Episodes
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Adam Ant vs Bow Wow Wow
Brian and Murdock talk New Romantic period rock n roll - and the punk rock sociopath who exploited, looted and stole an entire band from a guy who said he never wanted to be part of it in the first place. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for...
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Fender vs the Stratocaster
Murdock gets to go full guitar geek when the guys open a listener letter asking for clarity on why some of the best instruments look the worst. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!) SHOW NOTES:...
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Virgin Records vs XTC
Brian and Murdock respond to a pointed question about their lack of coverage of a certain British power pop influence and unpack the story behind the big sound, bad manager, and public breakdown that would come to define them. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on...
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Alice Cooper vs the blackout records
Brian and Murdock answer a listener letter that points them toward the alcohol-soaked section of music history, examining stories of rock stars and the drugs, drink, (and music) they forgot they did... See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for...
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Whitesnake vs David Coverdale
Brian and Murdock dig through the history of David Coverdale and the multiple eras of the solo effort he started that ended up being called... Whitesnake. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!) SHOW...
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Paul McCartney vs Michael Jackson
Brian and Murdock peer into the world of publishing through the lens of one of the great songwriters and great catalogs - and unravel the truth regarding the savvy artist who later bought those songs for himself. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign...
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"Louie Louie" vs the FBI
Brian and Murdock take on the task of deciphering what was (or maybe wasn't) being said when some teenagers in the Pacific Northwest tried to record a jukebox song on a budget. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS...
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Bon Jovi vs Alec John Such
Brian and Murdock work to unravel the mystery of what actually happened to the guy who got dismissed from Bon Jovi after a decade-long run (and if he ever actually PLAYED with the band at all...) See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's...
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Atlantic Records vs Poe
Brian and Murdock chase down the backstory of Anne Decatur Danielewski, the artist once named among the top five "Women Who Rock Our World" who seemingly dissappeared with no explanation after two hit albums. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up...
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Styx vs Dennis DeYoung
Brian and Murdock dig into the rumor that Styx broke up because of the band tension around a certain concept record (and hit song). See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!) SHOW NOTES...
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The Rolling Stones vs Gram Parsons
Brian and Murdock try their best to untangle the complicated authorship of "Wild Horses" and the friendships, romances, and concert tragedies that swirl around its creation and legacy. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE...
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Talking Heads vs David Byrne
Brian and Murdock combine a couple of requests by examining the ascent of Talking Heads, the man at the center of that band, and the hired guitar player whose fairy tale ascent almost (maybe?) included becoming the new lead singer. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the…
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Weird Al vs The Knack
Brian and Murdock dig through the history of musical parody to find the path taken by Alfred Matthew Yankovic to go from aspiring architect to godfather of laugh-out-loud lyrical tom-foolery. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily...
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Blood, Sweat & Tears vs the government
When a certain VIP letter writer gets their attention, Brian and Murdock explore the story behind the band who beat out the Beatles for the Grammy and then mostly fell apart. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS…
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George Michael vs Andrew Ridgeley
Brian and Murdock attempt to answer the long-asked question: "What the hell happened to that other guy from Wham!?" See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!) SHOW NOTES: The 2019 book:...
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Humble Pie vs the mob
Brian and Murdock dig into the rumors around what organized efforts may or may not have gone in to squashing the once promising career of British rock guitarist Steve Marriott, derailling his intial rise to prominence with bands like the Small Faces and Humble Pie. See the RNRSG on YouTube Visit...
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The B-52s vs Love Shack
Brian and Murdock take the opportunity a letter affords them to talk about the founding fathers (and mothers) of the Athens, Georgia music scene and the tragedy that almost derailed them before they ever got to sing about "that little old place where we can get together..." See the RNRSG on…
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The Songs About America Draft
In a first for the show, Brian welcomes fellow rock n roll podcasters Lorin Kozlowski (Roach Koach) and Josh Toomey (Primer 55, Talk Toomey, The David Ellefson Show) to gamify a discussion of the great rock n roll songs that tackle the topic of America. Listen to the Songs About America Draft...
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A Doobie Brother vs national security
Brian and Murdock explore the story behind session legend (and former Steely Dan/Doobie Brothers multi-instrumentalist) Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and his associations with NASA and other government-related organizations. And then they end up talking about... aliens. See the show on YouTube Visit the…
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Tommy Tutone vs Jenny
Brian and Murdock answer letters and break down the stories behind a handful of BIG songs and the women they are - or ARE NOT - about... See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!) SHOW NOTES:...
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Courtney Love vs Live Through This
Brian and Murdock make an effort to talk about more of the women in rock when they answer a letter adressing the rumor that Hole's Live Through This was ghostwritten by... a man. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS...
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Bryan Adams vs Princess Diana
Brian and Murdock head north to talk about British royalty and determined songwriters - and what may or may not have happened when a couple of them collided. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)…
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Stairway to Heaven vs Taurus
A letter about the legacy of "Stairway to Heaven" leads Brian and Murdock to the story of unsung guitar hero Randy California, his band, and the break that never fully broke for him. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE…
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Dave Matthews Band vs the city of Chicago
Brian and Murdock take on a letter from a listener wanting all the details on what happened when a certain jam-adjacent band drove around in the Windy City in the summer of '04. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS...
