Whatever you’re interested in these days, there’s a podcast for that.
And for fans of classic rock, there’s most definitely a podcast out there that will suit their tastes.
The depth and variety of choice is very impressive, ranging from polished podcasts with fantastic production teams behind them to those simply carried by the weight of passion from the hobbyists who create them.
At the heart of every production is, of course, the love of rock music. Modern chart music, with its focus on pop, R&B, rap, and electronic music, might say differently, but rock & roll, in the words of Neil Young, will never die. You still see the passion for it in the sold-out world tours, the Hollywood biopics, and even the games like Jimi Hendrix, Sabaton, and KISS Reels of Rock that you can find at Genesiscasino in the UK.
The allure of rock still lives, and you can get your fix for it in some marvellous podcasts.
Below we pick out five of the best podcasts for classic rock lovers to sink their teeth into:
Note, you’ll find details for most of the podcasts on player.fm.
The Classic Rock Album-By-Album Podcast – By Chris Karson and Lee Bowie
In an era of streaming and playlists, it should not be forgotten how important the album is conceptually.
Indeed, just ask Adele, who recently asked Spotify to hide the shuffle button for her new album, how important it is to listen as the artist intended. The great rock albums were always curated, taking the listener on a journey from the opening track to the conclusion. This podcast takes a look at many iconic albums, ranging from The Beatles to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Chuck Berry to Iron Maiden, asking whether it’s a classic or not. Beware, though, some podcasts can top three hours, and the discussion gets very detailed.
The Rock and Roll Geek Show – By Michael Butler
The thing we love about this one is that it is so broad and unfocused. That might sound like a criticism, but it’s really not.
One week it will jump from an obituary to Meat Loaf, then the next, it will detail the top 10 rock albums of the year gone by. An episode might cover all the debaucherous antics of early Aerosmith tours, whereas the next might focus on an interview with Suzy Quatro.
While the content is broad, it does tend to lean heavily upon hard rock and metal, although certainly not always. A must-listen for fans of early metal.
Rock School – By Dr Joe Burns
Another podcast that covers a broad range of topics. But Rock School goes for a more sociological approach, looking at the context of rock music through culture, history, and even politics. You will, of course, get to hear discussions and snippets of brilliant artists and albums. Yet, this one is more for those who see rock as something more than music. It’s very insightful and well researched, and, like all podcasts in any genre, it is helped by the passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm of its host, Dr Joe Burns.
The Strange Brew Podcasts – By Jason Barnard
Listed as one of The Telegraph’s top podcasts you must listen to, The Strange Brew’s main focus is on tales and themes of rock culture from the 1960s to the present day. Barnard seems to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the last half-century or so in rock music, and again it’s a situation where the host is a huge boon to the show’s appeal. One of the elements we like most is its attention on the unsung heroes of rock. So, you’ll get podcasts about David Bowie’s drummer, or maybe a sound engineer who worked on recording a classic album. Brilliant stuff.
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs – Andrew Hickey
We might sound like we are contradicting ourselves, given what we said about the importance of albums earlier, but there’s always a place for a standalone rock anthem. This podcast does what it says on the tin, looking at a new song each week in its countdown to 500. Currently, it’s in the 140s, so there’s plenty of time to tune in and catch up, and there’s lots more to come. Everything broadly considered rock from the late 1930s to the dawn of the millennium is covered.