Episodes

This is the third episode in our four episode run with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, celebrating their new album, Unlimited Love. Today you’ll hear a very special conversation between Rick Rubin and Flea. Flea’s one of the most iconic bass players of all time and, along with singer Anthony Kiedis, one of the all time great musical ambassadors of Los Angeles. Flea talks with Rick on today’s episode about how he “rock-starred” his way into USC recently to study music theory. He remembers tearfully ...

We’re continuing our run of episodes celebrating the release of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ new album, Unlimited Love, produced by Rick Rubin. We left off our episode last week with Anthony Kiedis popping in to join Rick’s conversation with Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante. Today we have part two of Rick’s conversation with John and the band’s iconic frontman. On this episode we'll hear Anthony talk about how some of the new song lyrics came together, the lengths he went to commute to th...

Today is the start of a month-long run of episodes in celebration of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ newest album, Unlimited Love. We kick things off with Rick Rubin in conversation with the Chili Peppers' guitarist, John Frusciante. If you’re a diehard fan you know why the release of their new album is so exciting. Unlimited Love is their first record with John in 16 years. In this episode, you’ll hear John tell Rick about his deep musical exploration as a young guitar player. He also talks about h...

Missy Elliott is one of popular music's greatest innovators. This year is the 25th anniversary of Missy’s classic debut album, Supa Dupa Fly. When that album dropped, Missy’s unconventional rhyme schemes paired with her childhood friend Timbaland’s futuristic production set a precedent for what was creatively possible in hip-hop. And throughout her career, Missy’s maintained that same level of playful creativity. This year Missy broke records when she was recognized as having more platinum albu...

Today we have the one and only Patti Smith on the show. Patti is the prototypical downtown, New York City artist. Her 1975 debut album Horses is credited as one of the masterpieces of its time. It also cemented her as one of rock n roll's great lyricists. But her writing extends far beyond music. Her 2010 memoir, Just Kids, won the National Book Award for its brilliant portrayal of the ‘70s bohemian art scene in New York, and Patti’s experience living in the Chelsea Hotel with the famed photogra...

Bonnie Raitt is many things—a Rock ‘n Roll Hall-of-Famer, an incredible blues guitarist, an underrated songwriter, and a fierce advocate for social justice. Bonnie was offered her first record deal as a college student in 1971 after a reporter saw her play an early gig in NYC, but it took almost two decades before she peaked commercially with her tenth album, Nick Of Time. Throughout her long career Bonnie has helped preserve American blues music by recording songs from little-known but classic ...

Beach House is a psych-pop band with a die-hard cult following. Since their 2006 debut album, their lush, cinematic sound has been sampled by artists like Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd. And Kanye recently posted a picture on Instagram collaborating with Beach House in the studio. In January, Beach House began releasing their most ambitious project yet—a double album that debuted at number one. It’s called Once, Twice, Melody and it’s their first entirely self-produced album and the most dynamic...

To kick off our month long celebration of Women's History Month, today we are featuring an interview with the great Judy Collins. At 82 years-old, Collins is in the midst of a creative shift. She first made a name for herself in the 60’s folk revival covering songs by artists like Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. But this year, for the first time in her career, she’s released an album written entirely by herself. The album’s called Spellbound. And the music feels right at home with some of the best ...

Robert Plant is arguably the most iconic rock vocalist of all time. As the frontman for Led Zeppelin, his dynamic, soaring vocal style was the perfect lead for the band’s unparalleled musicianship. After Zeppelin broke up in 1980 following the death of drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham, Plant set out on his own and recorded songs that drew inspiration from North African music, psych rock, and the Blues. In 2007 Plant began collaborating with Alison Krauss, the famed bluegrass singer and fiddle player...

Jon Batiste is an overachiever. Batiste is the bandleader on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and an Oscar-winning composer for the Pixar animated movie, Soul. He also received the highest number of Grammy nominations this year, with eleven, including Album of the Year for his most recent release, We Are. On today’s episode, Bruce Headlam talks to Jon Batiste about what it was like coming up as a young musician in legendary New Orleans bar rooms. Batiste also reminisces about setting up a pia...

Stevie Van Zandt is the ultimate underboss. His first big break came in the mid-70s as Bruce Springsteen’s right-hand man, guitarist, and occasional co-producer in the E Street Band. Later he seamlessly made the jump to acting as one of Tony Soprano’s key consiglieres, Sil, on The Sopranos. Van Zandt recently released his memoir, Unrequited Infatuations, which details his career over the past 50 years. On today’s episode Bruce Headlam talks to Van Zandt about the budding New Jersey rock n’ roll...

Todd Rundgren is a multi-talented musician who has made a name for himself both as a solo artist and a visionary music producer. Rundgren’s crowning achievement though was producing Meatloaf’s album Bat Out Of Hell, which is to this day one of the highest-selling albums of all time. In addition to recently being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rundgren has been busy working on a new album of collaborations called Space Force with artists like Sparks, Rivers Cuomo, and Ben Folds tha...

In the 1970’s Jackson Browne was known as one of the originators of the carefree, California classic rock sound with hits like “Doctor My Eyes” and “Running on Empty.” As his career progressed, Jackson Browne’s knack for writing soul-searching lyrics turned more political. Browne continues to use his music as a vehicle for change today. His latest album, Downhill From Everywhere, was inspired by a documentary about the Pacific garbage patch and our impact on the planet. On today’s episode Bruce...

Since debuting in the late ‘60s, Yusuf/Cat Stevens has made a sizable contribution to the folk canon with tender, contemplative songs like “Wild World,” “Moon Shadow,” and “The Wind.” Stevens recently reissued one of his most seminal early albums, Teaser And The Firecat, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its release. The new edition features remastered versions of the original album along with 41 previously unreleased demos and alternate mixes. On today’s episode Bruce Headlam talks to Yusuf...