These are the classic rock interviews and rock music interviews from the most recent weekly episodes of In The Studio with Redbeard.
Styx- Paradise Theatre- Tommy Shaw, James Young
If I told you that over forty years ago one of America's top music acts released a concept album that identified growing cracks in the foundation of our society and presciently predicted everything we find today, who would you guess it was? Bob Dylan? Neil Young? Crosby Stills and Nash? I doubt that Styx would come to mind to many, but that is precisely what "Paradise Theater" was, part lament, part warning. Current members Tommy Shaw, JY, & Lawrence Gowan all weigh in as does ex-member Dennis DeYoung on "Paradise Theater" 's fortieth anniversary.
ZZ Top- Rio Grande Mud- Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, the late Dusty Hill
Their much-improved second album,"Rio Grande Mud" in 1972, with Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, and the late Dusty Hill who passed away in July 2021 following hip surgery.
Styx- Equinox- James Young, Tommy Shaw
there was high drama and great music before with the third-time's-the-charm "Lady", then 1975's strong Equinox album containing "Light Up", "Lorelei", and the timeless "Suite: Madame Blue". Band leaders even today James "JY" Young and Tommy Shaw look back on the Equinox along with the original former co-founding member who wrote and sang all of those songs, Dennis DeYoung
Spirit- Best Of- Jay Ferguson
In order to explore the best of Spirit plus the concept album "The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus", we sat down with singer/ songwriter/ keyboard player Jay Ferguson to hear "I Got a Line on You", "Dark-Eyed Woman", "Animal Zoo"," Mr Skin", and "Nature's Way".
The Kinks- Early Best- Sir Ray Davies
Kinks singer/songwriter Sir Ray Davies In the Studio discussing those essential Kinks recordings.
Dire Straits- Making Movies- Mark Knopfler
In 1980 for their third album "Making Movies", Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits' easily least melancholy, most upbeat batch of songs, Mark Knopfler joins me here In the Studio for the tales behind "Expresso Love","Skateaway" "Solid Rock", the epic "Tunnel of Love", and "Romeo and Juliet".
George Harrison- All Things Must Pass
It is the fiftieth anniversary of "All Things Must Pass" from the late George Harrison, who surprised everybody by becoming the most popular maker of solo music for the first five years after the Beatles called it a career. George Harrison talks easily about "What Is Life?","My Sweet Lord","Isn't It a Pity" from the triple LP massive ( and massively popular) All Things Must Pass;
REO Speedwagon- Hi Infidelity- Kevin Cronin, Neal Doughty
REO Speedwagon believed in their long game, and their long-suffering record label gave them TEN trips to the plate until the band touched all the bases in November 1980 with Hi Infidelity . Lead singer Kevin Cronin and band keyboard player co-founder Neal Doughty tell the worst-to-first ten year overnight sensation story In the Studio.
Queen- A Night at the Opera- Brian May, Roger Taylor
In November 1975 Queen sent out invitations for "A Night at the Opera" and the whole rock world RSVP'd. With Brian May and Roger Taylor here In the Studio.
Doobie Brothers- What Were Once Vices…Habits- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons
The surprise success from "Black Water" fifty years ago afforded the Doobie Brothers some creative license on their next album, "Stampede", released in April 1975. But as you will hear from Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, and the late Doobie drummer Mike Hossack, the non-stop grind of five years of one-nighters, stopping only long enough to record the next album, was starting to create stress fractures in the foundation of the band which would sideline Tom Johnston with a bleeding ulcer and, ultimately, alter the sound of the Doobie Brothers for the next decade.
ZZ Top- Afterburner 35th Anniversary- Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard
Thirty-five years ago ZZ Top's"Afterburner" came out. But don't go looking for it in the 2019 ZZ Top rockumentary film "That Little Ol' Band from Texas" .That otherwise well-done pastiche of just some of the chapters in this colorful trio's fifty year telenovella implied that all meaningful recording by ZZ Top wrapped at the conclusion of "Eliminator" way back in 1983. Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard join me here In the Studio on the thirty-fifth anniversary of "Sleeping Bag","Stages","Woke Up with Wood", and "Planet of Women".
Santana- Abraxas- Carlos Santana, Gregg Rolie, Michael Shrieve
In the Studio we never featured a more influential, important, essential album than Santana 's second effort, "Abraxas" released in October 1970. Simply stated, this is the Magna Carta of World Music. Carlos Santana and Gregg Rolie are joined by drummer Michael Shrieve In the Studio.
Led Zeppelin III- Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Terry Manning
Led Zeppelin III appeared October 5, 1970 with surprisingly little notice. Containing "The Immigrant Song","Gallows Pole", and "Since I've Been Loving You", Led Zeppelin III also planted exotic seeds of sounds in "Friends" with its Middle Eastern orchestration, which would skip several subsequent albums only to germinate with legendary impact on Physical Grafitti . My guests Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and Led Zeppelin "III" recording engineer at Ardent Studio in Memphis, Terry Manning, tell the story In the Studio.
Police- Zenyatta Mondatta- Sting, Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland
It seems that stardom for The Police had occurred in the UK after the release of their second album, "Reggatta de Blanc" , but mainstream popularity in the U.S. still eluded them until October 1980's "Zenyatta Mondatta". My guests In the Studio are Police-men Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers.
Ozzy Osbourne- Blizzard of Ozz
Ozzy Osbourne In the Studio for the making of 1980's "Blizzard of Ozz".