Musicians in films that weren't about them

Ever bought an album just because you should love it... only to file it under "respect, but no thanks"? This week, Andrew Culture and Dr. Sam go full chin-strokey and dive deep into the bands, albums, and entire genres that make them go, "I get it. I just don't want it." We're talking Flux of Pink Indians' sonic assaults, John Zorn's sex-jazz chaos, Minutemen's minute-long jazz-punk spasms, and yes, that unholy racket from Merzbow. Along the way we also chat about Damon Albarn's trouser-based stage antics, Janis Joplin's wardrobe malfunctions, and what happens when Rick Wakeman tries to write a stadium-rock opera about Henry VIII's wives. Seriously. It's an episode filled with love for the bold, the bizarre, and the borderline unlistenable. So grab your brandy, light your pipe, and stroke your chin in a disapproving-yet-respectful fashion. What you'll learn this episode: Why Andrew would rather chew tinfoil than listen to Merzbow again What makes Dr. Sam say "this is basically an angry Jackson Pollock painting" Who wins the battle of "I admire them, but no thanks" — Apex Twin or The Minutemen? Why Flux of Pink Indians were literally banned by the police (hint: it wasn't for being catchy) The sexy noises of John Zorn and why jazz speedrunning should be a sport Plus! Music recommendations, tangents about driving in America, dodgy cod reggae, and why you should never trust someone who plays saxophone and wears a beret.   🎸 Riffs of the Week 👉 Dr. Sam's Riff: Danny Brown – Copycat 👉 Andrew's Riff: Die Spitz – Throw Yourself to the Sword 🎵 Dr. Sam's Track Choices: 1. Flux of Pink Indians – The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks 2. John Zorn – Erotico (The Burglars) 3. Taraf de Haidouks – The Return of The Magic Horses 4. Merzbow – Woodpecker No. 2 🎵 Andrew's Track Choices: 1. Aphex Twin – Windowlicker 2. Rush – Spirit of Radio 3. Minutemen – This Ain't No Picnic 4. Primus – Tommy the Cat 📧 Email us: [email protected]

In this episode, we dive into the slightly baffling and often hilarious world of musicians turning up in films that have absolutely nothing to do with their own music. Some do it well. Some… should've just stayed on stage. From Joe Strummer's pigeon-themed songwriting to Damon Albarn's dodgy gangster role, we shine a flashlight on cinema's most unexpected rock star cameos. Expect righteous rambling, questionable facts, and a whole lot of chaos as Andrew and Dr. Sam chew over: Flea appearing in Back to the Future II as a race-happy chancer Joe Strummer pretending a traffic cone is a megaphone David Bowie's aggressively tight trousers in Labyrinth Placebo showing up in Velvet Goldmine dressed like sexy peacocks Tom Waits being better at acting than most actual actors Tim Armstrong from Rancid randomly playing a tramp in The X-Files And that time a song was written just to impress a member of Bananarama Also in this episode: We slag off Spotify for kicking us off their platform, complain about camping at festivals (again), and attempt to remember what the word "railway" sounds like without sounding like we've joined the Bullingdon Club. This one's for the cinephile who loves music, or the punk who accidentally sat through Straight to Hell thinking it was a Clash documentary. Subscribe, tune in, and remember: just because you're in a band doesn't mean you should be in a film.     Riffs of the Week Dr Sam's Riff Alpha Male Tea Party – Probably Just Hungry Andrew's Riff Ditz – Don Enzo Magic Carpet Salesman Dr Sam's Track Choices Joe Strummer – Evil Darling Alan Silvestri – 4 x 4 Tom Waits – Kommienezuspadt Rancid – Rats in the Hallway Andrew's Track Choices Spandau Ballet – True Placebo – 20th Century Boy Blur – Sing David Bowie – Magic Dance Email us – [email protected]

