EPISODE · May 6, 2026 · 1H 18M
Daniel Rachel
from Performance Anxiety · host Marc Shea
This episode is a little different. It’s still about music, but from a very particular perspective. My guest is author Daniel Rachel. He’s written some fantastic books like Isle of Noise (about UK songwriters) and The Lost Album of The Beatles. His latest release may be his most controversial. It’s called This Ain’t Rock ‘n’ Roll: Pop Music, The Swastika, & The Third Reich. In it, Daniel explores the fascination musicians have had with Nazi imagery, symbolism, and paraphernalia. There are some connections you’ve probably heard of, like Jimmy Page and Lemmy. But there are others that you might not be aware of, like The Human League and Nick Cave. Daniel and I talk through how the British, especially in the 60’s and 70’s, used symbols as a way of mocking Nazi-ism. We also talk about a seeming resurgence in the symbolism, particularly through artists like Kanye West. The book gives facts and tells stories. But, importantly, it lets the readers draw their own conclusions. It was a fascinating read, especially if you like music & history. I recommend picking it up. It’s available from Akashic Books at https://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/this-aint-rock-n-roll-pop-music-the-swastika-and-the-third-reich/ Follow Daniel @danielrachelauthor on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. You can also send coffee funds to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now prepare for a history lesson with Daniel Rachel on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
This episode is a little different. It’s still about music, but from a very particular perspective. My guest is author Daniel Rachel. He’s written some fantastic books like Isle of Noise (about UK songwriters) and The Lost Album of The Beatles. His latest release may be his most controversial. It’s called This Ain’t Rock ‘n’ Roll: Pop Music, The Swastika, & The Third Reich. In it, Daniel explores the fascination musicians have had with Nazi imagery, symbolism, and paraphernalia. There are some connections you’ve probably heard of, like Jimmy Page and Lemmy. But there are others that you might not be aware of, like The Human League and Nick Cave. Daniel and I talk through how the British, especially in the 60’s and 70’s, used symbols as a way of mocking Nazi-ism. We also talk about a seeming resurgence in the symbolism, particularly through artists like Kanye West. The book gives facts and tells stories. But, importantly, it lets the readers draw their own conclusions. It was a fascinating read, especially if you like music & history. I recommend picking it up. It’s available from Akashic Books at https://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/this-aint-rock-n-roll-pop-music-the-swastika-and-the-third-reich/ Follow Daniel @danielrachelauthor on Instagram. Follow us @PerformanceAnx on socials. Grab merch at performanceanx.threadless.com. You can also send coffee funds to ko-fi.com/performanceanxiety. Now prepare for a history lesson with Daniel Rachel on Performance Anxiety on the Pantheon Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Daniel Rachel
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