Andrew Farriss was the main songwriter in INXS. Michael Hutchence added the flair and the lyrics but without Andrew there really wouldn't have been the INXS that we know.  INXS sold more than 50 million records around the world. They had number 1 albums and number 1 singles across the globe too. They won the biggest of awards and played the biggest of venues. And all whilst keeping the band line-up the same throughout their 20 years with Michael Hutchence.In this interview we talk about Andrew's new music and then dive into the success of INXS where he talks about his friendship and writing role with Michael, the pressure to follow up their first real hit in America, all the stories around the incredible album 'Kick' – which the label didn’t understand when they first heard it – right through to working with the legend that is Ray Charles.  

On this day in rock history, Aerosmith's biggest selling studio album worldwide, GET A GRIP, hit the number 1 spot on the US album chart! And no wonder, given the fact it contained so many hit songs such as Crying, Eat The Rich, Crazy, Livin' On The Edge, Amazing and Fever!! Joining me to share his expert knowledge of the band is Corey, co-host of the podcast "Back Tracks: Aerosmith Revisited"Check out "Back Tracks: Aerosmith Revisited" where they analyse the Aerosmith catalogue track by track, on all good podcast platforms now.

The Tubes were wild to say the least! Today's guest, Fee Waybill, and the band came through the musical theatre and underground comedy scene, but played some furious rock too. Their satirical take on the world, coupled with an unmatched stage show – which really was a full on assault of the senses - marked them out as a band unlike any other! Their huge hits - She's a Beauty, Don't Want To Wait Anymore, White Punks on Dope and Prime Time showcase their incredible musicianship and varying styles.My guest today tells me some wild and fantastic stories so strap in for tales of nudity, bondage, driving cars on to the stage, infiltrating protesters, lying to local officials, stories behind the songs and much more in this chat with The Tubes frontman FEE WAYBILL! Part of Pantheon Podcasts

On this weeks episode we get a long-overdue update for our Artists Choice playlist! We'll hear Jackie Fox from the Runaways, Jim McCarty from the Yardbirds, Tony Martin from Black Sabbath, John Lodge from the Moody Blues plus many more pick a song from their own back catalogue to add to this specially curated list of songs!Also on the show I delve into my archive of interviews to bring you one I did in 2009 with Kit Clark from the band Danny Wilson - famous for having the worldwide hit 'Mary's Prayer' at the end of the 80s.Part of Pantheon Podcasts

The Runaways are one of the earliest and most influential all-female rock acts of all time, a band that proved that women could rock just as hard as any man could! The group of Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, Sandy West, Lita Ford and my guest Jackie Fox make up the iconic line-up of the band. Their army of fans stretched across the globe, especially in Europe and Japan where their most famous song, Cherry Bomb – was a number 1 hit! Although only together for a short period of time, they paved the way for bands like The Go-Go’s, The Bangles, Vixen and others to hit the big time.But the girls were just teenagers when they formed, 15 or 16, and the 1970's were a dangerous place for young women in the industry. The stories behind the Runaways are famous, each of the band members have told their sides at various times, and it's clear the girls were exploited financially, and in many other ways too. Drink and drugs and were made readily available and sexual assault occurred too. Remember these girls were all just teenagers.My guest, Jackie Fox, is an incredible woman who's had an incredible life and she talks to me about everything from her early life learning to play the guitar through to her current projects. She also speaks candidly about the rape she suffered at the hands of the bands manager.It's an interview not to miss.As well as this I will of course give you this weeks Top 5 run down - which is obviously my favourite 5 songs from The Runaways!Part of Pantheon Podcasts

Great Rock Stories Volume 2 is a mix of some of amazing tales told by some legendary stars, including 2 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees! You'll hear about how it felt to get a number 1 single, how one hit song and its image became a blessing and a curse, you’ll hear from a band that Guns n Roses adored and followed around before they got famous, a song written for a legendary front man as a tribute to one of the most iconic drummers of all time, how a leading British group were ignored in the UK and found fame in the US first and much more...– absolutely brilliant stories I promise you! My guests on this episode include Steve Hackett from Genesis, Joe Lynn Turner from Rainbow, Pick Withers from Dire Straits and many more! VRP Rocks is part of Pantheon Podcasts network, please check them out for a huge selection of music podcasts!

