Rock in Retrospect

Prolific country music writer Barry Mazor joins Nick to talk about his recent book Blood Harmony: The Everly Brothers Story. The book has been widely praised as the definitive biopgraphy about the iconic musical duo and it's definitely one of the best music history books written in the last few years. Definitely check this one out!You can purchase a copy of Blood Harmony at any major retailer, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.Support the show

Greg returns to the show to discuss the career and legacy of the iconic rock band Smashing Pumpkins. We discuss their history, success, their catalog, and why they deserve to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.Support the show

The Douche Caravan returns! Jon (Host of The Hustle Podcast),  Patrick (Host of The EETF Podcast) and Michael join Nick to discuss Stanley Nelson and Nicole London's 2025 documentary We Want the Funk!, which covers the history of the genre. Support the show

Prolific rock writer Martin Popoff joins Nick to talk about his latest book Kiss '76: Twelve Months That Defined the Hottest Band in the Land. You can purchase a copy of Popoff's book at any major retailer, including Amazon,  Barnes & Noble, and Quatro. Support the show

Albert and Dya join Nick to talk about the 2025 Netflix documentary Selena y Los Dinos.Support the show

The Rock Hall squad is back! David, Mark, Michelle, and Tom return to share their thoughts on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 inductees. We did things a little differently this time, asking our Patreon supporters for topics they wanted us to cover and questions they wanted us to answer.Support the show

Scott and Jon join Nick to discuss the career and legacy of Jonathan Richman. We talk about both his time with the proto-punk pioneers The Modern Lovers and his ever-eclectic solo career. We talk about a variety of topics, but have a lengthy conversation weighing the merits for a potential induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Support the show

Historian and writer Daniel Bukszpan returns to discuss his latest book Rush and 2112: Fifty Years. You can purchase a copy of Daniel's book at retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Quarto Books. Support the show

DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray (Queue Points Podcast) return to discuss the career and legacy of the iconic R&B and pop group New Edition. Topics include the group’s rise to fame, their legendary lineup of members, our favorite albums and songs from their catalog, and their current nomination for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.Support the show

Cally and Loïc (co-hosts of Shakipedia: A Shakira Podcast) join Nick to discuss the career and legacy of Latin pop superstar and cultural icon Shakira! We discussed a variety of topics including Shakira's electifying live shows, her Spanish-language works of the 90s, her breakthrough success on the American charts in 2001, the legacy of her smash "Hips Don't Lie," and her current nomination for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Support the show

Traci, who runs the Get Phil Voted In campaign to get Phil Collins inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame a second time as a solo artist, returns to discuss Brandon Toews' 2024 documentary Phil Collins: Drummer First. The entire movie is streaming for free on YouTube.We finish this episode by discussing Collins' current nomination for induction into the Rock Hall, Traci's campaign, and so much more. Support the show

To celebrate INXS’ 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination, Nick invited several members of the INXS fan base—Jim, Jon, and Shannon—to discuss Richard Lowenstein’s 2019 documentary Mystify: Michael Hutchence.Support the campaign to get INXS inducted into the Rock Hall by visiting Induct INXS. You can also vote for INXS in the Rock Hall’s fan vote to help secure an additional ballot among the 1,200+ votes cast by the official voting body.Support the show

Historian and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame voter Charles Hughes joins Nick to discuss the career and legacy of Oasis. They cover a range of topics, including the band’s status as Britpop legends, the massive success of their tour last year, and their current Rock Hall nomination (the third consecutive year they’ve appeared on the ballot).Check out Charles’s blog series No Fences Review, which he co-authors with former guest and friend of the show, David Cantwell.Support the show

Richard and Jordan return to discuss all things Neil Diamond and the 2025 biopic Song Sung Blue starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.Support the show

Cliff and Helen return to discuss the documentary Diane Warren: Relentless (2024) which focuses on the life and career of legendary songwriter Diane Warren. We give our takes on the movie, the Oscar-nominated song "Dear Me," and conclude with a rundown of our favorite songs from her catalog.Support the show

