MusicMusic Interviews

The Hustle

Jon Lamoreaux

What does it take to maintain a career in music? We track down members of bands that we love and find out what their lives are like now.

Play

Open in

26 episodes
weekly
Avg 1 hr 17 min
English

Episodes 26

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

#747
Friday · 1 hr 6 min
Book Club - Pat Gilbert author of Passion is a Fashion: The Real Story of the Clash
The Clash were labeled "the only band that mattered," but why? Yes, Joe, Mick, Paul and Topper represented an anti-authoritarian stance, but what was at the core of their rebelion? Author and insider Pat Gilbert joins us to discuss his book Passion is a Fashion that is probably the most detailed Clash book you'll ever read. Each member comes to life - for better or worse - and their progress from punk rockers to world music alchemists is laid out in full. Pat knows the entire Clash family intimately and gives us his take on the machinery. And, there's a giveaway! Enjoy! www.quarto.com/books/9781805704133/passion-is-a-fashion https://www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#746
Tuesday · 2 hr 2 min
Episode 593 - Joey Tempest of Europe and Michael Boddicker
Our guest this week is noted session keyboardist Michael Boddicker, but before we get to him, Joey Tempest of Europe joins us for a few minutes to talk about their new album Come This Madness out this weekend. Europe has been on a creative high for the last couple decades and the new album keeps the streak going. They're about to embark on a European tour, so Joey and I discuss the latest work and also his thoughts on their peak 80s period. Then Michael sets the pod on fire with his manic energy! Stories (the ones he remembers anyway) include EWF, Lionel, MJ, ONJ, Donna and tons of others. He also shouts out scores of names you've seen on liner notes your whole life. He's a force of nature! Enjoy! www.europetheband.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#745
September 18 · 1 hr 17 min
Bonus - Mick Wall Returns
The inimitable Mick Wall returns to shoot the shit with us this week. Topics include: Motley, GnR, Jimi, Kalodner, Duran Duran, Simple Minds, Billy Squier, never-ending farewell tours, concerts in general, books, podcasts and anything else we (he mostly) could think of. We had a blast!
#744
September 16 · 1 hr 45 min
Episode 592 - Gary Numan
This week it's the legendary Gary Numan! Spenwood Books is at it again with the recent publication of Gary Numan - A People's History. The hook for the book is that it tells Gary's story through the words and memories of "Numanoids" who bought the albums, saw him in concert, met him, and have stayed loyal over almost 50 years. Gary joins us this week to talk about his incredible journey. His evolution from synth pioneer, to pop has-been, to icon has been dramatic and triumphant. If all you know is "Cars," you need to explore everything else this man has to offer. Enjoy! www.garynuman.com www.spenwoodbooks.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#743
September 8 · 1 hr 20 min
Episode 591 - Wesley Stace aka John Wesley Harding
Whether he goes by his long running stage name, John Wesley Harding, or his often used real one, Wesley Stace has built an unexpected career over 40+ years. He starts out like a storyteller in song form, politically minded and with a busker's spirit, but that has evolved over the years to include different styles and expressions that have always remained a level of quality. He just put out a new album, as Wesley Stace, called The Last Heist, which sees him carrying on with the slight jazz vibe he's been into the last few years. Wesley joins us this week to discuss his different personas, his years at Sire Records with Seymour Stein and Howie Klein, curating his Cabinet of Wonders variety show, and tons more. Enjoy! www.wesleystace.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#742
September 1 · 1 hr 7 min
Episode 590 - Dennis Drew and Steven Gustafson of 10,000 Maniacs
This week we welcome Dennis Drew and Steven Gustafson of 10,000 Maniacs. It hasn't been easy for this excellent band. They got off to a slow start, but broke through on their magical third album In My Tribe with enduring singles like "What's the Matter Here" and "Like the Weather". But after a couple more studio albums that kept the success growing and a hugely successful Unplugged album, lead singer Natalie Merchant left the band. The guys quickly replaced her with Mary Ramsey and continued to record and tour, just not at the same trajectory. This Labor Day weekend the band will celebrate their 45th Anniversary at the Jamestown Arts Festival, where it all began. Dennis and Steve reflect on the journey and share some incredible stories. Enjoy! www.maniacs.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#741
September 1 · 1 hr 12 min
Book Club - Brad Tolinski & Chris Gill authors of Blow By Blow: The Jeff Beck Story
For our latest Book Club we're welcoming authors Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill of the fantastic new book, Blow By Blow: The Jeff Beck Story. Admittedly, I've always respected Jeff more than enjoyed him, so to help with this conversation I invited the biggest Beck fan I know, Brad Page, host of the I'm In Love With That Song podcast. Together we hear all sides on Jeff, the good and not-so-good, and the case is made whether he's one of the greats. The book is excellent and this conversation should get you thinking and maybe even inform your opinion as well. Enjoy! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0KPbR0LRmyVjkh3G4v58GZ?si=8tSDWIMVTxeuiESaO80Hwg&nd=1&dlsi=7728a2cca267487c www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod www.dacapopress.com/titles/brad-tolinski/blow-by-blow/9780306836589/
