Booked On Rock with Eric Senich

Latest Episodes:

[EP 410] “What If You Woke Up a Rock Star?” with Charles Harvey Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

What if you woke up one day as a rock star—but couldn’t play guitar? Author Charles Harvey joins Booked On Rock to discuss his novel Xylene X Band: A Fictionalized Chapter in the History of X Band, a story that mixes rock and roll, identity, ambition, relationships, and the pressures that come with success. The novel follows brilliant but troubled guitarist Joe Ecks, whose life takes an extraordinary turn when he wakes up believing he is Mike Smith—a Harvard graduate who knows nothing about being a rock star and, most importantly, doesn’t know how to play guitar.
Charles reveals how a recurring nightmare about being handed a guitar and told to go onstage inspired the original story. We also explore one of the book’s central ideas: being good at something doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be happy doing it. Along the way, we discuss the psychology of Joe and Mike, the effect the transformation has on Joe’s wife Angie and the members of X Band, creativity versus technical talent, the darker side of the music business, ambition, success, and what happens when the career everyone thinks you should want becomes the very thing making you miserable.
It’s a rock-and-roll story with a Twilight Zone-style premise, but underneath it is a question almost anyone can relate to: Are you living the life that actually makes you happy—or simply the life you’re good at?
Purchase a copy of Xylene X Band: A Fictionalized Chapter in the History of X Band
Visit the Xylene X Band Website
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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

[EP 409] Paul McCartney & Wings: Why 'London Town' Deserves Another Listen with Luca Perasi Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Paul McCartney and Wings entered one of their most adventurous periods with 'London Town', the atmospheric 1978 album featuring “With a Little Luck,” “London Town,” “I’m Carrying,” “Girlfriend,” and “Morse Moose and the Grey Goose.”
Author Luca Perasi joins Booked On Rock to reveal how Wings recorded aboard a boat in the Virgin Islands, why Paul McCartney began incorporating synthesizers and electronic textures, and how his creative partnership with Denny Laine shaped the album. Luca also discusses the departures of Jimmy McCulloch and Joe English, the making and phenomenal success of “Mull of Kintyre,” and the unreleased fan favorite “Waterspout.” Was Wings still a genuine band—or had it become a vehicle for McCartney’s musical vision? Did contemporary critics underestimate the album? And does London Town deserve a more prominent place in the Wings catalogue?
Luca’s book, Wings: London Town—The Story of an Adventurous Album, takes readers inside the songs, sessions and unusual circumstances behind one of McCartney’s most atmospheric and overlooked records.
Purchase a copy of Wings: London Town. The Story of an Adventurous Album
Visit L.I.L.Y. Publishing's website
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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

[EP 408] Bruce Springsteen: Why His 1973–1987 Run Will Never Be Matched with David Starkey Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

Author David Starkey joins Booked On Rock to explore Bruce Springsteen’s extraordinary 1973–1987 era, from Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. and Born to Run through Darkness on the Edge of Town, The River, Nebraska, Born in the U.S.A. and Tunnel of Love.
Drawing from his book Bruce Springsteen 1973–1987: Every Album, Every Song, Starkey examines the lyrics, music and creative decisions behind classics including “Thunder Road,” “Jungleland,” “The Promised Land,” “Atlantic City,” “Born in the U.S.A.,” “Glory Days” and “One Step Up.” The conversation also covers Clarence Clemons, Steven Van Zandt, the E Street Band and why Springsteen’s legendary nine-album run may never be matched.
Purchase a copy of Bruce Springsteen 1973-1987: Every Album Every Song
Visit David Starkey's website
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The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

[EP 407] Eagles: Inside the Chaotic Making of Hotel California with Sean Egan Aug 23, 2026

Show notes

The Eagles’ Hotel California remains one of the most successful and mysterious albums in rock history—but its polished sound concealed a chaotic creative process. Rock historian Sean Egan, author of Eagles and Hotel California: 50 Years, reveals how Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Don Felder, Joe Walsh, and Randy Meisner created a defining album of the 1970s while wrestling with rivalry, perfectionism, cocaine, fame, and growing tension within the band.
We explore the stories behind “Hotel California,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” “New Kid in Town,” “Wasted Time,” and “The Last Resort,” including how the title track evolved from Don Felder’s instrumental demo into a timeless rock epic. Egan also discusses the unrealized Hotel California movie, the power struggle within the Eagles, and how extraordinary success ultimately helped pull the band apart.
Purchase a copy of Eagles and Hotel California: 50 Years
Visit Sean Egan's website
----------
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Booked On Rock is part of The Boneless Podcasting Network
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The Booked On Rock Store
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Follow The Booked On Rock with Eric Senich:
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Contact The Booked On Rock Podcast: thebookedonrockpodcast@gmail.com
The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

[EP 406] Living Colour: Reclaiming Rock’s Black Roots with Preston Frazier Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

