In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How bandleader Ric Ocasek and his partner Ben Orr struggled for years to unlock their breakthrough sound 
2. The surprising number of genres the band attemped before succeeding
3. The reveal of the secret formula of musical styles they combined and perfected  
4. The strange, behind-the-scenes reasons the band unraveled at their peak 
5. How Ocasek’s vision went on to shape countless future artists 

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Episode Guest

Peter Aaron is the author of Moving in Stereo: Ric Ocasek, The Driving Force Behind the Cars. Peter is a veteran of the music industry having written on acts like the Ramones and the Band, and as the arts editor of Chronogram Magazine.  Peter is also the front man of influential New York band The  Chrome Cranks. His writing has appeared in The Village Voice, the Boston Herald, and several other publications.  

Why are we different? In each episode host Dave Anthony features guests who know their stuff and bring real insights from their time with the performers — from respected rock journalists to documentary filmmakers.

If you want smarter music commentary and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else, subscribe now and get your backstage pass to music history. 

• How Athens, Georgia became the unlikely spawning ground for several successful bands.
• How R.E.M. created a memorable sound by combining punk, pop music, southern rock and R'n'B  
• Why Pearl Jam and Nirvana cited R.E.M. as a major trailblazer, and influence on their sound
• How an onstage near-tragedy changed the band forever... 
• The college radio strategy the company employed to build its credibility and momentum
• Why R.E.M. turned down the offer to write a theme song for the popular TV show Friends

The first alternative band to experience mass commercial success, R.E.M. occupies an influential position in music history, inspiring many bands with their fiercely independent spirit and sound. Astonishingly, the band first heard on 1980s college radio went on to sell 90 million albums.   

Guest Bio - Peter Ames Carlin, author & journalist
Peter appeared on our Bruce Springsteen episode. In addition to writing a best-seller about Springsteen, he's chronicled Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and Paul McCartney of The Beatles. His new book, The Name of This Band is R.E.M., has just been released.   

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• Transcript for this episode 

1. How their childhoods shaped the music they would create
2. The superstar who gave Eagles their first big break in Los Angeles
3. The personality clashes that simmered behind the harmonies
4. Why the band deliberately changed their sound at their peak
5. The onstage threat of violence that foreshadowed the band’s breakup
6. Who shaped their sound - and the artists they went on to influence

Guest Bio
The guests for this episode are the authors of Eagles: Up Ahead in The Distance Eagles are our two guests, Steve Caparelli and Rick Forgo. They have authored a trilogy of books chronicling the incredible rise of this quintessential band.

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1. The incredible story of Stevie's birth and difficult family life 
2. How Motown records was formed by an unexpected source, and then discovered Stevie
3. The ultimatum by a young Stevie that changes his economic situation 
4. How a knock on a random door in New York resulted in Stevie's greatest albums
5. How a terrible accident changed Stevie forever 
6. About his diverse set of hits from various genres

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Guest Bio
Paolo Hewitt  has followed Stevie's career for decades. Paulo was a writer for UK music magazines, New Musical Express and Melody Maker, where he both interviewed Stevie Wonder and reviewed several of his albums. Paulo has also written extensively about the hiphop scene and has authored books on several artists. He appeared on two very popular Garage to Stadiums episodes to discuss the careers of David Bowie and Oasis.  
 

1. How relentless touring of bars and clubs forged their otherworldly chemistry

2. The incredible accident of timing that launched them from bar gigs to the global stage
3. Their controversial world tour that changed modern music
4. The internal challenges that began to hinder The Band's chemistry
5. How one member went on to be the musical architect of several famous Hollywood movies

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Guest Bio
Craig Harris, is the author of The Last Waltz: The Full Story of The Band, a musician who has performed with a member of the band and the host of the Craig Harris show on WAMU-FM, Bluegrass/Country.

• How Kurt Cobain felt like a fish out of water in his small-town upbringing 
• The two legendary bands that inspired Nirvana’s signature sound 
• A hidden clue about Kurt in the Smells Like Teen Spirit video you likely missed...
• A previous surprising clue about Kurt in their first-ever demo single 
• Bassist Krist Novoselic’s unheralded backstage role in the band's success 
• How Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl became Nirvana’s seventh—and final—drummer 
• Who the hit song About a Girl was really written for....

About our Guest
Michael Azerrad is the author of The Amplified Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana, an extensively illuminated version of his classic 1993 Nirvana biography Come as You Are, named as one of the 50 greatest rock books ever written by the UK's prestigious music magazine Q. Michael was also a former contributing editor for Rolling Stone, and he wrote the famous Rolling Stone cover story on Nirvana from 1992 in which Kurt wears a homemade T-shirt that says "Corporate Magazines Still Suck".

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• How Tom overcame a difficult home life in Florida 
• How Tom participated in events as a teenager with Lynryd Skynryd and The Allman Brothers Band
• The details behind the groundbreaking Petty lawsuit that changed the music industry forever 
• Why Tom was chosen by Bob Dylan & George Harrison into a supergroup
• How Tom's relationship with Stevie Nicks turned into a successful music formula 
• The interesting second career as a cartoon voice on a popular show 
• The details behind Tom's battle with a heroin addiction

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Guest Bio - Warren Zanes

Warren is the author of Petty: The Biography, a New York Times bestseller. He is also an Oscar-winning and Grammy-nominated producer of music documentaries. Earlier in his career, Warren was a member of the Del Fuegos rock band, recording three albums with Warner Brothers. The band served as an opening act for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on a few tours.

After his time in music, Warren earned a PhD in Visual and Cultural Studies and now teaches at NYU. He has also served as Vice President of Education at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was a producer on the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, which explores the lives of backup singers. His book on Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska album is the basis for an upcoming biopic starring Jeremy Allen White, where Warren also serves as a producer.

