The StageLeft Podcast
by The StageLeft Podcast
The StageLeft Podcast lifts the veil on the music industry by telling the stories of those with a unique vantage point. We talk to the unsung heroes behind the success and help young musicians going into an ever complex industry by gleaning advice about the working practices of the the greats from those who were in close proximity when the magic was being made. The StageLeft Podcast has featured musicians who’ve worked performed live & in the studio with David Bowie, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, U2, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, The Prodigy, Bjork, Dave Gilmour, Morrissey, Alanis Morissette, The Damned and Fun Lovin' Criminals. In January 2016, David Bowie's long term producer Tony Visconti appeared to to talk in depth about how Bowie was recording his final album Blackstar. The episode was released only a few days before Bowie passed, and was met with much acclaim.
Episodes
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147: Billy Fuller - Beak> and Robert Plant
Robert Plant and Beak> bassist Billy Fuller shares insights from his diverse career as a bassist, musician and now.... frontperson! Hosted by Chris Simpson Produced by Darcy Dewar Hire Chris as your 121 coach by emailing [email protected]
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146: Russ Pritchard - BONUS LIVE EPISODE - Playing Oasis songs with Noel Gallagher
In this bonus episode, Russ Pritchard shares his journey from early struggles to playing stadiums with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, offering insights into success, songwriting, and the music industry. Russ Pritchard's early struggles and side jobs The definition of success for musicians…
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145: Clive Deamer of Portishead on their iconic 1997 Roseland NYC show - live episode
Join us for a recorded live episode with Clive Deamer of Portishead, who analyses and reflects on the iconic Roseland NYC 1997 show, which is regarded as one of the greatest live albums of its era. A surprisingly emotional experience, we dive deep into the show itself, the period around the...
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144: Mull Historical Society
Join us as Colin MacIntyre of Mull Historical Society shares insights into the psychology of songwriting, album creation, collaboration with authors, and the importance of storytelling in music and literature. Key Topics: - The emotional journey of album release - The process of songwriting and...
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143: Danny McNamara - Embrace
They say never meet your heroes. How about interviewing them? Having travelled up and down the UK with mates, skipping train barriers and the like to get to the majestic Secret Guerrilla style Gigs in his late teens, Chris gets to interview the man who wrote one of his favourite albums of all…
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142: Jack Bates: The Smashing Pumpkins + Peter Hook & The Light
On this episode of The StageLeft Podcast, Chris Simpson sits down with Jack Bates — bassist for Smashing Pumpkins and Peter Hook & The Light — to discuss the reality of stepping into one of music’s most iconic musical legacies. From balancing tours between Billy Corgan and Peter Hook, to playing...
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141: Willy Bish - CMAT
“We stepped onto the Pyramid Stage and realised… they were just people doing the same thing as us.” If Amber from The Japanese House hadn't shut her fingers in a door, would Willy Bish be where he is now? Multi-instrumentalist Willy Bishop joins The Stage Left Podcast to share his journey from...
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140: Silke Blansjaar - Yungblud
Join us as Silke Blansjaar, bassist for Yungblud, shares her journey from local bands to arena stages, the realities of touring, and insights into navigating the music industry as a woman. Discover practical advice on performance, mental health, and industry challenges. "Touring can really batter...
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139: Russ Pritchard (Live Episode) - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds & The Zutons
Russ Pritchard — of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and The Zutons — returns to the podcast for a brilliant deep-dive into some of the most surreal and career-defining moments of his life in music. We talk about one of the greatest slots a Glastonbury— playing just before Sir Paul McCartney’s...
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137: Woody - Bastille (Live Episode)
Days after selling out The O2 Arena, Woody from Bastille joins us live to break down the realities of arena touring in front of a live audience, the writing and recording of Save My Soul, lessons from Bob Armstrong, and what it takes to run an independent record label! Editing by Darcy Dewar....
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138: Steve Cropper (1941-2025) - Recorded April 2016
Sad news reached us in December that Booker T and the M.G.'s legend Steve Cropper had passed away. It was a tremendous honour to have had Steve as a guest on StageLeft soon after we began. In truth, we probably wouldn't still exist if he hasn't appeared, as just naming him has a past guest has...
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136: Announcement - help us grow!
Hey all! Please have a quick listen to Tymon (our Social Media intern) who is asking for your help to complete a survey below to support the podcast growth over the next 5 years. This will help us bring you more interviews with the best session musicians globally, providing a platform for free...