Living Colour reshaped rock music by fusing hard rock, funk, metal, blues, jazz, and socially conscious lyrics into a sound that refused to be categorized. Author Preston Frazier joins Booked On Rock to discuss his book Shade of Living Colour and trace the band’s remarkable journey—from New York’s CBGB scene and the Black Rock Coalition to the breakthrough success of Vivid, “Cult of Personality,” Time’s Up, Stain, and their enduring influence on modern rock.
Frazier explores Vernon Reid’s visionary guitar work, Corey Glover’s commanding voice, Will Calhoun’s explosive drumming, and the contrasting bass contributions of Muzz Skillings and Doug Wimbish. The conversation also examines Mick Jagger’s early support, “Glamour Boys,” “Nothingness,” the band’s breakup and reunion, and how Living Colour reclaimed rock’s Black roots while confronting racism, identity, politics, fame, and the music industry’s restrictive labels.
Purchase a copy of Shade of Living Colour
Find out more about Preston Frazier at SlangOfAges.com
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Booked On Rock is part of The Boneless Podcasting Network
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Follow The Booked On Rock with Eric Senich:
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Contact The Booked On Rock Podcast: thebookedonrockpodcast@gmail.com
The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

[EP 405] Def Leppard: “They Showed the World How to Be a Band” with Scott Robinson Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Def Leppard’s story is filled with massive hits, groundbreaking albums, incredible triumphs, and devastating setbacks. In this episode, author Scott Robinson joins me to discuss his book Def Leppard: Every Album, Every Song, part of Sonicbond’s On Track series, and take us through the music and moments that shaped one of rock’s most enduring bands.
We dig into Def Leppard’s early days in Sheffield, the influence of producer Mutt Lange, and the making of landmark albums like Pyromania and Hysteria. Scott shares the fascinating stories behind songs including “Photograph,” “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak,” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” while we also discuss Rick Allen’s remarkable comeback, what the band lost creatively with the death of Steve Clark, the reinvention of Slang, and overlooked later albums such as Songs from the Sparkle Lounge and Diamond Star Halos. Plus, Scott explains why, after more than four decades of tragedy, changing musical trends, and an evolving industry, Def Leppard remains one of rock’s great bands of brothers.
Purchase a copy of Def Leppard: Every Album, Every Song in the US
Purchase a copy of Def Leppard: Every Album, Every Song in the UK
Find more books by Scott Robinson
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Support Booked On Rock and get every new episode completely commercial-free with the Backstage Pass.
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🛒 Old Glory - Iconic music and sports fan merch
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https://oldglory.com/discount/BOOKEDONROCK
Booked On Rock is part of The Boneless Podcasting Network
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The Booked On Rock Store
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Follow The Booked On Rock with Eric Senich:
BLUESKY
FACEBOOK
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Find Your Nearest Independent Bookstore
Contact The Booked On Rock Podcast: thebookedonrockpodcast@gmail.com
The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

[EP 404] How “Touch of Grey” Changed the Grateful Dead Forever with John Brackett Aug 16, 2026

Show notes

The Grateful Dead spent decades building one of the most devoted followings in rock history without ever needing a conventional hit single. Then came “Touch of Grey.” In 1987, the song became the band’s first—and only—Top 40 hit, introducing the Dead to MTV and an entirely new generation of fans.
Author John Brackett joins Booked On Rock to discuss his book Touch of Grey, or How the Grateful Dead Became Pop Stars. We explore the song’s long evolution before it reached the studio, Jerry Garcia’s remarkable comeback following his 1986 diabetic coma, the making of In the Dark, the impact of the “Touch of Grey” video, and what happened when a countercultural institution suddenly found itself in the mainstream.
Was “Touch of Grey” simply a great Grateful Dead song that happened to become a hit—or did its success fundamentally change the band and the culture surrounding it? Brackett takes us inside one of the strangest and most consequential success stories in Grateful Dead history.
Purchase a copy of Touch of Grey, or How the Grateful Dead Became Pop Stars

Visit DeadScholar.com
Visit John Brackett's Substack page
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Support Booked On Rock and get every new episode completely commercial-free with the Backstage Pass.
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https://oldglory.com/discount/BOOKEDONROCK
Booked On Rock is part of The Boneless Podcasting Network
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The Booked On Rock Store
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Follow The Booked On Rock with Eric Senich:
BLUESKY
FACEBOOK
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Find Your Nearest Independent Bookstore
Contact The Booked On Rock Podcast: thebookedonrockpodcast@gmail.com
The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

