Season 1

John Bonham is the focus of the launch episode. Audio clips of Zeppelin fans from Alice Cooper to Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) to Simon Kirke (Bad Company) and even John’s son Jason add sparks to Denny Somach’s stories, culled from his extensive rock archives. And, did you ever hear Robert Plant’s answer to that famous question about Zeppelin playing the Superbowl? Or expect a surprise visit from Zep fan President Barack Obama! Listen here.

Who doesn’t love The Doors? Ray Manzarek talks about the first time the shy Jim Morrison showed him the words he’d written and how that became the beginning of the band, Robbie Krieger talks about writing Light My Fire, and in a brand new interview, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Densmore reveals everything from his relationship with Jim to getting high with Willie Nelson. And, he answers a question he's never been asked before... Listen here.

Classic artists, classic tales – from the amazing archives of Denny Somach. David Bowie on writing with John Lennon; Clarence Clemons on getting fired by Bruce Springsteen while hanging out with Ringo Starr; how Atlantic Records’ founder Ahmet Ertegun discovered Eric Clapton playing in a London bar; the fantastic story of how Sir Bob Geldof got Pink Floyd to reunite for Live 8; and more treasures of classic rock! Listen here.

Where were you when you first saw The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show? Or do you remember their real first appearance on American TV? Join Denny Somach as he takes A Walk Down Abbey Road – not coincidentally, the title of his latest book. You’ll hear the recollections of Beatles fans like Sir Elton John, Billy Joel, Roger Daltrey, Sir George Martin, and the Isley Brothers, revealing who was with them as they watched that historic performance! Listen here.

Cream was the first supergroup - each member was a virtuoso on their instrument, they were all great soloists, and for nearly three magnificent years, they gave us a lifetime of musical memories. You’ll hear from founder, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton on their own experiences, and get commentary you won’t hear anywhere else from Ahmet Ertegun, Robert Stigwood, Jimi Hendrix, and more! Listen here.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have produced 20 studio albums, from Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ to the recently released Letter to You. You’ll hear Bruce talk about that week in 1975  when he was on the cover of both Time and Newsweek, and about trying to visit Elvis in Graceland. You’ll also hear from Clarence Clemons’ last interview before his untimely death, and more reminiscing from those who worked and played with Bruce and the band. Listen here.

Tom Petty is the subject of this episode, with special guest Jon Scott, record executive and author of Tom Petty and Me, My Rock and Roll Adventures with Tom Petty. You’ll hear the ultimate insider answer questions about launching Petty’s career, and more, and you’ll also hear from Tom Petty himself, describing his own feelings about his career, before and after his long association with Scott. Listen here.

This episode is about Songs and Stories – and nothing but songs and stories. The stories are all about specific songs and how they got written, recorded, discovered, whatever – all with the artists’ own recollections. Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Randy Bachman of Guess Who and BTO, Dennis DeYoung of Styx – everyone you want to hear from is here, including Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Donovan, and more – and there’s a surprise ending involving Led Zeppelin! Listen here.

It’s the British Show! Stephen Tow, author of London, Reign Over Me: How England's Capital Built Classic Rockanalyzes classic rock history while Dr. Bill Bruford, who wrote the introduction and is one of the most revered drummers in the world (founding member of Yes; drummer for King Crimson; and more) provides the artist’s viewpoint. Bill is retired now, and never gives interviews, so you know this is something very special! Listen here.

There’s no business like Rock Business and this episode – The Business of Rock – will make that crystal clear from a rock icon and a rock entrepreneur. You’ll hear Carmine Appice talk about how his work as an artist led to his immersion by fire into the business end of the industry. You know Carmine holds nothing back from his drumming, and he holds nothing back in this interview! In the second half of this episode, agent turned entrepreneur David Fishof tells stories about his Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, currently celebrating its 25th year with a hit documentary, how he reformed the Monkees and revitalized their career, and how he created Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band. It’s what you’ll hear only on The Rock Podcast! Listen here.

Jay Jay French of Twisted Sister fame, host of the highly acclaimed podcast The French Connection, author, and motivational speaker reveals what it was like to be in one of the most visual rock bands of all time and what his life is like today in this no-holds-barred interview, exclusively with The Rock Podcast! Listen here.

Billy Gibbons and the Yardbirds are this episode’s subjects. You’ll hear vintage audio from the Denny Somach Archives from Yardbirds Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, and Jimmy Page, plus brand new interviews with Billy Gibbons, talking about his new release, Hardware (and more!) and David French, author of Heart Full of Soul, the recent bio of Yardbirds vocalist Keith Relf. Listen here.

Freddie Mercury - singer, songwriter, lead vocalist, and beloved spirit behind Queen, is heard on a vintage interview you’ll experience only on The Rock Podcast! The flamboyant star, inducted into the RRHOF in 2001, answers questions about the band and his solo album. Listen here.

This episode features an unreleased 1990 interview with the legendary Roger Waters, plus new interviews with John Lodge of the Moody Blues and Gary Brooker of Procol Harum. Three British rock icons you won’t want to miss! Listen here.

Nancy Wilson, RRHOF-inductee, guitarist and singer in Heart, talks about life, love, her new solo album and Led Zeppelin. Later in the episode, Linda Perry weighs in on her love of Led Zeppelin and secrets of her songwriting process. Listen here.

Led Zeppelin was the biggest band in the world, and it still is. This episode features an exclusive interview with C.M. Kushins, author of the new, first-ever biography of the iconic drummer, Beast: John Bonham and the Rise of Led Zeppelin. Includes classic interviews from Jimmy Page and stories from Bonham’s early days you won’t hear anywhere but The Rock Podcast! Listen here.