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134: Christian Madden - Oasis (Recorded 2018)
If you've got Oasis hysteria with the reunion beginning on Friday, then you may enjoy this episode with the keyboardist for that Oasis reunion - Christian Madden. This was recorded in 2017, and was listened to (and tweeted about with love) by Bonehead! We will be at the first show back in…
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135: Gem Archer - Oasis (Recorded 2017)
If you've got Oasis hysteria with the reunion beginning on Friday, then you may enjoy this episode with guitarist Gem Archer, recorded in 2017. We will be at the first show back in Cardiff, so come say hi or reach out. To mark the 10 year anniversary, we are also doing a live episode on July 11th...
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133: Daisy Spencer - Olivia Rodrigo
The StageLeft Podcast sits down with Daisy Spencer - the incredible rhythm guitarist behind Olivia Rodrigo's record-breaking Guts World Tour! In this candid conversation, Daisy opens up about: ✨ Creating a "stage persona" to handle arena-sized crowds ✨ The reality of touring at the highest level…
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132: Corey McCormick - Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts, Chris Cornell, Willie Nelson
🎸 “I wanted to be the dad who’s present — not recovering from the night before.” — Corey McCormick The Glastonbury headliner series: To mark our 10 year anniversary, we have episodes with Neil Young bassist Corey McCormick and Olivia Rodrigo guitarist Daisy Spencer, which are released the day…
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131: The Glastonbury Headliner Series: The 1975 live event - July 11th, London
The Glastonbury headliner series: To mark our 10 year anniversary, we have episodes with Neil Young bassist Corey McCormick and Olivia Rodrigo guitarist Daisy Spencer, which are released the day each headlines the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. We've taken it a stage further for the Friday night...
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130: Ben Sturley - Selena Gomez
In this episode of The StageLeft Podcast, host Chris Simpson sits down with the multi-talented Ben Sturley — acclaimed bassist, composer, and longtime collaborator of Selena Gomez — for a candid and insightful conversation. From witnessing the realities of fame up close to crafting immersive film...
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129: Andrew Cushin
In this episode of the StageLeft Podcast, we’re joined by the brilliant Andrew Cushin for a deep dive into the artistry, collaboration, and chaos behind the music. We explore the evolving dynamic between frontman and musical director, the highs of working with Noel Gallagher at Lonestar Studios,...
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128: Evan Smith - Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Paul McCartney, Bleachers
Grammy winner Evan Smith has the MOST RIDICULOUS CV. As Jack Antonoff's go to man for horns/flutes/sax and more, Evan has played on multiple Taylor Swift records, Please Please Please by Sabrina Carpenter, St Vincent & Paul McCartney's collaboration on McCartney III and TV Off by Kendrick Lamar,...
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127: Alex Moore - The Lathums
Frontman of The Lathums, Alex Moore, joins us for a special episode, recorded on the eve of the release of their new album "Matter Does Not Define." We explore: - How to compartmentalise being friends from bandmates? - How he and the band decided which tracks to appear on their new album, and…
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125: Ed Seed - Dua Lipa, Jessie Ware, La Roux
Phoebe Waller-Bridge calls him a great songwriter, and both Lauren Laverne and Elton John rate his songwriting—Ed Seed joins us for an unforgettable episode! Get a VR headset-worthy experience as Ed takes us onstage at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanying Jessie Ware. Hear how he mastered 18 songs...
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126: "The click is gone, the click is completely gone!!"- Best of 2024.
The wonderful Beth Iles has chopped up our episodes from 2024 to give you a run down of our best bits as we enter our 10 year anniversary year. Enjoy the most insightful clips from episodes featuring Jess Greenfield of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Ralph Rolle of Chic, Chris Maas of Sting...
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124: The 1975 Touring Band - Sequel - Live at BIMM University
Touring members of The 1975, Gabi King, Polly Money and John Waugh join us again for our final episode of 2024, similar to our previous episode in May but we ask a completely different set of questions, which we recorded for students at BIMM University. You can now find us on Tik Tok, Instagram…
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123: Andy Crofts - The Moons & Paul Weller
It’s about time, after 9 years, we did an entirely filmed episode isn’t it? So, whilst you enjoy this audio only version, do feel free to search for ‘The StageLeft Podcast’ on Youtube and you’ll find this episode in beautiful 4K, filmed in Andy Crofts stunning seafront hit hut. “Chris and Andy,...
