The Rider, with Becko: Recent Episodes
Becko
The Rider is a series of podcast and video interviews that get the gritty details from some of rock and roll’s greatest. From the process of bringing an album to life, to the gigs, the parties and everything in between. Fans want to know the hard work that goes into bringing entertainment to the masses and how the rock stars manage it all.
Most of all, The Rider gives true fans access to the raw, unfiltered experience of loving rock and roll. Listeners will feel like they’re knocking one back at the Rainbow Bar and Grill on Sunset Strip.
The Jezabels superstar, Hayley Mary is all set to step into her solo persona with the debut album, "Roman XS."
You may have seen the Jezabels rise to fame in the early 2010s, being a festival staple and also the famous residency gigs at Sydney's Lansdown Hotel.
Hayley chose the worst possible time to launch her solo career - right at the beginning of the pandemic, but we finally get our hands on her new album 25 October.
With Oasis announcing their return, you'll hear some hilarious Liam Gallagher stories after she supported him on the last Aussie tour.
Catch Hayley Mary on tour this Summer celebrating this incredible album.
This is The Rider with Becko and Hayley Mary from the Jezabels.
Regurgitator are one of Australia's favourite bands and recently celebrated some huge milestones - 25 years of the album "Unit" and we're not far off from 30 years of "Tu Plang".
You'll see them on the 'Hotter Than Hell' tour, which kicks off 12 October in WA.
You'll hear about the highs and lows of the band, how they got through 'Band in a Bubble' and their unusual connection with Powderfinger.
This is The Rider with Becko and Quan from Regurgitator.
Jon Toogood reached legendary status in the NZ music scene many years ago.
Fronting the band Shihad, supergroup 'The Adults' and over 30 years of songwriting, producing and mentoring.
Finally, he has a solo project to his name: ‘Last Of The Lonely Gods’ is a rousing and optimistic 10-track collection that sees Jon back on the acoustic guitar, making meaning of being separated from his mother in lockdown as she passed away, losing his brother-in-law and experiencing tinnitus as a side effect of long covid.
“This is a really honest record. It's healing for me, it comforts me, and it’s about looking to the future.”
This is The Rider with Becko and Jon Toogood.
Missy Higgins has grown up with all of us and we've grown up with her.
The debut album 'The Sound of White' was mostly written when she was 15 and it was perfect.
Every Missy Higgins album was different moment in our lives, and hers too - from the highs to the lows.
The latest album is 'The Second Act' and it literally is the next step of her life.
Songs from Missy’s eagerly anticipated new album have already been previewed at 40 sold out shows across Australia, drawing unanimous rave reviews. Missy has explained that her new songs pick up on a lot of the same themes that she was exploring when she first started writing songs – “who am I and who do want to be?” – hence the tour’s unusual structure where new material was juxtaposed with a performance of her entire debut album across two distinct, but linked, acts.
This is The Rider with Becko and Missy Higgins.
Birds of Tokyo have returned with a new single, and it's not what you expect - 'Heartbreakers Bar'.
The band haven't lost their sense of humour and you'll hear from Adam that this has been a work in progress for a number of years.
Birds Of Tokyo will stage some unconventional shows in Australia’s favourite rock venues over the coming months. The band will perform an opening set in ‘acoustic busking mode’ followed by fully plugged performances of electric anthems like “Lanterns”, “Good Lord”, “Plans” and “Unbreakable” which have seen them grow into one ofAustralia’s most popular bands.See them on tour and check out the new track 'Heartbreakers Bar'.
This is Adam Spark from Birds of Tokyo, on The Rider with Becko.
Diesel is the legendary quiet achiever of the Aus music industry - constantly toiling away, touring and recording. You might find it hard to believe his latest album is his 17th!
"Bootleg Melancholy" is out now and the national tour kicks off in late-August.
Diesel is in a great zone, and this conversation - one of many I've had with him over the years would go down as one of his most honest.
We hear how it all happened, from "Johnny Diesel and The Injectors," touring with Jimmy and then making the hard (or easy) decision to go solo.
This is Diesel on The Rider with Becko.
The world was a different place in 2004 when Spiderbait went into the studio, armed with a somewhat crazy idea to cover 'Black Betty'. It was a year over great cover songs including 'Behind Blue Eyes', reworked by Limp Bizkit and we can't forget Shannon Noll's work with 'What About Me' - some kids even think that was the original!?
