The Rock Podcast with Denny Somach

Michael Shrieve, Superstar Drummer Feb 13, 2025

Denny has a deep-diving conversation with Michael Shrieve, a founding member of Santana, best known for his amazing live performance on Soul Sacrifice at Woodstock. He had just turned 20 years old when he played Woodstock, making him the youngest musician to perform at the festival. That drum solo during Soul Sacrifice has been described as electrifying, as is his new album, Drums of Compassion, which features performances by great drummers including Olatunji (Drums of Passion), who inspired Michael. He also discusses some of the other groups he’s been a part of: Automatic Man, Novo Combo, Go with Steve Winwood, and the short-lived Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve Band.

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Carl Palmer's American Debut Oct 23, 2024

Carl Palmer, English drummer best known for being a founding member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Asia, in a rare interview by Denny, back in 1982 when Asia was rehearsing in Lititz, PA for their debut tour. He’s currently on tour with Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy – 42 years after this historic encounter.

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Iain Matthews Oct 18, 2024

Iain Matthews contemplates retirement and, instead, writes a song about it, adding to his discography of nearly 60 albums. Denny, who’s been a fan since the beginning of Matthews’ career, from Fairport Convention to solo to Matthews Southern Comfort, gets Iain talking about Joni Mitchell, Robert Plant, and in a totally unplanned moment, Amelia Earhart.

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Carmine Appice Rocks! Aug 02, 2024

Denny catches up with legendary drummer Carmine Appice to talk about the new Cactus album and learns about Carmine’s new AI project as well as lots of reminiscing. You’ll hear a lot of names on this episode - Led Zeppelin, John Bonham, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Vanilla Fudge, and Melanie.

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Classic Jeff Beck Jun 24, 2024

Denny celebrates the late Jeff Beck’s birthday with vintage audio from his Classic Rock Archives. Beck, one of the greatest guitar players in rock history, discusses his Yardbirds days and the beginnings of his solo career, in this rare interview.

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Steve Hackett May 07, 2024

Denny catches up with Steve Hackett, former lead guitarist with Genesis (part of their classic line up with Gabriel, Collins, Banks and Rutherford) with whom he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in March 2010. He just released his 30th solo album, The Circus And The Nightwhale, and is touring, so the conversation covers decades of Steve’s extraordinary career.

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From Layla to Murder Apr 15, 2024

The man who wrote Layla with Eric Clapton and was a founding member of Derek and the Dominos lived a life touched by mental illness and marked by murder. Author Joel Selvin reveals the results of his years of research on the inside story of Jim Gordon, one of the most prolific drummers of all time. Joel’s new book, Drums and Demons, raises the larger questions of how we miss the signs that someone – even a great talent - is in trouble.

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Dave Mason Knows Mar 25, 2024

Denny and Dave Mason go back a very long time – even before Denny was the executive producer of Dave’s late 80s album Two Hearts. Dave holds nothing back, including what happened at his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in this intimate look at Dave’s career.

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Gerry Beckley of America Mar 08, 2024

Known mostly as half of the platinum-selling group, America, with co-founder Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley has recorded and released eight solo albums, the latest titled Aurora. He joined Denny from his home in Australia (the other is in Venice, CA) to talk about his career and answer that eternal question… “Did the horse ever get a name?”

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All About Yes! Feb 15, 2024

Join Denny as he shares a comprehensive look at the early years of the #1 progressive rock band, taken from his extensive collection of vintage audio. You’ll hear Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Tony Kaye, Peter Banks, Bill Bruford, Alan White, Steve Howe, Trevor Rabin, Patrick Moraz, Geoff Downes, and more.

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The Immediate Family Dec 15, 2023

They’re more than just three of the best rock musicians in the business. When Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, and Waddy Wachtel get together with Denny, you feel the connection that has kept them together all these years, even though they’ve also had separate careers with amazing stories. Among others, you’ll hear Waddy on working with Warren Zevon.

