PODCAST · music
The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music
by The Grumpy Cyclist
The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music is basically me having a chat with regular ordinary people about ‘what music means to them’..memories, likes/dislikes, emotions, artists, live/gigs, happy, sad favourite songs/albums, icons anything what music has meant to them personally.
Episodes
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72-“..10,000 years Mr Cook..”
Well…what an episode this was with Andrew Van Blerk! 🎶 At the end of our conversation, Andrew and I found ourselves at opposite ends of the spectrum when it came to whether musicians should use their platform to promote political views and raise awareness of what’s happening in society today.…
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71-“..Skid’s House of Wales and Scandinavia..”
This episode is with Skid… again! 😂 Episode 68 was when we first got together, and I discovered Skid’s fascinating journey through heavy rock music. But there was one big part of his story we didn’t even touch on… How he became a DJ and ended up with his own show — Skid’s House of Sound! 🎧🤘...
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69-“..Sting..ouch that hurts..”
This episode is with Anna, a friend and work colleague of Michael Angell, my joint host on “You Made Me Listen To This.” What a brilliant insight into what music means to Anna — and believe me, it means a LOT! 🎶 Anna talks about growing up singing around the piano with her parents. Her dad was a...
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68-“..AC/DC 8:6:78…Nuff said!!..”
Have you ever had one of those moments in life where you see something for the very first time…and it changes everything? Well, Skid had that very moment in 1978 while watching the iconic Top of the Pops. The band? AC/DC. From that day on, he was hooked…not just a fan, but a passionate follower…
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67-“..I’d rather go to Ronnie Scott’s..”
Ever dreamed of performing in front of an audience… especially at a world-famous venue? In this latest episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music, I sit down with someone I’ve known for many years through the world of karting – Lianne. Lianne has experienced what many musicians only dream of…...
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66-“..Charly says…tell a story..”
This episode is a chat with Dan Hunt, an ex-military man who now resides on the Isle of Wight. These days Dan is enjoying life behind the decks as a DJ, one of his greatest passions. He tells me how hearing The Prodigy’s “Charly” back in 1991 – inspired by the famous 1970s health and safety…
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65-“..It’s a Question of Mine..”
Well, you have the political show Question Time where the general public question politicians…well, I had Michael Angel hammering me with questions about my life in music. What snack would I take to Glastonbury Festival? Do I use Shazam? What name would I call Duran Duran instead of their actual...
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64-“..All or Nothing from BFBS..”
“All or Nothing” by the Small Faces is Eileen’s favourite song…ever. Something I wasn’t aware of when I sat down for a wonderful chat with Eileen, a lovely family friend, about her musical journey through the decades. From the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s onwards, Eileen shared some fantastic memories of...
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63-“..Eurovision Sing contest..err really!!..”
This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music is a rather short one… It’s just me sending my condolences following the recent passing of the lead singer of Dr Hook. I also give my personal thoughts and views on this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. You may agree, you may completely disagree… but...
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61-“..the Odeon comes Alive..”
This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music was a rather special one for me, as I chatted to my uncle for the first time in many years…and what a reunion conversation it turned out to be. I’ve always known my uncle Melvin has a huge passion for music, but hearing the stories firsthand was...
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60-“..The Works of The Dead South..”
This episode sees me catching up with Craig Bloom for the first time since our boarding school days back in the 80s—and it honestly felt like no time had passed at all. We dive straight into music, with Craig sharing his deep admiration for Queen, and in particular the legendary Freddie Mercury.…
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59-“..Bruce is on Fire..”
This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music features Olly, a friend of Chris Cole, who previously joined us for a podcast back in the summer of 2025. Olly, who spends most of his year living in the UAE, took some time while visiting the UK to sit down and talk about his life and his deep...
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58-“..A Jagged little bit of Different Class..”
This episode sees me joined by Craig and Rob for a proper, laid-back chat about the music that shaped our childhoods 🎶 We kick things off with our favourite albums and the stories behind why they mean so much, before getting into a bigger conversation about the modern music world—has streaming...
