145. Matt Backer - Elton John, Joe Cocker, Marcella Detroit

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul Stephenson welcomes back legendary drummer Carmine Appice — one of rock’s most enduring and well-connected musicians. Carmine returns to talk about the brand new Cactus album, Temple of the Blues 2, a powerful blues-rock release packed with an incredible all-star lineup. Featuring contributions from Dee Snider, Joe Lynn Turner, Billy Sheehan, Rudy Sarzo, Tracii Guns, Bumblefoot, Pat Travers, Ted Nugent and many more, this is a record built on collaboration, creativity and serious musical firepower. In the interview, Carmine reveals how the album came together, from hand picking the songs and players, to building each track layer by layer, and managing a project that brings together some of the biggest names in rock. We also dive into standout moments from the album, including “The Red Rooster”, and the story behind its eye-catching video, plus how this project evolved from the success of the first Temple of the Blues release. If you love bluesy hard rock, great musicianship, and behind-the-scenes insight into how major collaborative albums are made, this is one you won’t want to miss. 🎸 Temple of the Blues 2 is released April 3rd — available to pre-order now on CD, vinyl and digital formats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul Stephenson is joined by acclaimed guitarist Matt Backer, a musician whose playing has appeared alongside some remarkable artists including Alice Cooper, Marcella Detroit, ABC, and many more. Matt stops by to talk about his brand new album Red Guitars, a record packed with expressive blues-rock guitar playing and great songwriting. Along the way he shares stories from his career working with some of the biggest names in music, what it’s like stepping into different artists’ worlds as a session guitarist, and how those experiences shaped the sound of his new record. Check out VRP Rocks Radio : The online radio station hosted by Paul himself, playing deep cuts and classic hits 24/7! Give it a try: https://live365.com/station/VRP-Rocks-Radio-a70025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul Stephenson is joined by the original Queen of Rock and Roll, Suzi Quatro. In the first half of the episode, Suzi talks about her brand new album Freedom, due for release on March 27th, and reflects on why she’s still driven to create new music after more than five decades in the business. Then in part two, she takes on the My 5 Favourite challenge, revealing the five songs from her incredible career that mean the most to her — and the stories behind them. A fascinating conversation with one of rock’s true pioneers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul chats with the voice of Canadian hard rock legends Helix – frontman Brian Vollmer. With a career spanning over 50 years, Helix have lived through the highs and lows of the rock world — and Brian’s been there for every single step. From the band's humble beginnings in 1974, through their breakthrough success with Heavy Metal Love, to tours alongside Motörhead, Kiss, Aerosmith and Mötley Crüe — Brian shares it all. You'll hear stories about: The truth behind the story of Michael J. Fox trying out for Helix What it was like touring the U.S. in the ’80s with little money but big ambition How “Rock You” almost didn’t make the album The chaos around a beer commercial that nearly derailed a hit single And we dig into Helix’s brand-new album, Scrap Metal — out January 23rd — including how it evolved from unfinished demos, the emotional ties to late drummer Fritz Hinz, and the stories behind key tracks like “Stuck in the 80s” and “Fast and Furious.” Whether you’ve followed Helix from the early days or you’re just discovering them now, this is a deep, honest and engaging look at one of Canada’s hardest-working rock bands — and the man who kept it all going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of VRP Rocks, Paul is joined by legendary drummer Steve Ferrone — the rhythm powerhouse behind some of the most iconic names in music. From playing with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for over two decades, to sessions and tours with Eric Clapton, Christine McVie, George Harrison, Michael Jackson, Duran Duran, Chaka Khan, and many others — Steve’s career reads like a hall of fame roll call. The conversation kicks off with Steve’s behind the scenes memories of that unforgettable Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance with Prince, where “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” became a viral moment thanks to Prince’s incredible guitar solo — and yes, Steve was right there on stage, holding it all together. From there, he shares incredible stories about his time with Tom Petty, what it was like to work with Michael Jackson, his unexpected recruitment into Duran Duran, and why recording with Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie still holds such a special place in his heart. A warm, funny, and humble storyteller, Steve Ferrone delivers an inside look at some of the most legendary moments in rock and pop history. 