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The Fifth Beatle Nov 28, 2023

If anyone deserves the title, it’s George Martin. Here, in a candid interview with Carol Thatcher (daughter of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, aka the “Iron Lady”) from 1982, he talks about discovering the Beatles, working with them in the studio, and other revelations.

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Roger Earl, Foghat to Sonic Mojo Nov 15, 2023

Foghat, a legendary band in the pantheon of Rock ‘n Roll, has released a new album, Sonic Mojo. Founding member and leader, Roger Earl, who Denny first met in the 70’s, is this episode’s guest. Roger has seen it all - and he’s sharing it all - on The Rock Podcast.

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Paul Rodgers Oct 04, 2023

As lead singer of Free (remember All Right Now?), Bad Company, The Law with Kenny Jones, The Firm with Jimmy Page, and Queen with Paul Rodgers, and with his solo albums, Paul Rodgers has consistently delighted rock fans. In this episode, he talks about his career, how he and Cynthia, his wife, met tough health challenges, and his newest album, Midnight Rose.

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Melanie Tells (Almost) All Sep 09, 2023

Melanie was just starting her career when she was the first artist booked to play Woodstock, almost a year before the concert took place. She was an unknown when she walked onto the Woodstock stage and sang for half a million people. By the end of her set, she was a star. In this episode, Denny interviews Melanie, who goes deep into her life and career - past, present, and future.

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Eric Bazilian - The Hooters Aug 02, 2023

Eric Bazilian, one of the founders of the Hooters, catches up with Denny after many years, and you’re invited to tune in to the past, present, and future of this multitalented musician. Stay for a snippet from the performance that Denny featured on Hot Spots, his early 80s show on USA Network!

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Geezer Butler, Into the Void Jul 10, 2023

Denny goes into the void, and through the career of a true English Rock God, Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath. This exclusive interview is where you’ll find the deep story on whatever happened to the Sabbath/Zeppelin jam and the Black Zeppelin album!

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Steve Howe: Yes, Yes, YES! Jun 18, 2023

Celebrate Steve Howe's fifty years of playing just about anything with strings with Denny, who's known Steve most of those fifty years. They cover the early years, pre-Yes, up to their latest release, Mirror in the Sky, leaving nothing unsaid - including some intriguing details about who's touched Steve's guitar. Steve's been honored five times as Best Overall Guitar Player of the Year by Guitar Magazine, and he was the first inductee into the Guitar Player Hall of Fame.

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Is Steve Katz a Rockstar? Jun 11, 2023

What the Hell Ever Happened to Blood, Sweat and Tears? is a new documentary about the band that sold millions of records, won multiple Grammy Awards including Album of the Year, and headlined at Woodstock. Denny interviews Steve Katz, co-founder of the band, in this episode, which takes its title from Steve’s autobiography. You’ll hear about The Blues Project, Steve’s prodigious career, and the stars whose work he produced and influenced.

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Jethro Tull with Ian Anderson May 29, 2023

Ian Anderson has been fronting Jethro Tull since it formed. He and Denny have known each other a long time, more than forty years, so they kick back and catch up on everything from the old days to the band’s newest release – their 23rd album.

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The Zombies are Back! Apr 03, 2023

You may not know this, but the Zombies are the only band still touring after 50 years whose lead singer is not Mick Jagger! The Zombies are more than their biggest hits, “She’s Not There” and “Time of the Season.” Denny goes way back and deep with Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent as they launch their newest album, documentary, and tour.

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A Conversation with Jon Anderson Mar 29, 2023

Denny and Jon know each other for nearly 50 years, so you know this conversation will range from the earliest times to the latest tours for 2023, with brief stops at all of Jon’s works-in-progress. While you may have heard one or two of these stories in the past, even hard-core fans will be telling their friends about something from this episode!

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Phil Lynott Memories Feb 22, 2023

You’ll hear a rare historic interview with the legendary Black Irish bassist, who tragically died at age 36. Phil Lynott was known for his work both with Thin Lizzy and solo, and his influence on the heavy metal artists who followed him. The episode ends with Denny telling the story of how he and Phil got to sing on the same number one record!