#740
August 26 · 1 hr 9 min
Episode 589 - Lou Gramm of Foreigner/Solo
Lou Gramm has been one of rock's greatest voices for 54 years. Foreigner's finally in the Hall of Fame and he's celebrating an amazing legacy with a deserved farewell tour happening now and a new solo album called Released. The album is made up of stray songs from his heyday that were unfinished until now and a few new songs done in the style of AOR's 80s peak. Lou joins us this week to discuss these things as well as his current relationship with Mick Jones (things are good right now), his health, Foreigner's well-documented finances, his faith, and lots more. Lou has left an indelible mark on rock music and has always been an example of how good the genre can be. He deserves all the respect there is! www.lougrammofficial.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#739
August 18 · 2 hr 10 min
Episode 588 - John Kalodner
John Kalodner, famous for his long beard, white suit and magic ears, is one of the most famous and influential non-musicians in music history. He's the famous A&R man that brought us groups like Foreigner, Asia and Survivor and guided the rebirth of legends like Aerosmith, Whitesnake, Journey and Cher (which he has some salty feelings about). Maybe only Clive Davis has brought bigger songs and careers to life over the last 50 years. John joins us this week to spill on dozens of the artists he's worked with including Heart, Wang Chung, Kenny Loggins, REO Speedwagon, XTC, Billy Idol, Berlin, Madness, GnR and tons more. We didn't even bother including music this time - just let the stories flow. It's an instant classic! www.johnkalodner.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#738
August 12 · 1 hr 37 min
Episode 587 - Barry Eastmond
You may not know the name Barry Eastmond, but chances are good if you were paying attention to r&b hits in the 80s that you know a bunch of his songs. He started out as a session keyboardist playing with greats like Change and Starpoint, but his big breakthrough was when he penned "You Are My Lady" for Freddie Jackson and watched it climb the pop and r&b charts. He went on to have a long and fruitful partnership with Freddie and Billy Ocean, who he continues to work with on new material right now. For Billy he wrote hits like "When The Going Gets Tough" and "There'll be Sad Songs". We also hear about Anita Baker, Jeffrey Osborne, The Temptations, Aretha, Al Jarreau, James Ingram, Diana Ross, Steve Perry, Britney Spears and tons more. It's rare we get to go deep on soul music on the podcast, so we're especially grateful to hear from Barry. Enjoy! www.barryeastmond.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#737
August 5 · 1 hr 10 min
Episode 586 - Gary Daly of China Crisis
Gary Daly of China Crisis joins us this week to discuss the band's wild history. They began as an artier synthpop band - not quite as hooky as Human League, but not as adventurous as Japan. On their third album they began working with off-and-on collaborator Walter Becker of Steely Dan and they morphed into something entirely different. This pairing, odd as it sounds, worked wonders and separated China Crisis from their peers. Maybe chart toppers weren't in their future, but a career of high quality was. Gary connects these dots for us and also discusses their future plans which, in the short-term, include touring the US with the Lost 80s Live tour that kicks off in a couple weeks. Gary's as much a comedian as he is a musician, you'll love this! www.chinacrisismusic.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#736
July 28 · 1 hr 14 min
Episode 585 - Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains
This week is a punk rock legend. As Bad Brains bassist Darryl Jenifer says in here, their band was a "revolutionary act". Having four black men perform hardcore punk mixed with reggae at that time in America's musical history was completely unheard of. Their impact was felt deeply by bands that went on to make their own impact, changing the face of punk, what it could be, and who could do it, in the process. Bad Brains have recorded incredible albums over the years and much has been made of frontman H.R. and his journey through life, but this week we're celebrating Darryl's new solo album, The Weather Channel. It's a straight up jazz album (almost smooth jazz in some spots, but maintains some funk and groove. We discuss this ragged, but important history with the man himself. Enjoy! www.badbrains.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#735
July 21 · 1 hr 8 min
Episode 584 - Donna Lewis
For most of us, singer/songwriter Donna Lewis appeared out of nowhere in 1996 when her smash hit "I Love You Always Forever" got to #2 on the charts and seemed to never go away. What was strange is she kind of disappeared almost as fast, with further singles and albums not making the same impact. You may be surprised to find out Donna's never stopped working and even has a new album, Wanderlust, her seventh, with collaborator David Lowe and it's just as strong as the rest. Get to know an artist you remember, but probably don't know that much about! www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod www.donnalewis.com
#734
July 19 · 49 min
Book Club - Richard Houghton and Iain Key authors of It's Time The Tale Were Told: A People's History of the Smiths
