Robbie Robertson vs Levon Helm

Brian and Murdock dig into the story behind the most infamous SNL performance-gone-haywire, and figure out how it weirdly connected a king of comedy, a premier provocateur, and the ultimate torchbearer of punk authenticity.Support the show on PatreonSee the show on YouTubeVisit the show on InstagramVisit the show on FacebookSign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)Win tickets to Louder Than Life 2026! Just send us your (totally made up) fake history of a band on the bill. Make us laugh and you could win 4-Day GA passes! Email [email protected] NOTES:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wired_(book)openculture.com/2025/10/the-night-john-belushi-booked-the-punk-band-fear-on-snl-1981.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Belushihttps://diffuser.fm/john-belushi-fear-snl/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Wave_Theatrehttps://www.goldminemag.com/articles/spreading-fear-since-the-1970s/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_(band)https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/inside-john-belushis-long-lost-punk-song-with-fear-73830/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighbors_(1981_film)https://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-belushi-fear-snl/Ian McKaye telling story about SNL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssNYb7HFUvEhttps://deadline.com/2025/01/the-real-story-fear-snl-1236258816/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The guys finally get to a stack of letters about Paul Westerberg and The Replacements and untangle the tale of the time that the Twin Cities ne'er-do-wells took their inferiority complex onto national TV.Support the show on PatreonSee the show on YouTubeVisit the show on InstagramVisit the show on FacebookSign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)Win tickets to Louder Than Life 2026! Just send us your (totally made up) fake history of a band on the bill. Make us laugh and you could win 4-Day GA passes! Email [email protected] NOTES:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Replacements_(band)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Stinsonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Westerberghttps://www.amazon.com/Trouble-Boys-True-Story-Replacements/dp/0306825368https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Stinsonhttps://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2023/11/14/peter-jespersons-colorful-new-memoir-shares-music-business-thrills-and-spillsJesperson interview on Licorice Pizza TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3WBS_hvrVA&t=3087sThe Replacements performance: https://www.reddit.com/r/punk/comments/1p4dwjl/snl_musical_performance_bastards_of_young_january/https://uproxx.com/indie/rivals-revisited-rem-the-replacements-up-tim-reissues/https://www.reddit.com/r/indieheads/comments/l1nc3r/inside_the_replacements_disastrous_snl_debut/https://snl.fandom.com/wiki/Elvis_Costellohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_RadioSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The guys do their best to answer the often-asked question about what happened to dismantle the (80% Canadian) American instituion - The Band.Support the show on PatreonSee the show on YouTubeVisit the show on InstagramVisit the show on FacebookSign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)Win tickets to Louder Than Life 2026! Just send us your (totally made up) fake history of a band on the bill. Make us laugh and you could win 4-Day GA passes! Email [email protected] NOTEShttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_They_Drove_Old_Dixie_Downhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Cause_of_the_ConfederacyTestimony by Robbie Robertson: https://www.amazon.com/Testimony-Robbie-Robertson/dp/0307889785Big Pink on VBRO: https://www.vrbo.com/3970069hahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Pinkhttps://theband.hiof.no/history/band_shortstory.htmlhttps://www.britannica.com/story/when-dylan-went-electrichttps://dontforgetthesongs365.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/jemima-surrender-and-the-endless-royalty-battle-for-songwriting-credits-between-robbie-robertson-and-the-band/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levon_(song)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Manuelhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levon_Helmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Dankohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Hudsonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Band_(album)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Wheel%27s_on_FireLevonHelm_and_the_Story_of_the_Bandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_WaltzThe car blog: http://phscollectorcarworld.blogspot.com/2018/12/lost-star-cars-wrecks-of-band.htmlhttps://www.reddit.com/r/bobdylan/comments/12n652b/i_find_it_curious_bob_never_really_collaborated/Joe Forno Jr, Interview: https://medium.com/@jeremylr/how-robbie-robertson-almost-reunited-with-levon-helm-and-the-band-2e77f8521416https://www.grunge.com/1364351/robbie-robertson-complicated-history-the-band/https://glidemagazine.com/102076/the-feud-that-just-wont-end-did-levon-helms-wife-keep-robbie-robertson-from-participating-in-grammys-tribute/https://www.salon.com/2020/05/23/robbie-robertson-the-band-once-were-brothers/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The guys allow a letter to lead them on a journey from Tom Petty and Dylan, all the way back to Ol Blue Eyes (and the time he almost caused an international crisis by not watching his mouth.)Support the show on PatreonSee the show on YouTubeVisit the show on InstagramVisit the show on FacebookSign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)SHOW NOTEShttps://www.noise11.com/news/benmont-tench-explains-why-tom-petty-the-heartbreakers-never-returned-to-australia-after-the-dylan-tour-of-the-80s-20211018https://www.thepettyarchives.com/archives/newspapers/1980s/1980-03-23-sydneysunheraldhttps://www.setlist.fm/setlist/tom-petty-and-the-heartbreakers/1980/capitol-theatre-sydney-australia-7bd98e20.htmlDamn