The STRAWBS have been in action since the 60's and the bands bass player, CHAS CRONK, joins me to tell me his stories from his time in the band, including the recording of the iconic 'Hero and Heroine' album of 1974! He also gives us an update on Dave Cousins plus plans for another new studio album! We also hear his stories about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Rick Wakeman (YES) and Steve Hackett (Genesis)! Plus he tells me all about his brand new solo album, LIBERTY, which is out now!The Strawbs are one of those bands that straddle various genres effortlessly, whether that's folk, rock or prog and have a back catalogue of hits including "Part of the Union" and big selling albums like 'Bursting At The Seams', 'Hero and Heroine' and 'Ghosts'.Also in this episode you'll get the rundown of my personal favourite 5 songs from The Strawbs too.

MIKE RENO is the lead singer and front man of Canada's, LOVERBOY! The band have more than 20 million record sales worldwide, which includes 4 consecutive multi-platinum certified albums in the US alone!Best known for some huge singles including 'Working For The Weekend', 'Lovin Every Minute Of It', 'Hot Girls in Love' and 'Turn Me Loose' Mike and the band have also written and performed songs on some of the biggest movies of the 80's like of Top Gun and Footloose!Loverboy also hold the record for the most Juno awards won in a single year and were inducted into the Canadian rock and roll hall of fame in 2009.Mike talks about the bands career from that surprise first gig opening for KISS through to their latest release and upcoming "Live and Unzoomed" tour with REO SPEEDWAGON and STYX!

THE TROGGS, became superstars all around the world, topping charts globally with 'WILD THING'. They've been cited as influences for so many bands that followed as pioneers of heavy, raw guitar rock, garage rock and punk rock too. Their raunchy lyrics and memorable melodies helped set them as one of the great British bands of the 60s.Pete Staples was a main part of the band that achieved so much success in the mid to late 60's and in this episode he tells me his stories from his time in the group!

American Pie has become a part of the fabric of America. Don McLean joins me this week to talk about the 50th anniversary of the album/song and to give his wider feelings on a awful lot of things. He talks about working on new material, being watched by the FBI, those early days of his career in the 60's with Pete Seeger and his family lineage which winds back here to a small Scottish island! American Pie was named as one of the five greatest songs of the twentieth century by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003 with Don himself being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004. His songs have been covered by such a wide and diverse array of artists from Elvis Presley to Madonna, Perry Como to current superstar Drake – while Tupac cited his love for Vincent. His song Tapestry was the inspiration behind the launch of the environmental group Greenpeace and the royals Harry and Meghan Markle used his song And I Love You So as the theme for their wedding too! He’s the first to admit in the interview that he’s not a people person, he’s a loner, he doesn’t like small talk – but he sure tells his stories to me. Part of the Pantheon Podcast Network.

'MY SHARONA' was the biggest selling song in American in 1979 and was a number 1 hit all over the world. The album it came from, 'Get The Knack' was also a massive hit, number 1 in the US for 5 weeks and went platinum in a matter of months! Prescott Niles is The Knack's ever present bass player and on this episode he goes deep into the history of the band, the incredible highs and the incredible lows. He's candid, achingly honest and tells stories that really explains what life was like in Americas hottest new band of the late 70s.Part of the Pantheon Podcast network.

Tony Martin is the former lead singer of the legendary, Black Sabbath. Sabbath's 'lead singer roll of honour' includes Ronnie James Dio and former Deep Purple men Ian Gillan and Glenn Hughes but Tony Martin remains the second longest serving lead singer of the band after Ozzy Osbourne! Tony fronted Sabbath for the best part of a decade recording five studio albums and a live album too. In this interview he tells great stories about Tony Iommi, Eddie Van Halen, how he felt being kicked out of the band the first time, his experiences behind the Iron Curtain and some funny stories involving a knitting granny and an Irish gardener. Tony is back with a brand new solo album "Thorns" which is available to buy or stream on all the usual platforms, please check it out! Also on this episode I run you through my favourite 5 Black Sabbath songs - what will be number 1? Will it match yours? Part of the Pantheon Podcast network.