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The Yardbirds, in memory of Jeff Beck Jan 17, 2023

The most influential band in British rock, after the Beatles and Rolling Stones, has included three of the most accomplished guitarists of all time - Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. You’ll hear from all three in this episode, plus Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Alice Cooper, Geddy Lee, and Joe Perry – all from Denny’s Classic Rock Archives.

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Nazareth: The Story of Love Hurts Dec 18, 2022

Denny tells the little-known story of how Nazareth came to record Love Hurts, and the Scottish group’s connection to his hometown – and his career.

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Roger Waters, in His Own Words Nov 26, 2022

In this 1984 interview, Roger Waters talks about how he came to his solo career; the meaning behind The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking; and he even offers an opinion on the possibility of Pink Floyd coming together again.

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David Leaf on Brian Wilson Oct 18, 2022

Best known for his long association with the Beach Boys, award-winning writer, director, and producer David Leaf talks about Brian Wilson, and the new edition of his classic, God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys & the California Myth. Listen for the clips of Brian and Mike from The Classic Rock Archives!

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Nick Mason, Pink Floyd and Beyond Sep 09, 2022

From the Classic Rock Archives, an exclusive interview with Nick Mason, founding member of Pink Floyd, from 1985. Nick talks about the history of band, including the tragic Syd Barrett, how David Gilmour joined, why they didn’t play Live Aid, meeting the Beatles at Abbey Road Studios while recording their first album, and more.

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Tears For Fears Aug 31, 2022

From the Classic Rock Archives, an exclusive interview with Curt Smith from 1985 - just as the iconic, “Everybody Wants to Rule the Wild” was being released – reveals the meaning of the name, their early years, and more.

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Richie Furay, Country-Rock Pioneer Aug 20, 2022

Founding member of Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and the Souther-Hillman-Furay band, the legendary Richie Furay, pioneer of Country-Rock, talks about his new album, In the Country, life, love, spirit, and career, including being signed by Atlantic Records.

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Eric Johnson, the Guitar Player's Guitar Player Aug 12, 2022

Eric Johnson is the guitar player’s guitar player. His Platinum certified album, Ah Via Musicom, contains his Grammy award winner, Cliffs Of Dover. In this very candid conversation between old friends, the Austin-based inductee in the Guitar Player Gallery of Greats, also listed among the 100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century by Musician Magazine, talks about his two new albums, his favorite guitarists and influences, and much more. Denny pulls an unreleased favorite from the Archives to end this episode.

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Gary Brooker, His Final Interview Jul 21, 2022

Whiter Shade of Pale is one of the greatest songs of all time – AND one of the cold cases of rock ‘n’ roll. In what was to become Brooker’s final interview, he talks about his career and Denny talks about the legal entanglements concerning the writing of this song.

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Kate Bush Jun 20, 2022

Kate Bush was a star in the UK back in the 80s, but didn’t make it in the US till her Running Up That Hill was prominently featured in Season 4 of the Netflix series Stranger Things, and she hit the top at Spotify. This episode features a 1982 interview from the host’s Classic Rock Archives. Kate rarely gave interviews, making this one a must-listen treasure!

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Ben Fong-Torres, Like a Rolling Stone Jun 06, 2022

Ben Fong-Torres, famed Rolling Stone editor, talks about his life, career, and new documentary, Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres, as well as Almost Famous, the movie that made him even more famous. This episode features a classic interview Ben did with Bob Geldof after Live Aid.

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John Lennon’s Lawyer Tells All! May 17, 2022

John Lennon’s Lawyer Tells All! Ripped from the headlines – but all true. Jay Bergen, author of Lennon, The Mobster & The Lawyer tells the story of the dispute between the famous Beatle and the infamous mobster. The ultimate insider interview!

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Felix Cavaliere Sets the Record Straight May 03, 2022

From walking in on the Beatles who were opening for Joey Dee, with Felix on organ – before they came to America – to playing with Jimi Hendrix, campaigning for Bobby Kennedy, and the drama of working in the industry. More than fifty years later, Felix is still a rascal, in every sense of the word!