What do stoner-era ZZ Top, a mountain named Billy with a tree girlfriend, and a kid who astral projects into Rasputin's beard all have in common? Concept albums, mate. And not just any old proggy b*llocks – this week we're diving into the oddest concept albums we could find (and a few we just wanted to waffle on about anyway). Andrew is joined by first-time Beat Motel guest host James Kindred – a fellow Ipswich musician, longtime mate, and possibly the only person who can explain a Mastodon plotline without crying blood. Together, they take you on a journey through the weird, the wonderful, and the "what the hell were they thinking?" of the concept album world. Expect the following nonsense: ZZ Top as proto-stoner gods (with bonus slipper sales) Agriculture's queer-core black metal positivity Mastodon's astral plane + Rasputin collab (yep) Frank Zappa's 40-minute tale about a mountain fighting the US government The madness of Mansun's Six – A.A. Milne gone rock Mark Lanegan scaring the life out of everyone (including Josh Homme) Brian Eno inventing ambient music while still in nappies NoFX writing an 18-minute punk symphony just to piss everyone off Throw in some jazz-metal tangents, disdain for ska-punk, and why John Hopkins makes Andrew need a wee, and you've got a classic Beat Motel episode. Warning: contains opinions. Also, possibly bears.     ### Riffs of the week   #### Kindred's Riff - Precious & Grace - ZZ Top (opening) #### Andrew's Riff - Agriculture - Bodhidharma   ### Kindred's track choices 1. Mastodon – Crack the Skye (cosmic metal odyssey) - Song - The Czar (1. Usurper, 2. Escape, 3. Martyr, 4. Spiral) 2. QOTSA – Songs for the Deaf (desert-drive fever dream) - Song - Songs for the Dead 3. Pink Floyd – The Wall (psychological rock opera) - Song - Comfortably Numb 4. Brian Eno – Music for Airports (ambient architecture for calm) Song - 1/1   ### Andrew's track choices 1. Frank Zappa and the mothers of invention - Billy was a mountain 2. Mansun - Legacy 3. NoFx - The Decline 4. John Hopkins - Tayos Caves, Ecuador i   Email us - [email protected]

If you've ever flipped a vinyl and thought, "well that was a limp finish," then this episode is your new religion. Andrew and Dr. Sam dive into the fine art of ending Side A—the lost craft of crafting a sonic cliffhanger that makes you want to flip that record like your nan flips a Digestive into her cuppa. We've got: The Clash's perfectly measured chaos An R.E.M. song even the R.E.M. boys can't remember Richard Dawson punching you in the feelings A mystery smackhead guitar hero who wandered into a Funkadelic session and laid down one of the greatest solos of all time And very strong feelings about Brett Anderson's 12" misadventure with Suede's "Stay Together" (hint: the band hate it, and Andrew can't stop hearing horn sections) Throw in some serious digressions about class consciousness, cat whiskers, baked beans in mouths, and Gregg's colonisation of the high street, and you've got yourself a full-fat Beat Motel stew. Dave Rowntree of Blur sues PRS over 'black box' royalties All creatures will evolve into crabs Cats' whiskers = biological gap gauges Stripper Vicars: helping painters and decorators since 1995 Midori – "Yukiko-san" Gorillaz ft. Sparks – "The Happy Dictator" Grab a pint, slap on your headphones, and ask yourself – how does YOUR favourite album end Side A? Stuff that might be true (but we didn't check):     ### Riffs of the week   #### Dr Sam's Riff - Midori - Yukikosan (0:19) #### Andrew's Riff - Gorillaz Ft. Sparks - The Happy Dictator   ### Dr Sam's track choices 1. The Clash - Straight to Hell (4.30) 2. Funkadelic - Get Off Your Ass and Jam (1.33) 3. Armstrong & Ellington - Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me (opening) 4. Richard Dawson - Two Halves (0.29)   ### Andrew's track choices 1. The Stone Roses - Bye Bye Badman 2. Mansun - Stripper Vicar 3. REM - Can't get there from here 4. Suede - Stay Together   Email us - [email protected]

Ever watched a music doc and thought, "Cor, this band's story is brilliant!" only to press play on their actual music and feel your soul quietly retreat into your ankles? This week, Andrew and co-host Dr. Sam put the needle on the record and realise some bands should've stayed in the cutting room. We take a scenic drive through the trainwreck glory of Milli Vanilli, the baffling existential crisis that is Metallica's St. Anger, and the CIA's alleged soft-rock psy-op via The Scorpions. Plus, there's a detour through the fever-dream nonsense of Brian Pern, Joan Jett's bad reputation, and the ongoing mystery of why The Sex Pistols are still interesting despite sounding like a wasp in a tin mug. Expect spiky opinions, tight trousers, and the occasional descent into lyrical despair. And yes, there's hummus chat. Of course there is. What's inside: Bands who are great… as a subject, not as a sound Can AI replace all pop music? (And should it?) Was Wind of Change written by the bloody CIA? Stretchy testicles and Mob Dad: Your new Cartoon Network faves Come for the music chat. Stay for the jalapeño hummus.     ### Riffs of the week   #### Dr Sam's Riff - Barbara Dane - I Hate the Capitalist System (opening) #### Andrew's Riff - I'll pay you more if you let me watch - Crippling Alcoholism (3:40)   ### Dr Sam's track choices 1. Milli Vanilli - Take it as it comes (opening) 2. Scorpions - Loving You Sunday Morning (2.43) 3. Metallica - "Shoot Me Again" (0.35) 4. Joan Jett - "Bad Reputation" (0.30)   ### Andrew's track choices 1. Bros - When will I be famous (2:09) 2. Brian Pern 3. Sex Pistols - Silly Thing (0:36) 4. The Lurkers - Ain't got a clue   Email us - [email protected]   We dig music podcast - https://pod.link/wedigmusic   This is the episode with Crippling Alcoholism on it -   We Dig Music - Series 8 Episode 9 - Now Playing Sept 2025 - Magdalena Bay, Crippling Alcoholism, & Ethel Cain   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-dig-music-series-8-episode-9-now-playing-sept-2025/id1246759934?i=1000728773079   https://open.spotify.com/episode/0wBWpR24jRvxRKw7YL1Z8b?si=LbwRnR38RnOhOaC-09MSpg