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Nikki Sixx vs Bruce Dickinson
Brian and Murdock rip open a stack of letters asking questions about rock songs throughout history that may - or very well may NOT - be about members of Motley Crue. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's...
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Tom Verlaine vs Richard Hell
Brian and Murdock answer a listener letter asking for a deep dive on the punk band that wasn't so punk - Television - and how their search for a place to practice created a landmark and cemented a scene. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for...
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Lou Gramm vs Mick Jones
Brian and Murdock investigate the story behind one of the biggest hitmakers of the 70s and try to uncover the answers to two mysteries: why their singer and guitarist couldn't get along, and why their legacy doesn't always get taken seriously. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram...
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Prince vs the symbol
Brian and Murdock dig deep to understand the circumstances that led Prince to feel punished for over-performance, quit music, pronounce himself dead, and come back as a... symbol. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS...
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Prince vs Batman
Brian and Murdock dig into mid-80's Prince - his projects (released AND unreleased), bands, drug buddies, and obsessions - to figure out what led him to get VERY involved in creating an official album about the Caped Crusader. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on...
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YES vs The Buggles
Brian and Murdock unravel the story of how the first band on MTV briefly became part of prog rock pioneers YES - and how it almost ruined everything... See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!) SHOW…
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New Radicals vs the music industry
Brian and Murdock dust for fingerprints through the last 25 years of pop music trying figure out what happened to two people who created one of the biggest hits of the late '90s. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS...
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The Acid King vs L.A.
The guys go on one of their wildest rides to date - connecting The Rolling Stones, 80's punk, murder, and jazz guitar. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!) Win tickets to Louder Than Life 2026! Just...
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Ann Wilson vs Nancy Wilson
The guys get into the backstory behind two of the most powerful women in rock and the biggest obstacle they've faced - each other. See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!) Win tickets to Louder Than…
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FEAR vs SNL
Brian and Murdock dig into the story behind the most infamous SNL performance-gone-haywire, and figure out how it weirdly connected a king of comedy, a premier provocateur, and the ultimate torchbearer of punk authenticity. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on...
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The Replacements vs SNL
The guys finally get to a stack of letters about Paul Westerberg and The Replacements and untangle the tale of the time that the Twin Cities ne'er-do-wells took their inferiority complex onto national TV. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the…
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Robbie Robertson vs Levon Helm
The guys do their best to answer the often-asked question about what happened to dismantle the (80% Canadian) American instituion - The Band. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email!…
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Tom Petty vs Australia
The guys allow a letter to lead them on a journey from Tom Petty and Dylan, all the way back to Ol Blue Eyes (and the time he almost caused an international crisis by not watching his mouth.) Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on…
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ACDC vs Bon Scott
Brian and Murdock take a challenge on from a young listener interested in ACDC and dig into the rumors and conspiracies surrounding the death of Bon Scott and what he might have left behind... Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on…
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Harry Nilsson vs Hollywood
Brian and Murdock explore the wild influence Harry Nilsson had on rock music - and the secondary career that arguably killed him. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!)…
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The Go-Go's vs the home invasion
Brian explains to Murdock the crazy story of the time a member of a pioneering rock n roll girl group had the worst week ever. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS email! (It's free!) SHOW...
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The Cure vs Kansas
A question about the superstitions of Robert Smith sends the guys on a wild journey that stretches from Ariana Grande to Nirvana and all the way back to the origin of rock n roll. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up…
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The Romantics vs What I Like About You
The guys discover how a particular 80's earworm found success nearly a decade after release - and the story of the unlikely managers and their bad behavior that derailed the group from finding chart dominance and financial reward for years. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube…
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Big Star vs Columbia Records
The guys get into what drives some bands into "cult" status by exploring the story of Alex Chilton and Big Star - and the big scandal that kept their first two records from reaching the masses. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on...
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The Police vs Synchronicity
Brian and Murdock take a listener's cue to explore the short but influential career of Sting, Andy, and Stewart as a unit called The Police - and the island recording session that signaled their demise. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show...
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George Harrison vs While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Brian and Murdock explore the story behind the Quiet Beatle's reconciliation with the six-string, the song it produced, and the solo it bequeathed on the world decades later via a totally different artist. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the...
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Mariah Carey vs All I Want For Christmas Is You
Brian and Murdock unpack the partnership that birthed one of the greatest holiday tunes of all time - and the rumor, innuendo, hurt feelings, and younger diva who broke it all apart. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up...
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Red Hot Chili Peppers vs Faith No More
Brian and Murdock break down the history of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, and Mr Bungle and try to figure out if Mike Patton and Anthony Kiedis actually hate each other as much as they seem to want us to think they do. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show...
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Eric Clapton vs Tears in Heaven
Brian and Murdock unravel another story-behind-the-song, following one of the great guitar gods through his cocaine 70s, alcohol 80s, and loss + redemption 90s. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily…
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Pink Floyd vs Great Gig in the Sky
The guys look into the story behind that legendary female vocal performance - and learn a lot about Pink Floyd, their reputation, and their history. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for Brian's daily FIVE SONGS…
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Carly Simon vs You're So Vain
Brian and Murdock dig into one of the most well-known rock n roll rumors and try their darndest to figure out which Hollywood face (or faces) "You're So Vain" is actually about. Support the show on Patreon See the show on YouTube Visit the show on Instagram Visit the show on Facebook Sign up for...