Spiderbait decided to not just cover the song, but to completely rework it.
We hear the story behind the album 'Tonight Alright' before Spiderbait hit the road to celebrate 20 years of the release.
This is The Rider with Becko and Kram from Spiderbait.
When you take two of the most respected Aussie musicians of the last 30 years and stick them in a studio - great things happen.
Powderfinger's Bernard Fanning and Something For Kate's Paul Dempsey have given us 'Fanning Dempsey National Park'. (You'll find out why they settled on that name a little later in this episode)
'The Deluge' is finally out and has straight away secured #2 on the ARIA chart.
You'll hear how this project got off the ground and also how they managed to keep it a secret. The initial recordings took them to Norway and San Francisco, or as Bernard referred to it - 'the great eating tour!!'
'The Deluge' is a brilliant album which you will listen from cover-to-cover. Also get set for the tour coming up in October.
The is The Rider with Becko and Bernard Fanning & Paul Dempsey.
After 8 years, Empire of The Sun are back with a sensational new album "Ask That God."
Their 4th album has been jam-packed with solid singles you expect from Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore - both songwriting machines.
In this chat with Luke, we delve into the circumstances of the recording of this album and how the setbacks of covid may have assisted their creativity.
The accompanying videos of the singles are visual masterpieces, filmed in Thailand and Luke explains when you're filming overseas, nothing always goes to plan.
Empire of the Sun go on tour in October, taking them across Australia and to the Hollywood Bowl.
This is The Rider with Becko and Luke Steele from Empire of The Sun.
The Tea Party is one of the great successes of the Canadian music scene.
They burst onto the scene with their 3rd album, "The Edges of Twilight, " bringing them to Australia for the first time. Jeff Martin fell in love with the place and ended up staying!
25 years ago, "Triptych" was released and this tour celebrates this much-loved album.
'The three of us are looking forward to bringing the magic of our fourth studio album Triptych to live audiences in Australia. The album features several timeless classicsincluding Heaven Coming Down amongst others. Join us as we take this journey into an iconic era in The Tea Party’s history together.’
The tour has kicked off in Perth, get your tickets through Livenation so you don't miss out.
This is The Rider with Becko and Jeff Martin from The Tea Party.
Brisbane band Sheppard's 4th album Zora brings happiness from its first listen. That's typical Sheppard though, it puts you in a better mood and that's exactly what the inspiration was behind the album - their grandmother Zora.
The band are celebrating 10 years of 'Geronimo' - the song that acted like a slingshot and gave them a chance to tour the world.
This has taken them to Nashville, a new home for a band and the perfect environment to work with the world's best musicians.
The is George, Amy and Emma from Sheppard on The Rider with Becko.
The Eskis make it count when they release new music. It's been five years since their last single and Aussie music fans are incredibly excited at the prospect of more new music from the pride of Fremantle.
They haven't gone away, plenty of touring has been going on including Spring Loaded and more recently the Incubus and Live tour.
The nostalgic "The First Time" is out and the Eskis continue their road trip, kicking off their national acoustic tour.
“We really look up to bands like the Rolling Stones and U2 – those guys who keep touring and creating music over and over again,” shares bass player and vocalist Kav Temperley.
“It makes us proud of our musical journey and the people who have taken our songs into their lives. Eskimo Joe is still the three core members. It just wouldn't be the Eskies without the three of us in a studio or on stage making music together – our friendship is as much a part of the band as the music itself. After an amazing 2023 of playing some huge festivals, there's this indescribable energy when a massive crowd is singing your songs back at you. We wanted to capture that energy and infuse it into our recording. So, in the first week of January this year, over five days we wrote and recorded The First Time at my studio in Fremantle.”
It's an entertaining chat as always with Kav and maybe in a few months we'll be able to check out some more tasty new music from Eskimo Joe.
The is Kav Temperley from Eskimo Joe, on The Rider with Becko.
Jebediah have always been a fan favourite since "Slightly Odway" came out in 1997. It certainly doesn't feel like 13 years since their last album Kosciuszko.
OIKS, their sixth album is now out and it feels like they have picked up from where they left off, after over a decade. The fact they have gone into the same studio with producer, Dave Parkin shows that they are after familiar surroundings but prepared to mix up the sound.