Ever watched a music doc and thought, “Cor, this band’s story is brilliant!” only to press play on their actual music and feel your soul quietly retreat into your ankles? This week, Andrew and co-host Dr. Sam put the needle on the record and realise some bands should’ve stayed in the cutting room.We take a scenic drive through the trainwreck glory of Milli Vanilli, the baffling existential crisis that is Metallica’s St. Anger, and the CIA’s alleged soft-rock psy-op via The Scorpions. Plus, there's a detour through the fever-dream nonsense of Brian Pern, Joan Jett’s bad reputation, and the ongoing mystery of why The Sex Pistols are still interesting despite sounding like a wasp in a tin mug.Expect spiky opinions, tight trousers, and the occasional descent into lyrical despair. And yes, there's hummus chat. Of course there is.What’s inside:Bands who are great… as a subject, not as a soundCan AI replace all pop music? (And should it?)Was Wind of Change written by the bloody CIA?Stretchy testicles and Mob Dad: Your new Cartoon Network favesCome for the music chat. Stay for the jalapeño hummus.### Riffs of the week#### Dr Sam's Riff- Barbara Dane - I Hate the Capitalist System (opening)#### Andrew's Riff- I'll pay you more if you let me watch - Crippling Alcoholism (3:40)### Dr Sam's track choices1. Milli Vanilli - Take it as it comes (opening)2. Scorpions - Loving You Sunday Morning (2.43)3. Metallica - "Shoot Me Again" (0.35)4. Joan Jett - "Bad Reputation" (0.30)### Andrew's track choices1. Bros - When will I be famous (2:09)2. Brian Pern3. Sex Pistols - Silly Thing (0:36)4. The Lurkers - Ain't got a clueEmail us - [email protected] dig music podcast - https://pod.link/wedigmusicThis is the episode with Crippling Alcoholism on it -We Dig Music - Series 8 Episode 9 - Now Playing Sept 2025 - Magdalena Bay, Crippling Alcoholism, & Ethel Cainhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-dig-music-series-8-episode-9-now-playing-sept-2025/id1246759934?i=1000728773079https://open.spotify.com/episode/0wBWpR24jRvxRKw7YL1Z8b?si=LbwRnR38RnOhOaC-09MSpg

Ever watched a music doc and thought, “Cor, this band’s story is brilliant!” only to press play on their actual music and feel your soul quietly retreat into your ankles? This week, Andrew and co-host Dr. Sam put the needle on the record and realise some bands should’ve stayed in the cutting room.We take a scenic drive through the trainwreck glory of Milli Vanilli, the baffling existential crisis that is Metallica’s St. Anger, and the CIA’s alleged soft-rock psy-op via The Scorpions. Plus, there's a detour through the fever-dream nonsense of Brian Pern, Joan Jett’s bad reputation, and the ongoing mystery of why The Sex Pistols are still interesting despite sounding like a wasp in a tin mug.Expect spiky opinions, tight trousers, and the occasional descent into lyrical despair. And yes, there's hummus chat. Of course there is.What’s inside:Bands who are great… as a subject, not as a soundCan AI replace all pop music? (And should it?)Was Wind of Change written by the bloody CIA?Stretchy testicles and Mob Dad: Your new Cartoon Network favesCome for the music chat. Stay for the jalapeño hummus.### Riffs of the week#### Dr Sam's Riff- Barbara Dane - I Hate the Capitalist System (opening)#### Andrew's Riff- I'll pay you more if you let me watch - Crippling Alcoholism (3:40)### Dr Sam's track choices1. Milli Vanilli - Take it as it comes (opening)2. Scorpions - Loving You Sunday Morning (2.43)3. Metallica - "Shoot Me Again" (0.35)4. Joan Jett - "Bad Reputation" (0.30)### Andrew's track choices1. Bros - When will I be famous (2:09)2. Brian Pern3. Sex Pistols - Silly Thing (0:36)4. The Lurkers - Ain't got a clueEmail us - [email protected] dig music podcast - https://pod.link/wedigmusicThis is the episode with Crippling Alcoholism on it -We Dig Music - Series 8 Episode 9 - Now Playing Sept 2025 - Magdalena Bay, Crippling Alcoholism, & Ethel Cainhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-dig-music-series-8-episode-9-now-playing-sept-2025/id1246759934?i=1000728773079https://open.spotify.com/episode/0wBWpR24jRvxRKw7YL1Z8b?si=LbwRnR38RnOhOaC-09MSpg