1) How university students who could barely play instruments became a global phenomenon
2) How an early tragedy involving their primary song writer nearly derailed the band
3) The staggering evolution of sound this band executed
4) The interpersonal drama that produced incredible albums and significant tension
5) The final battles that ended up in litigation

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Guest Bio
Pink Floyd is one of the most successful acts of all time, selling over 250 million albums, and here to tell their story is our returning guest Mark Blake, acclaimed rock journalist and author of books on Queen, Fleetwood Mac and his latest book, Pink Floyd Shine On: The Definitive Oral History has just been released. Welcome to garage. Welcome back to garage. To stadiums. Mark

1. How fate intervened to bring all of The Stones together as a band
2. Who really founded The Stones and the strange origins of the band name  
3. The role that two women played in influencing their music 
4. About one of the first famous deaths in rock 
5. The financial mayhem they faced & the role of a mysterious Prince 
6. Some of the factors that drove their dark songs like Gimme Shelter & Sympathy for the Devil

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Guest Bio
Christopher Sanford is the author of The Rolling Stones: 60 years, he's written acclaimed biographies of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, Sting and Kurt Cobain, as well as books on John F Kennedy and Roman Polanski. For more than two decades, he's written about music and film for major media outlets on both sides of the Atlantic. Rolling Stone magazine has called him "the preeminent author in his field". 

1. How financial problems led to one of their finest albums 
2. About their legendary debaucherous 1972 tour 
3. That the chaos of 1970s New York City played a key role in their sound evolution 
4. Why Mick and Keith's relationship almost came to an end
5. How one of their most famous tunes started as a reggae song
6. The innovation The Stones brought to the concert touring model

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Guest Bio
Christopher Sanford is the author of The Rolling Stones: 60 years, he's written acclaimed biographies of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, Sting and Kurt Cobain, as well as books on John F Kennedy and Roman Polanski. For more than two decades, he's written about music and film for major media outlets on both sides of the Atlantic. Rolling Stone magazine has called him "the preeminent author in his field". 

• The bizarre early incident that nearly ended U2 before it truly began
• The heartbreaking childhood tragedies that shaped two of its members
• The unlikely spiritual and political roots behind their lyrical mission
• The global live performance the band openly hated—yet became legendary
• The intense internal struggles over where their music should go next
• How a frontman with barely a high school education became a global humanitarian voice

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Guest Bio:
Bradley Morgan, author of U2: Until the End of the World. Bradley also has a book U2's Joshua Tree: Planting Roots in Mythic America about their breakthrough album, 1987's The Joshua Tree, a release that put them at the top of international album charts,

• The early struggles of Bowie as a wedding musician and subsequent career challenges
• How Bowie's older brother influenced his musical tastes and how his eventual mental illness haunted and motivated him
• How his wife helped craft the eccentric stage persona that launched him to fame
• The role his time abroad played in innovating a new wave sound, years before it was mainstream
• How Bowie rescued the life of an influential musician from the 1960s and co-created a new sound with him
• How a famous Beatle played a role in one of Bowie’s most iconic songs 
• How his ever-evolving characters and musical anthems inspired a generation of disillusioned youth

Guest Bio - Paolo Hewitt,  journalist & music commentator
Author and music journalist Paolo Hewitt is the author of several books on David Bowie, including Bowie: Album to Album, a retrospective of Bowie’s evolution over his career. Considered one of the foremost experts on Bowie, Paolo has not only written extensively about the artist but has also appeared as a commentator in documentaries on Bowie.

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In this episode, you’ll discover: 

• The fascinating childhood that shaped Strummer’s persona and The Clash approach
• Why Clash frontman Joe Strummer changed his name
• How guitarist Mick Jones' encyclopedic knowledge of music evolved the band's sound
• Inside stories behind The Clash vs. Sex Pistols rivalry and how Chris compares each band  
• The reason Paul Simonon, a non-musician, joined The Clash
• How The Clash brought reggae to the masses
• The economic realities of the UK that fueled punk’s explosion

Learn how The Clash became the first punk band to experience mass commercial success.  Widely loved by a legion of famous fans including Pete Townshend, U2, Green Day and Nirvana, The Clash combined social conscious lyrics, music genre-bending influences and a fiery on-stage presence to captivate a generation of music fans. The influence of punk on all forms of art has continued to this day.   

Guest Bio - Chris Salewicz
Chris wrote Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer and knew each of the member of The Clash personally. He is the author of several iconic musicians' bios including Bob Marley, Mick Jagger & Keith Richard, Jimmy Page and more. He also was involved in the launch of MTV Europe. 

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• How Stevie's musician grandfather formed a musical act with a 5-year-old Stevie 
• How Stevie and Lindsey actually met & the unlikely way they met Fleetwood Mac
• Her unsuccessful attempt to leave Fleetwood Mac to join another famous band 
• How one of her biggest hits was given as a gift to her 
• How she overcame her torturous battle with various addictions

Episode Guest
Zoë Howe is a writer, broadcaster, musician and artist. She is the author of the biography Vision, Dreams & Rumours: A Portrait of Stevie Nicks. She is an acclaimed music journalist who has written books on a variety of performers.  She joins us from the UK.

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In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How Elton never intended to be a stage performer at all — his plan was to write songs for others 
- The unlikely and almost accidental origins of his ultimate songwriting partner 
- How his very first American concert drew a dozen rock legends into the audience 
- A deep, inside look at the classic albums that made him unstoppable 
- The artists who shaped his sound, his showmanship, and his fearless stage persona 
- And how he evolved into a master of the modern soundtrack — from Broadway to Hollywood 

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Guest Biography
Gillian Garr, author of Elton John, Captain Fantastic on the Yellow Brick Road. She's written extensively on music for a variety of publications, including Rolling Stone, Mojo and Goldmine. Gillian is the author of over 15 music biography books, including books on Green Day, Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix and the history of women in rock and roll. She joins us from  Seattle.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The backstory of his troubled childhood and how it affected him for life
• The complicated dichotomy that is Bruce's internal conflict for his entire career
• How the songs Born to Run, Jungleland and others evolved substantially in the studio
• The hidden meanings and themes of key songs on the album 
• A surprising reveal about the album's underlying theme
• The key role of a 22-year-old Born to Run studio sound engineer who would go to become a billionaire

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Guest Bio
Today we'll explore the making of the landmark album Born to Run with Bruce insider Peter Ames Carlin, author of the recently released Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run, which has already become a New York Times bestseller. Peter was on our previous episodes on the Story of R.E.M. and Story of Bruce Springsteen. He's also written definitive biographies on Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. 

