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INXS- Listen Like Thieves 40th- Tim & Andrew Farriss, Kirk Pengilly 9-22

If in Autumn 1985 you were fortunate to catch Australian band INXS in a medium-sized hall or theater upon the release of their fifth album "Listen Like Thieves", what you witnessed first-hand was a precision, smartly rehearsed band's star rising like a bottle rocket toward international stardom.For the fortieth anniversary of "Listen Like Thieves", my guests include INXS guitarist Tim Farriss, keyboard player/songwriter Andrew Farriss, multi-instrumentalist reed man Kirk Pengilly, and my archival interview with the late singer Michael Hutchence here In the Studio the week of September 22.
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John Mellencamp- Scarecrow 40th Anniversary

John Mellencamp's "Scarecrow" album released in August 1985 was loaded with hits, including "Small Town","Lonely Ol' Night", and "R.O.C.K. in the USA".  But it was the album tracks starting with Scarecrow's "Minutes to Memories", worthy of inclusion in the great Paul Simon songbook, which to me revealed his evolving songcraft.
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HEART- Heart’85 @40- Nancy Wilson, Ann Wilson

Two of my all-time faves remain the cinderella story beginnings of Heart in 1976 with "Dreamboat Annie"  and the "comeback" album almost a decade later, "Heart". This hit machine in 1985  reinvented Heart for the MTV Eighties with "If Looks Could Kill","What About Love","Never","These Dreams", and "Nothing at All". Wow. Nancy Wilson and singing sistuh Ann Wilson join me here In the Studio  on the fortieth anniversary of "Heart" ('85).
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Motley Crue- Theatre of Pain 40th Anniversary- Nikki Sixx, Vince Neil

In an alternate universe where being boring and predictable is the Original Sin, Vince Neil, Mick Mars, Nikki Sixx, and Tommy Lee of Motley Crue would be sanctified saints, because they have been waging  jihad against the tyranny of the mainstream for a full four decades. Peaking at #2 on Billboard Album Sales chart, "Girls, Girls, Girls"  would eventually equal their preceding mega-seller "Theatre of Pain" with another four million copies sold. The always eyebrow-raising Nikki Sixx and hilarious Vince Neil are my guests In the Studio.
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Talking Heads- Little Creatures 40th- David Byrne, Jerry Harrison

"I think that Talking Heads were one of the first groups who tried not to be about a fantasy that was bigger than life, but tried to be about being strong within a life that was ultimately real."- Jerry Harrison, In the Studio with Mr "American Utopia", David Byrne, for Talking Heads "Little Creatures" 40th anniversary. .

Night Ranger- 7 Wishes @40- Jack Blades

Night Ranger's Jack Blades grants "7 Wishes" forty years later with the first American band to break big simultaneously on radio & MTV with "Don't Tell Me You Love Me","You Can Still Rock in America", the mid-'80s phenomenon "Sister Christian", and"Four in the Morning" here In the Studio.
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Phil Collins- No Jacket Required

Until "No Jacket Required" in February 1985, Phil Collins was best known as the drummer who surprised everyone by more than capably replacing band mate Peter Gabriel as the lead singer for Genesis. Phil Collins joins me In the Studio for his 1985 blockbuster "No Jacket Required".

David Lee Roth- Crazy from the Heat

The incomparable David Lee Roth interview about January 1985's "Crazy from the Heat" plus the platinum solo album, "Skyscraper" here In the Studio.

Rush- Power Windows 40th- Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson

When observing potential song subjects for October 1985's "Power Windows",  Rush lyricist/ drummer the late Neil Peart saw an uncanny number of socio-political issues which have become front page headlines again  thirty-five years later.

John Mellencamp- Rain on the Scarecrow- Dallas 10-1-91

This acoustic performance of "Rain on the Scarecrow" was absolutely live on my Q102 Dallas/ Ft Worth afternoon radio show in October 1991 with Mike Wanchic on guitar and Kenny Aronoff playing alongside John Mellencamp