Rephonic
Artwork for Rock's Backpages
Music Journalism
Tom Hibbert
Smash Hits
Nine Eight Books
Punk Rock
Mark Ellen
Sylvia Patterson
Rock's Backpages
The Decline Of Western Civilization
Steely Dan
Val Wilmer
Michel Faber
This Is Spinal Tap
Rock Journalism
New York Rocker
Wayne's World
Heavy Metal
Rock Music
Hip Hop
Hip Hop Journalism

Tales from the world's largest archive of music journalism: entertaining interviews with luminaries such as Neil Tennant, Billy Bragg, Pamela Des Barres, Gary Kemp, Vashti Bunyan, Midge Ure, Nick Hornby and Robyn Hitchcock. Thoughtful and informative conversations about all aspects of popular music history, interspersed with clips from exclusive audio interviews that date back to the mid-'60s. The... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes224Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsMusicMusic History

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Artwork for Rock's Backpages

Latest Episodes

For this episode we invite the very entertaining Jimmy McDonough to join us — all the way from Portland, Oregon — and discuss his career as "the king of the crazy biographers".

Our guest explains how he moved (back) to New York from Indiana in the '... more

YouTube

For this episode we welcome former Q/Kerrang! editor-in-chief Paul Rees to RBP Towers to discuss his riveting new book Raised on Radio: Power Ballads, Cocaine & Payola.

An oral history of AOR (or Album-Oriented Rock), Raised on Radio gives us an eag... more

YouTube

For this episode we're joined — all the way from Laurel Canyon — by the husband-and-wife tag team that is Jeff Walker and Kim Gottlieb(-Walker). Married for 53 years, Jeff and Kim have worked in diverse capacities in the music business and talk about... more

YouTube

In this episode, we talk to Fred Patterson, aka Phast Phreddie, about his work at the ARChive of Contemporary Music, plus his own magazine Back Door Man and his band Thee Precisions.

Beginning with his early musical life teaching classes with Don Wa... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Jimmy McDonough
Biographer known for Shakey (Neil Young) and I Am from the Honky Tonks (Gary Stewart)
Independent biographer / Rock's Backpages contributor
Episode: E224: Jimmy McDonough on Neil Young + Gary Stewart + Al Green audio
Paul Rees
Author of Raised on Radio, Power Ballads, Cocaine and Paola, The AOR Glory Years 1976 to 1986
Author
Episode: E223: AOR Special with Paul Rees + Boston audio interview
Jeff Walker
Writer, editor, publicist, and A&R man with long experience in the music industry
Episode: E222: Jeff Walker & Kim Gottlieb on Tom Waits + Gram Parsons
Kim Gottlieb-Walker
Photographer and author known for her work in documenting music culture
Episode: E222: Jeff Walker & Kim Gottlieb on Tom Waits + Gram Parsons
Bob Stanley
Music journalist and founding member of the band Saint Etienne
Saint Etienne
Episode: E220: Bob Stanley on Saint Etienne + Connie Francis + Bob Weir R.I.P.
Thurston Moore
Musician, songwriter, and visual artist; frontman of the band Sonic Youth.
Sonic Youth
Episode: E219: Thurston Moore on free jazz + Sonic Youth + Derek Bailey
James Brown
The godfather of soul in music journalism and founder of the magazine Loaded
Episode: E218: James Brown on Sounds + NME + Loaded + the KLF
Susan Compo
Acclaimed author known for her novel 'Pretty Things' and works on David Bowie.
Episode: E217: Susan Compo & Derek Ridgers on punks, goths and new romantics
Derek Ridgers
Legendary photographer noted for capturing London nightlife and various musicians.
Episode: E217: Susan Compo & Derek Ridgers on punks, goths and new romantics

Hosts

Barney Hoskyns
Host of Rocks Backpages podcast
Mark Pringle
Co-host of Rocks Backpages podcast
Jasper Murison-Bowie
Co-host and Producer of Rocks Backpages podcast

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 195 ratings
  • Good conversations and insight

    Brilliant. Covers lots of genres and eras. Good guests, funny, insightful. I am working my way through these. Fantastic listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Albowlie
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • I first started listening to these chaps to block out the sounds of moans, gasps, squeals, ect. while I was watching elbow fetish videos so that the neighbors would not think I'm a weirdo. Gradually, the words began to filter through the soundtracks of "Funny B*ner," "Roll Up Yer Sleevez!," "Elbow Grease," ect and I was transfixed! They may look like a pack of tossers, but I assure you their product is Top-Notch. I eagerly await each new show and, except for the times they spew a load of tommyro... more

    Podchaser
    5
    So, you want to be a stylite?
    a year ago
  • Rocks back pages with Barney Hoskins

    Hi Barney- just love the podcast- right up my street -informative and funny in equal measures.

