Rephonic
Artwork for Rock's Backpages
Music Journalism
Tom Hibbert
Smash Hits
Nine Eight Books
Punk Rock
Rock's Backpages
Sylvia Patterson
Mark Ellen
The Decline Of Western Civilization
Steely Dan
Val Wilmer
Michel Faber
Rock Journalism
This Is Spinal Tap
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 monthlyEpisodes212Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsMusic HistoryMusic

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Artwork for Rock's Backpages

Latest Episodes

In this episode, we ask one of the greatest music writers of the rock and roll era to talk about Mystery Train as he celebrates its 50th anniversary with a brand-new edition of his classic book.

Talking to us from Oakland, 6,000 miles away in his na... more

For this special "bonus" episode of the Rock's Backpages podcast — fittingly number 211 (geddit?) — we're joined once again by The Guardian's Alexis Petridis for a discussion of timeless rock mockumentary This is Spinal Tap and its breathlessly-await... more

For this episode we're joined by the immensely respected Alexis Petridis, The Guardian's principal pop critic since September 2001.

Our guest tells us about his childhood in Yorkshire, his teenage years in Buckinghamshire and his initiation into the... more

In this episode we invite David Nathan to look back on his illustrious 60 years as "the British Ambassador of Soul".

Our guest commences by recalling his gateway into Black American music: the covers of Shirelles and Miracles classics included on th... more

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Recent Guests

Alexis Petridis
The Guardian's rock and pop critic
The Guardian
Episode: This Episode Goes 2 11: A Spinal Tap special with Alexis Petridis
David Nathan
British Ambassador of Soul, journalist, music expert
Episode: E209: David Nathan on Dionne Warwick + the Bee Gees + Michael Lydon R.I.P.
Byron Coley
Legendary music journalist known for his work on non-mainstream rock
Episode: E208: Byron Coley on Beefheart + Lydia Lunch + Terry Reid R.I.P.
Val Mabbs
Former features editor at Record Mirror, interviewed iconic musicians
Record Mirror
Episode: E207: Val Mabbs on Record Mirror + Jimi Hendrix + Walker Bros. + Ozzy R.I.P.
John Niven
Author and former music industry professional
Episode: E206: John Niven on rock fiction + Bobby "Blue" Bland + Lou Reed audio
Tony Cummings
Legendary soul writer and music journalist
Episode: E205: Tony Cummings on soul music + The Sound of Philadelphia
Chris Bohn
Music writer and editor, formerly at NME and currently working with The Wire.
The Wire
Episode: E204: Chris Bohn in Europe + Sly Stone & Brian Wilson R.I.P.
Jonathan Gould
Author of books on the Beatles and Otis Redding, upcoming book on Talking Heads
Episode: E203: Jonathan Gould on Talking Heads + Otis Redding + Richard Manuel
Paul Gambaccini
Author and broadcasting legend
Episode: E202: Paul Gambaccini on the radio + Rolling Stone + Beyoncé audio

Hosts

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

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 185 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 Kingdom3 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?
    5 months 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 Kingdom9 months 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
    Irelanda year 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

The mix of humor and nostalgia resonates well with audiences seeking a connection to music storytelling.
The podcast features thought-provoking guests and insightful discussions on music history.
Comments highlight the informative nature of the conversations, although some critique the style and pacing of discussions.
Listeners appreciate the depth of knowledge of the hosts and the eclectic range of guests presented.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#40
United States/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#22
Canada/Music/Music History
Apple Podcasts
#163
Canada/Music
Apple Podcasts
#175
United Kingdom/Music
Apple Podcasts
#47
Australia/Music/Music History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

E208: Byron Coley on Beefheart + Lydia Lunch + Terry Reid R.I.P.
Q: Can you give us a quick overview of your early influences and how you got into music writing?
I started writing about getting in fights in bars and stuff like that.
E208: Byron Coley on Beefheart + Lydia Lunch + Terry Reid R.I.P.
Q: Byron, hearing Don speaking in those clips, does it take you back to your 1978 encounter with him?
Yes, I met him other times too, but the thing is, in interviews, what he really wanted to do was share cigarettes.
E203: Jonathan Gould on Talking Heads + Otis Redding + Richard Manuel
Q: What do you feel the influence of being a musician is on writing about music?
It's critical because I try to approach the music by putting myself in that head space, which takes a lot of the fluff away from it.
E203: Jonathan Gould on Talking Heads + Otis Redding + Richard Manuel
Q: When did you start thinking about writing a book about Talking Heads?
Pretty much after I finished with Otis, I thought, what am I going to do next?
E193: Michael Goldberg on photography + Taj Mahal + Addicted to Noise
Q: What do you think makes a great music photograph?
It has to do with how it's framed, the expression, and what the artist is conveying in that moment.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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?

This podcast features insightful interviews and discussions centered around music journalism and popular music history. Hosts engage with notable figures, including established musicians, critics, and authors, exploring their experiences and contributions to the music landscape. With a unique blending of engaging narratives, it highlights pivotal moments and influential artists from the mid-1960s onward. The format often includes significant archival audio clips, enhancing the context and depth of conversations. This unique approach to storytelling in music journalism is likely to draw in listeners with a passion for both music history and critical analysis.

Where can I find podcast stats for Rock's Backpages?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Rock's Backpages. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Rock's Backpages and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Rock's Backpages get?

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What are the audience demographics for Rock's Backpages?

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How many subscribers and views does Rock's Backpages have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Rock's Backpages has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Rock's Backpages?

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

1. Word In Your Ear
2. Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt
3. Sodajerker On Songwriting
4. The Bob Lefsetz Podcast
5. THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST

How many episodes of Rock's Backpages are there?

Rock's Backpages launched 7 years ago and published 212 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Rock's Backpages?

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Rock's Backpages?

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What guests have appeared on Rock's Backpages?

Recent guests on Rock's Backpages include:

1. Alexis Petridis
2. David Nathan
3. Byron Coley
4. Val Mabbs
5. John Niven
6. Tony Cummings
7. Chris Bohn
8. Jonathan Gould

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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