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122: John Blease - Robert Plant, Florence & The Machine, Paolo Nutini
What’s it like getting feedback from Robert Plant when playing on Led Zeppelin songs? How do we best deal with song changes on the day of the gig? How to best negotiate fees to ensure everyone is paid fairly? What makes Paolo Nutini unique to work with? How did the recent Florence and the Machine...
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121: James Walsh - Starsailor
An episode almost a decade in the making. Finally, James Walsh, frontman of Starsailor appears to discuss the final ever recordings with Phil Spector, the impact that episode had on his wellbeing, negotiating with Allen Klein, how he wrote 'Fever' and 'The Greatest Story Never Told', plus how to...
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120: Chris Maas - Sting 3.0
Sting 3.0 drummer Chris Maas joins The StageLeft Podcast mid-tour! We explore: How to fill the ‘space’ in a trio when playing Sting classics. The auditions, rehearsals and soundchecks for Sting 3.0 Locking with Sting as a bassist within a rhythm section. Drumming long sets with high BPMs with...
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119: Seye Adelekan - Gorillaz (live band)
Ginger shots at the ready! What would someone learn from working with Damon Albarn they wouldn't learn from anyone else? How does sobriety work on gig days in an environment so conducive to drink and drugs? How is Self-Esteem approaching her new record, given the success of her last? When does...
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117: Ralph Rolle - Chic
Ralph Rolle joins Chris Simpson to discuss his unique open-hand drum technique, walks us through the Grammy's tribute to David Bowie with Lady Gaga (which without Ralph's genius almost ended us a disaster), working with Nile Rogers and Prince and.... cookies. #chic #davidbowie #ladygaga
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118: The 1975 Touring Band - Live Episode of The StageLeft Podcast
After 8 years, we’ve finally done a live episode! We are joined by Polly Money, Gabi King and John Waugh (touring band with The 1975) in front of a live audience of BIMM students, recorded in London just before the European leg of The 1975s most recent tour. The interview begins with a 30mins...
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116: Erran Baron Cohen
The Oscar shortlisted composer Erran Baron Cohen joins us to dig deep into how the music industry has shaped him as a person, plus breaks down the creative process of writing music for the Borat movies, Da Ali G show, The Infidel (with David Baddiel), being signed to Miles Copeland III's label…
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115: Jessica Greenfield on experiencing postpartum depression & touring as a new parent
Jess Greenfield of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds talks openly about some troubling experiences within the industry that took place over ten years ago, the treatment she received for post-natal depression, how NGHFB bandmates model how to best support parents separated from children when...
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114: Tom Gray - Gomez & Chair of the Ivors Academy
Currently, an artist would need 62million streams on Spotify to break even on a £25k budget. This needs to change and our guest today Tom Gray is leading that change. Tom is Chair of the prestigious Ivor Novello’s, and founding member of Gomez, and is doing more to try to change the music…
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113: Liz Hanks - Liam Gallagher, Pulp, Richard Hawley
Liz Hanks is currently performing onstage with Pulp and James, and is the go to cellist for Liam Gallagher, Richard Hawley and Self Esteem. Hear about all these experiences, what needs to change in the music industry and the creation of new album 'Land' on our new episode. Enjoy!
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112: Toby Sebastian
Imagine being an incredible singer- songwriter but finding time be in Game of Thrones and play Andrea Bocelli in "The Music of Silence." What a career Toby Sebastian is having, hear how he tackles deciding setlists, what the music industry could learn from the film industry and how he walks the...
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111: Kate Nash - What change is needed in the music industry?
"All the heads of every major label or big indie labels should be made to resign." This episode was supposed to discuss Kate's new film Coffee Wars, but we began by touching upon the issues within the music industry that emerging artists need to navigate (such as being stolen from, a lack of...
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110: Bim Part 2 - "The music industry isn't built for women."
Arguably our most important episode to date. Bastille and Elton John backing vocalist Bim explains how the music industry has not been built for women, from the design of touring patterns to tour buses facilities, and covers what needs to change. We pick up this conversation in future episodes…
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109: Bim Part 1 - Bastille (plus performing 'Stand By Me' at the Royal Wedding)
Imagine knowing you are about to perform live to a billion people watching the Royal Wedding. Bim, singer with Bastille and Elton John, walks us step by step of every thought process of how to perform under the greatest of pressure, when coordinating 'Stand by Me' at Harry & Megan's wedding, plus...