With 3 top 10 albums - including the biggest selling UK album of 1972 - and 4 top 10 singles, Lindisfarne are one of the North East of England's most iconic groups! Songs like 'Run For Home', 'Meet Me On the Corner', 'Fog on the Tyne' and 'Lady Eleanor' are classics of the genre. Their legendary live performances in the early 70's garnered the band a huge following which still follow the group half a century on. Ray Laidlaw was one of the driving forces of the band and in this interview he talks about the band's beginnings, the stories behind the hits, the breakups and make-ups, the criticism they received form working with Gazza, the legacy of Alan Hull and how he's keeping the bands music alive with the Lindisfarne Story. Also on the episode you can hear what I choose as my favourite 5 songs from Lindisfarne and I read out your feedback on last weeks Top 5 from Jimi Hendrix! Part of the Pantheon Podcast network.

Mark Stein is the lead singer and keyboard player with influential band Vanilla Fudge and in this episode he tells stories that contain The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, Dave Mason and much more.Vanilla Fudge crashed into the public awareness with the release of their brilliantly re-arranged and reimagined version of "You Keep Me Hanging On". It gained them friends and fans on both sides of the Atlantic and their tours with Led Zeppelin in support across the US are legendary. Mark worked for many years with a former guest on Vintage Rock Pod, Dave Mason, on many albums, plus he was part of Alice Coopers band in the late 70s, and the Tommy Bolin band too.Now Mark has recently released his first ever solo album 'There’s a Light', which is pretty incredible when you think he's been in the business for so many years! He’s a great storyteller so I hope you enjoy this chat with him.Also on the show you get to hear my Top 5 songs from the legend that is.. JIMI HENDRIX! Part of the Pantheon Podcast Network.

I get into the nitty gritty of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with American comedian JOE KWACZALA. He co-hosts "Who Cares About The Rock Hall" and is a self confessed Rock Hall obsessive. I bet he knows more about the Rock Hall than the people running the place!I grill him on the contentious topics, some of the controversies and put your questions to him - including the big one "Why don't they just change the name to popular music Hall of Fame??"If you're a fan of the Rock Hall, you'll love this episode. If you're not a fan of the Rock Hall... you'll also love this episode!Don't forget to check out Joe's podcast "Who Cares About The Rock Hall" - which is also a member of Pantheon Podcasts - on all good podcast platforms.

Dire Straits legend JOHN ILLSLEY returns to Vintage Rock Pod to tell me about the busy year he's had following the release of his highly acclaimed autobiography "My Life In Dire Straits" and ahead of his new studio album "VIII" and tour. We talk all about his friendship with Mark Knopfler, how Mark was involved in the book and audiobook, themes for the new album, what to expect from the intimate tour and potentially exciting news about previously unreleased Dire Straits material!Also on this episode we discuss the newly announced 2022 Nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with award winning American comedian, and HOF super fan, JOE KWACZALA! He co-hosts the podcast "Who Cares About the Rock Hall" so definitely knows what he's talking about! Plus you'll hear my Top 5 songs from one of this years Rock Hall nominees too!Part of Pantheon Podcasts

Ellen Foley is famously known as the female singer on Meat Loaf's 'Bat Out of Hell' album, significantly duetting on 'Paradise By The Dashboard Light'. But she also had a great solo career, worked with The Clash and many others including Blue Oyster Cult as well as having a career on Broadway, on TV and in movies such as Cocktail with Tom Cruise. In this episode you'll hear Ellen tell me all about these things plus her new album 'Fighting Words'!You'll also get to hear my Top 5 this week, which is my favourite 5 Meat Loaf songs in tribute to the great man himself.

Ian Anderson has been the driving force behind JETHRO TULL for over half a century! With more than 60 million records sold worldwide, Jethro Tull can look back on a catalogue that contains classics such as 'Aqualung', 'Thick As A Brick', 'A Passion Play', 'Minstrel In The Gallery' and 'Stand Up' and now look forward when the release of 2022's 'The Zealot Gene'. In this fascinating interview, Ian, talks all about the new album, his songwriting process, how he captures the muse and more. Also on the show is author Laura Shenton who has written a number of books on music, including a few Jethro Tull books already. She's on to talk about her new book "Jethro Tull Chronicles 1967-79" which is set for release at the end of March. She talks about her love for the bands music and about the special, rare and previously unseen contents of the book. You'll also get to hear my Top 5 Jethro Tull songs as well, which I know will create opinion! To find more details on Laura Shenton's previous books please search for her on Amazon or find her on Facebook Part of Pantheon Podcasts.