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John Waite Mar 29, 2022

John Waite tells all, beginning with The Babys and remembering how he and Denny met almost 45 years ago! You’ll hear about John’s acoustic album series, Wooden Heart, forthcoming documentary, tour plans - and why becoming a US citizen was so important to him.

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Dion DiMucci Still Rocks Mar 14, 2022

Dion DiMucci is in his seventh decade of performing. In this exclusive interview, celebrating the release of his new album, Stomping Ground, we talk about life, love, and rock ‘n’ roll...and Dion reveals how his face made it onto one of the most iconic rock albums of all time.

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Billy Joel's First Headliner Feb 11, 2022

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of The Nylon Curtain, which included the hit single, Allentown, Denny Somach tells the story of Billy Joel’s first headline gig. Starting with how Denny recorded the show, lost the tape, and - years later - found it, this story stars 23 year old Billy Joel, up close and personal.

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John Lennon, Up Close & Personal Dec 07, 2021

In 1975, John Lennon walked into a New York radio studio, unannounced, and played DJ. It was the world premiere of his brand-new album, Rock and Roll. You’ll hear him talk about the early days of rock, his influences - Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino - and the first day he met Paul McCartney. Candid and off the cuff, this is one of the most revealing conversations with Lennon ever.

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John Bonham & Led Zeppelin Jun 24, 2021

Led Zeppelin was the biggest band in the world, and it still is. This episode features an exclusive interview with C.M. Kushins, author of the new, first-ever biography of the iconic drummer, Beast: John Bonham and the Rise of Led Zeppelin. Includes classic interviews from Jimmy Page and stories from Bonham's early days you won't hear anywhere but The Rock Podcast!

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Nancy Wilson & More Jun 17, 2021

Nancy Wilson, RRHOF-inductee, guitarist and singer in Heart, talks about life, love, her new solo album and Led Zeppelin. Later in the episode, Linda Perry weighs in on her love of Led Zeppelin and secrets of her songwriting process.

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British Legends of Rock Jun 10, 2021

This episode features an unreleased 1990 interview with the legendary Roger Waters, plus new interviews with John Lodge of the Moody Blues and Gary Brooker of Procol Harum. Three British rock icons you won't want to miss!

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Freddie Mercury Jun 03, 2021

Freddie Mercury – singer, songwriter, lead vocalist, and beloved spirit behind Queen, is heard on a vintage interview you'll experience only on The Rock Podcast! The flamboyant star, inducted into the RRHOF in 2001, answers questions about the band and his solo album.

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Guitar Masters May 27, 2021

Billy Gibbons and the Yardbirds are this episode's subjects. You'll hear vintage audio from the Denny Somach Archives from Yardbirds Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, and Jimmy Page, plus brand new interviews with Billy Gibbons, talking about his new release, Hardware (and more!) and David French, author of Heart Full of Soul, the recent bio of Yardbirds vocalist Keith Relf.

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Jay Jay French May 20, 2021

Jay Jay French of Twisted Sister fame, host of the highly acclaimed podcast The French Connection, author, and motivational speaker reveals what it was like to be in one of the most visual rock bands of all time and what his life is like today in this no-holds-barred interview, exclusively with The Rock Podcast!

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The Business of Rock May 13, 2021

There's no business like Rock Business and this episode – The Business of Rock – will make that crystal clear from a rock icon and a rock entrepreneur. You'll hear Carmine Appice talk about how his work as an artist led to his immersion by fire into the business end of the industry. You know Carmine holds nothing back from his drumming, and he holds nothing back in this interview! In the second half of this episode, agent turned entrepreneur David Fishof tells stories about his Rock ‘n' Roll Fantasy Camp, currently celebrating its 25th year with a hit documentary, how he reformed the Monkees and revitalized their career, and how he created Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. It's what you'll hear only on The Rock Podcast!