OIKS also kickstarts a packed year for Jebediah in 2024, with the band set to embark on a 22 date nationalalbum tour starting in July, supported in full by Aussie rock legends Magic Dirt.
In this episode of The Rider, Kevin Mitchell opens up on his Bob Evans project and how Jebediah are comfortable with not releasing music frequently but when they do get into the studio, they really slot right in like old times.
This is Kevin Mitchell from Jebediah, on The Rider with Becko.
We all remember where we were when we heard that debut album for the Living End - usually near a radio when "Prisoner of Society" was released.
That album debuted at number one and stayed in the ARIA chart for 83 weeks - insane by any standards.
25 years since its release, frontman Chris Cheney reflects on the creation of the album: “I think unknowingly our destination was always this; this album right here. All songs led here. All the gigs and all the songs we’d written and rejected over the years, all the lessons we’d learned had been building up to this….our first album.”
“Ultimately what we captured was a melting pot full of our influences but not to the extent that we sounded confused,” Cheney continued. “The way we played glued it all together. Stylistically, it had punk (‘West End Riot’), metal (‘Growing Up Falling Down’), pop (‘I Want a Day’), rockabilly (‘Second Solution’), hillbilly thrash on steroids (‘Prisoner of Society’), jazz (‘Fly Away’), ska (‘Trapped’ and ‘All Torn Down’), swampy surf twang (‘Bloody Mary’), country pickin’ and anything else we thought we could throw at it.”
The Living End celebrate this album with a huge show in Melbourne and a special vinyl re-release of the album with some cool extras.
This is Chris Cheney and Scott Owen from The Living End, on The Rider with Becko
Silverchair, born in Newcastle - 3 kids with some incredible talent and passion for making it to the world stage, and they did.
Supported by their parents and the 'two Johns' (manager and record company boss), they became the band aussies were proud of. We saw them play the rooftop in NYC for the MTV VMA's, Rock in Rio and multiple Big Day Outs.
The story from Ben and Chris is now out, their book - 'Love & Pain'.
‘Fundamentally, our story is a great one. An extraordinary one. Some of it may seem beyond belief, but we lived it. We were there. It all happened. I want to document it for my sons to read when they’re old enough – and we owe it to our incredibly loyal fans,’ says Ben Gillies.
‘When Ben and I first discussed the idea of writing a book, I realised it would be an opportunity to celebrate some of the awesome times the two of us shared and lived together, as well as reflect on some of the hard times – in the band and in our lives. This book is a keepsake for both of us, and a reminder that there is some beauty in addressing the truth of things, as well as paying respects to all aspects – good, bad and indifferent – of our story,’ adds Chris Joannou.
This is Ben Gillies & Chris Joannou, on The Rider with Becko.
Murray Cook is the most humble music superstar you'll ever meet.
You would never believe he is an 'O.G. Wiggle' speaking to him, but his passion for the music scene is obvious when you start talking about 'the scene' in Sydney in the 70s and 80s.
'Dumb Luck' is his 4th album as part of the Soul Movers, you'll hear his brilliant riffs and even some influences from his favourite band - The Rolling Stones.
Check out the Soul Movers as they continue their Aussie tour - the album is out now.
This is Murray Cook, on The Rider with Becko
Any band who can survive a 100+ show tour have something special.
Kingswood are a great example of the work ethic Aussie bands are famous for - tour constantly and build an audience.
Their latest album "Home" took them on the road for the "Hometowns tour" and now they head to Europe.
We will hear about 'Peggy' the tour bus and how you survive travelling to each corner of Australia.
This is Fergus (and Al!) from Kingswood, on the Rider with Becko
Voyager have been around the Perth music scene for years, in fact their new album 'Fearless in Love' is their 8th.
Their campaign to be Australia's entrant in Eurovision has been long, but this year they finally made it, performing 'Promise' on the world stage.
Alex from Voyager has plenty of stories on what goes on behind the scenes of Eurovision.
Part two of this episode features legendary Aussie musician Shane Howard from Goanna. The song 'Solid Rock' is now 40 years old but as relevant as ever.
The is the Rider with Becko, with Alex from Voyager and Shane Howard.
Tex Perkins is a national treasure - there, I said it!
A true musician's frontman and more.
You'll know him as part of The Beasts, celebrating their 40th anniversary and of course The Cruel Sea.
