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
Michel Faber
Rock Journalism
This Is Spinal Tap
New York Rocker
Heavy Metal
Wayne's World
Hip Hop
Rock Music
Hip Hop Journalism
Trouser Press

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 monthlyEpisodes226Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MusicMusic InterviewsMusic History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Rock's Backpages

Latest Episodes

For this episode we're joined by not one but two very special guests to talk about one of the great music cities.

Penny Kiley is the former pop columnist for the Liverpool Echo, contributed regularly to Melody Maker and has just published the superb... more

In this episode we welcome back the marvellous Adele Bertei — five years after she first guested on our show — to talk about her amazing new book No New York.

Beginning with a definition of the postpunk sub-genre "No Wave", the former Contortion rec... more

YouTube

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

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Word In Your Ear
Word In Your EarMark Ellen, David Hepworth and Alex Gold
Something About the Beatles
Something About the BeatlesEvergreen Podcasts

Recent Guests

Adele Bertei
Musician and author of No New York, No Wave memoir
No New York/No Wave scene participant
Episode: E225: Adele Bertei on New York's No Wave scene
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

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 196 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 Kingdom10 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

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

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

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Rock's Backpages, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Rock's Backpages?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Rock's Backpages, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. Something About the Beatles
4. Sodajerker On Songwriting
5. A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs

How many episodes of Rock's Backpages are there?

Rock's Backpages launched 7 years ago and published 226 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?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Rock's Backpages from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Rock's Backpages. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Rock's Backpages?

Recent guests on Rock's Backpages include:

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

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days