Damon Minchella – Ocean Colour Scene

Damon Minchella, founding bassist and songwriter of Ocean Colour Scene, and longtime collaborator with Paul Weller and Richard Ashcroft, talks about his time in music. Damon reflects on a remarkable career spanning Britpop’s rise, creative battles with major labels, his friendship with Oasis, and performing with The Who for Live 8 and Paul McCartney for War Child. He also discusses his autobiography You’d Look Good on a Donkey, the realities behind Ocean Colour Scene’s success, and how a life-changing injury led him into academia while continuing to tour at the highest level. Further information Damon Minchella: You’d Look Good On A Donkey: Britpop, Basslines & Bad(Ish) Decisions Podcasts also available: Steve Cradock, Stephen Street, Billy Bragg, Lynval Golding, Bruce Foxton This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Damon Minchella – Ocean Colour Scene appeared first on The Strange Brew .

In 1968, a group of Luton apprentices started creating a rock opera. Chris Stokes and his band Genesis (not that Genesis) conceived a concept album with baroque piano arrangements and experimental passages, then packed it away and got on with their day jobs. For over 50 years, this album and other material spanning a decade, existed only on deteriorating tape and acetates. Chris recorded with various lineups from the mid-1960s including The Mantis Set, Genesis, and Sunday Painter, mostly at home on a Revox tape machine; self-financed, largely improvised, never properly released. Then Dimorphodons from Hand of Glory Records bought a battered Hohner keyboard on eBay for £10, heard a sample track, and discovered a treasure trove of lost British psychedelia. Chris and Dimorphodons share highlights from this incredible archive, with the bulk of these tracks heard in public for the first time. Further information handofglory.co.uk A Story By The Genesis The Genesis – podcast tracks Podcasts also available: The British Psychedelic Sounds of 1967, A Kaleidoscope Of Sounds Psychedelic & Freakbeat Masterpieces, Arthur Brown, Hawkwind’s Days of the Underground, Pete Brown – Cream/Jack Bruce 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 The Genesis That Time Forgot: Unearthed British Psychedelia appeared first on The Strange Brew .

James Warren joins us to talk through a life in songs, from the playful invention of Stackridge to the studio-bound success of The Korgis. James reflects on writing Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime, why its acoustic reworking finally restored a lost verse, and how choices around touring shaped the band’s fate. Along the way he discusses working with George Martin, later reformations, and highlights from recent Korgis releases. Further information thekorgis.com James Warren podcast tracks Podcasts also available: James Warren (2017), Chris Difford, Gordon Haskell, Steve Harley, Karl Wallinger This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post James Warren – Stackridge, The Korgis appeared first on The Strange Brew .

In The Strange Brew’s 500th episode, Colin Blunstone returns to talk about his One Year and More live box set. Colin reflects on the development of his songwriting, collaborating with Rod Argent and Chris White and the making his early solo albums. He looks back on The Zombies and Odessey and Oracle and the lasting impact of their music. He also discusses working with Alan Parsons and his plans for live dates and new material in 2026. Further information One Year and More: Live from Union Chapel Colin Blunstone website Colin Blunstone 2025 podcast tracks Podcasts also available: Colin Blunstone (2021), Colin Blunstone (2015), Chris White (2025), Chris White (2019), Rod Argent, Hugh Grundy, Russ Ballard, Mike Hurst, Alan Parsons 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 Colin Blunstone on One Year, The Zombies and New Music appeared first on The Strange Brew .

Matt Piucci joins us for a journey through Rain Parade’s story from the early 1980s Los Angeles music scene to the present day. Across a hand-picked set of tracks, Matt looks back at the group’s earliest recordings, the friendships that grew out of the Paisley Underground, and the way their influences found their way into Emergency Third Rail Power Trip and Explosions in the Glass Palace LPs. The conversation follows Rain Parade into their Island years and the projects that kept Matt and Steven Roback writing. Matt closes by reflecting on the rediscovery of their music by a new wave of groups and the run of new releases that has carried them to today. Further information Rain Parade website Matt Piucci podcast tracks Podcasts also available: Steve Wynn – The Dream Syndicate, John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson, Iain Matthews, Will Sergeant – Echo & the Bunnymen This podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Google apps and all usual platforms If you like what I do please support me on Ko-fi The post Matt Piucci – Rain Parade appeared first on The Strange Brew .

John McFee speaks in depth about his work with Southern Pacific, Jackdawg and his session career. He explains how Southern Pacific evolved, why Jackdawg’s album has been rediscovered, and why the focus of his songwriting is not with The Doobie Brothers. He also looks back at Clover’s time in the UK, backing Elvis Costello on My Aim Is True, and the steady flow of session work with Van Morrison, the Grateful Dead, and Steve Miller. John closes with an update on his solo project. Further information Jackdawg’s album Podcasts also available: Stu Cook – Jackdawg and Creedence, Pete Briquette – The Boomtown Rats, Jorma Kaukonen – Jefferson Airplane, John Mayall 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 McFee – Clover, The Doobie Brothers, Southern Pacific, Jackdawg appeared first on The Strange Brew .

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 .