There is a new series of books released the last couple years that tell the story of a band we all love from the perspective of the fans. Hundreds of stories have been crowdsourced from true obsessives to tell a biography you don't hear as often. This time we welcome Richard Houghton and Iain Key to discuss their new book telling the story of the Smiths. Anecdotes from personal interactions with the band members, epic concerts, purchasing albums and other swag, correspondence, etc. Has Morrissey tarnished the band's legacy beyond repair? Why did they attract such a "laddish" fanbase? What are their worst songs? And a giveaway! Enjoy! www.spenwoodbooks.com/current-titles www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod?vanity=user
#733
July 15 · 1 hr 20 min
Episode 583 - Robin Beck
Robin Beck could have been one of the top AOR singers of her era. She had the looks, the voice, the songs - the whole package. But, she was so successful in the jingle world she never really wanted it that much. She did have success anyway, including a massive global hit with "First Time" which, coincidentally, was used in a popular Coca-Cola ad at the time. With this came Top of the Pops, working with people like Desmond Child, Cher, Bowie and even Miles Davis. She has released consistently strong albums on her own schedule over the years, including her latest, Living Proof, which features contributions from former guest Peppy Castro. Robin's never done a podcast before, so we're honored to be her first and hope you all enjoy her fascinating story! www.robinbeckrocks.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#732
July 8 · 1 hr 27 min
Episode 582 - Bryan Holmes of The Producers
You won't find a list of "bands that should have been huge" that doesn't include The Producers. Their debut album from 1981 stood perfectly at the crossroads of power pop and new wave and should have birthed multiple hits. They even performed at the very first MTV's Rockin' Eve. Unfortunately, it just didn't happen and neither did the excellent follow up, You Make the Heat with "She Sheila". Eventually the guys took the hint and broke up, but anyone who's heard them is utterly confused. What more could you ask for?! Drummer Bryan Holmes joins us this week to tell the whole story. Thankfully, the tide is turning as the band are included on this year's Totally Tubular bill that also includes Thomas Dolby, Men Without Hats and more. If any band deserved success, it's them. Enjoy! www.totallytubularfestival.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#731
July 1 · 1 hr 18 min
Episode 581 - Mick MacNeil of Simple Minds
We love talking about Simple Minds around here. Their road has been diverse, rocky, drama-filled, and also wonderful. One of the key members was founding keyboardist Mick MacNeil. His revolutionary playing was a huge part of the fabric of those game-changing early albums. After 1989's Street Fighting Years, Mick decided to leave and has never really looked back. He recently released the gorgeous solo album, Themes From Glory Days, which is largely reimagined versions of the songs he originally played in that band. In this conversation we discuss his current status with Jim and Charlie, his feelings about the trajectory of the band, the writing process and tons more. We're so lucky to hear from him! www.th3minds.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod?vanity=user
#730
June 24 · 1 hr 5 min
Episode 580 - Swamp Dogg
In his nearly 84 years on earth, Swamp Dogg has seen some stuff. He was born Jerry Williams and recorded under that name before taking on the Swamp Dogg persona in 1970 as a way to better express himself and his unique view of the world. He's been a legend ever since. Over his long career he's tried on almost every genre of music (including a couple recent albums heavy on the Auto-tune. His latest sees him grappling with what's next in Swamp Dogg Contemplates the Afterlife and you know he has some wisdom to pass along. We get into a lot - his friendship with John Prine, his lovelife, his recent documentary Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted, and the secretly profound advice he has for staying vital and working hard in your later years. We're honored to hear from him! www.theswampdogg.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#729
June 16 · 1 hr 6 min
Episode 579 - Marcus Lillington of Breathe
Breathe were one of the leaders of that sophistopop movement in the late 80s and scored five big hits over two albums for their work, including the enduring ballads "Hands to Heaven" and "How Can I Fall". Unfortunately, after those two albums they disappeared and have never been heard from again, especially the uber-talented front man David Glasper. That leaves guitarist Marcus Lillington as the only former member able to provide some details, but even he can be reluctant about it, which is why it's such a huge boon to have him join us this week. He explains as best he can what happened to the band, the degree to which they were "manufactured" and what happened to Dave. We're extremely honored to welcome Marcus this week and be reminded of this special group. Enjoy! www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod
#728
June 10 · 1 hr 9 min
Episode 578 - Steve Smith of Dirty Vegas/Squeeze
Dirty Vegas were shot out of a cannon in 2002 when their song "Days Go By" was selected by Mitsubishi to soundtrack their new ad campaign. The song was everywhere and suddenly there was a culture shift with artists and their music as it relates to advertising. This gave Steve Smith from the band a career that's taken some unexpected turns, but has never let up. Dirty Vegas released a couple albums, then he went solo, and for the last several years he's been a member of Squeeze and is featured on their new album, Trixies, and on their current world tour. Dirty Vegas is still at it too, releasing new music in 2024. Steve lays out this journey for us this week. Enjoy! www.stevesmithmusic.com www.patreon.com/c/thehustlepod

Showing 1–20 of 26 episodes