Redbeard’s Blog
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Bad Company- Run with the Pack- Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke

Bad Company lead singer/songwriter Paul Rodgers, guitarist/songwriter Mick Ralphs (d.2025), and drummer Simon Kirke all agreed that being the first band signed to Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label, as well as sharing management with them, was advantageous. However the expectations for this "supergroup", containing Rodgers and Kirke from Free and Ralphs from Mott the Hoople, were exceedingly high for "Run with the Pack".
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Sting- The Soul Cages

The Sting and I...We had already done multiple interviews when he was in The Police and now Sting had released three solo albums, including his solo "The Soul Cages", by the time we reconvened in 1991. Sting had lost both parents by then, the most recent  his father, and was clearly wrestling with his star ascending amidst pain and personal loss.

Bad Company- Runnin’ with the Pack- Dallas/Ft.Worth 7-10-13

It doesn't get any better than this exclusive live performance of Bad Company  "Runnin' with the Pack", no overdubs, just as the audience loved it July 10, 2013 in Dallas/Ft. Worth.

U2- Pride (In the Name of Love)- 1987

U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love)" is, for my money, one of the most important anthems of the last four decades. Inspired by the life and words of the great American human rights advocate Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King jr

ZZ Top 55th Anniversary- Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, the late Dusty Hill

ZZ Top 55th anniversary interviews with Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, and the late Dusty Hill.
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David Bowie- Station to Station 50th Anniversary

"The way you change Music is by changing the music," David Bowie told me, without any hint of irony whatsoever, as we discussed  January 1976's "Station to Station". Songs include "Golden Years","Stay" ,"TVC 1-5" ,"Wild is the Wind" , and the title song, often cited by post-punk bands including The Cars, Talking Heads, and Gary Numan as a major influence. David Bowie guests for "Golden Years" golden anniversary.

Genesis- A Trick of the Tail- Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford

The first album in the post-Peter Gabriel era, Genesis "A Trick of the Tail" interview In the Studio with Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford.

Fleetwood Mac- Blue Letter- UCONN 10/75

On their first tour in Fall 1975 with the new band including rookies Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac's live performance of "Blue Letter" at their performance at the University of Connecticut made it irrespressible.
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Styx- Paradise Theatre- Tommy Shaw, James Young

If I told you that in 1981  one of America's top music acts released a concept album that  identified growing cracks in the foundation of our society and presciently predicted practically everything we find today, who would you guess it was? Bob Dylan? Neil Young? Crosby Stills and Nash? I doubt that Styx would come to mind to many, but that is precisely what "Paradise Theater"  was, part lament, part warning. Current members Tommy Shaw, James Young, & Lawrence Gowan all weigh in as does ex-member Dennis DeYoung on "Paradise Theater" 's forty-fifth anniversary.

Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir Passed at 78

The Grateful Dead's "other one", Bob Weir, has died from cancer at 78.