    I especially like listening to stuff about artists that have not crossed my radar- I also like the healthy and at times heated disagreements about certain bands and records. Each podcast goes by effortlessly seeming to last about 15 minutes.

    Recent highlights have included Joe Boyd, Chris Salewicz and Barbara Ellen. Shout out to Jasper MB for bringing the average age down considerably and at times bein... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Moby Daf
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Auld white fellas talking to each about the Music Press

    It’s like a less cranky, less reactionary version of the “Word in your Ear” podcast. S’good.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joe O’Donnell
    Ireland2 years ago
  • Careening rapidly downhill

    This was a great podcast. Unfortunately post pandemic it’s gotten away from what made it great—interviews with great writers who told interesting stories. That combined with cohost Mark “Yeah Yeah” Pringle makes it now unlistenable for me.

    Cohost Barney Hoskyns is quiet when a guest is talking. Cohost Jasper Murrison-Bowie is quiet as well. Both afford the pod’s guests the respect they deserve. But not Pringle. You can almost envision him breaking into hives if he doesn’t say “sure” or”right” o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Yankee Doodle 30
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, listeners praise deep knowledge, diverse guests, and engaging discussions; the show is described as informative, entertaining, and a strong resource for music history fans.
Positive comments frequently highlight the archival depth, guest variety, and the hosts' evident passion for music journalism and history.
Some critics note uneven pacing or microphone dynamics among hosts, with specific mention of over-talkative moments or interruptions.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

E221: Phast Phreddie Patterson on the world's biggest record collection
Q: How did you get to work for the Archive of Contemporary Music?
Freddie shares that he began volunteering and was then offered a real job, highlighting the archive's growth over the years.
E221: Phast Phreddie Patterson on the world's biggest record collection
Q: How did you come to launch Back Door Man, and what did it represent in 1975?
Freddie explains that it started as a response to the music he and his friends felt wasn't being covered in major publications, leading them to create their own fanzine.
E214: Lisa Verrico on Vox + Oasis + Billie Eilish + My Bloody Valentine
Q: How do you look back on the 90s as a decade?
I'm probably the worst person you can ask for a sober appraisal of anything; I can remember anything of the 90s. It was fun.
E214: Lisa Verrico on Vox + Oasis + Billie Eilish + My Bloody Valentine
Q: What was the vibe like at Vox?
It was quite chaotic and I would say I loved it from the minute I went in.
E214: Lisa Verrico on Vox + Oasis + Billie Eilish + My Bloody Valentine
Q: What are your Oasis memories all this time later?
I met them at the start of the year. I saw them at a little club at King's Cross, and I absolutely loved them from the off.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Rock's Backpages

What is Rock's Backpages about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show offers thoughtful, in-depth conversations built around long-form interviews with writers, photographers, and industry insiders who've chronicled popular music across decades. Episodes blend archival anecdotes, critical context, and behind-the-scenes stories about artists, journals, and the evolution of music journalism. Listeners can expect richly informed discussions that span rock, punk, soul, and beyond, often anchored by a veteran host duo with a steady stream of well-connected guests; the format is strong on archival insight, with guests who have both lived the music history and helped shape it. What stands out is the eclectic guest roster, the archival perspective, and the nuanced debate that surfaces when hosts and guests ex... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Rock's Backpages?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rock's Backpages:

1. Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt
2. A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
3. Talk ’90s to me
4. Backlisted
5. Page 94: The Private Eye Podcast

How many episodes of Rock's Backpages are there?

Rock's Backpages launched 7 years ago and published 224 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Rock's Backpages?

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What guests have appeared on Rock's Backpages?

Recent guests on Rock's Backpages include:

1. Jimmy McDonough
2. Paul Rees
3. Jeff Walker
4. Kim Gottlieb-Walker
5. Bob Stanley
6. Thurston Moore
7. James Brown
8. Susan Compo

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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