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Rock's Backpages

Rock's Backpages

By: Barney Hoskyns Mark Pringle Jasper Murison-Bowie
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Tales from the world's largest archive of music journalism: entertaining interviews with luminaries such as Neil Tennant, Billy Bragg, Pamela Des Barres, Gary Kemp, Vashti Bunyan, Midge Ure, Nick Hornby and Robyn Hitchcock. Thoughtful and informative conversations about all aspects of popular music history, interspersed with clips from exclusive audio interviews that date back to the mid-'60s. The RBP podcast is hosted by Barney Hoskyns and Mark Pringle and co-hosted & produced by Jasper Murison-Bowie. We're a proud part of Pantheon — the podcast network for music lovers.© 2025 Backpages Limited Art Music
Episodes
  • E228: Maureen O'Grady on Rave + Pet Sounds + Miles Davis audio

    E228: Maureen O'Grady on Rave + Pet Sounds + Miles Davis audio
    May 26 2026
    In this episode we're joined by a legend of '60s pop journalism to discuss her days at Rave magazine and her friendships with the stars of that swinging decade. Maureen O'Grady talks about the lucky break that brought her to Boyfriend magazine and her long friendship with the great Penny Valentine. She recalls her early interviews with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones before we digress into the role the UK played in hailing the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds as a game-changing masterpiece. Plus we ask our guest about Rave and its groundbreaking 1967 issue featuring Jimi Hendrix on its over. The conversation concludes with Maureen's reminiscences of the '70s, a decade in which she worked as a publicist for — among many other artists — Gladys Knight, Glen Campbell and, erm, Gary Glitter. We then celebrate Miles Davis' 100th birthday by listening to clips from the late Richard Cook's 1985 audio interview with that dark magus of avant-garde jazz. Jasper and William talk us out with their thoughts on pieces about the importance (or otherwise) of pop lyrics (2001) and the abuse meted out to female partners — from Yoko Ono to Courtney Love — of male rock stars (2025). Many thanks to special guest Maureen O'Grady. Pieces discussed: The Who did you say?, The Flower Game, The Beach Boys Visit the Animals, The Beach Boys: Complex and Intricate, Brian Wilson Remembers Pet Sounds on the Album's 50th Anniversary, Miles Davis audio, No Language, Just Sound — Looking Well Beyond the Lyric Sheet and Yoko Ono is now getting acclaim, but why do rock stars' female partners get so much abuse?.
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • E227: An LGBTQ special with Barry Walters + a Grace Jones audio interview

    E227: An LGBTQ special with Barry Walters + a Grace Jones audio interview
    May 11 2026
    For this episode we're joined all the way from San Francisco by Barry Walters to discuss his new history of LGBTQ music. And in our first recording since the retirement of Mark Pringle, William Pike becomes an official co-host of the RBP podcast... Barry reflects on his upbringing in Rochester, N.Y., his move to New York City, and his early writing for the Village Voice. We then hear about his years as pop critic for the San Francisco Examiner and the inspiration of gay disco icon Sylvester. Along the way our guest touches on some of the other artists he writes about in Mighty Real, including the Village People, k.d. lang and Grace Jones. We hear clips from Richard Cook's 1985 audio interview with the amazing Grace and discuss her unique contribution to LGBTQ culture. After William mentions a recently-added library piece about Ray Davies (1977), prompting a discussion of the Kinks' watershed hit 'Lola', Jasper talks us out with his thoughts on Kylie Minogue (2011) and his deep reverence for Spanish superstar Rosalía (from whose O2 show the previous evening he is still reeling...). Many thanks to special guest Barry Walters. Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969–2000 is published by Viking and available now from all good bookshops. Visit Barry's website at barrywalterswriter.com. Pieces discussed: Grace Jones audio interview (1985), Ray Davies live at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Kylie Minogue: The Albums 2000–2010 and Rosalía: Lux.
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • E226: A Liverpool special with Penny Kiley and Paul Du Noyer

    E226: A Liverpool special with Penny Kiley and Paul Du Noyer
    Apr 13 2026
    For this episode we're joined by not one but two very special guests to talk about one of the great music cities. Penny Kiley is the former pop columnist for the Liverpool Echo, contributed regularly to Melody Maker and has just published the superb memoir Atypical Girl. Paul Du Noyer, meanwhile, wrote beautifully for the NME in its glory years and edited both Q and MOJO; he is also the author of 2002's exceptional Liverpool: Wondrous Place. We ask our guests about everything from the Beatles to Frankie Goes to Hollywood via Eric's, the Real Thing and the "crucial three" of Pete Wylie, Julian Cope and Ian McCulloch. We also hear riveting clips from Simon Garfield's 1999 audio interview with (Sir) Paul McCartney. After paying tribute to NME legend Keith Altham, Mark quotes from interviews with Miami soul star Betty Wright (1977) and Southern country-rocker Charlie Daniels (1979). Finally, Jasper rounds things off with his thoughts on Terris – apparently "the best new band in Britain" (2000). Many thanks to special guests Penny Kiley and Paul Du Noyer. You can find Penny's music writing on her Substack at pennykiley.substack.com; Atypical Girl is published by Polygon and available from all good bookshops. Find Paul's writing and details of his books online at pauldunoyer.com. Pieces discussed: Beatles Find Show Biz Isn't All Fun, The Real Thing haven't souled out, Liverpool's Cream: Bag Company, Articles, interviews and reviews from Penny Kiley, The Teardrop Explodes: Teardrops Rising, Eric's: An Undignified Death, Frankie Goes To Hollywood: Royal Court, Liverpool, Paul McCartney audio, Betty Wright, Charlie Daniels' million-dollar miles and Make way for Terris — the best new band in Britain.
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    1 hr and 14 mins
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