[EP 403] Terry Kilgore: Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth & An Incredible Rock ’n’ Roll Comeback Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Terry Kilgore has spent decades as one of Southern California’s most respected guitarists, coming up in the same Pasadena-area scene as Eddie Van Halen and later playing and writing with David Lee Roth. In this episode, Terry shares firsthand stories about his friendship and friendly rivalry with Eddie, the origins of the finger-tapping technique that became synonymous with Van Halen, and his experiences working with Roth on albums including Your Filthy Little Mouth and DLR Band.
Terry also opens up about the devastating 2025 Eaton Fire, which destroyed his Altadena home, studio, guitars, and irreplaceable personal belongings. Now, at 71, he’s rebuilding his life and returning to music alongside singer-songwriter Korpus Kristy with the upcoming album The Devil’s in the Details. It’s a conversation about Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, guitar history, survival, friendship, and why Terry Kilgore still has plenty of music left to make.
Audio update: This episode has been remastered with enhanced audio for improved clarity.
Visit Terry Kilgore's website
Listen to "Terry Kilgore's Love Song" from the forthcoming album The Devil's In The Details
Visit Korpus Kristy's website
----------
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Support Booked On Rock and get every new episode completely commercial-free with the Backstage Pass.
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https://oldglory.com/discount/BOOKEDONROCK
Booked On Rock is part of The Boneless Podcasting Network
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The Booked On Rock Store
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Follow The Booked On Rock with Eric Senich:
BLUESKY
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Contact The Booked On Rock Podcast: thebookedonrockpodcast@gmail.com
The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

[EP 402] Who Really Wrote “Morning Dew”? John Einarson on Bonnie Dobson’s Fight to Reclaim Her Song Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

Bonnie Dobson wrote the haunting folk classic “Morning Dew” in 1961, inspired by the fear of nuclear annihilation. The song would go on to be recorded by the Grateful Dead, Jeff Beck, Robert Plant, Nazareth, Devo and countless others—but along the way, singer Tim Rose claimed co-writing credit, beginning a decades-long struggle for Dobson to reclaim recognition for the song she wrote.
Author John Einarson joins Booked On Rock to discuss his new biography, Take Me For A Walk In The Morning Dew: The Life and Times of Bonnie Dobson and the Story of Her Iconic Song. We explore the remarkable origins of “Morning Dew,” Bonnie’s experiences in the 1960s folk scene and with a young Bob Dylan, how the Grateful Dead helped immortalize the song, the controversy surrounding Tim Rose, and the battle to restore Bonnie’s rightful credit. John also shares the wonderful story of Bonnie knocking on Robert Plant’s door and how Plant ultimately helped her get her song back.
Pre-order a copy of Take Me For A Walk In The Morning Dew: The Life And Times Of Bonnie Dobson And The Story Of Her Iconic Song
Order a signed copy of Take Me For A Walk In The Morning Dew from Rough Trade
Find more books by John Einarson
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🎧 Listen Ad-Free on Patreon
Support Booked On Rock and get every new episode completely commercial-free with the Backstage Pass.
Join here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BookedOnRock
🛒 Old Glory - Iconic music and sports fan merch
💰 Get 15% OFF | Promo Code: BOOKEDONROCK
https://oldglory.com/discount/BOOKEDONROCK
Booked On Rock is part of The Boneless Podcasting Network
BookedOnRock.com
The Booked On Rock Store
The Booked On Rock YouTube Channel
Follow The Booked On Rock with Eric Senich:
BLUESKY
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK
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Find Your Nearest Independent Bookstore
Contact The Booked On Rock Podcast: thebookedonrockpodcast@gmail.com
The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

[EP 401] Neil Young: The Many Sides of a Rock Legend | Sylvie Simmons on the Updated Reflections in Broken Glass Aug 01, 2026

Show notes

Neil Young has never followed the rules—and that's exactly what made him a rock legend.
In this episode of Booked On Rock, legendary rock journalist and author Sylvie Simmons joins me to discuss the updated and revised edition of her acclaimed biography, Neil Young: Reflections in Broken Glass. We trace Neil's remarkable journey from driving a hearse from Canada to Los Angeles to becoming one of the most influential artists in rock history.
We explore Buffalo Springfield, Crazy Horse, Harvest, the emotionally devastating Doom Trilogy, Rust Never Sleeps, Trans, Harvest Moon, his influence on Pearl Jam and the grunge movement, and the stories behind his most daring creative decisions. Sylvie also shares what she learned from interviewing Neil over four decades, including the brand-new Neil Young: Unfiltered interviews featured in this expanded edition.
If you're a lifelong Neil Young fan—or you're just discovering one of rock's most uncompromising artists—this is a conversation you won't want to miss.
Purchase a copy of Neil Young: Reflections in Broken Glass (Updated and Revised)
Visit Sylvie Simmons' website
----------
🎧 Listen Ad-Free on Patreon
Support Booked On Rock and get every new episode completely commercial-free with the Backstage Pass.
Join here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BookedOnRock
🛒 Old Glory - Iconic music and sports fan merch
💰 Get 15% OFF | Promo Code: BOOKEDONROCK
https://oldglory.com/discount/BOOKEDONROCK
Booked On Rock is part of The Boneless Podcasting Network
BookedOnRock.com
The Booked On Rock Store
The Booked On Rock YouTube Channel
Follow The Booked On Rock with Eric Senich:
BLUESKY
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK
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Find Your Nearest Independent Bookstore
Contact The Booked On Rock Podcast: thebookedonrockpodcast@gmail.com
The Booked On Rock Music: “Whoosh” by Crowander / “Last Train North” & “No Mercy” by TrackTribe

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