In 1975, John Lennon walked into a New York radio studio, unannounced, and played DJ. It was the world premiere of his brand-new album, Rock and Roll. You’ll hear him talk about the early days of rock, his influences - Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino - and the first day he met Paul McCartney. Candid and off the cuff, this is one of the most revealing conversations with Lennon ever. Listen here.

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of The Nylon Curtain, which included the hit single, Allentown, Denny Somach tells the story of Billy Joel’s first headline gig. Starting with how Denny recorded the show, lost the tape, and - years later - found it, this story stars 23 year old Billy Joel, up close and personal. Listen here.

Dion DiMucci is in his seventh decade of performing. In this exclusive interview, celebrating the release of his new album, Stomping Ground, we talk about life, love, and rock ‘n’ roll...and Dion reveals how his face made it onto one of the most iconic rock albums of all time. Listen here.

John Waite tells all, beginning with The Babys and remembering how he and Denny met almost 45 years ago! You’ll hear about John’s acoustic album series, Wooden Heart, forthcoming documentary, tour plans - and why becoming a US citizen was so important to him. Listen here.

From walking in on the Beatles who were opening for Joey Dee, with Felix on organ – before they came to America – to playing with Jimi Hendrix, campaigning for Bobby Kennedy, and the drama of working in the industry. More than fifty years later, Felix is still a rascal, in every sense of the word! Listen here.

Ripped from the headlines – but all true. Jay Bergen, author of Lennon, The Mobster & The Lawyer tells the story of the dispute between the famous Beatle and the infamous mobster. The ultimate insider interview! Listen here.

Ben Fong-Torres, famed Rolling Stone editor, talks about his life, career, and new documentary, Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres, as well as Almost Famous, the movie that made him even more famous. This episode features a classic interview Ben did with Bob Geldof after Live Aid. Listen here.

Kate Bush was a star in the UK back in the 80s, but didn’t make it in the US till her Running Up That Hill was prominently featured in Season 4 of the Netflix series Stranger Things, and she hit the top at Spotify. This episode features a 1982 interview from the host’s Classic Rock Archives. Listen here.

Whiter of Shade of Pale is one of the greatest songs of all time – AND one of the cold cases of rock ‘n’ roll. In what was to become Brooker’s final interview, he talks about his career and Denny talks about the legal entanglements concerning the writing of this song. Listen here.

Eric Johnson is the guitar player’s guitar player. His Platinum certified album, Ah Via Musicom, contains his Grammy award winner, Cliffs Of Dover. In this very candid conversation between old friends, the Austin-based inductee in the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats, also listed among the 100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century by Musician Magazine, talks about his two new albums, his favorite guitarists and influences, and much more. Denny pulls an unreleased favorite from the Archives to end this episode. Listen here.

Founding member of Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and the Souther-Hillman-Furay band, the legendary Richie Furay, pioneer of Country-Rock, talks about his new album, In the Country, life, love, spirit, and career, including being signed by Atlantic Records. Listen here.

From the Classic Rock Archives, an exclusive interview with Curt Smith from 1985 - just as the iconic, “Everybody Wants to Rule the Wild” was being released – reveals the meaning of the name, their early years, and more. Listen here.

From the Classic Rock Archives, an exclusive interview with Nick Mason, founding member of Pink Floyd, from 1985. Nick talks about the history of band, including the tragic Syd Barrett, how David Gilmour joined, why they didn’t play Live Aid, meeting the Beatles at Abbey Road Studios while recording their first album, and more. Listen here.

Best known for his long association with the Beach Boys, award-winning writer, director, and producer David Leaf talks about Brian Wilson, and the new edition of his classic, God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys & the California Myth. Listen for the clips of Brian and Mike from The Classic Rock Archives! Listen here.

 In this 1984 interview, Roger Waters talks about how he came to his solo career; the meaning behind The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking; and he even offers an opinion on the possibility of Pink Floyd coming together again. Listen here.

Denny tells the little-known story of how Nazareth came to record Love Hurts, and the Scottish group’s connection to his hometown – and his career. Listen here. 

The most influential band in British rock, after the Beatles and Rolling Stones, has included three of the most accomplished guitarists of all time - Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. You’ll hear from all three in this episode, plus Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Alice Cooper, Geddy Lee, and Joe Perry – all from Denny’s Classic Rock Archives.  Listen here.

You’ll hear a rare historic interview with the legendary Black Irish bassist, who tragically died at age 36. Phil Lynott was known for his work both with Thin Lizzy and solo, and his influence on the heavy metal artists who followed him. The episode ends with Denny telling the story of how he and Phil got to sing on the same number one record! Listen here.

Denny and Jon know each other for nearly 50 years, so you know this conversation will range from the earliest times to the latest tours for 2023, with brief stops at all of Jon’s works-in-progress. While you may have heard one or two of these stories in the past, even hard-core fans will be telling their friends about something from this episode! Listen here.

You may not know this, but the Zombies are the only band still touring after 50 years whose lead singer is not Mick Jagger! The Zombies are more than their biggest hits, “She’s Not There” and “Time of the Season.” Denny goes way back and deep with Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent as they launch their newest album, documentary, and tour.  Listen here.

Ian Anderson has been fronting Jethro Tull since it formed. He and Denny have known each other a long time, more than forty years, so they kick back and catch up on everything from the old days to the band’s newest release – their 23rd album. Listen here.