Redbeard's Blog

Stevie Nicks- Bella Donna 45th Anniversary

In July 1981, Stevie Nicks already was in arguably America's most popular band, Fleetwood Mac, but her first solo album then, "Bella Donna", took her career to another level entirely, a fact that was by no means guaranteed and which came at some cost. Stevie spells it all out quite candidly In the Studio while revealing the stories and characters behind "Edge of Seventeen", "Leather and Lace" with Don Henley, and the timeless duet with Tom Petty on his "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around".

Medium Rare

The Pretenders- Pretenders II @45- Chrissie Hynde

We had never met anyone in rock music quite like The Pretenders bandleader Chrissie Hynde, and honestly in the forty+ years since, I still haven't...I have Ms. Hynde here to speak for herself In the Studio about The Pretenders/ Pretenders II, one of rock's most important one-two Post-punk punches.

Beard's Blog, Classic Rock Interviews

Ozzy Osbourne 1st Anniversary of His July 2025 Death

Ozzy Osbourne first anniversary of his July 2025 death.

Medium Rare

Al Stewart- Year of the Cat 50th Anniversary

Al Stewart joins me In the Studio in a rare interview about his breakout 1976 album "Year of the Cat". But being witness repeatedly to rock history apparently accounted for nothing when Al Stewart's seventh album, "Year of the Cat", was unceremoniously turned down by every major UK record label 50 years ago.

Live Tracks

The Pretenders- The Adultress/Message of Love- Santa Monica 9-4-81

Apparently sitting in a tape vault for forty-five years, this performance of "The Adultress" into "Message of Love" from the original Pretenders lineup at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium was worth the wait.

Beard's Blog, Classic Rock Interviews

Moody Blues- Every Good Boy Deserves Favour 55th- Justin Hayward, John Lodge, the late Graeme Edge

"Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" was the Moody Blues' seventh album in a string of commercially and critically popular efforts. Singer/lead guitarist Justin Hayward, singer/bass player the late John Lodge, and departed Moody Blues co-founder drummer Graeme Edge take "Every Good Boy Deserves Favour" to share here In the Studio insights into some of the Moody Blues' best of those early years.

Live Tracks

Stevie Nicks- Edge of 17- Los Angeles 12-13-81

Stevie Nicks has been performing "Edge of Seventeen" live in concert for over four decades , and here is proof of that fact with a rare recording from the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, on her very first solo tour 12-13-81.

Beard's Blog, Classic Rock Interviews

Journey- Escape @45- Neal Schon- Jonathan Cain- Steve Perry

Hard-charging San Francisco juggernaut Journey unveiled a defining album for the decade with "Escape" in July 1981, containing "Don't Stop Believin' ","Stone in Love", "Who's Crying Now","Open Arms", and "Mother, Father". For the forty-fifth anniversary of this timeless effort, the Journey songwriting triumvirate of Steve Perry, founding guitarist Neal Schon, and new recruit then Jonathan Cain all recall their daring "Escape".