Recently the famous stolen 'Cruel Sea ARIA' was found in a dumpster and you'll hear the massive twist to the story which you won't get anywhere else. (It was an inside job!!!!!!)
Tex is about to go out on the road for his 'Man in Black' Tour - the songs of Johnny Cash. It is one brilliant show, and you'll find out why these songs are so special to Tex.
This is The Rider with Becko and Tex Perkins.
Magic Dirt are one of the hardest workers of 'the scene' - forming in 1991 in Geelong and numerous Big Day Outs to their name.
It was late in the piece when 'Dirty Jeans' and 'Plastic Loveless Letter' gained a heap of airplay for them and entries into the JJJ Hottest 100 in the 2000s.
Adalita has released numerous solo albums and her latest, 'Inland' taking 5 years with Covid interruptions, but still another masterpiece.
Recently Adalita appeared on the Michael Hutchence tribute, 'Rooms for the Memory 2023' - Michael's only solo single which was a ARIA Top 10 hit in 1987. This recording also honoured the talents of Ollie Olsen who worked with Michael on the recording.
This is the Rider with Becko and Adalita.
Grinspoon are back on the road and another reminder we are all getting old!!
24 years since the release of the album 'Easy' and 21 years of 'New Detention.' A great reason to re-release the albums, both on vinyl for the first time.
The Easy Detention Tour will also kick off in October playing great venues across the country.
The Grinners are always solid live: a huge show and huge pyro & confetti guns!! Pat talks about what is to come on the tour and how will the set list work when you have two albums in the mix - play them in full or play the best!?
Get the tour dates at grinspoon.com.au
This is The Rider with Becko and Pat Davern from Grinspoon
When you sit opposite someone of the presence of Billy Corgan, you are reminded how important Smashing Pumpkins was to the sound of a generation.
Billy has taken risks over the years, he doesn't doubt it - but he knows this 3-part album Atum, is making an impact with the fans. The riffs are all new - don't believe the hype from fan pages and music publications.
You'll find out some cool twists to this album, and how it almost leaked early.
From 46 songs they were working on mid-Covid, to now - 33 tracks, 3 acts written and produced by Corgan over 4 years.
This is The Rider with Becko, and Billy Corgan
Leo Sayer is the musician who has had it all. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Lennon, Richards, Daltrey and Dylan - you'll hear the Bob story a little later in the podcast.
Number one hits around the world, the fame and the setbacks and even a moment with Elvis that changed his life.
This is an episode that is full of incredible moments, and hey - let's now claim him as an Aussie because we can.
This is The Rider with Becko and Leo Sayer
We've all heard the stories of child-stars falling on tough times, it's not something new. But you very rarely hear the success stories, like Nathan's. A loving family, supportive parents and an amazing wife and kids - and some great stories to tell.
He has made some amazing music over the years, and this new album "Miracles" is special - he built it from the ground up, in front of his fans online.
If you saw his Australian Story on the ABC, you'll also know his private struggles, but also how he pushed through.
This is Nathan Cavaleri, on The Rider with Becko
Jeff Martin is a legendary name in rock and Canadian royalty.
His band, The Tea Party had already released albums and toured extensively before they rose to worldwide fame in the early 90s.
His latest album, '7 Deadly Sins' is out 7 July (7/7/23) and we find out what he did differently this time around and the lessons learned post-covid.
Jeff also opens up why the Tea Party had a break and the reasons for hitting the stage with his 'brothers' again 5 years later.
This is Jeff Martin, on The Rider with Becko
Matt Sorum, legendary drummer and the many of a million rock n roll stories.
His book "Double Talkin' Jive" came out this year with so many brilliant stories of the touring life and what was it like to be sacked by Axl Rose. He has had so much success, but it didn't come without the dark times and a few bumps along the way.
Finally, his passion project Kings of Chaos - a band which started off as a jam band with a rotating list of legends involved like Slash, Steven Tyler, Billy Gibbons and Duff McKagan debuted their new single "Judgement Day". It's what you expect from a combination of Slash and Duff with Matt - a driving rocking track and you have to check out the clip on Youtube.
Matt also tackles what it's like to get back in the studio with Slash and Duff despite some disappointment from the GN'R Hall of Fame induction and then the reunion tour.
He's the happiest he's ever been, and you'll hear that.
This is The Rider with Becko, and Matt Sorum.
