Medium Rare Interviews

Rare classic rock interviews by Redbeard from the vast In the Studio archive

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.

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.

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".

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

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

Humble Pie- Rockin’the Fillmore- Peter Frampton, Jerry Shirley

...(cont) Humble Pie the full fiery amalgam was unleashed of Small Faces veteran Steve Marriot's megawatt blue-eyed soul voice , the thundering rhythm section of ex-Spooky Tooth bass player Greg Ridley and drummer Jerry Shirley, with the melodic lyrical lead guitar of a teenage Peter Frampton. Frampton and Shirley join me In The Studio for this classic rock interview on the golden anniversary of Humble Pie "Rockin' the Fillmore"..

Ted Nugent- Free for All 50th Anniversary

Ted Nugent's "Free for All" fifty years ago changed the national  radio reception and over-amped its way onto the Billboard album chart in 1976, becoming the second of his three consecutive multi-platinum sellers. Tyrannosaurus Ted is my guest In the Studio.

Men At Work- Business as Usual 45th Anniversary- Colin Hay

Men At Work managed to occupy the peak slot in America for 15 weeks. The songs "Who Can It Be Now?" and "Down Under" followed the Business As Usual debut album from Men At Work to #1 sales for all three in the U.S., something never before done by a rookie band, not even the Beatles.

Faces- A Nod is as Good as a Wink 55th- Rod Stewart, Ron Wood

Those first two Faces albums were critical faves but received scant U.S. airplay, but that all changed in a hurry in November 1971 with "A Nod is As Good As a Wink" containing the international hit "Stay With Me". Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, & archival comments from the late  Ian McLagan ( Ronnie Lane passed as well ) face the music In the Studio for their most popular album, "A Nod is as Good as a Wink" .

Cars- Shake It Up 40th anniversary- Greg Hawkes, the late Ric Ocasek

The Cars' "Shake It Up" was their first album to contain a Top Ten Billboard  hit in the title song, so 1981's "Shake It Up", with its peak at #9 on Billboard  album sales chart as well as #34 for the entire year, was seen by many  as a return to high performance by the Boston band. Keyboard player Greg Hawkes joins me In the Studio with archival interview by Cars bandleader the late Ric Ocasek on "Shake It Up" fortieth anniversary.

Robert Cray- Strong Persuader 40th Anniversary

the breakout album “Strong Persuader” by my guest In the Studio, Robert Cray.

Todd Rundgren- Best pt 2

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."

Pink Floyd- Meddle 55th- David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Roger Waters

Judging by the sheer outsized volume of well-deserved attention heaped on Pink Floyd's 1973 game changer "Dark Side of the Moon", one could easily assume it was the Cambridge, England quartet's first of any consequence. "Meddle", containing the embryonic epic "Echoes", my guests Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and co-founder with Syd Barrett, Roger Waters unanimously maintain that "Meddle"  was their Apollo 8 musical mission which soon after allowed  Pink Floyd's lunar landing on the far side of rock history.

Lindsey Buckingham- Best Of

For two days, the quicksilver singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer Lindsey Buckingham and I sat in a small windowless room serving as his confessional, his therapeutic safe space, and we did not leave until Lindsey told me his truth about playing the role of Vincent in the real-life Van Gogh soap opera that has been his life and musical career for nearly fifty years.

Billy Idol- Don’t Stop 45th Anniversary

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.