• The Beatles’ extremely difficult childhoods—and how it affected their personalities
• The fateful meeting that sparked John and Paul’s teenage friendship 
• The wild tour debauchery they kept hidden—until now
• The unexpected influences that shaped their sound
• The Beatles & Bob Dylan’s game-changing impact on each other
• The "biggest mistake that led to their breakup", according to insider Bob Spitz
• John Lennon’s near-tragic spiral into hard drugs and its effect on the group
• How a rock-n-roll outsider created The Beatles’ image 

Guest Bio:
Bob Spitz is a journalist and author of the million-selling book The Beatles: The Biography.  Early in his career,  Bob was a rock insider as manager for Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. He also authored a New York Times best-seller on Led Zeppelin and joined us as a guest on our Story of Led Zeppelin episode.   

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1. The very different upbringings & personalities of each of the four members 
2. How they played their first ever gig in front of 500,000 people
3. Their incredible creation of a powerful protest song only 3 weeks after an American tragedy
4. The often bitter in-group rivalries that challenged their very existence
5. How one member committed serious federal offences and was jailed   

Transcript for this episode

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Guest Biography for this episode
David Browne is the author of Crosby Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock's Greatest Supergroup. David is a senior writer at Rolling Stone magazine and a former music critic at Entertainment Weekly. He's profiled legends like Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead and Sonic Youth. He joined us from New York. 

1. How fate intervened to bring all of The Stones together as a band
2. Who really founded The Stones and the strange origins of the band name  
3. The role that two women played in influencing their music 
4. About one of the first famous deaths in rock 
5. The financial mayhem they faced & the role of a mysterious Prince 
6. Some of the factors that drove their dark songs like Gimme Shelter & Sympathy for the Devil

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Guest Bio
Christopher Sanford is the author of The Rolling Stones: 60 years, he's written acclaimed biographies of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, Sting and Kurt Cobain, as well as books on John F Kennedy and Roman Polanski. For more than two decades, he's written about music and film for major media outlets on both sides of the Atlantic. Rolling Stone magazine has called him "the preeminent author in his field". 

1. How financial problems led to one of their finest albums 
2. About their legendary debaucherous 1972 tour 
3. That the chaos of 1970s New York City played a key role in their sound evolution 
4. Why Mick and Keith's relationship almost came to an end
5. How one of their most famous tunes started as a reggae song
6. The innovation The Stones brought to the concert touring model

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Guest Bio
Christopher Sanford is the author of The Rolling Stones: 60 years, he's written acclaimed biographies of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, Sting and Kurt Cobain, as well as books on John F Kennedy and Roman Polanski. For more than two decades, he's written about music and film for major media outlets on both sides of the Atlantic. Rolling Stone magazine has called him "the preeminent author in his field". 

• How the founder of Zeppelin was a stellar studio musician seeking a new career challenge
• How the lead singer had the same background as the Peaky Blinders 
• How two famous members of the band were unknowns playing in bar bands  
• How Led Zep tours reached levels of sexual debauchery not seen before or since 
• How Zeppelin transformed music styles and concert economics for all artists
• How a 300-pound former wrestler created their innovative marketing strategy
• That one of its members was studying to be an accountant
• How several tragic events changed the band forever 

Led Zeppelin wasn't just a band but a powerhouse of talent. Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones weren't your average musicians—they were session legends, popping up on more records than you can shake a drumstick at. From The Who and The Kinks to classical orchestra songs to commercial jingles, these guys played on all of them, bringing a wealth of musical experience to Led Zep recordings. Jimmy Page even seemed destined for prodigy status when, as a 13-year-old guitar player, he appeared on the BBC. 

 
Guest Bio:
Bob Spitz is a journalist and author of the best-selling book Led Zeppelin: The Biography.  Early in his career,  Bob worked as a manager for Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. He also authored a New York Times best-seller on the Beatles.   

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Bonus Content:

1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums Led Zeppelin playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on Led Zeppelin, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

Led Zeppelin's journey was a whirlwind of highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies. Their musical prowess, unmatched charisma, and savvy marketing propelled them to the pinnacle of rock 'n' roll success. Led Zeppelin left an indelible mark on music history, from sold-out stadiums to groundbreaking albums.  Zep even teased everyone with a stellar performance in 2007 reunification in London featuring the three core members plus the son of their deceased drummer. 

Air date: 2024
Host: Dave Anthony

• The origins of the band in England in the 1960s as a blues band featuring a very different lineup  
• How the founder suffered a severe mental health decline that altered the course of the band
• How the aristocratic son of a Royal Air Force commander went from a window cleaner to Fleetwood Mac leader
• How one band member left the band to join a cult
• How a trip to the grocery store led to the discovery of soon-to-be superstars Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham
• The revealing true meaning of 5 of their most famous songs based on Mark Blake's interviews with the band 

Join host Dave Anthony and Fleetwood Mac author Mark Blake for the fascinating story behind Fleetwood Mac's journey from the pubs of England to become a US and global phenomenon.   Picture this: a plot straight out of a gripping soap opera, where band members forge romantic connections, battle with addiction, weather breakups, and witness a revolving door of musical talent. And at the heart of it all lies Fleetwood Mac, a band synonymous with drama and musical brilliance.

Guest Bio:
Mark Blake is the author of the soon-to-be-released Dreams: The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac and has interviewed each member of Fleetwood Mac several times over the decades. He has also written books on Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Pink Floyd.

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Bonus Content:

1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums Fleetwood Mac playlist on Apple Music or Spotify 
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on Fleetwood Mac, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

In this episode, you will experience the sights and sounds of the mid-1960s London scene version of Fleetwood Mac, typified by this performance on the BBC from the era.   Blake reveals the incredibly random way Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were discovered and went from a folk performing duo on their first album to becoming additional band members, contributing powerful songwriting, vocal harmonies, and Buckingham's blazing guitar.  These two were directly responsible for massive hits like Rhiannon, which was seen HERE in a scorching live performance in 1976 on NBC’s music show Midnight Special. 

Fleetwood Mac's journey had its share of challenges amid the musical triumphs. Mark Blake paints a vivid portrait of the band's dynamic personalities, fueled by passion, breakups, tension, drug use and the occasional thrown drink. Yet, from this cauldron of creativity emerged an album born from chaos yet etched into the annals of music history as one of the Top 10 albums of all time.