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57-“..Everybody wants to bang a drum..”
J’s arguably favourite 80s album is the classic Songs From The Big Chair by Bath-based Tears for Fears. In this episode, I chat with J about why this album means so much to him — the memories it brings back and the standout tracks that still resonate today. We also dive into The Seeds of Love and...
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56-“..what has he done to deserve this?..”
This episode features Rob, a barber I previously recorded a podcast with back in November 2025. We dive into his love of music, exploring his passion, knowledge, and why artists like the Pet Shop Boys and U2 hold such an important place in his life. Rob is also a huge film fan, so naturally the...
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56-“..no RUSH of Mine..”
This episode sees me having a great chat with the wonderful Alastair — partner of Jill Mitchell, who you may remember from a previous episode. We dive into Alastair’s musical journey, starting from his childhood, where music was always around him thanks to his parents. His father had fairly...
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55-“..The Live Aid Blitz..”
This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music features Jason “Jay” Hayward — someone I’d only actually met once before on a mutual friend’s stag do a few years ago. Being roughly the same age, it turns out we share a lot of the same memories and opinions when it comes to music and growing up.…
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54-“..was Prince really a Sign of the Times?..”
This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music is a little different from usual. I’ll be diving into my (rather small!) vinyl collection, picking out some of my absolute favourites and having a short chat about why they mean so much to me. In this episode, I’m talking about Prince’s Sign ‘O’ The...
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53-“..RCM?..ohh my neighbour is The Royal Albert Hall..”
The Royal College of Music is where Daniel Mullin spent his time learning the craftsmanship of the violin and piano. This episode is a continuous story of how Daniel went on to work for the BBC (among many other achievements) as part of the BBC Orchestra. Have you ever wondered what life was…
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51-“..livin’ on a Mode..”
Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Bon Jovi, Bagpipes… and Captain Sensible!!! Just some of the gems Joolz and I chat about in this latest episode — a pure reflection on Julie’s (Joolz’s) time at St George’s boarding school… where we just happened to be in the same year. From her admiration of Dave…
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51-“..are lead singers really that important in a band?..”
“Can bands be just as successful without their original lead singer?” 🤔🎤 That’s just one of the big musical debates I got stuck into with returning guest Mike Kearney — yes, the very same Mike who’s braved a podcast with me before and still came back for more 😄 We covered loads in this episode…
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50-“..BFBS and all that Jazz..”
This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music is a special one. I’m chatting with Jill — a lifelong friend, and really more like part of the Morris family — who I’ve known for nearly 50 years. Our connection goes way back, with both of our dads serving in the army, and music playing a huge part…
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49-“..what exactly does a conductor do?..”
Another episode of me chatting with Daniel about his life in classical music – the hard work, the journeys, the excitement, the experiences… and what life is really like inside an orchestra. With my complete lack of knowledge of the classical world, I asked Daniel to explain how an orchestra...
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48-“..piano or violin? He’s Mullin it over..”
In this episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music, I’m joined by Daniel Mullin, violinist with the BBC Concert Orchestra, where he has been a full-time member for almost 20 years. This episode marks the beginning of a special multi-part project that Daniel and I have discussed, exploring his…
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47-“..the Grateful Vocalist..”
This episode is with Mike Kearney — a man truly passionate about music, with a particular love for The Grateful Dead (among many others). Mike talks about his life as a vocalist, including being part of a major event involving Mel & Sue, Clive Anderson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and other…
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46-“..Xmas songs, love it or hate it..’
This episode is a Christmas edition… and yes, it’s that time of year again. Wherever you go, Christmas songs are absolutely everywhere — at home, on the radio in the car, in supermarkets, people humming them under their breath, at church… just EVERYWHERE!! So, being me, I thought I’d take a…
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45-“..you liked ‘who’ in concert?..”
