My Rock Moment

How did a recommendation from Denny Laine lead to an unexpected jam session with Paul and Linda McCartney, and ultimately a place in Wings? On this episode of My Rock Moment, acclaimed guitarist Laurence Juber takes us inside that experience and shares stories from a remarkable career spanning the London recording studios of the 1970s, his years with Wings, and decades of work in film, television, and music. Laurence looks back at getting his start as a session musician in London, including his early work at Abbey Road Studios and a recording session with legendary Beatles producer George Martin. He also shares stories from his London studio years, including playing on the soundtrack recording of The Spy Who Loved Me and Carly Simon’s ‘Nobody Does It Better.’ After his years with Wings, Laurence eventually settled in Los Angeles, where he built a career as a sought-after session guitarist, composer, arranger, and producer. His credits include Dirty Dancing, Pocahontas, and Good Will Hunting, along with recordings by artists including Belinda Carlisle and The Monkees. Find out more about Laurence Juber https://laurencejuber.com Songs in this episode: Wings - Reception Laurence Juber - Little Wing Wings - Rockestra Wings - Getting Closer For more information on My Rock Moment, visit www.myrockmoment.com Follow us for photos and news of upcoming episodes at: https://www.instagram.com/la_woman_rocks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What was it like to hear The Mamas and the Papas sing “California Dreamin’” before the world knew who they were? To stand onstage at the Monterey Pop Festival as Jimi Hendrix set his guitar on fire? Or to be part of the free-spirited, anything-goes atmosphere of Los Angeles in 1967? On this episode of My Rock Moment, photographer Jerry “Dok” de Wilde joins me to talk about his book, In Case You Missed It, and the extraordinary people, places, and moments he captured along the way. Jerry takes us inside The Farm, the legendary Hollywood Hills gathering place that evolved into a hub for artists, musicians, and counterculture figures. He shares the story of meeting The Mamas and the Papas just before they recorded their first album, and hearing them perform “California Dreamin’” in a living room, and noting that they had something special. We revisit the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, where Jerry helped build the stage before finding himself with a camera and a front-row view of rock history, including Hendrix’s unforgettable guitar-burning performance, and Otis Redding and Ravi Shankar’s legendary performances. He also recalls the mood of the LA Love-In at Elysian Park, where people came together to share music, food, and a sense of togetherness. And there’s an eerie story involving Jim Morrison, and his reaction to receiving his anagram “Mr. Mojo Risin'" that would later become part of The Doors’ "L.A. Woman." Links to Jerry de Wilde and 'In Case You Missed It': Songs in this episode: California Dreamin' - The Mamas & the Papas Creeque Alley - The Mamas & the Papas Monterey - Eric Brudon & The Animals Light My Fire - The Doors Respect - Otis Redding For more information on My Rock Moment, visit www.myrockmoment.com Follow us for photos and news of upcoming episodes at: https://www.instagram.com/la_woman_rocks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What was Elvis Presley really like before he became Elvis? On this episode of My Rock Moment, we're joined by Jim Berkenstadt, the Rock And Roll Detective®, to talk about his new book, Elvis Presley: Conversations with Scotty Moore. Scotty Moore was there from the very beginning, standing beside Elvis at Sun Records as they recorded “That’s All Right” and helped create a sound that changed popular music. Through Scotty’s firsthand recollections, Jim takes us inside those early days with the Blue Moon Boys, from their first rehearsals and the Louisiana Hayride to the frenzy that followed Elvis as his fame exploded. We talk about the musicians behind the sound, the early recording sessions, Elvis’s relationship with Colonel Tom Parker, the band’s decision to walk away, and what happened when Scotty returned after Elvis’s time in the Army. We also get into Elvis’s Hollywood years, his complicated relationship with the music he was recording for films, and the question Scotty kept asking him: did he really want to be a singer or an actor? The book offers a rare perspective on Elvis through someone who knew him before the legend took over. I was honored to contribute an endorsement to the