In the Studio with Redbeard

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 (named after the Hermann Hesse novel), led by Communist East Germany-via-Canada exile John Kay (born Joachim Krauledat) whose real life story, as you will hear in my interview, beats any Hollywood back lot fable.- Redbeard

February 19, 2018

Elton John- Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me 9-6-93

Elton John created quite a buzz announcing his retirement from live performance by simultaneously cushioning the considerable blow with news of a massive final tour. Tickets are already on sale for the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour which claims an unprecedented three hundred performances ( I know, I checked, it’s not a typo ). Who wants to bet that “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” will not be a nightly encore? Listen to it here from Boston/ Providence Foxborough Stadium on Labor Day weekend 1993. –Redbeard

January 29, 2018

U2- New Year’s Day- 1987

The 35th anniversary of U2‘s breakthrough album War is looming next month, so to celebrate Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen jr returning In the Studio to recall the times, here is a live version of “New Year’s Day” from the 1987 tour. –Redbeard

January 22, 2018

Black Crowes- Rainy Day Women #12 & 35

Since their very first album in 1990, The Black Crowes continued a fine tradition of recording and releasing singles and EPs with acoustic, live, and alternate take versions of their most popular songs. Their rousing version of Bob Dylan‘s classic ” Rainy Day Women #12 & #35 “ never appeared on any Black Crowes album, instead first appearing as the B-side of 1992’s “Hotel Illness “ single and then, three years later, as the most appropriate lead off track on the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws ( NORML) herb-themed compilation, Hempilation 1. – Redbeard

January 14, 2018

Peter Gabriel- Us, pt 2

Is Peter Gabriel classic rock, for his musical dominance across five decades? Is he progressive rock, for being co-founder and original singer/songwiter of genre giants Genesis? Is Gabriel, along with David Bowie and Brian Eno, an OG for Euro Alt Rock? Yes, yes, and most definitely! 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. This is the conclusion of the career-spanning conversation. –Redbeard

January 1, 2018

Smithereens-Indigo Blues-Only a Memory-Behind the Wall of Sleep medley

So sad to report that Smithereens lead singer and brilliant songwriter Pat DiNizio passed away at only 62.

Smithereens‘ singer/songwriter Pat DiNizio, lead guitarist Jim Babjak, & big thumper Dennis Diken love rock and roll as much as any three people I’ve ever known. Against unbelievable odds, they continued to entertain people for the sheer joy of making a big noise. Here they are live and unplugged on my Q102 Dallas radio show. –Redbeard
Sincere heartfelt condolences to L-R guitarist Jim Babjak, drummer Dennis Diken, Pat in the hat, and bass player of The Smithereens.

December 13, 2017

Phil Collins- Easy Lover- live Birmingham UK 1994

Phil Collins performed his song “Easy Lover”, originally a hit duet with Earth, Wind, and Fire singer Philip Bailey, in Birmingham England in 1994 on the European leg of his massive two-year 100+ show tour. Multi-talented bass player Nathan East provided the falsetto harmonies, all recorded by “Cubby” and In the Studio alumnus sound engineer Doug Hall. What a band! –Redbeard

December 3, 2017

Graham Parker- Back to School Days-Dallas 10-88

Since Graham Parker‘s Squeezing Out Sparks from 1979 is one of my personal “desert island discs”, imagine my delight when GP showed up with an acoustic guitar at Dallas radio station Q102 in October 1988 for the knee-rockin’ butt rockin’ “Back to School Days” “…to put things right”! Happy birthday today ( 18th ) to Graham Parker. – Redbeard

November 18, 2017

Neil Young and Crazy Horse- Inca Queen 11-86- San Francisco

There is a very good reason why no one in the sold-out Cow Palace audience in November 1986 clapped in recognition to the first beginning notes of “Inca Queen” performed by hometown heroes Neil Young and Crazy Horse: it had not been released yet, and would not be until it appeared on Life the following year. –Redbeard

November 11, 2017

Jeffrey Gaines-The Hero in Me- Dallas Oct 1992

When we met for the first time over lunch in early 1992, Jeffrey Gaines impressed me as kind, thoughtful, and very mature for his young age. When we returned to Dallas radio station Q102, he played me several songs from his debut album that year, accompanied solely by his acoustic guitar. After hearing “The Hero in Me” I commented that its 3/4 waltz time would lend itself to a string quartet arrangement like George Martin imagined for “Yesterday” and “Eleanor Rigby”, and that if he ever returned I would make it happen. In October 1992 Jeffrey performed “The Hero in Me” live on my afternoon radio show in a Dallas disco, accompanied by four members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, with music charts arranged by me humming the string parts to a most patient and bemused classical arranger. In this song Jeffrey Gaines reminds us that the potential for valor resides in each of us, and requires only the sincere desire and quiet courage to serve others. -Redbeard

October 22, 2017

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