Redbeard’s Blog

In the Studio 1988-2018: Thirty Years of the Greatest Rock Stories Ever Told

Enter the name of any band, musician, album title, music style, year, or place in the search box in the upper right portion of the homepage, & then click to find thirty years of Redbeard's exclusive interviews and live recordings!

Todd Rundgren’s Utopia-“The Very Last Time” Boston 11-79

“The Very Last Time” that Todd Rundgren performed live with his ace band Utopia reportedly was over thirty years ago, so you can imagine that it is a pretty big deal for us hardcore Todd-followers that a box set and a reunion tour are both…

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.

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…

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…

Black Crowes- Rainy Day Women #12 & 35

Dedicated to Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

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

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

Shocked and saddened to report that singer/ songwriter Pat DiNizio of The Smithereens passed away. This one's "Especially for You" , Pat.

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…