Redbeard's Blog

Jefferson Airplane- Surrealistic Pillow- Grace Slick, the late Marty Balin & Paul Kantner

To carve in three dimensions the zeitgeist of the Summer of Love in 1967 America, you would have to chisel the Jefferson Airplane's second album "Surrealistic Pillow" into any Mt. Rushmore of Rock...Jefferson Airplane co-founder singer/songwriter Marty Balin (who passed away 2018), Grace Slick, and rhythm guitarist/songwriter Paul Kantner, who died in 2016, joined me for this landmark recording "Surrealistic Pillow" released the first week of February 1967.

Live Tracks

Neil Young-The Needle and the Damage Done-San Francisco 1986

Neil Young live acoustic performance "Needle and the Damage Done" to mark the 50th anniversary of "Harvest".

Fleetwood Mac- Rumours- Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham

Fleetwood Mac "Rumours". Guests are Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood In the Studio with Redbeard.

Medium Rare

Jethro Tull- The Zealot Gene- Ian Anderson

Not since "Aqualung" over half a century ago had Ian Anderson addressed the historic characters and iconography of the Old and New Testament Bible this head on, mixed with twentieth century and even current events, as on "The Zealot Gene" by Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson is my guest here In the Studio.

Medium Rare

Jackson Browne-

This interview with Jackson Browne features highlights"Doctor My Eyes","Jamaica Say You Will", and "Rock Me on the Water" from his January 1972 debut; "Late for the Sky" 's title song as well as "Fountain of Sorrow" from 1974; his commercial breakthrough and multi-million seller "The Pretender" in November 1976 with "Here Come Those Tears Again" and the timeless title song; and a 2010 live acoustic version of the 1977 Jackson Browne mega-hit "Running on Empty".

Live Tracks

Charlie Daniels Band- The Devil Went Down to Georgia 1-13-79

Charlie Daniels told me that he had just finished writing "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" before he and the Charlie Daniels Band performed it at their annual Volunteer Jam in Nashville on January 13,1979 , making this performance the first ever before a live audience .-Redbeard

Medium Rare

David Bowie- Toy

The late David Bowie was already sowing the seeds of the fabled "Toy" project, which would remain unreleased until 2022, even as I watched him perform live at New York City's Kit Kat Klub on November 19, 1999 and then sit with me In the Studio for this in-depth interview. -Redbeard

Beard's Blog, Classic Rock Interviews

Pink Floyd- Animals- Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason

How did Pink Floyd evolve from the sublime introspection of "Dark Side of the Moon" in 1973 to the madness and despair of "The Wall" six years later? David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Roger Waters explore the dark, ominous, yet vitally important transitional musical missing link, January 1977's "Animals" here in my classic rock interview, an album that was highly anticipated.

Medium Rare

The Doors- the late Ray Manzarek

In January 1967 when John Densmore's snare drum cracked like a rifle shot before Ray Manzarek's nimble fingers made their intricate run of baroque-sounding notes on that reedy Farfisa organ, all on the introduction to jazz/flamenco guitarist Robbie Krieger's composition "Light My Fire", it clearly and boldly announced a unique approach to rock and roll that really has no peer. And all of that before Jim Morrison stepped up to the microphone to introduce one of the greatest voices and hedonistic personalities in rock history. Not unlike Creedence Clearwater Revival from the same period, no other American bands put out more albums in less time which were more influential in the last 50+ years. And like CCR, no one ever sounded like The Doors ever since. Here is Doors co-founder the late Ray Manzarek with me In the Studio to mark The Doors anniversary. -Redbeard