We all have a Soundwave memory, seeing Iron Maiden on the main stage or a debut from Parkway Drive - it was a festival we all were proud to say "I was there at the beginning!
Now, that same DNA carries on with Good Things Festival. It's on this December and we couldn't be more excited with NOFX coming back doing 'Punk in Drublic' and TISM returning for the first time in 19 years.
Chris O'Brien started off managing The Mavis' and Bodyjar and then started booking punk nights in Melbourne. Then he met AJ Maddah, and things grew from there!
Get ready for some great stories, this is The Rider with Becko and concert promoter Chris O'Brien.
What can you say about legendary producer Mark Opitz, that hasn't been said before?
Just look at the track record:
Cold Chisel - EAST, AC/DC - Powerage, Angels - Face to Face, INXS Shabooh Shoobah, Jimmy Barnes - For the Working Class Man.
In this episode, you will get a feel for what takes to succeed in the music industry. Mark is an incredibly hard worker... a perfectionist (although he denies that!). The pressure of being a music producer is you are only as good as your last album. Lucky for Mark, his resume is solid.
This is one of the great chats, an absolute pleasure to spend an hour with someone who is such a huge part of the pub rock sound we all know today.
The is Mark Opitz, on The Rider with Becko.
I was reflecting on how important The Superjesus were to the 'scene' in the 90s and then reinventing themselves with an incredibly polished sound after 2000. Gravity, Down Again, Saturation, then later Enough to know and Secret Agent Man.
It's so exciting to hear the news they are returning with new music in 2023.
Sarah during the pandemic made a huge change in her life and moved to Brisbane - a new start right in the middle of lockdowns (and a week in a quarantine hotel!). These days she's balancing her life of rock n roll with acting, starring in 'Jane Eyre' as it tours around the country.
I'm proud to say she's a mate, and always a great chat.
The is Sarah McLeod, on The Rider with Becko
I've spoken to Jim Kerr many times over the years, even once while he was sitting by the pool in his hotel in Sicily. (Hotel Villa Angela.. if you want to check it out) But I've never spoken to him while on promo for a new album, and this 18th album "Direction Of The Heart" is bloody impressive. How can a heritage artist stay hungry and still create new music, we'll find out.
Despite line up changes over the years, the core songwriting partnership continues with Charlie Burchill. They went into 'music lockdown' during Covid to create this new album and then the other members of the band contributed remotely as there were difficulties crossing borders. Make sure you check out 'First you Jump' and the cover of 'The Walls Came Down' by The Call - amazing.
It's always a pleasure to talk to Jim Kerr and let's keep our fingers crossed for an Aussie tour (after two false starts) for the 40th anniversary.
This is Jim Kerr, on The Rider with Becko.
I've been hearing over the years that Chris Emerson ('What So Not') was someone I had to interview - they said we 'were really similar people' and would just click when it came to talking about music, life and the challenges of the last couple of years.
'What So Not' has just released his 3rd album, Anomaly and it proves that these isolation albums recorded during the pandemic aren't all 'bedroom demos'. This is a masterpiece with some brilliant collaborations from Killer Mike, MØ, and DMA's.
In this episode of The Rider, Chris will give his reasons for relocating to LA, how the early post-pandemic festivals were awkward and of course, what's in his rider!
The is The Rider with Becko, and What So Not.
This week on The Rider we have two massive artists who both have some incredible new music out.
First up, Orianthi who is about to release her next new album, Rock Candy.
We talk about why she didn't do an album with Prince, after he offered (but songs recorded with him are in a vault somewhere), how she has kept her Aussie accent after 17 years in LA and of course what is in her rider. Tequila???
Then it's a chat with Gavin Rossdale from Bush. It's his 2nd appearance on The Rider after coming to Australia for "Under the Southern Stars" and at the time revealing he had a new album in the works. "The Art of Survival" is out now and it's incredible. Check out the first 3 tracks, it will blow you away.
Gavin reveals how Bush have stayed true, even after their family lives have changed so much since their debut, "Sixteen Stone" and what advice his kids have given him.
This is The Rider with Becko and Orianthi .... and Gavin Rossdale from Bush
We all remember how huge Sheppard's 'Geronimo' was, in fact it was so big it almost became a meme of itself. The song took Sheppard around the world 5 times over and a tour run that simply exhausted them.