Original Air Date: 2024

Host: Dave Anthony

1. The incredible story of Stevie's birth and difficult family life 
2. How Motown records was formed by an unexpected source, and then discovered Stevie
3. The ultimatum by a young Stevie that changes his economic situation 
4. How a knock on a random door in New York resulted in Stevie's greatest albums
5. How a terrible accident changed Stevie forever 
6. About his diverse set of hits from various genres

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Guest Bio - Paolo Hewitt  has followed Stevie's career for decades. Paulo was a writer for UK music magazines, New Musical Express and Melody Maker, where he both interviewed Stevie Wonder and reviewed several of his albums. Paulo has also written extensively about the hiphop scene and has authored books on several artists. He appeared on two very popular Garage to Stadiums episodes to discuss the careers of David Bowie and Oasis.  
 

• The fascinating origins of the band name AC/DC 
• How The Rolling Stones played a role in developing AC/DC’s sound
• How a boyband singer helped evolve AC/DC’s music
• Why guitarist Angus Young created his trademark schoolboy outfit
• How tragedy has impacted and evolved the band
• Who helped the band create one of the Top 5 selling albums of all time

Whether you're a lifelong fan or just cranking "Back in Black" on your summer road trip, this episode hits all the right notes.

Guest Bio:
Martin Popoff has written more record reviews than anybody in the history of music. That number, incredibly, currently stands at 7900 reviews. He has authored 120 books on hard rock, classic rock, and punk. Martin is a sought after researcher having contributed to the various rock documentaries broadcast on VH1.  This interview is based on his recent book AC/DC at 50.

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Bonus Content:

1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums AC/DC playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on AC/DC, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

Original Air Date: 2024

Host: Dave Anthony

Renowned reggae historian John Masouri, author of Simmer Down: Marley-Tosh-Livingston, joins us to trace Marley’s extraordinary path. From the birth of reggae to his fearless political activism. Tune in to hear his music forever changed the world. You’ll learn:

1. The shocking age gap between Bob Marley’s white father and Black mother — and how being mixed-race shaped Bob’s fight for identity in Jamaica.
2. Bob didn't start with reggae — discover the surprising genre he first chased.
3. How reggae fused American R&B, ska, and island rhythms into a revolutionary new sound.
4. Why gunmen tried to silence Bob — and how he survived an assassination attempt with gunshot wounds.
5. The unexpected African emperor who inspired Bob’s Rastafarian faith — and the dreadlocks that became his signature.
6. The Bob Marley album TIME magazine crowned the greatest music of the 20th century — and why it still resonates today.

Bob Marley is an international superstar who has reached the top of the musical and political worlds. Incredibly, he has won a UN humanitarian award for his political efforts and one of his albums was voted the best album of the 20th Century.

Guest Bio
John Masouri is a distinguished reggae historian and the author of several books on the genre including the definitive text on Bob Marley's life Simmer Down: Marley-Tosh-Livingston. John is a highly acclaimed author and music journalist specializing in reggae and dancehall genres for more than 35 years. John's work has appeared in Music Week, The Guardian Observer and New Musical Express (NME).  
But his incredibly productive life did not begin this way. Nor did his music career begin with reggae. To hear more about Bob Marley's surprising and uplifting story, listen to this engaging episode to understand how and why he achieved his international superstar status. 

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1. How Bruce grew up poor in a dysfunctional family with significant mental health issues
2. The proto-metal music that he played in a previous band
3. How his record label threatened to cut him unless he delivered a hit - resulting in one the top albums of the 1970's
4. How a Rolling Stone writer not only changed his destiny but became his manager
5. How the characters in his town infused his many poignant songs
6. How he played a vital role in both AIDs awareness and New York's 9/11 recovery 

Guest Bio:
Peter Ames Carlin is a journalist, critic and author of the New York Times best-seller called Bruce and is working on an upcoming book on the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run album. His work has been published in the New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, and the Times in the UK.

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Bonus Content:

1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums Bruce Springsteen playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
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Written from the everyday person's perspective, Springsteen songs like Born to Run, Thunder Road, Promised Land and Hungry Heart are mini-movies that put you squarely inside the main character's mind as they navigate life. As Bono of U2 said when he inducted Bruce into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, "if John Steinbeck could sing…".

The themes are as familiar as the American fabric: racing cars, highways, run-down factories, failed relationships, hopeful dreams, desperation, and redemption. Bruce helped create the American songbook of the ordinary person facing life milestones and challenges. 

As you will hear, his songwriting was driven home with legendary concert performances that leave audiences in awe, lasting at least three hours and sometimes stretching to four. Bruce's philosophy seems to be: if hard-working people are going to spend hard-earned dollars to see me play, I'll make sure they get their money's worth. His work ethic on stage fits his working-class image. Or, as our guest, Peter Ames Carlin calls him, "a blue-collar troubadour". 

Peter also describes in detail the impact of Bruce's father's mental health challenges on the family, which affected the family's finances and reputation in the community. He also outlines Bruce's later mental health struggles, as Bruce describes in this interview. 

Hear the incredible story of how Queen was started by a refugee immigrant and his new English friends and went from college band to stadium juggernaut selling 300 million albums worldwide.  This versatile band moved effortlessly across  genres like heavy rock, sumptuous ballads, funk & dance sounds, and even pop sounds. In this episode: 

• How a family desperately fleeing an African revolution brought the future lead singer to England
• How a astronomer, dentist and engineer each wrote multiple hit songs for the band
• When Freddie's early voice was compared to a "bleating sheep" by a fellow band member
• How Queen was duped into a questionable management contract and the vicious hit song that resulted 
• How one of their biggest hits resulted from a chance encounter with a famous studio visitor
• The backstory of the legendary performance at the 1985 Live Aid concert
• The details of why Freddie Mercury acted as an emergency roadie for David Bowie early in Bowie's career 

Guest Bio - Mark Blake,  journalist & author
Author and music journalist Mark Blake is the author of several books on Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Who.  He is an authority on the band Queen spending countless hours interviewing members of the band for his books Is this the Real Life: The Untold Story of Queen and Magnifico: The A to Z of Queen.

About Garage to Stadiums
One of the Top 5% podcasts in the world, Garage to Stadiums is a podcast for true music fans — the ones who want more than just headlines and hype. This show is for listeners who care about the full story behind the artists:  their childhoods, musical influences, early gigs, personal battles, journey to stadium-level fame and the drama in between. 

Each episode features guests who know their stuff and bring real insights from their time with the performers — from respected rock journalists to documentary filmmakers.  If you want smarter music commentary and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else, subscribe now and get your backstage pass to music history.

