Archive for category: Beard’s Blog

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R.E.M.- Document- Michael Stipe, Peter Buck

"Document" was the mainstream breakthrough for R.E.M. in a five album stubbornly eclectic alternate route to the top of the US album sales chart in September 1987. Guitarist Peter Buck and singer Michael Stipe are my guests In the Studio for the "Document" 35th anniversary..
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Rush- Signals- Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, the late Neil Peart

Rush "Signals" interview with Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, the late Neil Peart In the Studio
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Aerosmith- Permanent Vacation- Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton

Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Tom Hamilton join me In the Studio in this classic rock interview for the back story on "Permanent Vacation" & "Magic Touch","Dude Looks Like a Lady","Rag Doll", and the #3 power ballad "Angel" which erased all doubts...to the tune of over 5,000,000 sold beginning in August 1987...
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John Mellencamp- The Lonesome Jubilee 35th anniversary

He had already influenced the sound of Pop music earlier in the Eighties by moving drummer Kenny Aronoff up front in the mix on the #1 hit "Jack and Diane" and "Hurt So Good", and with his ninth album "The Lonesome Jubilee" in August 1987, John Mellencamp not only influenced Pop and Rock but infiltrated the citadel sound of Nashville as well. Almost instantly, acts as diverse as Paul Simon and The Talking Heads took notice. John Mellencamp is my guest In the Studio.
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Def Leppard- Hysteria- Joe Elliott, Ric Savage

Def Leppard lifers Joe Elliott and Ric Savage join Redbeard In the Studio for the mega-hit "Hysteria".
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Guns ‘n’ Roses- Appetite for Destruction- Slash

By the time Guns'n'Roses "Appetite for Destruction" passed the 18,000,000 sales point early in the 21st century, several rock magazines and websites had revised their original reviews from the July 1987 release. My guest In the Studio GNR lead guitarist Slash certainly remembers, fondly in most cases, but admits to at least one rookie mistake that left a scar that smarts to this day.
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Styx- Grand Illusion- Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Dennis DeYoung, Lawrence Gowan

Styx co-founder Dennis DeYoung, lifer James "JY" Young, and then recently recruited Alabama boy Tommy Shaw all join me here with current Styx keyboardist/vocalist Lawrence Gowan In the Studio for the early days of being the perennial opening act, saddled with the curse "big in the Flyover States", all the while writing and recording "Fooling Yourself","Come Sail Away","Miss America", "Man in the Wilderness", and "Grand Illusion".
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Grateful Dead- In the Dark- Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh

Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh In the Studio for the 35th anniversary of "In the Dark".
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Doobie Brothers- Toulouse Street- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, John Hartman

After a totally forgettable first album, the Doobie Brothers' sophomore effort "Toulouse Street" may just be the strongest second act of the Seventies. In the Studio Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, & John Hartman joined me forf "Listen to the Music","Rockin' Down the Highway","Disciple", and the definitive cover of "Jesus is Just All Right".
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Emerson, Lake, and Palmer- Trilogy- Carl Palmer, the late Keith Emerson & Greg Lake

"Trilogy", Emerson, Lake, and Palmer's third studio album and fourth overall in barely two years,  was released in July 1972, a high watermark peak for Progressive Rock's quality as well as massive popularity ( #2 UK, #5 Billboard in the US )...Trilogy has remained a favorite over these many changes in rock music as the place where Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, and Carl Palmer's ambitions to expand the palette of rock music were perfectly balanced by terrific songwriting and production on "The Endless Enigma", "From the Beginning", a terrific concert showstopper cover version of Aaron Copland's "Hoedown" from the stage musical Oklahoma!, and the title song opus. Carl Palmer hosts with archival interviews from both the late Keith Emerson and Greg Lake.