Amy Sheppard has gone it alone for a new project, her EP 'Nothing but wild' - which is out now. No doubt you have heard her song 'Blue Guitar' already, recorded in Nashville.
We talk to Amy to find out how scary this step has been and what was it like playing her hometown Brisbane at the famous 'EKKA'.
This is Amy Sheppard, on The Rider with Becko.
(Also stick around to hear a bonus interview with Rob Hirst from Midnight Oil as they wrap up their farewell world tour this week in Sydney).
The Darkness are about to touch down to kick off the Motorheart Aussie tour, and this is a big deal. The band love Australia, our pub rock and our pubs!
Hear Frankie's response when I reveal to him one of his favourite rock bars in Sydney is closing down.
Motorheart, The Darkness' latest album was recorded in isolation and we hear the struggles of this process - lucky they will be back in the studio for the next one. Frankie also reveals why he left London, right in the middle of the pandemic.
This is Frankie Poullain from The Darkness, on The Rider with Becko.
‘MOTORHEART’
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND TOUR OCTOBER 2022
Tuesday, Oct 11: Forum, Melbourne - NEW SHOW
Wednesday, Oct 12: Forum, Melbourne SOLD OUT
Friday, Oct 14: Astor, Perth
Saturday, Oct 15: Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
Sunday, Oct 16: Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Tuesday, Oct 18: Kambri, Canberra
Wednesday Oct 19: Tivoli, Brisbane
Friday, Oct 21: Hunter Lounge, Wellington
Saturday, Oct 22: Powerstation, Auckland
It's hard to believe 'Riptide' was 8 years ago! This Aussie legend became a household name almost overnight, but as we all know - it's never an 'overnight success.' In this Series 3 opener of The Rider with Becko, we catch up with Vance Joy and find out how this 3rd album is a little different from the rest. As he heads out on another Aussie tour we hear what is in his Rider (and who controls it!) and also what advice the legendary Michael Gudinski gave him as he signed to Liberation. This is The Rider with Becko, and Vance Joy
The Mundi Mundi Bash is a real team effort - The Empire Touring family, Marc and Issy to Greg Donovan, the Promoter and his team. Then there's the roadies and stage managers, the security guys and of course the amazing musicians.
The Rider speaks to them all backstage and find out what goes on.
We celebrate the final day on the Mundi Mundi plains with Kasey Chambers, Daryl Braithwaite, and the team behind the festival.
This is The Rider with Becko at The Mundi Mundi Bash.
So what makes a music festival work - we go behind the scenes at the Mundi Mundi Bash at Broken Hill and talk to everyone, from the managers, promoters, artists, caterers and security.
Hear from Eurogliders, Sarah McLeod, Marc from Empire Touring, Melanie Dyer and more...
This is The Rider with Becko at the Mundi Mundi Bash
It's crazy when you realise how young Daniel, Chris and Ben were when they formed "Innocent Criminals" which would become Silverchair. These 15 year olds went into the studio to create one of the greatest debuts as we know it, "Tomorrow" (the album version is a little different as you'll find out).
The band would grow and in a way, we grew up with them.
After Silverchair, Ben took a break but never stopped working on music. His 'Bento' release showed so much promise and later he would finally record music under his own name.
Hear the ups and downs, from Silverchair to solo.
This is The Rider with Becko, and Ben Gillies
Chit Chat Von Loopin Stad: Member of Machine Gun Fellatio, journalist, composer and now movie maker.
He was deep in the Sydney indy music scene back in the 90s and has a million stories to tell.
He is also a great example of someone who has the intelligence and drive to try anything - and nail it. From composing music for porn, to high budget movies.
Then there was the big step into music tv and being respected as one of the most talented interviewers in the game clocking up over 1000 interviews for Max TV.
This is one of the great interviews, and you have to hear his 'Rider' story from an infamous gig in Darwin....
This is The Rider with Becko and Chit Chat
Live touring has been taken for granted since covid. We don't understand the risk involved in touring regional areas as it is now - the rising costs and you are just one sniffle away from a gig being cancelled.
Thirsty Merc have been one of the hardest working bands in the last 20 years and their new Aussie covers album, "Celebration" is literally that - an incredible collection of Australian songs.
Their tour continues and we take this interview right into the tour van as they head West into regional NSW.