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Bonus Content:

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Paolo takes us behind the scenes of the band’s meteoric ascent, sharing what it was really like to be caught in the whirlwind of Noel and Liam Gallagher's unpredictable energy, backstage madness, and the making of rock 'n' roll history.

 In this episode, you'll hear:

1. The incredible challenging childhood that the brothers overcame 
2. The secret formula that allowed Oasis to attract fans across several genres of music
3. How 80's acid house dance music influenced the Oasis sound
4. How they became the hottest band in a matter of months leading the way for the rise of "Britpop" 
5. Insider tales from our guest who witnessed their infamous tours and legendary brother-on-brother arguments 

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Guest Bio - Paolo Hewitt, author & journalist
Author and music journalist Paolo Hewitt is the author of 26 books covering a variety of subjects, from music to football to fashion. Two of his biggest sellers are Getting High: The Adventures of Oasis when he spent considerable time with the band during the 1994 to 1996 period and Forever The People, his account of the band's notorious Be Here Now tour in 1997-98. He was even asked to write a poem that appears on the inner sleeve of the (What's the Story) Morning Glory? that sold 22 million copies. 

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Oasis has sold an incredible 75 million albums internationally and is now gearing up for its triumphant return to touring.  Oasis is notorious for for its brashness, antics and swagger.  However their talent is clear in the creation of their Britpop sound which was inspired by the music of The Beatles, David Bowie and The Who and more modern influences like The Stone Roses and The Smiths. The result: memorable, melodious stadium-ready songs that dominated the charts, and sound just as current today.

You will taken from the mid-1960s through the early ‘70s Los Angeles, when a band would emerge that changed all of the rules of music. Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined joins us to tell the mesmerizing story of a band fronted by an electrifying, handsome poet named Jim Morrison.  The Doors relentlessly challenged, confronted and inspired fans with their provocative songs and performances.  In this episode you'll learn:

1) About a shocking highway incident that changed the lead singer forever
2) The strange origins of how The Doors formed in Venice, California   
3) The incredible secret that nobody knew about the Vietnam War and Jim Morrison
4) Why The Doors were banned from radio and concert appearances in several US states
5) The reasons for the arrest of a key member of the band during various concert performances
6) How the band played a key role in the punk music movement

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Bonus Content:

1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums The Doors playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Doors, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

Guest Bio
Jim Cherry is the author of The Doors Examined and was formally a columnist for the Rants, Raves and Rock and Roll Magazine radio show.  He is also a novelist, having written several novels, short stories and poems.

While other 1960's bands warbled on about peace and love, The Doors explored the dark side of human nature with songs like People are Strange, The End, LA Woman, and Strange Days. They also possessed one of the most electrifying figures in rock history, Jim Morrison, their lead singer who was an incredibly well-read individual, and also a poet. Morrison possessed an intoxicating blend of charisma, good looks and a curiosity for the dark side of life that combined with the band's mesmerizing music, often forcing audiences to straddle that fine balance between jubilation and mayhem. Accordingly, Morrison became the very embodiment of 1960's rebellion. 

The Doors have sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and have been the inspiration for many bands that followed in various genres like alternative rock and punk.  

• How an incredible event launched Rush from a bar band to an opening act for Kiss 
• How did diabetes lead Rush to discover one of the best drummers in rock history
• What major rock stars think of Rush’s place in music history
• The story behind Geddy Lee’s and guitarist Alex Lifeson's real names
• The incredible story of Geddy's parents as survivors of the Holocaust
• The influences on Rush’s music evolution from early days to later albums

Rush has sold the most consecutive gold/platinum albums behind only The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Sam’s documentary features an array of rock luminaries praising Rush: Gene Simmons of Kiss, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, Billy Corgen of The Smashing Pumpkins and Taylor Hawkins of The Foo Fighters. 

Guest Bio:
Sam Dunn owns Banger Films, the award-winning documentary producer of Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival and earned the Audience Award. The film was also nominated for Best Long Form Music Video at the 53rd Grammy Award and features an array of rock luminaries commenting on the band Rush. Sam has also won the prestigious 2016 Peabody Award and International Emmy Award for his work on the Netflix original series Hip Hop Evolution.   

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1) Brian's abusive upbringing and how it shaped him and his music
2) How 5 teenagers went to global stardom 6 months after forming
3) How Brian influenced The Beatles musical direction
4) The incredible story of how Brian overcame a corrupt psychologist controlling his life
5) How our guest helped rescue a "lost album" long anticipated in rock history

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Guest Bio
David Leaf is the author of Smile: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson, chronicling Brian Wilson’s lost album masterpiece which was shelved for 37 years before release. He also directed the Brian documentary Beautiful Dreamer and teaches music history at UCLA.  David has won a Peabody award for powerful and intelligent story-telling. 

1. How Billy's broken home challenged his childhood
2. His intense battles with mental illness and addiction 
3. The part-time job that led to one of his biggest hits
4. How his wife became a key part of charting his career
5. Overcoming a corrupt manager that threatened his livelihood
6. The resurrection of his career with one of the most successful set of gigs ever

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Guest Bio
Fred Schruers, author of Billy Joel: The Definitive Biography interviewed extensively a variety of people in Joel's circle to create a compelling and honest portrait of the man. Fred is a long-time feature writer for such publications as Rolling Stone and the LA Times.  

• How Tom overcame a difficult childhood in Florida 
• How Tom participated in events as a teenager with Lynryd Skynryd and the Allman Brothers
• The details behind the groundbreaking Petty lawsuit that changed the music industry forever 
• Why Tom was chosen by Bob Dylan & George Harrison into a supergroup
• How Tom's relationship with Stevie Nicks turned into a successful music formula 
• The interesting second career as a cartoon voice on a popular show 
• The details behind Tom's battle with a heroin addiction

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Guest Bio - Warren Zanes

Warren is the author of Petty: The Biography, a New York Times bestseller. He is also an Oscar-winning and Grammy-nominated producer of music documentaries. Earlier in his career, Warren was a member of the Del Fuegos rock band, recording three albums with Warner Brothers. The band served as an opening act for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on a few tours.

After his time in music, Warren earned a PhD in Visual and Cultural Studies and now teaches at NYU. He has also served as Vice President of Education at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was a producer on the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, which explores the lives of backup singers. His book on Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska album is the basis for an upcoming biopic starring Jeremy Allen White, where Warren also serves as a producer.