This special tribute show to Marvin Lee Aday, known to the world as MEAT LOAF, features contributions I've recorded with ELLEN FOLEY (female singer on the Bat Out Of Hell album), JOHN PARR (St Elmo's Fire singer and good friend) and UK national radio presenter CLAIRE STURGESS from Absolute Classic Rock.We also hear fan reactions to his sad passing from Mike Norris (My Classic Album podcast), Stephanie Myers (Stephanie and Stephanie Talk Tunes podcast) and Joseph Kay (Play That Rock'n'Roll podcast.)There's warm stories, funny stories and great memories throughout this episode.

We pay tribute to the stars of the classic rock world that sadly passed away in 2021. With contributions from some special guests we look back at the heroes that are sadly no longer with us and the legacy they leave behind.Part of Pantheon Podcasts

Great Rock Stories Volume 1 is a mix of some of amazing tales told by some legendary stars, including 3 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees! You'll hear about The Beatles before they were famous, kicking the door down for women in rock, an iconic song that helped to bring down the iron curtain, the early days of punk in the UK, how Sting came to sing on one of MTV's most played videos, how it felt to replace Keith Moon in The Who and how a now lauded and idolised album was pretty much disregarded on release – absolutely brilliant stories I promise you!My guests on this episode include Klaus Meine from The Scorpions, John Illsley from Dire Straits, Suzi Quatro, Kenney Jones from the Faces, Colin Blunstone from The Zombies and more!Part of Pantheon Podcasts

Jim McCarty is a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, inducted with his band, the legendary, ground breaking and iconic 60's group The Yardbirds! He played alongside some of the greatest guitarists of all time as the band boasted Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page among their number! Hear Jim talk about playing with these guys, plus stories of replacing the Rolling Stones, hearing a famous Beatles song in it's infancy, touring America and his new book "She Walks in Beauty." VRP Rocks is proudly part of the Pantheon Podcasts family, find out more at http://pantheonpodcasts.com/

Donnie Vie is the former frontman, lead singer, songwriter and guitar player with the band Enuff Z Nuff. Best known for their big singles 'New Thing' and 'Fly High Michelle', they were on heavy rotation on MTV, Howard Stern was a big fan and so too was David Letterman, having them multiple times on his show. Rolling Stone magazine even called them “The Hot Band of the Year” following their second album release Strength. They even gathered together some of their favourite musicians to help them on their album Paraphernalia including Rick Neilsen from Cheap Trick, JY from Styx and Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins.In this open and honest interview Donnie talks about the early days in the band and the big hits, his incredible new collection and the current situation with him and Chip!Part of Pantheon Podcasts

Dave Brock has been the driving force behind legendary space rockers Hawkwind for over half a century! Although he's now 80 years old, he's steered the group to their 34th studio album release "Somnia" which superbly adds to the back catalogue which already includes 15 records that have made the UK Top 40! Hawkwind's career is a twisting tale and they count among their alumni legends such as Ginger Baker (Cream) and Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead) who famously provided the vocals for their 1972 iconic hit single Silver Machine!In this brand new interview Dave Brock talks all about this new release, recent sold out London Palladium shows, info on MORE NEW ALBUMS that they are working on plus some stories from the 70s and 80s.Part of Pantheon Podcasts

John Lodge is a Rock & Roll Hall of Famer as part of the legendary British group, The Moody Blues. With sales of more than 70 million records worldwide 'The Moodies' broke new ground with their iconic "Days of Future Passed" album, one of the first successful concept albums.With big hits like 'Nights in White Satin', 'Ride My See-Saw', 'Your Wildest Dreams', 'Go Now' and 'I'm Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band'), The Moody Blues remained at the forefront of the music scene well into the 80's, with 13 Platinum and Gold albums in the US alone!In this interview, John, talks about his new live album, recorded with special guests including YES lead singer Jon Davison, and about the wonderful days with the Moody Blues.To see wonderful video clips of legendary rock stars telling some of their great stories, please check out our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/vintagerockpodPart of Pantheon Podcasts