Darren and Peter return to discuss the nominees in the music categories at this year's Academy Awards. We analyze all ten scores and songs, give our personal rankings, our predictions on who will win and cap it off with great works that were snubbed. We also discuss the Oscars’ decision to omit live performances from this year’s ceremony. Support the show

An all-star panel of Rock Hall experts join Nick to discuss the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees Ballot! Tom, Mark, Michelle, Traci, Jon, and Andrea return to give their takes on all 17 nominees.Disclaimer: We recorded this episode the day the nominations were announced on Wednesday February 25, 2026.Support the show

Jordan, Kailyn, and Sam return to discuss the 2025 documentary Stans, which explores the career of rap icon Eminem through his superfans. We give our thoughts on the movie, share some personal stories, and cap it off with our favorite songs from his legendary catalog.Support the show

Scott and Andrew join Nick to discuss Alex Ross Perry's film 2024 Pavements, which focuses on the legendary indie rock band Pavement. Support the show

Tim Durling (Author of Sing Me Away: The Night Ranger Album Review and host of Tim's Vinyl Confessions) joins Nick to discuss the career and legacy of classic rock legends Night Ranger! We discuss the band's sound, their influences, their iconic song "Sister Christian," among other topics. We conclude by revealing our favorite songs and albums from their catalog. Support the show

The Douche Caravan returns! Jon Lamoreaux (Host of The Hustle Podcast),  Patrick Dupuis (Host of The EETF Podcast) and Michael Bagford join Nick to discuss Amy Berg's 2025 documentary It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley. The movie focuses on the career of the legendary Jeff Buckley, whose album Grace (1994) is considered one of the most acclaimed and influential in modern popular music. We give our thoughts on the movie, and conclude with our favorite song from his catalog.Support the show

Joe Kwaczala (host of Who Cares About the Rock Hall?) returns to discuss Nick's recently updated 'Rock Hall Prospects Project' list, now in its sixth year, which ranks who he feels are the most deserving artists heading into the next Rock Hall season. We discuss the artists who made the top 10, the 12 newly-added artists on this year's list, and concludes with Joe's suggestions for next year.Read Nick's Substack post for his 2026 rankings.Support the show

Cliff and Helen return to discuss the 2025 Hulu documentary Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, which traces the origins and legacy of the iconic music festival founded by singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan. They share their thoughts on the movie, and select their favorite songs from those who performed at the festival in its original iteration from the late 1990s.Support the show

Josh Mackenzie (host of Vinyl Spin YVR) joins Nick to discuss the solo career of Burton Cummings. Topics discussed include Cummings' time with the Guess Who, his status as one of Canada's most beloved musicians, his album covers, and share our favorite songs from his legendary career. Support the show

The Rock Hall Squad (David, Greg, Mark, Michelle, and Tom) join Nick for this year's Rock Hall draft! We ponder which artists could be nominated on the performers ballot for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2026. Support the show

Prolific author Greg Prato joins Nick to talk about his recent book Alternative for the Masses: The '90s Alt-Rock Revolution - An Oral History. We discuss the many rock stars and personalities he interviewed while working on his book, artists of that era that deserve more love and attention, and so much more!You can purchase a copy of Greg's book through major retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Quarto. Support the show

Kailyn returns to discuss the 2025 concert documentary Depeche Mode: M.We discuss Kailyn seeing the movie's premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year, our thoughts on the movie, and cap it off with a rundown of our favorite songs from their legendary catalog.This is one for the devotees! Support the show

Traci and Jon join the show to discuss the career and legacy of Phil Collins, one of the most legendary musicians of all time. We focus on Collins’ solo career and explore a wide range of topics, including his years with Genesis, his catalog of massively successful songs (“In the Air Tonight,” “You’ll Be in My Heart,” among others), and his legendary performances at Live Aid. We also discuss why he deserves a second induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.Traci's campaign Get Phil Voted In raises awareness to help get Collins inducted into the Rock and preserve his legacy as a pop culture icon. And while you're at it...fill out her campaign's form to share your fandom and consider supporting their effort via Patreon. Support the show