This week’s episode is Part 3 of me — with a bit of quality control from my son Jordan — going through the questions I put out to YOU about your favourite gigs, the loudest, the ones you’ve seen the most, the absolute worst… all of it! It was an absolute blast going through every single answer.…
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44-“..it’s the end of the year as we know it..”
If you use Spotify, you’ll know it’s that time of year when they kindly remind you just how many HOURS you spent listening to the same songs over and over… your most played artists, albums, minutes, moods — the whole lot! Jordan (my son) and I had a really interesting chat about our 2025…
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43-“..near a tree by the river..”
Nik Kershaw… yes, the musician, songwriter, entertainer and all-round nice chap! I went to see him on his ‘Music & Lyrics’ chat tour at The Tivoli in Wimborne, Dorset — and it was absolutely brilliant. I even recorded a little conversation with a couple of lovely people who were there, and I…
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42-“..Cliff v Elvis? ..now that’s the question..”
Cliff Richard v’s Elvis Presley? That was the debate Rob brought up — apparently our mums had a full-on rivalry back in the day over who was better! And that little comment is exactly what led into this week’s episode… I had a brilliant chat with Rob, who genuinely believes (like MANY do!) that...
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41-“..concerts and more flipping concerts!..”
This episode is Part 2 of me diving into all the brilliant answers you sent in when I asked for your thoughts on CONCERTS — the best, the worst, the loudest, the most unforgettable… all of it! I thoroughly enjoyed going through every single response and sharing my own grumpy (but lovable!) views...
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40-“..concerts, concerts and more concerts..” (PT 1)
🎧 Episode 40 is here! (Yes… the 40th one already!!) This episode’s a little different from the usual format. A while back, I put out a Q&A on social media with ten questions — things like your favourite, loudest, most-seen, worst, and dream concerts. The responses were brilliant! So in this...
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39-“..Definitely?..quite possibly..”
🎙 This week’s episode is with Josh — someone I’d never met before, who kindly reached out wanting to be part of the podcast. Living ‘up north’, his musical influences are very much Manchester-based — and his love for Oasis still burns bright to this day (to say he’s a fan is putting it mildly!)....
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38-“..hey Ian, what’s that music you’re playing?..”
Dirty Dicks… Rise to the Occasion!” Yes, you read that right — that was the name of the mobile disco that first sparked Ian’s love for DJ’ing! In this episode, Ian returns to share how his DJ journey began: from those early disco days and building the confidence to speak on the mic, to choosing…
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37-“..I bet Ian looks good on the dance floor..”
This episode features a chat with a regular friend of the podcast — the ever-entertaining Ian! We dive into his love of dancing and his unforgettable nights out at a nightclub in Oxford during the late seventies. Ian also shares memories of his time in Bournemouth, where he saw The Ramones, Dexys...
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36-“..tell me WHY?..”
This episode was the second time Val & Chris joined me to chat about their musical journeys… One of the most fascinating parts was hearing Chris talk about his hands-on involvement with Judas Priest — incredible stuff! And then there’s Val, sharing her love of going to live gigs (but definitely…
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35-“..talking about Our Generation..”
This episode was a real treat… a wonderful chat with Val and Chris, a couple I’ve known for many years. Married for decades, they have such an incredible mix of stories, emotions, history, and knowledge when it comes to music. The dynamic between them was fantastic—I laughed, I learnt, I was in...
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34-“..he was a Little Angel..”
This episode is with Ian Lindley, someone I hadn’t spoken to since the early 90s when we worked together in a restaurant. Back then we became good friends through our shared love of music. In our chat, Ian talks about his passion for Heavy Metal and why it means so much to him. He then shares how...
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33-“..The Politik of music..”
🎙️ In this episode, I’m joined once again by tour promoter John, sharing his journey, knowledge, views, and love of MUSIC. We dive into his take on bands that made massive comebacks — sometimes even bigger than their “heyday” — and I ask the tricky question: should politics and music mix? His...
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32-“..REBEL, REBEL..”
