Medium Rare Interviews

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

Jeff Healey 1966-2008

...(cont) every headline before and since the cancer-related premature death of blues-rock phenomenon Jeff Healey March 2, 2008 has included the qualifier "blind guitarist" , as if Healey's mind-blowing facility and unique technique on the instrument,his more-than-competent rich vocals,his uncanny choice of material,and Jeff's wicked ultra-dry sense of humor were less defining of the man than his inability to read the drive-through menu at Taco Bell...(more)

Steppenwolf- John Kay

Steppenwolf should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame if only for, in early 1968, introducing the world to the term and sound "...heavy metal thunder" in the song "Born to Be Wild". That and other iconic songs  "Magic Carpet Ride","The Pusher","Rock Me","Move Over", Hoyt Axton's "Snowblind Friend" were all recorded in rapid succession from 1968 to 1971 by Steppenwolf...led by Communist East Germany-via-Canada exile John Kay (born Joachim Krauledat) whose real life story, as you will hear in this Medium Rare interview, beats any Hollywood back lot fable.

Peter Gabriel- Us, pt 2

Continuing my in-depth classic rock interview with Peter Gabriel in Autumn 1992 on the occasion of the release of his sixth studio album, "Us"pt 2.  This is the conclusion of the career-spanning conversation. -Redbeard

Ted Nugent- Free for All 50th Anniversary

Ted Nugent does a colorful TED talk on "Free for All" fiftieth anniversary!

Monterey Pop Festival -Art Garfunkel

The first great rock festival blossomed fifty years ago June 16-17-18 as the Monterey Pop Festival. One of the performers and Artistic Directors, Art Garfunkel of Simon and Garfunkel, recalls the pioneering event.

Cream Reunion London May 2005- Eric Clapton, the late Jack Bruce

One of the most unlikely reunions in rock history wrapped up May 6 2005 when Cream performed the final of four nights at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Jethro Tull- Thick As a Brick 2- Ian Anderson

Ian Anderson In the Studio for the brilliant 21st century sequel to Jethro Tull's "Thick As a Brick".

Grand Funk Railroad- Best pt 2- Don Brewer, Mark Farner

Todd Rundgren brought some polish to Grand Funk's freight train in the studio, which also encouraged singing drummer Don Brewer to step up his game with songwriting and step up to the main vocal microphone with the #1 hit title song "We're an American Band".

Steve Perry- Street Talk Solo Best

Predictably, the induction of Journey into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rekindled several obvious questions once again with loyal fans, among them: why did the much-beloved and enormously successful Eighties line-up of the Bay Area band, fronted by Steve Perry, disband?

Simple Minds- Celebrate the Greatest Hits pt2- Jim Kerr

By 1995 there was a real question whether Scottish band Simple Minds could remain relevant in a third decade. Jim Kerr reveals just how close they came to packing it.

Pete Townshend- Face the Face Deep End 40th Anniversary

The mid-Eighties was a most difficult time for the titans of rock's Second Generation. The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and The Who were no longer recording, touring, and in some cases even SPEAKING together. Rock'n'roll was officially in full-blown midlife crisis ...Pete Townshend joins me In the Studio for Deep End Live.

Guns’N’Roses- Slash

Guns'n'Roses Appetite for Destruction is now the top-selling debut album in history at over 18 million copies in just the U.S.

David Gilmour- Rattle That Lock

David Gilmour and lyricist Polly Samson In the Studio for "Rattle That Lock"

Eric Johnson- Europe Live

Eric Johnson In the Studio for his "Europe Live" album.

Ann Wilson- Hope and Glory

On Ann Wilson's birthday in 2007, here was a present from her : a highly personal solo album of carefully chosen covers, Hope and Glory,  at a time when US wars were raging in two separate countries with no end in sight. And the "A" guest list of performers with whom Ann duets  include no less than Elton John, k.d.lang, Alison Krauss, Wynonna Judd, even sister from Heart, Nancy Wilson.