Richard returns to discuss the 2024 documentary One to One: John & Yoko, which focuses on the years John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent together in a Greenwich Village apartment from 1971 to 1973. The film also centers on the benefit concert "One to One," held at Madison Square Garden in August 1972. We conclude with a rundown of our favorite John Lennon and Beatles songs.The film is now streaming on HBO Max.Support the show

Prolific author Sean Egan join Nick to discuss his latest book Bruce Springsteen & Born to Run: 50 Years. We also talk about Sean's research for the book, and provide a quick track-by-track rundown of this classic album.Here is Sean's website where you can find all the other wonderful books he has written over the years. You can purchase a copy of Bruce Springsteen & Born to Run: 50 Years at most major retailers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.Support the show

Part Two of our coverage and analysis of the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. With a different set of friends who also went to the show, Nick invited Cliff, Ross, Pat, and Jeff to give their thoughts on everything that went down.The ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, November 8th.This year's class included Bad Company, Thom Bell, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Carol Kaye, Nicky Hopkins, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa, Soundgarden, Lenny Waronker, The White Stripes, and Warren Zevon.Support the show

Nick attended the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony last weekend and asked for a little help from his friends to discuss their experiences attending the event. Darren, Jon, Richard, and Traci share what it was like to be in the Peacock Theater and give their takes on everything that went down.The ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, November 8th.This year's class included Bad Company, Thom Bell, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Carol Kaye, Nicky Hopkins, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa, Soundgarden, Lenny Waronker, The White Stripes, and Warren Zevon.Part II, with different guests who also attended the induction ceremony, will be released in the coming days.Support the show

Tom Lane returns to discuss the career and legacy of legendary R&B producer, arranger, and songwriter Thom Bell. We talk about Bell's collaborations with The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The Spinners, Elton John, Johnny Mathis, Deniece Williams, and others. We also discuss Bell's upcoming induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later this month.If you haven't already, check out our 2021 episode that focuses on The Spinners!Support the show

Joe, Colin, and Bay return to discuss Alison Ellwood's 2023 documentary Let the Canary Sing, which focuses on the life and career of music icon Cyndi Lauper. We give our thoughts on the movie in the first half of this episode. The second half is devoted to discussing Lauper's pending induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later this month.If you haven't already, check out our episode from 2022 about Lauper's career and legacy.Support the show

Lisa returns to discuss the career and legacy of the legendary new wave band Culture Club. Topics discussed include the band's eclectic sound, Boy George's status as an icon of the 1980s and beyond, discuss our favorite songs from their catalog, and make a case on why they should be considered for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Support the show

The Douche Caravan returns! Jon Lamoreaux (Host of The Hustle Podcast),  Patrick Dupuis (Host of The EETF Podcast) and Michael Bagford join Nick to discuss Chris Smith's 2025 Netflix documentary Devo. The movie focuses on the career of the iconic American new wave band. We give our takes on the movie and finish by sharing our favorite songs from their catalog.Support the show

Mark Lempke returns to pay tribute to the career and legacy of the late, great Tom Lehrer. We discuss Lehrer's one-of-a-kind pathway to the music industry, his historical significance during the Cold War era, share our favorite songs from his catalog, and make a compelling case for why he should be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.Support the show

Prolific author Daniel Bukszpan (The Encyclopedia of New Wave, Ozzy at 75, among others) joins Nick to discuss his latest book, Iron Maiden at 50, and we talk about all things Maiden. We not only discuss his book, but also delve into the band's history and reveal our favorite songs from their legendary catalog.You can purchase a copy of his book at any major retailer. Also, visit his website to find his other works and interviews with other shows and publications.Support the show