This is Rai Thistletwayte & Thirsty Merc, on The Rider with Becko
Imagine leaving the band you've spent most of your adult life in, (over 20 years) and then trying to figure out what's next. That's very much how things were when Powderfinger broke up, leaving Ian Haug with the search for 'what's next."
In 2013, he joined The Church, a band he looked up to in his teenage years and beyond - it's like playing with your idols.
Hear the story of post-Powderfinger with Ian.
The is The Rider with Becko, and Ian Haug
Awolnation's "Sail" was one of the biggest songs in the world in 2011. So far, the song has achieved 1.5 billion streams and is certified Diamond - that doesn't happen by accident.
This anonymous (and humble) musician was all of a sudden on every radio station and thrust into the spotlight after achieving a small deal with Red Bull Records.
His 5th album is now out, a collection of covers all recorded in isolation during Covid - "My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers And Me." This features some high profile vocalists:
Jewel on "Take a Chance on Me"
Beck - "Eye in the Sky"
Branden Boyd & Portugal The Man - "Wind of Change"
Taylor Hanson - "Material Girl"
The question is, did Covid help with access to these vocalists or the opposite??
This is Awolnation, on The Rider with Becko
Tim Wheatley comes from a special family. His Dad Glenn and Mother, Gaynor gave him very much a rock & roll upbringing but somehow he stayed grounded. His father, bass player for the Master Apprentices went on to manage Little River Band and took them from filling pubs in Australia to stadiums of America.
Of course we know his history managing John Farnham (and let's not forget the Telecom ads) and launching EON FM / Triple M.
There are so many stories Tim has to say, but the first one is how he has coped with the loss of his Dad and turned that sadness into great music. The release of his cover of "Because I Love you" was a beautiful tribute and now EP "Shiny Tacoma" is officially out there.
2022 has certainly had the highs and the lows for Tim and we will hear all about it and a couple of cool tales from living in Los Angeles too!
This is Tim Wheatley, on The Rider with Becko.
Lit paved the way for the modern rock scene in the late 90s with "My Own Worst Enemy" getting airplay not just in their home, California but right around the world.
The rock wave later introduced bands like Good Charlotte, Blink 182, Simple Plan and Sum 41 to the mainstream, pls being part of major sound tracks like American Pie.
Ajay and Jeremy have made a huge change, moving to Nashville to adapt to the evolving music scene but have stayed true to their sound and what made them famous.
You'll hear some great stories from the guys including a classic stuff-up at the AVN Awards in front of Gene Simmons and how they managed to get Steven Tyler to sing on one of their tracks.
This is Ajay and Jeremy from Lit on The Rider with Becko
Kav Temperley is working on his 2nd solo album, "Machines of Love and Grace" and after hearing the title track - you know he is carrying on from where he left off with Eskimo Joe. The song is a straight-up Eskis track and you'll find out in this interview that it almost was.
The song was workshopped during covid and as Kav explains, it is heavily influenced by the attachment we all have to our phones and the voyeuristic nature of social media.
Kav tackles the pressures of writing an album but also the benefits of not having record company pressures and being truly independent.
We also hear about his new projects with NFTs and how Eskimo Joe was always ahead of the curve with fundraising for a new album (remember when they crowd funded in 2013??)
Kav's new album includes the talents of John Butler and Katy Steele, so there is a lot to look forward to from the Perth music "mafia".
This is The Rider with Becko, and Kav Temperley
Simple Plan are back with their 6th album and it couldn't come at a better time. The usual Covid dilemmas pushed back the release to 2022, since bands couldn't tour or promote their new music and as Chuck says, it didn't really feel appropriate to release and celebrate a new release while people were going through such tough times.
We all grew up with Simple Plan as the sound track for many life experiences and Chuck will explain why that doesn't change as the band enter their 40s.
In this episode of The Rider you'll find out why Simple Plan have always been conservative with their rider expectations and also how they managed to get signed to a major label when they hadn't even done any big concerts - the story is amazing.
Check out their album, "Hard Than it Looks" - it's out now.
This is Chuck from Simple Plan, on The Rider with Becko
Tony Mott (not actually his real name - you'll hear what it is later in the podcast) has collected rock stars like 'Trainspotting' (like the book).
He's had access to the biggest names in music, but it's not all about the photos - it's the stories he's collected along the way.
