Masters of Rock Talk Podcast
“Where Brief is Better”
Podcasts are under 30 minutes
About Radio: What Will the Future Sound Like? Did video kill the radio star? No, it didn’t. But it faces many other threats. Check out the solutions. Ferris Kennedy considers the required therapies for radio to rule again.
The Real Roll of Sex in Rock Like birds of a feather, sex and rock go together. But why? You don’t find this corporeal attachment in jazz or classical. Why rock? Dr. Clarke, diplomatically and with an unnerving sense of purpose, confronts the facts and figures straight on. Tune in. Turn on. But don’t drop out.
Rock Stars of Italian Descent. Who Knew? Be prepared for an explosion of surprises. In this episode, Ferris Kennedy—he of Italian background—takes great delight in confusing Dr. Clarke by listing the many rock musicians of Italian descent—people you had no idea have roots in Il Bel Paese!. This is a special chance to be entertained by pretty cool insights. È fantastico!
Is Rock Music Soon to be Extinct? Classic bands are aging. Radio is dying. New music formats are flourishing. Has rock music really strummed its last chord? In this episode we review the tell-tale facts, consider the trends, and deliver entertaining, persuasive conclusions that will just about make your day!
Are Rock Lists Goofy or Great? Listeners of Serious Rock Talk know our mixed emotions about ‘Greatest Songs/Bands/Guitarists/Singers/Etc.’ lists. In this episode, we make a temporary truce with those that perpetuate lists (Rolling Stone Mag et. al.) and we come out the other end with a lot of laughs. Listen up and enjoy original insights and random observations about rock lists and our incessant need to rate…. everything!
Alice Cooper: The Bizarre Making of a Rock God Once labelled “a skinny nerd with a wimpy voice” by a school friend, Vincent Damon Furnier put on leather gloves and makeup, grew his hair, and started singing about teenage angst. Changing his name to Alice Cooper didn’t hurt. Dr Clarke leads Kennedy and Wheeler through this most unlikely success story. It is a tale told by a music lover, full of sound and fury, signifying rock and roll.
Who Are Rock’s Best Bass Players? The answer? Well. you will have to listen in. We make cases for the prosecution and the defense. And we take no prisoners. As a bonus, Steven Wheeler power gulps energy drinks and really guns it.
Garage Bands from the 1960s: Three Chords & an Attitude It’s been said the best rock & roll is played on a stolen guitar. Not that we support theft, but we do support youthful exuberance, those who regard the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a mausoleum and would use a Grammy award as a doorstop. They know what garage rock is all about. Listen in as we discuss the mother lode of rock rebellion.
Grunge: What is It & Where Did It Go? Grunge music never had a bigger fan than Ferris Kennedy. Listen in for a roller coaster ride through this brief but influential genre, taking a deep dive into Pearl Jam and making salient points again and again. This is special.
The Traveling Wilburys. A Fake Group or What? Who were the Wilburys? At least the Monkees used their real names… George Harrison always wanted to be in another band. Is that why he created the Wilburys? Kennedy and Clarke provide engaging insights, both roasting and celebrating one of most bizarre supergroups ever.
Robbie Robertson: Storyteller. The songwriter, de facto leader of 60s/70s rock giant The Band. Robertson has left us, but his music remains strong and relevant. Dr. Clarke delivers a heartfelt appraisal of this rare, enduring talent.
What is the Future of Rock’s Biggest Bands?: 2023 saw some of rock’s biggest bands Beatles, Stones, Aerosmith, come to life and, well, start to lower the flag. The three amigos have a round table on what you can expect this year from the bands you know and love.
In Memoriam 2023: Rockers We Lost. We celebrate all those who left us this year. Steven Wheeler applies his consummate knowledge of rock and pop culture, discussing a diverse range of wonderful accomplishments and personalities. Listen in! (If you want to download – and not stream – click here.)
The Rolling Stones. 15 People Who Almost Joined the Band. Becoming a Rolling Stone could be a lethal decision. We talk about 15 guys who came real close to getting tight with Mick and Keef … and lived to tell about it.
What We Talk About When We Talk About Canadian Rock. Dr. Clarke offers a primer on the genesis and growth of Canadian rock. That’s not easy. You try it. Ferris Kennedy garnishes lightly with a look at specific Canadian bands throughout the decades. A wonderful primer that will set you in the right direction.
Listener Emails: We Answer Some BIG Questions: Thank you listeners for your emails. We read every one. We didn’t realize you were so smart – and vengeful! Check to see if we responded to your questions.
The Rolling Stones: 60 Years in 40 Minutes. What can you say or write about the Rolling Stones that hasn’t been said or written a zillion times before? A lot, actually, because each of us has a unique opinion on the aging rockers—and certainly Dr. Clarke and Ferris Kennedy do. This is your special chance to get a neat summation of a sixty-year career, including flash reviews of the albums. So listen in.
Farewell to Classic Rockers Jeff Beck & David Crosby. Though very different musicians, these two giants from the 1960s were huge influences. Kennedy and Clarke discuss the legacies, the tributes, and the music.
Forty-One Classic Rock Bands NOT in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Yes, we know, the RRHF is a’ damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ ethical conundrum… good for the industry, maybe not so great for the music. But some of the exclusion—and inclusions—are far beyond human comprehension. We try to sort it out.
Seventy-Two Classic Rockers Who Changed Their Names. We get it, some’ given names’ must be abandoned on the road to stardom, not to mention surnames. But sometimes the new names are so mind-numbingly awful that the whole thing shudders to a stop. Yes, we are merciful, handling fragile egos with care.
Snoop Dog: What Makes the Dog Father So Successful?
Snoop Dogg. The Snooper. The Dogg Father….. A key artist to emerge from the early-’90s gangsta-funk era, Snoop Dogg evolved beyond his rap beginnings to become a lovable pop culture fixture. How is that even possible? What range. It’s Frank Sinatra singing Death Metal. Lend an ear as Kennedy and Clarke raid the Dogg house to see what’s inside.
If ever there was a destiny’s child, it was Ringo Starr. He has to be among the most unlikely superstars in the history of our blue planet. But miraculously, incredulously, he did it. How? We offer a few insights about the Beatles incredible drummer.
All About the Summer of Love 1967 – In this exclusive show, Dr. Ian Clarke burns patchouli oil, wears love beads, and puts this magical summer under a psychedelic microscope to discover why it was – and remains – so influential to pop culture and classic rock.
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