The Strange Brew - artist stories behind the greatest music ever recorded

Graham Parker reveals the story behind his debut album Howlin’ Wind. Parker recalls his journey from suburban Surrey to the London music scene, his early jobs, and the moment he found his sound – a mix of soul, R&B and sharp songwriting. He looks back at the formation of The Rumour, his partnership with Dave Robinson, and the whirlwind that led to Howlin’ Wind and Heat Treatment being released within months of each other. Parker also reflects on his later work, collaborations, and enduring independence as an artist. Throughout, we hear why his debut stands as one of the strongest opening statements in British rock. Further information Graham Parker’s Howlin’ Wind by Jay Nachman The Official Graham Parker website Podcasts also available: Bruce Thomas – Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Clem Burke – Blondie, Pete Briquette – The Boomtown Rats, Pub rock and the birth of new wave This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Graham Parker appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Billy Bragg talks about his life in music and activism, from his early days and the DIY spirit of Life’s a Riot with Spy vs Spy to new book Billy Bragg – A People’s History. He reflects on his experiences during the miners’ strike and Red Wedge, and the belief that songs can inspire people to think the world can be changed. Bragg also discusses the influence of Woody Guthrie, the meaning of progressive patriotism, and why he still finds purpose in writing songs that challenge and connect. Further information billybragg.com Podcasts also available: Will Sergeant – Echo & the Bunnymen, Rick Buckler – The Jam, Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon, Martin Carthy This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Billy Bragg appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Annie Haslam and Jim McCarty discuss the origins and evolution of Renaissance ahead of their special run of four shows. They reflect on how the band was formed after Jim’s time in The Yardbirds, Annie’s audition and early tours, the impact of lyricist Betty Thatcher, and how Renaissance found their audience in America. This is one of the rare times Annie and Jim have appeared together, and they speak openly about the changing lineups, and creative turning points that shaped the group’s sound. Further information The History of Renaissance live – Nov 21 & 22: IL Edwardsville The Wildey Theatre, Nov 28: NJ The Newton Theatre, Nov 29: NJ Lansdowne Theatre Podcasts also available: Annie Haslam, Jim McCarty (2021), John Fiddler – Medicine Head, John Lodge – The Moody Blues, Rick Wakeman This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Annie Haslam & Jim McCarty: The Story of Renaissance appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Peter Hammill and Van der Graaf Generator have influenced artists from David Bowie to John Lydon, yet Peter has always worked on the edge of the mainstream. In this conversation, he reflects on why revisiting the past felt strange and affirming, the spirit of progressive rock and punk, and the satisfaction of sustaining an independent musical life. Further information sofasound.com The Charisma & Virgin Recordings 1971-1986 and Joe Banks – Rock and Role Podcasts also available: Ian Anderson, Steve Howe on Dylan, Hendrix & YES, Mark Andes – Spirit, Anthony Phillips  This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Peter Hammill appeared first on The Strange Brew .

brendan b. brown of Wheatus marks 25 years since Teenage Dirtbag first turned the band from New York outsiders into a phenomenon. brendan talks about the dark story behind its lyrics, and why it continues to connect with new generations. He reflects on the freedom and struggle of going independent, and how their live shows have been driven by audience requests. Along the way he revisits fan favourites, explains the group’s love of cover versions, and looks ahead to their 25th anniversary UK tour. Further information wheatus.com – shows Podcasts also available: John Flansburgh – They Might Be Giants, Steven Page – Barenaked Ladies, Prescott Niles – The Knack, KT Tunstall This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post brendan b brown – Wheatus appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Stu Cook, bassist and founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival, talks about the band’s early years, their rise and the chemistry that fuelled their success. He speaks frankly about working with John Fogerty, including his reaction to Fogerty’s recent re-recordings of Creedence material, and reflects on the tensions that led to the band’s split. Stu also introduces the long-lost Jackdawg recordings, made with John McFee and Keith Knudsen and now finally being released after more than three decades. Further information Jackdawg’s album Podcasts also available: Doug Clifford, Leland Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, John Illsley – Dire Straits This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Stu Cook – Creedence Clearwater Revival and Jackdawg appeared first on The Strange Brew .