the Torpedos tour concert program: https://www.ebay.com/itm/276603584662https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_Confessions_Tourhttps://stevienicks.info/2017/11/04/stevie-nicks-reveals-how-she-almost-got-kicked-out-of-australia/Knockin On Heaven’s Door - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkQ8wh1K88ohttps://www.thepettyarchives.com/archives/magazines/1980s/1986-03-27-rollingstone#:~:text=By%20the%20second%20Sydney%20show,'%20on%20Heaven's%20Door%22%20finale.https://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?p=1217756https://stevienicks.info/1987/10/23/fleetwood-mac-dirty-dancing/Petty: The Biography: https://www.amazon.com/Petty-Biography-Warren-Zanes/dp/0805099689Tom Petty: The Life and Music: https://www.amazon.com/Tom-Petty-Gillian-G-Gaar/dp/0760392617/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Nicks#Artistryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Accentshttps://www.thepettyarchives.com/archives/newspapers/1980s/1986-04-12-readingeaglehttps://themusic.com.au/features/10-times-international-music-stars-clashed-with-australia/UjnoREdGSUg/23-10-25https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110718797https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sinatrahttps://www.rtbuvic.com.au/clarrie-oshea/https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2016/04/18/regrets-he-had-a-few/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_gold_rusheshttps://www.actu.org.au/history-of-australian-unions/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarrie_O%27SheaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brian and Murdock take a challenge on from a young listener interested in ACDC and dig into the rumors and conspiracies surrounding the death of Bon Scott and what he might have left behind...Support the show on PatreonSee the show on YouTubeVisit the show on InstagramVisit the show on FacebookSign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)SHOW NOTES:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Scotthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC/DChttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Young_(rock_musician)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poweragehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutt_Langehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_to_Hellhttp://uncut.co.uk/features/acdc-the-true-adventures-of-bon-scott-3713/2/https://www.reddit.com/r/ACDC/comments/vq5rjv/bon_scotts_contribution_on_back_in_black/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/highway-hell-story-behind-acdcs-breakthrough-final-album-bon-scott/https://www.loudersound.com/features/ac-dc-the-making-of-highway-to-hellhttps://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/t52rcr/young_acdc_with_bon_scott_dressed_as_a_woman/?chainedPosts=t3_vq5rjvhttps://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/how_involved_was_bon_scott_in_the_writing_of_acdcs_back_in_black-158566https://stuffnobodycaresabout.com/2023/11/06/this-ac-dc-demo-turned-into-one-of-their-most-iconic-songs/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Johnsonhttps://faroutmagazine.co.uk/singers-who-rejected-ac-dc/https://people.com/music/iggy-pop-says-ac-dc-ex-manager-once-asked-him-to-join-the-band/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_in_Blackhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albumshttps://ecwpress.com/products/bon-the-last-highwayhttps://www.reddit.com/r/nonmurdermysteries/comments/rghmfq/how_much_of_acdcs_back_in_black_was_written_by/#:~:text=But%20why%20would%20they%20not,the%20soul%20of%20the%20bandhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/ruthblatt/2014/04/30/why-being-a-family-business-made-acdc-the-most-consistent-brand-in-rock-n-roll/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brian and Murdock explore the wild influence Harry Nilsson had on rock music - and the secondary career that arguably killed him.Support the show on PatreonSee the show on YouTubeVisit the show on InstagramVisit the show on FacebookSign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)SHOW NOTES:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Telephone_(1988_film)https://www.smoothradio.com/features/the-story-of/without-you-harry-nilsson-lyrics-meaning/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_(song)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Nilssonhttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-04-fi-59566-story.htmlhttps://rocknrollstorytimecom.wordpress.com/2022/01/18/the-lost-weekend/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Point!https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Son_of_Dracula_(1974_film)Watch Son of Dracula: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfkHN_QxNcwhttps://dangerousminds.net/comments/harry_nilssons_best_friend_courtship_of_eddies_father_theme_was_originallyBuy The Telephone screenplay: https://www.royalbooks.com/pages/books/147221/terry-southern-harry-nilsson-rip-torn-elliott-gould-whoopi-goldberg-john-heard-screenwriters/the-telephone-original-screenplay-for-the-1988-filmWatch the documentary (2006): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je8g10Q3-gYhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_SouthernThe 1988 LA Times piece on Hawkeye: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-12-fi-35188-story.htmlThe 1994 LA Times piece on Nilsson’s death: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-04-fi-59566-story.htmlNew York Times review of The Telephone: https://www.nytimes.com/1988/02/14/movies/film-whoopi-goldberg-in-telephone.htmlhttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-04-fi-59566-story.