🎧 Subscribe now and enjoy this deep dive into a remarkable musical life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this very special episode of VRP Rocks, host Paul Stephenson swaps his Highland studio for the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London — joining Foghat legend Roger Earl backstage just hours before the band’s historic return to the UK stage for the first time since 1973! Invited as a special guest by Roger and his wife/manager Linda, Paul takes you behind the scenes of a truly unforgettable night — from soundcheck to dressing room stories, right through to showtime. Roger talks about what it means to finally play in the UK again, reflects on five decades of Foghat, and shares stories of growing up in London. And if you missed it, don’t forget to scroll back and listen to the full 50th anniversary deep-dive into Fool for the City – a must-hear celebration of the album that made them stars. Hit play and join Paul backstage for a unique moment in rock history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He’s played with some of the biggest names in rock history and now, for the first time, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John McFee reveals his five favourite albums that he’s played on himself! From Elvis Costello to The Doobie Brothers, Van Morrison to Huey Lewis and the News, John’s guitar, pedal steel and production work have shaped decades of classic rock, country rock and Americana. In this exclusive VRP Rocks interview, John looks back on his incredible career sharing inside stories from the studio, memories of the sessions and what made these albums so special to him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when rock legends from two iconic bands lock themselves in a studio with no rules, no label pressure and total creative freedom? In this very special episode of VRP Rocks, Paul Stephenson sits down with Stu Cook of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John McFee of The Doobie Brothers to unearth the incredible lost story of Jackdawg — a band made up of three Rock & Roll Hall of Famers whose early ’90s album was shelved before it ever got a proper release… until now. Hear how this unique project came together, why it disappeared for decades and why 2025 is finally the time for Jackdawg’s music to be heard. 📺 Love classic rock? Check out VRP Rocks on YouTube — with 35,000 subscribers and 11 million views — for even more exclusive interviews and rock history. And if you missed it, scroll back to last week’s episode where Stu dives into his CCR days, and stay tuned for next week’s follow-up as John McFee reveals the 5 greatest albums he’s ever played on — from Van Morrison and Elvis Costello to The Grateful Dead and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He was a member of one of America’s most iconic rock bands — and in this exclusive interview, Stu Cook takes us deep into the story of Creedence Clearwater Revival. From the band’s humble beginnings as a high school trio to headlining Woodstock, scoring a UK No.1 with Bad Moon Rising and releasing six albums in just over two years — Stu shares a front-row perspective on the meteoric rise of CCR. We talk about his friendship with Doug Clifford, the origin of the band’s name, the whirlwind recording and touring schedule and why CCR’s story is unlike any other in rock history. There’s also chat about the long-lost documentary, the late Tom Fogerty, and why Bayou Country still holds a special place for Stu. If you love the music of CCR, this is a must-listen. And if you want even more from the CCR universe, scroll back to episode 28 for my interview with drummer Doug Clifford, and stay tuned for part two of this conversation — where Stu returns alongside John McFee of the Doobie Brothers to discuss a long-shelved album finally seeing the light of day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foghat’s Fool For the City is an iconic 70s album — and in this episode, drummer and founding member Roger Earl returns to VRP Rocks to celebrate its 50th anniversary. From the legendary anthem Slow Ride to deep cuts that helped make Foghat a household name in the U.S., this is a full deep-dive into the record that changed everything. In this extended conversation, Roger reveals the stories behind the songs, the recording process with producer Nick Jameson, the creation of that unforgettable album cover and what it felt like to finally crack the American market. If you're a fan of Foghat or classic rock history in general, this episode is packed with insights, laughs and rock 'n' roll tales you won’t want to miss. Be sure to check out Roger’s previous appearances on Episode 38 (career retrospective) and his Side 2 episode on the band’s latest album Sonic Mojo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices