Archive for category: Medium Rare

In the period 1970-89 covered by this classic rock interview for his Best pt 2 with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Todd Rundgren, he made twenty-two albums in seventeen years either as a solo artist or the leader of the multi-threat Utopia. "Prolific" seems woefully inadequate to begin to describe that enormous creative output. "Most of these albums are a result of some kind of musical adventure," Todd explains." It's a privilege that a lot of people don't enjoy."

It's the all-important 1981 "Don't Stop"  EP by Billy Idol. In the last spasms of the London Punk Rock scene circa 1980, Generation X and their front man Billy Broad had the career arc of a bottle rocket, briefly filling English dance floors with the celebratory single "Dancing with Myself"and a cover of "Mony Mony". But Punk Rock's purpose of being a disruptive force to reset all the tumblers of popular music was practically fulfilled by then, and had no second act, so Billy Idol needed a new start. Billy Idol is my guest In the Studio.

For Van Halen " For Unlawful Carnal  Knowledge" , we present an ultra-rare "fly on the wall" listen to the biggest hard rock band in America in 1991. The late Eddie Van Halen, brother Alex, Michael Anthony, and Sammy Hagar had the #1-selling album on the Billboard  chart containing "Poundcake","Judgment Day, "Runaround", "Right Now", and "Top of the World" when we had this lively conversation. This complete interview with all four members has never been heard, & it is now quite historic with the leaving of Sammy Hagar about five years later, & the passing of Eddie Van Halen in 2020.