• The Beatles’ extremely difficult childhoods—and how it affected their personalities
• The fateful meeting that sparked John and Paul’s teenage friendship 
• The wild tour debauchery they kept hidden—until now
• The unexpected influences that shaped their sound
• The Beatles & Bob Dylan’s game-changing impact on each other
• The "biggest mistake that led to their breakup", according to insider Bob Spitz
• John Lennon’s near-tragic spiral into hard drugs and its effect on the group
• How a rock-n-roll outsider created The Beatles’ image 

Guest Bio:
Bob Spitz is a journalist and author of the million-selling book The Beatles: The Biography.  Early in his career,  Bob was a rock insider as manager for Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. He also authored a New York Times best-seller on Led Zeppelin and joined us as a guest on our Story of Led Zeppelin episode.   

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In this episode, we uncover:

• How Kurt Cobain felt like a fish out of water in his small-town upbringing 
• The two legendary bands that inspired Nirvana’s signature sound 
• A hidden clue about Kurt in the Smells Like Teen Spirit video you likely missed...
• A previous surprising clue about Kurt in their first-ever demo single 
• Bassist Krist Novoselic’s unheralded backstage role in the band's success 
• How Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl became Nirvana’s seventh—and final—drummer 
• Who the hit song About a Girl was really written for....

About our Guest
Michael Azerrad is the author of The Amplified Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana, an extensively illuminated version of his classic 1993 Nirvana biography Come as You Are, named as one of the 50 greatest rock books ever written by the UK's prestigious music magazine Q. Michael was also a former contributing editor for Rolling Stone, and he wrote the famous Rolling Stone cover story on Nirvana from 1992 in which Kurt wears a homemade T-shirt that says "Corporate Magazines Still Suck". 

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• How a family desperately fleeing an African revolution brought the future lead singer to England
• How a astronomer, dentist and engineer each wrote multiple hit songs for the band
• When Freddie's early voice was compared to a "bleating sheep" by a fellow band member
• How Queen was duped into a questionable management contract and the vicious hit song that resulted 
• How one of their biggest hits resulted from a chance encounter with a famous studio visitor
• The backstory of the legendary performance at the 1985 Live Aid concert
• The details of why Freddie Mercury acted as an emergency roadie for David Bowie early in Bowie's career 

Guest Bio - Mark Blake,  journalist & author
Author and music journalist Mark Blake is the author of several books on Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Who.  He is an authority on the band Queen spending countless hours interviewing members of the band for his books Is this the Real Life: The Untold Story of Queen and Magnifico: The A to Z of Queen. 

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• The early struggles of Bowie as a wedding musician and subsequent career challenges
• How Bowie's older brother influenced his musical tastes and how his eventual mental illness haunted and motivated him
• How his wife helped craft the eccentric stage persona that launched him to fame
• The role his time abroad played in innovating a new wave sound, years before it was mainstream
• How Bowie rescued the life of an influential musician from the 1960s and co-created a new sound with him
• How a famous Beatle played a role in one of Bowie’s most iconic songs 
• How his ever-evolving characters and musical anthems inspired a generation of disillusioned youth

Guest Bio - Paolo Hewitt,  journalist & music commentator
Author and music journalist Paolo Hewitt is the author of several books on David Bowie, including Bowie: Album to Album, a retrospective of Bowie’s evolution over his career. Considered one of the foremost experts on Bowie, Paolo has not only written extensively about the artist but has also appeared as a commentator in documentaries on Bowie.

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In this episode, you’ll discover: 

• The fascinating childhood that shaped Strummer’s persona and The Clash approach
• Why Clash frontman Joe Strummer changed his name
• How guitarist Mick Jones' encyclopedic knowledge of music evolved the band's sound
• Inside stories behind The Clash vs. Sex Pistols rivalry and how Chris compares each band  
• The reason Paul Simonon, a non-musician, joined The Clash
• How The Clash brought reggae to the masses
• The economic realities of the UK that fueled punk’s explosion

Learn how The Clash became the first punk band to experience mass commercial success.  Widely loved by a legion of famous fans including Pete Townshend, U2, Green Day and Nirvana, The Clash combined social conscious lyrics, music genre-bending influences and a fiery on-stage presence to captivate a generation of music fans. The influence of punk on all forms of art has continued to this day.   

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Guest Bio - Chris Salewicz
Chris wrote Redemption Song: The Ballad of Joe Strummer and knew each of the member of The Clash personally. He is the author of several iconic musicians' bios including Bob Marley, Mick Jagger & Keith Richard, Jimmy Page and more. He also was involved in the launch of MTV Europe. 

• The incredible challenging childhood that the brothers overcame 
• The secret formula that allowed Oasis to attract fans across several genres of music
• How 80's acid house dance music influenced the Oasis sound
• How they became the hottest band in a matter of months leading the way for the rise of "Britpop" 
• Insider tales from our guest who witnessed their infamous tours and legendary brother-on-brother arguments 

Oasis has sold an incredible 75 million albums internationally and is now gearing up for its triumphant return to touring.  Oasis is notorious for for its brashness, antics and swagger.  However their talent is clear in the creation of their Britpop sound which was inspired by the music of The Beatles, David Bowie and The Who and more modern influences like The Stone Roses and The Smiths. The result: memorable, melodious stadium-ready songs that dominated the charts, and sound just as current today. 

Guest Bio - Paolo Hewitt, author & journalist
Author and music journalist Paolo Hewitt is the author of 26 books covering a variety of subjects, from music to football to fashion. Two of his biggest sellers are Getting High: The Adventures of Oasis when he spent considerable time with the band during the 1994 to 1996 period and Forever The People, his account of the band's notorious Be Here Now tour in 1997-98. He was even asked to write a poem that appears on the inner sleeve of the (What's the Story) Morning Glory? that sold 22 million copies. 

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1. About the incredible age difference of Bob's white father and his black mother and how their relationship led to Bob's subsequent challenges as a mixed race child in Jamaica
2. How reggae was not Bob's first music genre of choice
3. Learn how reggae was created from American R'n'B and several other forms melded together
4. Why an assassination attempt was made on Bob’s life and led to gunshot wounds
5. The international royal figure that led to Bob discovering the Rastafarian religion and its dreadlock look
6. Which of Bob's musical accomplishments TIME magazine listed as the best music of the 20th Century

Bob Marley is an international superstar who has reached the top of the musical and political worlds. Incredibly, he has won a UN humanitarian award for his political efforts and one of his albums was voted the best album of the 20th Century.