Kailyn, Jordan, and Sam return to discuss the recent Disney+ documentary Not Just a Goof, which focuses on the creation and legacy of the 1995 movie A Goofy Movie (celebrating its 30th anniversary this year). We heavily discuss the iconic soundtrack as well as random tidbits about the documentary. Support the show

Joel Weyrauch joins Nick to discuss the career and legacy of pop punk hitmakers Fall Out Boy. Topics discussed include their formation, contributions to the pop punk and emo genres, collaborations with other artists, and their future Rock Hall prospects.Support the show

Cliff O'Neill joins Nick to discuss the 2024 documentary The World According To Allee Willis. The film focuses on the life and career of songwriter Allee Willis who penned legendary songs such as Earth, Wind & Fire's "September," Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield's "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", the Friends theme song "I''ll Be There for You," and The Color Purple musical adaptation. Support the show

Scott and Andrew (hosts of I've Got That on Vinyl) join Nick to discuss Bernard MacMahon's documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025), which focuses on the band's formation and first two studio albums.Support the show

To celebrate the release of its sequel, we are going to discuss the legendary 1984 comedy film This is Spinal Tap. Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, the film follows the fictional rock band Spinal Tap on an unforgettable yet disastrous tour. I invited Patrick Dupuis (EETF Podcast), John Mutford, Hector Contreras and Kyle Hildreth to discuss the movie's most unforgettable moments and their thoughts on the sequel.Support the show

First-time guest Helen Galarza joins Nick to discuss the career and legacy of the iconic new wave band UB40. We discuss the band's origins, their contributions to popular music, their tremulous legal drama, and why they should be considered for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.Support the show

The second of two episodes that focuses on HBO's documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. Jack Firneno and Michael Grosvenor (hosts of Glass Houses: A Billy Joel Podcast) come back to give their thoughts on Part II of the documentary. We also share our favorite album tracks from the Piano Man's legendary catalog.If you haven't already, check out Part I of our conversation. Support the show

Jack Firneno and Michael Grosvenor (hosts of Glass Houses: A Billy Joel Podcast) join Nick to discuss Part I of HBO's epic 5-hour documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes. Jack and Michael worked on the movie and even appear in the credits! We talk about various stories, interviews, and moments featured in the film. We also talk about their earliest moments with Billy Joel, the concerts they've attended, and their favorite hit singles from the Piano Man's legendary catalog.Check out Part II of our conversation.Support the show

Jordan Collins (co-host of Guilty or Great: Movies on Trial) returns to discuss the career and legacy of country music icon Kenny Chesney. We talk about Chesney's rise to superstardom in the late 1990s, the artists and genres that influenced his music, his catalog of classic tunes, and his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year.Support the show

Film producer John Wood joins Nick to talk about his documentary The Session Man (2023), which is about the career of rock-and-roll pianist and organist Nicky Hopkins. We talk about Hopkins' pending induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later this year, the making of The Session Man, and our favorite songs that Hopkins played on.Hopkins has worked so many legendary artists including The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Cat Stevens, Jeff Beck, Peter Frampton, Carly Simon, and so many others.For more information about The Session Man, visit their official website.Support the show

Brian and Sarah Linnen (Hosts of the Permanent Records Podcast) and Jon Lamoreaux (Host of The Hustle Podcast) join Nick to discuss the career and legacy of new wave legend Howard Jones. We discuss Jones' catalog of fantastic albums and songs, his technological innovations, his place in the synth-pop and new wave eras, and our collective memories seeing Jones live. Listen to Jon’s interview with Howard Jones from 2022.Listen to Brian and Sarah’s concert review of Howard Jones’ set from earlier this year.Support the show

Darren Hines and Peter Waters return to discuss Giuseppe Tornatore's 2021 documentary Ennio which focuses on the career of iconic film composer Ennio Morricone. Some of Morricone's most famous scores include The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, Once Upon a Time in America, Cinema Paradiso, The Untouchables, The Mission, and The Hateful Eight. Support the show