This week on Beat Motel, Andrew relives his childhood by rolling down Ed Sheeran's hill into a pile of dog muck, and Dr. Sam reveals he's spent more time chasing cheese than dignity. Somewhere along the way, they accidentally remember this is supposed to be a music podcast. The theme? Cats. That's it. Not subtle. Not deep. Just cats. From SpongeBob's snail-pet Gary to the purring sleaze of Queen's "Cool Cat," we dig into feline-inspired tunes like they're buried in a litter tray. Expect: A semi-academic breakdown of The Cure's "Lovecats" A loving rant about Citric Dummies reviving Dr. Sam's faith in punk The Stray Cats (who aren't British, but fooled us all) Psychobilly hair, ska that doesn't suck, and why Jules Holland might secretly be a dog person A jazz track from 1931 that the BBC had to rename because it was "too rude" (spoiler: it wasn't about a cat, but we're pretending it was) Andrew's website gets cyber-attacked mid-show (presumably by a Japanese feline overlord), and we waste far too much time translating song titles through every Nordic and Baltic language available. We also discover the only way to pick a cat from a rehoming café is to let it slap you in the face. It's a mess. It's musical. It's got Matt Berry rubbing a snail on his face. It's Beat Motel at its most confusingly brilliant. ### Riffs of the week #### Dr Sam's Riff - Citric Dummies - I Am Your Napkin #### Andrew's Riff - vildhjarta - + byta ut alla stjärnor på himlen mot plustecken + ### Dr Sam's track choices 1. Spongebob - Gary's Song 2. Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut 3. Queen - Cool Cat 4. Presidents of the United States of America - Kitty ### Andrew's track choices 1. The Cure - Love cats 2. Squeeze - Cool for cats 3. The Slackers - El Gato 4. Harry Roy & His Bat Club Boys - My girl's pussy Email us - [email protected]

If you've ever wondered what a Finnish man in a bedroom with a broken keyboard sounds like, then you're weird. But also in the right place. This week, Dr. Sam joins Andrew for a dive headfirst into the murky swamp of obscure music genres, where rules don't matter and the cats are in charge. Expect tangents galore: from liturgical black metal to folk electronica via squee (yes, it's a thing), this episode is a chaotic tour of sounds you probably never asked for. There's also rants about Winamp, philosophical crises over Adam Buxton's new album, and an alarming amount of discussion about bodily functions—human and feline. Other highlights: Discover why Primus are their own genre. Chatpile vs. Nick Cave (don't @ us). The truth about the Super Mario cartoon theme. What happens when cats demand mid-podcast poo patrol. Childhood trauma via 70s UK sitcoms and cartoons. So, whether you're sickening for a new genre or just want to hear two middle-aged blokes descend into sonic madness, this episode will either enlighten or deeply confuse you. Either way, you'll come out the other end feeling like you've learned something. Probably. ### Riffs of the week #### Dr Sam's Riff - Adam Buxton - Doing it Wrong (0.18) #### Andrew's Riff - Chatpile - Shame (2:24) ### Dr Sam's track choices 1. Primus - Restin' Bones (2.13) 2. Ana Lua Caiano - Ando Em Círculos (opening) 3. Thomas Ignatius - Sum qui sum (1.00) 4. Super Mario Rap (0.2) ### Andrew's track choices 1. Suicide - Ghost Rider (1:24) - No Wave 2. Eero Johannes - We Could Be Skweeeroes - Skweee 3. Batushka - Yekteniya I - Liturgical Black Metal 4. Phace - Hot Rock - Neurofunk Email us - [email protected]