We first knew each other back in 1986 when we were both living in Cyprus… nearly 40 years later, in early 2025, Beth and I finally reconnected! This episode turned into a real trip down memory lane, with Beth sharing some brilliant stories from her music adventures. From choosing to see 5 Star...
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31-“..The Doors are open..”
This time I’m joined by my old neighbour and workmate from 20 years ago – Lou (RK). We dive into: • Our shared love of The Doors 🕶️ • Whether AI really is the next step in the music industry 🤖🎵 • Lou’s take on bands as brands • Her recent experiences seeing Ocean Colour Scene and Kula Shaker...
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30-“..half a world (domination) away..”
This episode is with John who I did a podcast with and appeared on ( episode 25 ‘about that small gathering in Somerset’) John just had the time of his life — and he’s still buzzing! He was there, live, for the second night of OASIS’s 25 LIVE world tour, and in this episode, we dive deep into his...
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29-“..here’s to past days..”
This episode features someone I haven’t spoken to since 1988 — Nick Carter. We were both at the same boarding school in Suffolk, and reconnecting after all these years made for a truly surreal and heartwarming conversation. As we caught up, we discovered just how much we still had in common —...
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28- “..just gotta love em..”
This episode of ‘The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music’..well..it’s ME talking about my favourite band (which you may or not know are those legends from Birmingham 🤪called DURAN DURAN) their albums they have released. It’s just my personal view on them…you may agree/disagree or not at all bothered BUT…
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27-(pt2)”..all the old dudes..”
In this second part of my chat with Ian, we dive deep into his passion, love, and incredible knowledge of music. He shares unforgettable memories—like seeing Mott the Hoople live, with a then-unknown band called Queen as the support act. Ian reflects on why the years between 1977 and 1981 were…
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26 (pt1)-“..would you like a bowl of goats head soup?..”
This episode is a real treat. I’m sitting down with Ian—a passionate runner (who actually coached my daughter!) and an equally passionate music lover. We’ve known each other for years, but this chat really opened my eyes to the depth of his musical journey. It’s going to be at least a...
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25 (pt1)-“..ohh, about that small gathering in Somerset..”
John’s a music promoter, a manager, and once ran an independent record label—so yeah, he’s seen it all. We dive into his love for the punk era, including stories of seeing The Clash (multiple times!) and other iconic bands at the height of their powers. He also shares a surprising recent…
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24-“..I’m gonna have to revisit that..”
In this third and final part of our ongoing series, Michael continues to confront me with questions about my thoughts, opinions, and experiences with various music artists—this time covering bands and musicians with names starting from A, B, C, D, and so on. The twist? The artists were chosen...
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23-“..the Madness of Jam..”
⸻ 🎙️ This episode features Nick Watts, a seasoned TV producer and documentary maker whose work spans across major networks like Channel 4 and the BBC. But beyond his impressive career in television, it’s Nick’s deep passion for music that truly shines in this conversation. From growing up with...
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22- “..Eurovision, Xmas songs erm no tks!!..”
Here is Part 2 of 3 of Michael talking to and asking my thoughts and questions of my live and views on what ‘music means to me’…an insight on what’s ticking over in my head.. I was even surprised by some of the thoughts and responses I gave. My views on the Eurovision Song Contest and the spirit…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music is basically me having a chat with regular ordinary people about ‘what music means to them’..memories, likes/dislikes, emotions, artists, live/gigs, happy, sad favourite songs/albums, icons anything what music has meant to them personally.
HOSTED BY
The Grumpy Cyclist
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music have?
The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music currently has 70 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music about?
The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music is basically me having a chat with regular ordinary people about ‘what music means to them’..memories, likes/dislikes, emotions, artists, live/gigs, happy, sad favourite songs/albums, icons anything what music has meant to them personally.
How often does The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music release new episodes?
The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music has 70 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music?
You can listen to The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music?
The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music is created and hosted by The Grumpy Cyclist.
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