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Brian explains to Murdock the crazy story of the time a member of a pioneering rock n roll girl group had the worst week ever.Support the show on PatreonSee the show on YouTubeVisit the show on InstagramVisit the show on FacebookSign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)SHOW NOTES:Primary source: All I Ever Wanted – Kathy Valentinehttps://nypost.com/2011/05/29/we-got-the-tweet/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathy_Valentinehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Go-Go%27sTotally Go Go’s 1981 Concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN-Pq5QCIy4See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A question about the superstitions of Robert Smith sends the guys on a wild journey that stretches from Ariana Grande to Nirvana and all the way back to the origin of rock n roll.Support the show on PatreonSee the show on YouTubeVisit the show on InstagramVisit the show on FacebookSign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)SHOW NOTES:https://www.theculturecrush.com/stullhttps://www.onlyinyourstate.com/kansas/ks-creepy-hell-stull/https://theghostinmymachine.com/2019/06/05/encyclopaedia-of-the-impossible-stull-kansas-cemetery-gateway-hell/https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/503https://theclio.com/entry/89054https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stull,_Kansashttps://hometowntales.blogspot.com/2005/04/ks-pope-flew-around-stull.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_Left_to_Fear_(film)https://grungebook.tumblr.com/post/10732584775/urge-overkill-eddie-king-roeser-on-1991-nirvana-tourhttps://www.huffpost.com/entry/ariana-grande-demon_n_4221025https://www.koimoi.com/hollywood-news/when-ariana-grande-encountered-devils-energy-after-visiting-an-infamous-cemetery-i-started-crying/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stull_(EP)https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-urge-overkill-storyhttps://www.centraltrack.com/30-years-ago-nirvana-sparked-a-dallas-legend-at-trees/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/robert-johnson-myth-devil-crossroads-story/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Johnsonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_Road_Blueshttps://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20170907-what-the-myth-of-faust-can-teach-ushttps://www.paranormalscholar.com/the-devils-blues-tommy-johnson-and-his-crossroads-deal-with-satan/https://www.americanbluesscene.com/2022/08/devil-didnt-make-him-debunking-robert-johnson-myth-3dw/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The guys discover how a particular 80's earworm found success nearly a decade after release - and the story of the unlikely managers and their bad behavior that derailed the group from finding chart dominance and financial reward for years.Support the show on PatreonSee the show on YouTubeVisit the show on InstagramVisit the show on FacebookSign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)SHOW NOTES:https://millerlawpc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/The_Romantics_settle_lawsuit_over_song_royalties_with_former_.pdfhttps://www.canadianclassicrock.com/artist-roster/romantics/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Romanticshttps://www.detroitpbs.org/news-media/one-detroit/underground-sound-detroits-punk-rock-history-on-display-at-the-all-star-garage-rock-punk-revue/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MC5The New MC5 (August 1977): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejDUcBjPFeohttps://www.theromanticsdetroit.com/biohttps://chscommunicator.com/83360/features/2022/06/ukrainian-community-in-metro-detroit/https://www.behance.net/gallery/86835905/FAMOUS-AMERICANS-WITH-UKRAINIAN-ROOTS-MUSICIANShttps://wdrv.com/the-romantics-wally-palmar-reflects-on-40th-anniversary-of-bands-debut-album-what-i-like-about-you/Ray Shasho interview with Wally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IzZ20L4OwEhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_I_Like_About_You_(The_Romantics_song)https://www.metrotimes.com/music-2/test-of-time-2176986/https://spiderrecordsdetroit.com/pages/about-spider-records-detroithttps://www.chicagotribune.com/1998/03/11/romantics-learn-hard-lesson-in-royalties/https://www.ascap.com/music-users/types/general-business-landing-pagehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PntPSVMlT9MSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The guys get into what drives some bands into "cult" status by exploring the story of Alex Chilton and Big Star - and the big scandal that kept their first two records from reaching the masses. Support the show on PatreonSee the show on YouTubeVisit the show on InstagramVisit the show on FacebookSign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)SHOW NOTES:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Starhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Bell_(American_musician)https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/why-big-star-number-1-record-was-commercial-failure/https://relix.com/articles/detail/that-70s-cult-band-big-star-remembered/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Chiltonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stax_Recordshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estelle_Axtonhttps://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/soundcheck/articles/43814-stax-vs-motownhttps://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/apr/02/alex-chilton-big-star-biography-rocks-backpages-melody-makerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardent_Recordshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Bellhttps://www.memphisflyer.com/40-years-of-ardenthttps://123oclock4oclockrock.com/2014/10/24/the-story-big-star/https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/08/01/john-king-obit-memphis-ardent-records-big-star-memphis-listening-lab/10208764002/https://stevenrosenwriter.wordpress.com/2019/12/26/all-the-way-to-memphis-big-star-and-the-great-rock-writers-convention-of-1973/https://clivedavisarchives.com/the-end/https://streamingthruamerica.com/2021/06/09/soul-food-for-thought-the-history-of-stax-recordshttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/clive-davis-ousted-payola-coverup-charged-37191/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Star_Marketshttps://www.vice.com/en/article/the-genius-of-chris-bell-one-of-rocks-greatest-tragedies/https://www.amazon.com/Big-Star-Story-Rocks-Forgotten-ebook/dp/B0047T6QB2See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.