We welcome Don Letts to discuss his experiences with The Clash - from directing every music video the band made to joining them on the pivotal White Riot tour in 1977, his initial impressions on meeting the band, the key gig with the Sex Pistols at the Nashville with Joe Strummer’s 101ers.

Don shares anecdotes about filming the band, trips to America and his interactions with legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese.

Years later Don made the legendary documentary Westway to the World: the legacy of The Clash for which he won a Grammy Award. We discuss the making of the documentary & the interaction

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17

Blue Sky: @musicmaps.bsky.social

X: @simonmusicmaps

Facebook: E17rockbookclub

Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited, mixed & spruced up by Andy Maxwell

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Music Maps Podcast

00:42 Reflections on Economic Challenges and Cultural Richness

03:27 Exploring Don Lett's Life and Memoir

04:48 The Punk Rock Scene and Its Influences

10:28 The Clash and Reggae Connections

16:09 The White Riot Tour and Its Impact

24:07 Commercialization of Music and Cultural Reflections

27:50 The Evolution of Music Videos

30:26 The Clash's American Dream

33:20 Meeting Legends: Scorsese and the Clash

36:52 Documenting the Clash: Westway to the World

39:29 The Clash's Legacy and Impact

42:09 Reflections on the Clash's Influence

46:11 Remembering Johnny Green

49:56 Upcoming Events and Recommendations

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This week we welcome Joel Gion of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, to discuss his memoir In The Jingle Jangle Jungle and the vibrant music scene of San Francisco in the 90s.

We explore Joel's early experiences in the city, his journey to becoming a musician, the early Shoegaze scene in San Francisco including seeing Lush, Ride & The Jesus & Mary Chain at local venues.

We go through the evolution of the Brian Jonestown Massacre and the influences that defined their sound during the 90s. We highlight Joel's unique approach to percussion, meeting the Dandy Warhols, opening for Oasis & how for one week in 1994 San Francisco is briefly centre of Britpop Incredibly Blur, Pulp & Elastica are all in San Francisco on the same day.

Joel tells us about going the Brian Jonestown Massacre & how their early years unfolded, the chaotic events at the South by Southwest festival, the infamous Viper Room incident & into 1996 which is a key year for the Brian Jonestown Massacre with 3 albums released - Take It From the Man, Their Satanic Majesties 2nd Request & Thank God For Mental Illness.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17

Blue Sky: @musicmaps.bsky.social

X: @simonmusicmaps

Facebook: E17rockbookclub

Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited, mixed & spruced up by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Hann is our guest to explore the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, focusing on its origins, key figures, and the cultural impact of the movement. The conversation delves into the role of Neil Kay in promoting heavy metal, the emergence of local bands, the DIY aesthetic of self-released records, and the significance of venues and radio in shaping the scene.

We also highlight the rise of record labels and the signing of influential bands, providing a comprehensive overview of this moment in music history. We focus on key bands like Def Leppard and Iron Maiden, their management, and the cultural impact of media like Kerrang! We also touch on the significance of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) and its influence on the global music scene, as well as the legacy of bands like Diamond Head and their connection to Metallica.

We also mention transformation of classic rock bands such as Deep Purple and the emergence of specialised labels like Neat Records, culminating in the birth of iconic festivals like the Monsters of Rock at Castle Donington.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17

Blue Sky: @musicmaps.bsky.social

X: @simonmusicmaps

Facebook: E17rockbookclub

Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written & Produced by Simon Cardwell

Edited, mixed & spruced up by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.