Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Brian Epstein | 20090714 | Marc Riley dips into the BBC's archives and unearths seminal and tantalizing interviews. It's funny how things can look so different many years down the line; once the dust has settled, tempers have calmed and much water has gone under the bridge. Not seeking to open old wounds or anything, Marc Riley goes back in time to the turning points in the careers of some of the biggest artists in music to check out exactly what they DID say in the heat of the moment, and to put it into today's context.... Programme 1 - Brian Epstein In our first episode we travel back to witness the year that Nelson Mandela was jailed for life, when the Sun newspaper was born and when the British and French Governments announced their commitment to build a tunnel under the English Channel. This week Marc transports us back into a different era... the start of the pop revolution when Beatlemania was about to take over the world. It's March 1964 and Bill Grundy interviews the '5th Beatle', manager Brian Epstein for his regional radio programme Frankly Speaking. We revisit the BBC's archives and hear Epstein speak candidly about how and when he discovered the Beatles and what it was like seeing them perform for the first time. He reveals his role in their image change, just exactly what it is a manager does and his theories on why they'd go on to be a success in America. Plus Brian tells us how he reacted when Paul turned up late for their first meeting. Marc Riley looks back to 1964 at an interview with the '5th Beatle', manager Brian Epstein Marc Riley dips into the BBC's archives and unearths seminal rock interviews |
| 02 | Pete Townshend | 20090728 | Marc Riley dips into the BBC's archives and unearths seminal and tantalizing interviews. It's funny how things can look so different many years down the line; once the dust has settled, tempers have calmed and much water has gone under the bridge. Not seeking to open old wounds or anything, Marc Riley goes back in time to the turning points in the careers of some of the biggest artists in music to check out exactly what they DID say in the heat of the moment, and to put it into today's context. This week we travel back to 1973; the year that President Nixon ordered a ceasefire in Vietnam, the Stock Exchange admitted women for the first time, and Princess Anne married Lieutenant Mark Phillips. It was also the year that Radio 1 broadcast interviews with Pete Townshend in a series called The Story Of Pop. Presented by Alan Freeman the 26 part show featured a big mix of musicians talking about the history of popular music. At a time when The Who were just about to release Quadrophenia, Marc revisits Townshend's take on the industry, Woodstock, the Kinks and the Mods. Marc Riley travels back to 1973 and an interview with Pete Townshend. Marc Riley dips into the BBC's archives and unearths seminal rock interviews |
| 03 | 20090804 | Marc Riley dips into the BBC's archives to unearth another tantalizing interview. This evening he transports us back to 1977; the year that Elvis Presley died, EMI fired the Sex Pistols, and Star Wars fever hit Britain. It's also the year that John Tobler spoke to Debbie Harry and Chris Stein just before Blondie broke in the UK with the release of Denis. We replay uncut extracts from an interview that was broadcast on Radio 1's Rock On show on November 5 1977. Debbie and Chris discuss the early bands they were in, the New York scene, meeting Phil Spector and their disgust at a Donna Summer record. Marc Riley dips into the BBC's archives and unearths an interview with Blondie from 1977. Marc Riley dips into the BBC's archives and unearths seminal rock interviews | |
| 04 | 20090811 | Tonight Marc unleashes an archive nugget from 1993, the year in which Bill Clinton succeeded George H.W. Bush as the 42nd President of the United States; tennis star Monica Seles was stabbed in the back by an obsessed Steffi Graf fan; and Benazir Bhutto became the first elected woman to lead a post-colonial Muslim state in Pakistan. In July of 1993 rock god Ian Gillan agreed to an interview with Claire Sturgess for Radio 1. In his typical entertaining style, Gillan tells us about his year with Black Sabbath and how they inspired much of the film Spinal Tap. He also reveals how he took to the rock 'n roll lifestyle and his legendary, long-running feud with Deep Purple band mate Ritchie Blackmore. Marc Riley revisits a BBC archive interview from 1993 with rock star Ian Gillan. Marc Riley dips into the BBC's archives and unearths seminal rock interviews | |
| 05 | 20090818 | Tonight Marc travels back to 1992. In this year Prince Charles and Princess Diana publicly announced their separation; George H. W. Bush was televised falling violently ill at a state dinner in Japan, vomiting into the lap of Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa; and Betty Boothroyd became the first woman elected Speaker of the British House of Commons. Also in 1992, pop star Cher found herself talking to Radio 1's Simon Bates following the success of her recent number one The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss). We hear a confessional Cher reflecting on her relationships with musicians Sonny Bono and Gregg Allman; her thoughts on I Got You Babe and the stardom it brought her; plus what it was like growing up in an idyllic California with two imaginary friends. Marc travels back to 1992 for an interview between Cher and BBC Radio 1's Simon Bates. Marc Riley dips into the BBC's archives and unearths seminal rock interviews | |
| 06 | 20090825 | Tonight Marc and his musical time machine head back to 1995. This was the year that Nick Leeson was arrested for his role in the collapse of Barings Bank, Richey Edwards of the Manic Street Preachers went missing and comedian Peter Cook passed away. In this, the last episode of the series, we hear what happened when Stuart Maconie interviewed the reluctant and revered pop star Scott Walker for Radio 4's art programme Kaleidoscope. Famed for being one third of the Walker Brothers, and known for classics like The Sun Aint Gonna Shine Anymore and Make It Easy On Yourself, he'd known massive success in the 60s but following the bands break-up he had become increasingly enigmatic and reclusive. In May 1995 he had just emerged from an eleven year hibernation following the release of his twelfth record Tilt. We hear him discuss the European influence on his American sensibility, his writing technique and his notions of crime and punishment. Marc Riley looks at an archive interview between Stuart Maconie and Scott Walker from 1995 Marc Riley dips into the BBC's archives and unearths seminal rock interviews |