Classic Rock Interviews

Preparing this thirtieth anniversary interview with Black Crowes co-founders singer Chris Robinson and his younger guitar-playing brother Rich Robinson to mark their second release, "The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion", the deja vu was uncanny and not a little bit unsettling. Constantly I had to remind myself that the trends these Atlanta natives were seeing in the mid-1990s, and the predictions they made then, sound eerily like today's headlines. Peering now into their spyglass in reverse, it is both remarkable in its accuracy but, I must admit, troubling in its sense of creeping inevitability.

It is the fiftieth anniversary of "Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra" from the eclectic British band Procol Harum, which has the distinction of placing two of the most unlikely songs at the top of the singles chart five years apart with "Whiter Shade of Pale" in 1967 and "Conquistador" in 1972. This ultra-rare interview features organist Matthew Fisher, lyricist Keith Reid, guitarist on the first three studio albums,Robin Trower, and the late singer/pianist Gary Brooker.

No less than four of Joe Cocker's many albums have significant anniversaries: "Joe Cocker (1972)","Sheffield Steel"('82),"Unchain My Heart"('87), & "Night Calls" in 1992...By way of a "best of" these, here is my 2004 interview with the late Joe Cocker at the time of his excellent "Heart and Soul" release.

Asia was the 1980s' first "supergroup", including Emerson Lake and Palmer drummer Carl Palmer, former King Crimson/ Roxy Music / UK singer/ bass player the late John Wetton, Buggles vid-kid Geoff Downes on keyboards, and YES guitarist Steve Howe. Their March  1982 debut hit #1 in America on both the album sales chart and the singles for "Heat of the Moment". Asia debut #1 album of 1982 here In the Studio with Carl Palmer,Geoff Downes, the late John Wetton.