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108: Tucan - Superorganism
Today we discuss creativity with the mind of Dr Tucan Taylor Michaels, drummer & producer with international banging tune-makers Superorganism, one of the most ingenious, innovative, inventive, experimental and original bands of recent times, often using extremely random objects as instruments as…
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107: Fraser T. Smith - Stormzy, Dave, Kasabian, Adele
“The sign of any good musician is the amount of sh*t jobs they've had." Ivor Novello and Grammy winning producer Fraser T Smith (Future Utopia) takes a deep dive with us into the navigating the tightrope between commerce and art from his time as a co-songwriter and producer with Adele, Stormzy…
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106: Dom John - ABBA Voyage & Miles Kane
Imagine recording ABBA songs with the actual members of ABBA 😲 Dom John discusses playing on the Grammy nominated album ABBA Voyage, as well as playing each night at the jawdropping ABBA Voyage live experience that has to be seen to be believed. We also discuss supporting Liam Gallagher, Miles...
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105: Stephen Daltrey on Mental Health provision in the music industry
Whatever you’re going through right now, you can contact Music Minds Matter on 0808 802 8008. Is there enough mental health related resource within the music industry to support artists mental health? Music Industry Coaching founder and Mental Health First Aid instructor Stephen Daltrey joins us…
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104: Lucy Landymore - Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer drummer and all round percussion prodigy Lucy Landymore joins us to discuss; - How Hans Zimmer overcame his self-publicised stage fright. - How the drum solo on Dune was recorded. - The tension between following dreams and being in an overdraft as a upcoming artist! - Which leadership...
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103: Toby Dundas - The Temper Trap
"Working with new artists is a bit like speed dating. You may have only just met them and very quickly they are baring quite personal things." Toby from The Temper Trap analyses production techiques he has experienced and used, including Arctic Monkeys producer Jim Abbiss' tempo maps, that the...
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102: Hazel Mills - Goldfrapp, Florence & the Machine, Birdy
Florence & the Machine, Goldfrapp and Birdy keyboardist Hazel Mills joins us to discuss.... how meditation and The Alexander Technique helps performance at high profile shows such as the Hollywood Bowl. how to decide an edit is complete and shouldn’t be touched again. Having an onstage persona to...
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101: Mike Heaton - Embrace
All you good good people, listen to Mike Heaton of Embrace discuss big career defining choices, playing Royal Albert Hall the week of being dropped from their label and their brilliant new album "How To Be A Person Like Other People", which is out now! "Every band who've made it have had to work...
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100: Dave Hemingway - The Beautiful South
Episode 100 is upon us. Thanks to each of you for joining us on this journey. Today, we have Dave Hemingway of The Beautiful South, The Housemartins and his new project Sunbirds. Dave sang lead on "Song for Whoever", "A Little Time" and "Build". Sunbirds play a number of UK dates in June if you…
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99: Lee Harris - Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets & The Blockheads
Imagine playing Pink Floyd songs with an actual member of Pink Floyd. Lee Harris is living his dream from one of his formative gigs, aged 7. Lee discusses playing onstage with each of Nick Mason, Dave Gilmour and Roger Waters, talks through how to approach a pivotal career meeting with someone…
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98: Kav Sandhu - Happy Mondays, Guigsy, Blitz Vega
Helping Happy Mondays reform ✅ Being produced by Guigsy (Oasis) ✅ Playing live with Bonehead ✅ Recording with Andy Rourke ✅ Collaborating with Howard Marks ✅ All this and more on our new episode with Kav Sandhu! Hosted by Chris Simpson Produced by Bastian Hues
About this show
The StageLeft Podcast lifts the veil on the music industry by telling the stories of those with a unique vantage point. We talk to the unsung heroes behind the success and help young musicians going into an ever complex industry by gleaning advice about the working practices of the the greats from those who were in close proximity when the magic was being made.
The StageLeft Podcast has featured musicians who’ve worked performed live & in the studio with David Bowie, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, U2, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, The Prodigy, Bjork, Dave Gilmour, Morrissey, Alanis Morissette, The Damned and Fun Lovin' Criminals.
In January 2016, David Bowie's long term producer Tony Visconti appeared to to talk in depth about how Bowie was recording his final album Blackstar. The episode was released only a few days before Bowie passed, and was met with much acclaim.
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The StageLeft Podcast
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