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The British Show May 06, 2021

It's the British Show! Stephen Tow, author of London, Reign Over Me: How England's Capital Built Classic Rock analyzes classic rock history while Dr. Bill Bruford, who wrote the introduction and is one of the most revered drummers in the world (founding member of Yes; drummer for King Crimson; and more) provides the artist's viewpoint. Bill is retired now, and never gives interviews, so you know this is something very special!

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Songs & Stories Apr 29, 2021

This episode is about Songs and Stories – and nothing but songs and stories. The stories are all about specific songs and how they got written, recorded, discovered, whatever – all with the artists' own recollections. Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Randy Bachman of Guess Who and BTO, Dennis DeYoung of Styx – everyone you want to hear from is here, including Mick Jagger, Pete Townshend, Donovan, and more – and there's a surprise ending involving Led Zeppelin!

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Tom Petty Apr 22, 2021

Tom Petty is the subject of this episode, with special guest Jon Scott, record executive and author of Tom Petty and Me, My Rock and Roll Adventures with Tom Petty. You'll hear the ultimate insider answer questions about launching Petty's career, and more, and you'll also hear from Tom Petty himself, describing his own feelings about his career, before and after his long association with Scott.

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Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Apr 15, 2021

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have produced 20 studio albums, from Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ to the recently released Letter to You. You'll hear Bruce talk about that week in 1975 when he was on the cover of both Time and Newsweek, and about trying to visit Elvis in Graceland. You'll also hear from Clarence Clemons' last interview before his untimely death, and more reminiscing from those who worked and played with Bruce and the band.

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Cream Apr 08, 2021

Cream was the first supergroup - each member was a virtuoso on their instrument, they were all great soloists, and for nearly three magnificent years, they gave us a lifetime of musical memories. You'll hear from founder, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton on their own experiences, and get commentary you won't hear anywhere else from Ahmet Ertegun, Robert Stigwood, Jimi Hendrix, and more!

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The Beatles Apr 01, 2021

Where were you when you first saw The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show? Or do you remember their real first appearance on American TV? Join Denny Somach as he takes A Walk Down Abbey Road – not coincidentally, the title of his latest book. You'll hear the recollections of Beatles fans like Sir Elton John, Billy Joel, Roger Daltrey, Sir George Martin, and the Isley Brothers, revealing who was with them as they watched that historic performance!

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Classic Tales from Classic Artists Mar 25, 2021

Classic artists, classic tales – from the amazing archives of Denny Somach. David Bowie on writing with John Lennon; Clarence Clemons on getting fired by Bruce Springsteen while hanging out with Ringo Starr; how Atlantic Records' founder Ahmet Ertegun discovered Eric Clapton playing in a London bar; the fantastic story of how Sir Bob Geldof got Pink Floyd to reunite for Live 8; and more treasures of classic rock!

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The Doors Mar 18, 2021

Who doesn't love The Doors? Ray Manzarek talks about the first time the shy Jim Morrison showed him the words he'd written and how that became the beginning of the band, courtesy of Denny Somach's epic legacy interview archive. Robbie Krieger weighs in, "I'd never written a song before and Jim told me to go and write some, so I went home and wrote Light My Fire," and, in a brand new interview, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Densmore reveals everything from his relationship with Jim to getting high with Willie Nelson to his friendship with Tom Petty at the time of his death, to his take on a question he's never been asked before. Denny can ask it, only because, as a music industry veteran, he was there. You won't want to miss these one of a kind stories on this week's episode of The Rock Podcast!

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John Bonham Mar 11, 2021

John Bonham is the focus of the premier episode of The Rock Podcast. Audio clips of Zeppelin fans from Alice Cooper to Jimmy Page to Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) to Simon Kirke to John Paul Jones - even Jason Bonham - add sparks to Producer/Author/Rock Historian Denny Somach's stories, culled from his extensive rock archives. And, did you ever hear Robert Plant's answer to that famous question about Zeppelin playing the Superbowl? The Rock Podcast is the only place you'll hear that one, plus a surprise visit from Zeppelin fan President Barack Obama!

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