back of the book, and Jim and I talk about some of the stories and discoveries that make it such a fascinating read. And there’s a Spotify playlist to go along with the book, featuring the music behind the story. If you love Elvis, Sun Records and the early days of rock ’n’ roll, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Links to Jim Berkenstadt, Rock And Roll Detective® : https://rockandrolldetective.com Buy the Book: Elvis Presley: Conversations with Scotty Moore Spotify Playlist: Elvis Presley: Conversations with Scotty Moore Find other books by the Rock And Roll Detective® HERE Songs in this episode: Elvis - Blue Suede Shoes Elvis - That's All Right Elvis - G.I. Blues Elvis - Jailhouse Rock Elvis - I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone For more information on My Rock Moment, visit www.myrockmoment.com Follow us for photos and news of upcoming episodes at: https://www.instagram.com/la_woman_rocks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Alison Ellwood has spent years uncovering the stories behind some of music’s most fascinating artists and scenes, from the Eagles and the Go-Go’s to Laurel Canyon and San Francisco. Her latest film, Boy George & Culture Club, takes us behind the colorful image of one of the most iconic bands of the 1980s and into the complicated stories that unfolded behind the scenes. We talk about the love affair between Boy George and Jon Moss that inspired the music, George’s struggles with drug abuse, the secrets within the band, and the fallout surrounding their missed opportunity to perform at Live Aid. Alison also revisits the Eagles, including the tensions that were still very much alive when she made her documentary, and the idealism, creativity and community that defined San Francisco’s music scene in the ’60s. She shares what she’s really looking for when she sits down with an artist and how she gets beyond the answers they’ve given a hundred times before. It’s a fascinating conversation about music, fame, relationships and the stories hiding beneath the surface. Boy George & Culture Club is available on Amazon and Apple TV. Songs in this episode: Culture Club - Karma Chameleon Culture Club - Miss Me Blind Moby Grape - Omaha Cyndi Lauper - She Bop Culture Club - Church of the Poison Mind For more information on My Rock Moment, visit www.myrockmoment.com Follow us for photos and news of upcoming episodes at: https://www.instagram.com/la_woman_rocks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more than 60 years, the Sunset Marquis has been far more than just a hotel. Hidden behind its unassuming gates just off the Sunset Strip, it became a sanctuary for some of the biggest names in music—a place where artists could escape the spotlight, create, recover, celebrate, and occasionally indulge in a little rock 'n' roll debauchery. In this episode of My Rock Moment, Amanda sits down with Craig Williams and Tyler Measom, the directors of the new documentary If These Walls Could Rock, opening in theaters and on streaming August 14. Craig's connection to the story began more than a decade ago when he co-authored If These Walls Could Rock with hotel owner Mark Rosenthal. Together with Tyler, he has now brought the extraordinary history of the Sunset Marquis to the screen. Amanda and the directors discuss how a hotel inspired by the Garden of Allah became one of the music industry's best-kept secrets, why generations of artists—from Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Slash, Dave Grohl, Roger Daltrey, Cyndi Lauper and many more—considered it a home away from home, and why privacy, discretion, and trust became the hotel's greatest currency. They also dive into some of the documentary's most memorable stories, including Bruce Springsteen's chance encounter with Ron Kovic that would ultimately influence Born in the U.S.A., the remarkable father-son story of George and Mark Rosenthal that forms the emotional heart of the film, the challenge of separating rock mythology from reality, and some of the incredible stories that never made the final cut. Links for more info on the film: www.ifthesewallscouldrock.com Find the book: If These Walls Could Rock Book Songs in this episode: Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears Guns N' Roses - Paradise City The Black Crowes - Remedy Bruce Springsteen - Born in the U.S.A. For more information on My Rock Moment, visit www.myrockmoment.com Follow us for photos and news of upcoming episodes at: https://www.instagram.com/la_woman_rocks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices