E200: Celebrating 200 episodes of the Rock's Backpages podcast
In this special episode we celebrate the last four years with clips from twelve of the best 100 shows we've recorded in that time.
Following an intro from Spandau Ballet mainmain Gary Kemp speaking in January 2023, we reflect on what we have (or haven't) learned over those four years, then play and discuss clips from these episodes:
Record Mirror legend Norman Jopling on first seeing the "Rollin' Stones" in 1963 (December 2021)
Writer-photographer Val Wilmer on interviewing Jimi Hendrix in 1967 (May 2024)
the Village Voice's Richard Goldstein on not caring if he was "America's first rock critic" (September 2022)
Creem veteran Jaan Uhelszki remembering her "almost famous" colleague Lester Bangs (May 2022)
Author-filmmaker Nelson George on not reviewing the Brothers Johnson as if they were Bob Dylan (July 2021)
Billboard's first rap editor Havelock Nelson on being influenced by Nelson George (March 2025)
NPR's Ann Powers on being influenced by Greil Marcus (June 2024)
The New Statesman's Kate Mossman on her (not-so) secret passion for jazz fusion (February 2022)
"Freak-folk" icon Vashti Bunyan on her love of hymns and carols (April 2022)
Vashti's 1970 producer Joe Boyd on producing Kate & Anna McGarrigle and the magic of sibling harmonies (September 2024) and...
Island Records mogul Chris Blackwell recalling the al fresco recording of John Martyn's 'Small Hours' (September 2022)
After our navel-gazing saunter down memory lane, Mark tells us about the week's new audio interview, in which Amy Linden asks Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel about [the] Fugees' classic 1996 album The Score.
Mark then quotes from newly-added RBP library pieces about David Bowie's Diamond Dogs (1974), Tears for Fears (1982) and Jeffrey Lee Pierce (1985) and Jasper wraps things up with thoughts on pieces about System of a Down (2003) and ex-Black Midi man Geordie Greep (2024).
Finally, a big shout-out to the many great guests who've joined us over the past four years: thank you all for your time and reminiscences!
Pieces discussed: Norman Jopling on Record Mirror + Rhythm & Blues + Rolling Stones, Val Wilmer on free jazz + photography + Lesley Gore audio, Richard Goldstein on '60s pop writing + the Shangri-Las + Shadow Morton, Robert Duncan & Jaan Uhelzski on Lester Bangs + Creem + Suicide, Nelson George on the Death of R&B + Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis audio, Havelock Nelson on Hip Hop + Missy Elliott + Atlantic Records, Ann Powers on Joni Mitchell + Tori Amos + Women in Pop, Vashti Bunyan on Wayward + Nick Drake + Joe Boyd audio, Joe Boyd on global music + Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Chris Blackwell on Island from Millie to U2 + Bunny Wailer, The Fugees (1996), David Bowie: Diamond Dogs (RCA Victor), Tears For Fears: Ready Teddy Go!, Jeffrey Lee Pierce: On The Trail Of The Wild Weed, System of a Down: "We're in World War III!"
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1:21:27
E199: Phil Sutcliffe on Sounds + Gang of Four + Eric Clapton
For this episode we're joined by veteran music scribe Phil Sutcliffe to discuss his years on Sounds, Q and MOJO.
We start by hearing about our guest's Beatles-obsessed adolescence in the North London suburb of Barnet, then follow him up to Manchester University and his subsequent apprenticeship on the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
Phil explains how he got his foot in the door at Sounds in 1974, initially reviewing gigs on Tyneside before moving back to London to become one of the weekly magazine's key '70s writers. We discuss the paper's transition from Gentle Giant and Back Street Crawler to the Damned and the Sex Pistols — and to the interviews Phil did with County Durham punks Penetration and beloved Salford bard John Cooper Clarke.
From JCC's visit to the Oxford Poetry Festival in 1980, we turn our attention to the week's featured act — politicised post-punks Gang of Four — and thence to the more controversially reactionary Eric Clapton. Clips from John Hutchinson's 1981 audio interview with the guitar "God" prompt conversation about his musical evolution and the infamous 1976 outburst that inspired the launch of Rock Against Racism.
After Mark quotes from newly-added library pieces about Joe Harriott (1964), Miles Davis (1969) and Al Green (1973), Jasper takes us out with his thoughts on articles about Courtney Love (1991), Snoop Dogg (2003) and Cardi B (2019).
Please note that this episode was recorded before we learned of the very sad passings of former Gang Of Four bassist Dave Allen and Malian superstar Amadou Bagayoko — along with Phil Sutcliffe's fellow Sounds contributor Sandy Robertson.
Many thanks to special guest Phil Sutcliffe.
Pieces discussed: The Beatles: I Was A Beatlemaniac, Penetration: Anarchy In County Durham, The Bard Of Beasley Street At The Seat Of Learning, Gang of Four: Dialectics Meet Disco, Gang Of Four: The Revolution Lightens Up, Andy Gill meets Andy Gill, Eric Clapton audio, Eric Clapton: Out of the Darkness, Joe Harriott: Jazz Abstractionist, Miles Davis: In a Silent Way, Hole: Calling the Tune, Snoop Dogg and Welcome to the Cardi Party.
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1:16:11
E198: Havelock Nelson on Hip Hop + Missy Elliott + Atlantic Records
For this episode we're joined all the way from Harlem in New York City by venerable hip hop writer Havelock Nelson.
The first rap editor at industry bible Billboard talks about his early years in his birthplace Guyana and his love of marching bands in the country's capital Georgetown. From there we hear about his family's move to Brooklyn in 1973 and his early exposure to rap and breakbeat tapes in high school.
Havelock recalls the pioneering hip hop fanzines Word Up! and Black Beat – plus the seminal rap writings of Greg Tate and Nelson George – before recounting his experiences as a columnist on Billboard. He also explains the genesis of Bring the Noise, the 1991 "guide to rap music and hip-hop culture" he co-authored with fellow RBP contributor Michael A. Gonzales.
Mention of our guest's 1994 interview with the Notorious B.I.G. takes us into discussion of the synergy between hip hop's rising stars and rap media such as The Source magazine. Havelock also reflects on memorable interviews he did with the likes of KRS-One, Slick Rick, LL Cool J and Salt-N-Pepa.
The latter duo takes us into audio clips from an audio interview with a Virginia-born artist who was profoundly influenced by them: the one and only Missy Elliott, speaking to Sara Scribner after the release of 1997's debut album Supa Dupa Fly... followed by the voices of her collaborators Timbaland and Magoo.
The publication of Taschen's monumental new 75 Years of Atlantic Records prompts reflections on the legendary label co-founded by the late Ahmet Ertegun, plus our thoughts on the present-day roster that includes Charli XCX, Bruno Mars, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran.
The episode concludes with quotes from newly-added library pieces about artists such as Wee Willie Harris, Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich, the Pharcyde and André 3000.
Many thanks to special guest Havelock Nelson. Find his writing on Rock's Backpages and join his Going Way Back group on Facebook.
Dr. Dre: The Chronic, B.I.G.: Rap's Next Big Thing, The Rap Column: Media’s Rap On Rap Is Out Of Balance, Missy Elliott audio, The Age of Atlantic: Jerry Wexler, Rick Rubin: Def Jam's Man With The Plan, Ahmet Ertegun and The History of Atlantic Records, The Age of Atlantic: Making Tracks, Wee Willie Harris, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, The Pharcyde: New Rap Masters and André 3000: New Blue Sun.
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1:09:39
E197: Siân Pattenden on Select + the Bangles + David Johansen
For this episode we're joined in person by the delightful Siân Pattenden, author of the Agatha Bilke and Magical Peppers children's book series.
We start by asking our guest about her early years as a child actor and teenage playwright before she describes the fanzines she published with her pal Nicky Fijalkowska. We hear how these helped to get her foot in the door at Smash Hits, the million-selling pop bi-weekly she joined in 1989. Quotes from classic Hits pieces she wrote are interspersed with hilarious recollections of working alongside Tom Doyle and Sylvia Patterson.
From "Ver Hits" we move on to the more indie-tastic Select and Siân's part in the Britpop wars – with special attention to Elastica, Jarvis Cocker and a pulped July 1994 issue that contained her guide to "legal highs". After reminiscences of a stint teaching music writing at the London School of Journalism, Siân explains the genesis of her 1998 book How to Make It in the Music Business.
Mention of a 2007 Guardian Blogs piece bemoaning the "boy-rock" template established by the Beatles leads into reflections on the all-girl Bangles, subject of a new authorised biography by two-time RBP podcast guest Jennifer Otter Bickerdike.
The desperately sad passing of David Johansen prompted us to dig out and digitise a 1994 audio interview with the sometime New York Dolls frontman. We hear three clips of David talking very amusingly to Q's Mat Snow – and in the process pay tribute to the singer and his fellow Dolls.
After Jasper marks the 70th anniversary of the death of Charlie Parker with quotes from the late Richard Cook's magnificent 1995 piece about the bebop genius, we pay additional tribute to jazz-funk vibraphonist Roy Ayers and neo-soul queen Angie Stone.
Many thanks to special guest Siân Pattenden. Visit her website at sianpattenden.co.uk for more info on her books, art and music.
Pieces discussed: En Vogue: Dawn! Maxine! Terry! Cindy!, At Home in L.A. with Paula Abdul!, This is the Future: Elastica — the Bash Street Kids, Meet the Sheatles, The Bangs: Not Just Another Girl Group, The Bangles: a Female Fab Four?, The Bangles: Globe Trotters, The Bangles: Eternal Flame, The New York Dolls' David Johansen (1994), Charlie Parker: The Prince of Wails, Roy Ayers, Angie Stone: Precious and Pure, Dancing in New York Emmylou Harris: Emmylou on the Verge and The Swede Smell of Success.
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1:17:11
E196: Daniel Wolff & Danny Alexander on Dave Marsh + Curtis Mayfield
In this episode we welcome not one but two guests and ask them to talk about their long-time friend and mentor Dave Marsh.
Daniel Wolff and Danny Alexander co-edited 2023's Marsh anthology Kick Out the Jams: on the eve of his 75th birthday they reflect on his powerful writing, his impassioned politics and his career from Creem and Rolling Stone to the Rock & Roll (subsequently Rock & Rap) Confidential newsletter he launched in 1983.
An audio clip of Dave being interviewed by Daniel for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame takes us back to the former's championing of his Detroit contemporaries the MC5 and the Stooges. Meanwhile pieces about Creem itself and about his friend and frequent biographical subject Bruce Springsteen prompt our guests' amused thoughts on Dave's trenchant opinions and general combativeness.
A 1990 Vox piece about 'The Star-Spangled Banner' leads us to clips from a 1996 audio interview with one of Marsh's many Black music heroes: the sainted Curtis Mayfield. On the 60th anniversary of the Impressions' 'People Get Ready', we talk about the Chicago soul star's songs, politics, guitar-playing — and the sheer wisdom and serenity of the man. (News of the death of Mayfield's old friend and fellow Impression Jerry Butler only reached us the day after this episode was recorded.)
After we've paid our respects to Jam drummer Rick Buckler, Jasper quotes from recently-added library interviews with Lil' Kim (1997) and Hipgnosis boss Merck Mercuriadis (2021).
Many thanks to special guests Daniel Wolff and Danny Alexander. Kick Out the Jams: Jibes, Barbs, Tributes and Rallying Cries from 35 years of Music Writing by Dave Marsh is published by Simon & Schuster and available now from all good bookshops.
Pieces discussed: Creem Reflects Detroit Rock 'n' Roll, Barry Kramer 1943–1981, Sour Creem, Bruce Springsteen: Shouldn't He Be Famous?, The Incredible Story of Iggy & the Stooges, 'The Star Spangled Banner', Curtis Mayfield audio, Rick Buckler, Lil' Kim and Merck Mercuriadis.
Tales from the world's largest archive of music journalism: entertaining interviews with luminaries such as Neil Tennant, Billy Bragg, Pamela Des Barres, Gary Kemp, Vashti Bunyan, Midge Ure, Nick Hornby and Robyn Hitchcock. Thoughtful and informative conversations about all aspects of popular music history, interspersed with clips from exclusive audio interviews that date back to the mid-'60s.
The RBP podcast is hosted by Barney Hoskyns and Mark Pringle and co-hosted & produced by Jasper Murison-Bowie. We're a proud part of Pantheon — the podcast network for music lovers.
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