More than fifty years after Barclay James Harvest helped define a uniquely English strain of symphonic rock, John Lees remains its quietly determined heart. With John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest, he continues to balance grandeur with introspection. Their new album Relativity, revisits familiar terrain of love and the search for meaning, guided by the notion that time and emotion are intertwined. Lees reflects on the long road to completing Relativity, his formative years in Barclay James Harvest, nights recording at Abbey Road, playing John Lennon’s guitar, and why songs like Child of the Universe and Hymn still carry a plea for peace in a world that feels out of balance. Further information barclayjamesharvest.com John Lees podcast tracks Podcasts also available: Wally Waller – The Pretty Things, John Lodge – The Moody Blues, Gary Brooker – Procol Harum, Ian Anderson – Jethro Tull, Steve Rothery – Marillion This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post John Lees – Barclay James Harvest appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Archivist and producer Rob Caiger talks about the painstaking work behind Nice Records, the label dedicated to restoring classic recordings from the archives of Small Faces and Humble Pie. Caiger recalls discovering forgotten master tapes in Kenny Jones’s flight cases and explains how these finds have allowed albums like The Autumn Stone and As Safe As Yesterday Is to be heard as they were originally intended. He reflects on the creative energy of the late 1960s, the collapse of Immediate Records, and why physical records still matter in an age of streaming. Further information nicerecords.co.uk Podcasts also available: Phill Brown on Small Faces’ Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake, Andrew Loog Oldham, PP Arnold, Billy Nicholls This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Nice and Immediate: Rob Caiger on Rescuing Small Faces and Humble Pie appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Judie Tzuke has always been slightly out of step with the story people wanted to tell about her. The industry tried to polish her into a pop star, but she was too honest, too much herself. When ‘Stay With Me Till Dawn’ hit in 1979, the press had her down as the glamorous new face of British songwriting, but in truth she was navigating personal tragedy. That contrast has never really left her work. Since then she’s written songs that feel both fragile and defiant, moving between intimacy and drama with an ease that is hers alone. Along the way there have been Elton John’s Rocket Records, Brian May turning up as a fan, Nigel Kennedy adding his bow, and more than a few albums that deserve the word “overlooked.” For Judie, music has been therapy, armour and survival kit. Stage fright, harsh critics, illness; all of it has been folded back into the songs. In this podcast, Judie reflects on her remarkable life and imminent UK Tour with Beth Nielsen Chapman. We hear her near misses, the unexpected triumphs, and the quiet resilience that has kept her in music. Further information Judie Tzuke website Judie Tsuke podcast tracks Podcasts also available: John Rhino Edwards, Sam Brown, KT Tunstall, Kate Bush – Her Life and Music This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Judie Tzuke appeared first on The Strange Brew .

It’s Halloween night, 1975. A bunch of Irish lads are halfway through their first gig when Bob Geldof rubs out the band name on a blackboard and replaces it with something better: The Boomtown Rats. Half the set as The Nightlife Thugs, half as The Boomtown Rats. Fast-forward fifty years and I’m talking with Pete Briquette, the man who decided to pick up the bass at the first rehearsal and never looked back. We chat about the Rats’ brand-new anthology, their upcoming tour, and the realisation that their songs still pack a punch. Pete remembers how ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ broke them internationally, the thrill of hearing ‘Rat Trap’ go to number one from a pub phone box in rural Ireland, and the slightly surreal feeling of being on stage at Live Aid. He also tips us off that there are 10–15 unreleased Rats tracks still waiting in the wings. Fifty years on, the Boomtown Rats still make audiences smile, jump around, and leave a venue buzzing. Not bad for a band that started out as an escape plan. Further information theboomtownratsofficial.com Podcasts also available: Paul Rappaport, Clem Burke – Blondie, Eric Bell – Thin Lizzy, Will Sergeant – Echo & the Bunnymen, Martin Gordon – Sparks, Radio Stars This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Pete Briquette – The Boomtown Rats appeared first on The Strange Brew .