Guest Bio
John Masouri is a distinguished reggae historian and the author of several books on the genre including the definitive text on Bob Marley's life Simmer Down: Marley-Tosh-Livingston. John is a highly acclaimed author and music journalist specializing in reggae and dancehall genres for more than 35 years. John's work has appeared in Music Week, The Guardian Observer and New Musical Express (NME).  
But his incredibly productive life did not begin this way. Nor did his music career begin with reggae. To hear more about Bob Marley's surprising and uplifting story, listen to this engaging episode to understand how and why he achieved his international superstar status. 

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-About a shocking highway incident that changed the lead singer forever
-The strange origins of how The Doors formed in Venice, California   
-The incredible secret that nobody knew about the Vietnam War and Jim Morrison
-Why The Doors were banned from radio and concert appearances in several US states 
-The reasons for the arrest of a key member of the band during various concert performances
-How the band played a key role in the punk music movement

Guest Bio
Jim Cherry is the author of The Doors Examined and was formally a columnist for the Rants, Raves and Rock and Roll Magazine radio show.  He is also a novelist, having written several novels, short stories and poems.

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Bonus Content:

1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums The Doors playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Doors, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

While other 1960's bands warbled on about peace and love, The Doors explored the dark side of human nature with songs like People are Strange, The End, LA Woman, and Strange Days. They also possessed one of the most electrifying figures in rock history, Jim Morrison, their lead singer who was an incredibly well-read individual, and also a poet. Morrison possessed an intoxicating blend of charisma, good looks and a curiosity for the dark side of life that combined with the band's mesmerizing music, often forcing audiences to straddle that fine balance between jubilation and mayhem. Accordingly, Morrison became the very embodiment of 1960's rebellion. 

The Doors have sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and have been the inspiration for many bands that followed in various genres like alternative rock and punk.  

-How lead songwriter and guitarist Pete Townshend became rock's foremost innovator 
-How a mysterious religious figure’s theories were embedded in the band’s most famous songs
-The bizarre tale of The Who's manager accused of a violent crime in an uncharted part of the Amazon Rainforest
-How the band used an opera structure to create new formats for music 
-Why the band was banned from a major hotel chain for life
-How band members' distaste for one another was a cited key to their success 

Anchored by songwriter and guitarist Pete Townshend, an art school student, who as you will hear brought art concepts into the band's songs and stage performance. Townsend continued that innovation by creating incredible forms of rock music, modeled after operas and integrating computers into music before any other band. 

Guest Bio:
Mark Wilkerson wrote Who are You: The Life of Pete Townshend. Mark was born in England and lived there for 14 years and fell in love with The Who's music before moving to the US in 1984. A few years later, a fellow Townshend fan Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, asked Mark to join the team that put together PJ:20 An official history of Pearl Jam to commemorate the band's 20th anniversary.  

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Known for their influential music, explosive live shows and rebellious sound, The Who's impact on rock music and cultural landscape continues to inspire and influence generations, with over 100 million records sold. This band is truly a global phenomenon and has influenced bands across punk, alternative, and rock. 

You will be astonished at the story of The Who's musical sophistication and innovation.  Yet, The Who live in concert still knew how to get down to business and rock you.  For years, they were considered the best live band in the world, and the loudest.  And as you will hear, there were several tragic downsides that threatened this band to create an incredible story like no other.

• How Bob grew up in a Jewish family in Minnesota and changed his name
• The very strange obsession that brought him to New York in the early '60s
• How the women in his life greatly influenced his lyric writing 
• Why audiences booing him was the mark of a key turning point in modern rock n roll
• How a near-tragic motorcycle accident actually may have saved his life
• About his unknown backup band becoming a superstar band on their own without Bob 
• His legacy and influence on all music that has come along since his debut

Bob Dylan is widely considered to be the inspiration for how rock music transformed itself from joyful ditties like Twist and Shout to deep and meaningful lyrics that communicated the challenges and dichotomies of life.  To understand the evolution of music, it is key to understand Dylan's key role in its transformation.

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• For transcript of this episode

Bonus Content:

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• How Bruce grew up poor in a dysfunctional family with significant mental health issues
• The proto-metal music that he played in a previous band
• How the stress of a legal battle with his first manager resulted in one of the top albums of the 1970's
• How a Rolling Stone writer not only changed his destiny but became his manager
• How the characters in his town infused his many poignant songs
• How he played a vital role in both AIDs awareness and New York's 9/11 recovery 

Bruce became a touchstone with poignant songs that struck a chord with an audience looking for the meaning of life in the mid-to-late 1970s and early 80s. Ironically, before Bruce, the fans who attended rock concerts and bought albums rarely were the subjects of the day's music.  

Guest Bio:
Peter Ames Carlin is a journalist, critic and author of the New York Times best-seller called Bruce and is working on an upcoming book on the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run album. His work has been published in the New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, and the Times in the UK. 

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Written from the everyday person's perspective, Springsteen songs like Born to Run, Thunder Road, Promised Land and Hungry Heart are mini-movies that put you squarely inside the main character's mind as they navigate life. As Bono of U2 said when he inducted Bruce into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, "if John Steinbeck could sing…".

The themes are as familiar as the American fabric: racing cars, highways, run-down factories, failed relationships, hopeful dreams, desperation, and redemption. Bruce helped create the American songbook of the ordinary person facing life milestones and challenges. 

As you will hear, his songwriting was driven home with legendary concert performances that leave audiences in awe, lasting at least three hours and sometimes stretching to four. Bruce's philosophy seems to be: if hard-working people are going to spend hard-earned dollars to see me play, I'll make sure they get their money's worth. His work ethic on stage fits his working-class image. Or, as our guest, Peter Ames Carlin calls him, "a blue-collar troubadour". 

Peter also describes in detail the impact of Bruce's father's mental health challenges on the family, which affected the family's finances and reputation in the community. He also outlines Bruce's later mental health struggles, as Bruce describes in this interview. 

