy Page's iconic riffs, Robert Plant's banshee wailing, John Bonham's thunderous drums, and John Paul Jones' nimble bass playing stunned listeners and established them as the next biggest band in the world.Follow us @needleheadspod on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.CHAPTERS:Introduction (00:00)Background (Recording, Production, Cover Art, Historical Context) (24:50)Whole Lotta Love (47:35)What Is and What Should Never Be (01:05:05)The Lemon Song (01:13:30)Thank You (01:27:25)Heartbreaker (01:33:55)Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman) (01:44:35)Ramble On (01:48:24)Moby Dick (01:59:33)Bring it On Home (02:06:50)Reception (Critical, Commercial) (02:14:05)Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (02:19:00) Billboard Game (02:52:10)

"In the days of our youth, we were told what it means to pod a cast . . . "In January 1969, Led Zeppelin crashed into record stores with their seminal debut album. Mike Carpenter and Ben Yates begin their deep dive into the band's discography, dropping the needle on the nine-track LP featuring classic rock radio staples like "Good Times Bad Times" and "Dazed and Confused".Recorded just a month after the band's formation over a mere 36 hours of studio time, it introduced the world to the combined talents of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones. Led Zeppelin I laid the foundation for what was to come, while growing in stature over the years as a bona fide classic on its own.Follow us @needleheadspod on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.CHAPTERS:Introduction (00:00)Background (Recording, Production, Cover Art, Historical Context) (18:45)Good Times Bad Times (53:14)Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (57:34)You Shook Me (01:05:35)Dazed and Confused (01:09:26)Your Time is Gonna Come (01:16:54)Black Mountain Side (01:21:12)Communication Breakdown (01:24:38)I Can't Quit You Baby (01:28:12)How Many More Times (01:32:32) Reception (Critical, Commercial) (01:38:35) Categories (Spiciest Biscuit, Dustiest Crumpet, etc.) (01:50:43)

Drop the Needleheads is a music podcast focusing on rock's greatest artists. Mike Carpenter (Schmiggy) and Ben Yates (Yahtzee) take deep dives into the discographies of their favorite musicians, devoting an episode to each album. Join them as the records spin, the bourbon flows, and the breakdowns are deeper than John Bonham's bass drum.