• How the founder of Zeppelin was a stellar studio musician seeking a new career challenge
• How the lead singer had the same background as the Peaky Blinders 
• How two famous members of the band were unknowns playing in bar bands  
• How Led Zep tours reached levels of sexual debauchery not seen before or since 
• How Zeppelin transformed music styles and concert economics for all artists
• How a 300-pound former wrestler created their innovative marketing strategy
• That one of its members was studying to be an accountant
• How several tragic events changed the band forever 

Led Zeppelin wasn't just a band but a powerhouse of talent. Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones weren't your average musicians—they were session legends, popping up on more records than you can shake a drumstick at. From The Who and The Kinks to classical orchestra songs to commercial jingles, these guys played on all of them, bringing a wealth of musical experience to Led Zep recordings. Jimmy Page even seemed destined for prodigy status when, as a 13-year-old guitar player, he appeared on the BBC. 

 
Guest Bio:
Bob Spitz is a journalist and author of the best-selling book Led Zeppelin: The Biography.  Early in his career,  Bob worked as a manager for Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. He also authored a New York Times best-seller on the Beatles.   

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Led Zeppelin's journey was a whirlwind of highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies. Their musical prowess, unmatched charisma, and savvy marketing propelled them to the pinnacle of rock 'n' roll success. Led Zeppelin left an indelible mark on music history, from sold-out stadiums to groundbreaking albums.  Zep even teased everyone with a stellar performance in 2007 reunification in London featuring the three core members plus the son of their deceased drummer. 

Air date: May 2024
Host: Dave Anthony

• The origins of the band in England in the 1960s as a blues band featuring a very different lineup  
• How the founder suffered a severe mental health decline that altered the course of the band
• How the aristocratic son of a Royal Air Force commander went from a window cleaner to Fleetwood Mac leader
• How one band member left the band to join a cult
• How a trip to the grocery store led to the discovery of soon-to-be superstars Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham
• The revealing true meaning of 5 of their most famous songs based on Mark Blake's interviews with the band 

Join host Dave Anthony and Fleetwood Mac author Mark Blake for the fascinating story behind Fleetwood Mac's journey from the pubs of England to become a US and global phenomenon.   Picture this: a plot straight out of a gripping soap opera, where band members forge romantic connections, battle with addiction, weather breakups, and witness a revolving door of musical talent. And at the heart of it all lies Fleetwood Mac, a band synonymous with drama and musical brilliance.

Guest Bio:
Mark Blake is the author of the soon-to-be-released Dreams: The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac and has interviewed each member of Fleetwood Mac several times over the decades. He has also written books on Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Pink Floyd. 

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In this episode, you will experience the sights and sounds of the mid-1960s London scene version of Fleetwood Mac, typified by this performance on the BBC from the era.   Blake reveals the incredibly random way Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were discovered and went from a folk performing duo on their first album to becoming additional band members, contributing powerful songwriting, vocal harmonies, and Buckingham's blazing guitar.  These two were directly responsible for massive hits like Rhiannon, which was seen in a scorching live performance in 1976 on NBC’s music show Midnight Special. 

Fleetwood Mac's journey had its share of challenges amid the musical triumphs. Mark Blake paints a vivid portrait of the band's dynamic personalities, fueled by passion, breakups, tension, drug use and the occasional thrown drink. Yet, from this cauldron of creativity emerged an album born from chaos yet etched into the annals of music history as one of the Top 10 albums of all time.

Air Date: 2024

Host: Dave Anthony

1. The fascinating origins of the band name AC/DC 
2. How The Rolling Stones played a role in developing AC/DC’s sound
3. How a boyband singer helped evolve AC/DC’s music
4. Why guitarist Angus Young created his trademark schoolboy outfit
5. How tragedy has impacted and evolved the band
6. Who helped the band create one of the Top 5 selling albums of all time 

Guest Bio:
Martin Popoff has written more record reviews than anybody in the history of music. That number, incredibly, currently stands at 7900 reviews. He has authored 120 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock, and punk. Martin is a sought after researcher having contributed to the various rock documentaries broadcast on VH1.  This interview is based on his recent book AC/DC at 50.

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Bonus Content:

1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums AC/DC playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on AC/DC, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

Air Date: 2024

Host: Dave Anthony

•  How a shocking onstage event propelled Alice to fame
• The strange secret behind the Alice Cooper name
• The innovations Alice created for rock show presentations
• How he and a high school friend turned a love of art into a band concept
• About the unknown 19-year-old who created the sound for their radio hits
• That religion has incredibly always played a role in Alice’s life
• How Alice directly influenced several genres of music, including Kiss, David Bowie, and even Taylor Swift

Harkema's tale about Alice’s journey on this Garage to Stadiums episode has so many bizarre twists and turns that it almost begs for a movie treatment. Incredibly, it starts with Alice being born to a devout Christian pastor and his wife.

Guest Bio:
Reg Harkema is an award-winning director of the documentary Super Duper Alice Cooper. His other music documentary work includes the episode Hail Britpop from the popular Netflix series This is Pop.

Follow Garage To Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  

• Share this episode with this link
• Transcript for this episode 
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Bonus Content:

1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums Alice Cooper playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on Alice Cooper, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

Host: Dave Anthony
Produced by Podstarter
Air Date: 2024

• How an incredible event launched Rush from a bar band to an opening act for Kiss 
• How did diabetes lead Rush to discover one of the best drummers in rock history
• What major rock stars think of Rush’s place in music history
• The story behind Geddy Lee’s and guitarist Alex Lifeson's real names
• The incredible story of Geddy's parents as survivors of the Holocaust
• The influences on Rush’s music evolution from early days to later albums

Rush has sold the most consecutive gold/platinum albums behind only The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Sam’s documentary features an array of rock luminaries praising Rush: Gene Simmons of Kiss, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, Billy Corgen of The Smashing Pumpkins and Taylor Hawkins of The Foo Fighters. 

Guest Bio:
Sam Dunn owns Banger Films, the award-winning documentary producer of Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival and earned the Audience Award. The film was also nominated for Best Long Form Music Video at the 53rd Grammy Award and features an array of rock luminaries commenting on the band Rush. Sam has also won the prestigious 2016 Peabody Award and International Emmy Award for his work on the Netflix original series Hip Hop Evolution.   

Follow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  

• Share this episode with this link
• Transcript for this episode 
• Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts
• Follow GTS on Instagram 
• Follow GTS on LinkedIn 
• Sign up for the Garage to Stadiums e-newsletter to get more bonus content

Bonus Content:

1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums Rush playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on Rush, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

  
Alr Date: November 2023

Host: Dave Anthony