In this podcast, you'll hear about:
Queen's last concert at Knebworth (and the afterparty!)
Mick Jagger being yelled at by his mum during a photo shoot in Sydney.
Why Chrissie Amphlett was the greatest female lead singer he's ever seen.
Which artist brought in the '3 song rule' in rock photography.
Who is the greatest Tony has ever seen, and who was the worst.
This is Tony Mott, on The Rider with Becko
As Season 2 of The Rider kicks off, it feels right to invite another member of INXS to tell his story - Tim Farriss.
INXS at their peak were the biggest band in the world, but this didn't happen by accident. It was pure hard work and constant touring. You had the winning formula of a tight band: Jon, Andrew, Tim, Kirk and Garry with lead-singer perfection up front - Michael Hutchence.
Chris Murphy as Manager was pivotal to the success of the band. Not just back then, but even today with INXS songs regular appearing in the charts. He knew they had skill and talent but above all, the right work ethic. Tim reveals how Chris reached out to him before his death and sadly never got to say goodbye.
We'll talk about their greatest gig, Wembley 'Summer XS', how he's coping with not being able to play guitar, was there any consultation in the decision to call it quits in Perth in 2012, and how they got the news about the loss of Michael in 1997.
It's one of the most honest chats Tim Farriss has ever had.
This is the Rider with Becko, with Tim Farriss from INXS.
Series 2 kicks off Monday with Tim Farriss from INXS in one of his most honest interviews ever.
This is a chance to go back and celebrate the last 23 episodes of Series 1 of The Rider with Becko.
If you use Spotify, you can hear a "with music" version, and get the stories behind the artists.
Remember you can catch-up anytime on any of the interviews on whatever platform you choose and leave a rating if you have time - it all helps!!
Series 1 included chats with:
Andrew Farriss from INXS
Ben Lee
Nic Cester from Jet
Andrew Stockdale from Wolfmother
Dave Gleeson from the Screaming Jets and The Angels
Mark Gable from The Choirboys
Fifa Riccobono from Alberts Music
Tim Rogers from You Am I
Novak from Polish Club
The Legendary Michael Chugg
Rob Hirst & Peter Garrett from Midnight Oil
Gavin Rossdale from Bush
Rick Nielsen & Robin Zander from Cheap Trick
Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots
Todd Kerns from Slash, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
Brandon Boyd from Incubus
Tim Freedman from The Whitlams
Dave Faulkner from The Hoodoo Gurus
Shane Nicholson
Taylor Hanson
This is a chance to go back and celebrate the last 23 episodes of Series 1 of The Rider with Becko.
If you use Spotify, you can hear a "with music" version, and get the stories behind the artists.
Remember you can catch-up anytime on any of the interviews on whatever platform you choose and leave a rating if you have time - it all helps!!
Series 1 included chats with:
Andrew Farriss from INXS
Ben Lee
Nic Cester from Jet
Andrew Stockdale from Wolfmother
Dave Gleeson from the Screaming Jets and The Angels
Mark Gable from The Choirboys
Fifa Riccobono from Alberts Music
Tim Rogers from You Am I
Novak from Polish Club
The Legendary Michael Chugg
Rob Hirst & Peter Garrett from Midnight Oil
Gavin Rossdale from Bush
Rick Nielsen & Robin Zander from Cheap Trick
Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots
Todd Kerns from Slash, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
Brandon Boyd from Incubus
Tim Freedman from The Whitlams
Dave Faulkner from The Hoodoo Gurus
Shane Nicholson
Taylor Hanson
We all know the success that Hanson had in 1997, from "MMMBop" to "Where's The Love" and the mania that followed.
Hanson are celebrating 30 years of music with "Red Green Blue" - coming out May 20. This time around, it's each band member working separately, rather than a collaborative effort, to write and record.
We'll hear all the stories of how this came together during covid and the usual dilemmas of releasing music when you can't tour.
Hanson are a machine, they survived record company takeovers, having 80 songs rejected and then deciding to launch their own record company - which was a genius move. Also since the podcast is called "The Rider" - you'll hear what Hanson have in their green room and what the usual demands are.
This is Taylor Hanson, on The Rider with Becko
Shane Nicholson really is the quiet achiever of the Aussie music industry.
Nicholson's story begins with Brisbane band Pretty Violet Stain in the late 90s and then a magnificent solo career.
After winning 3 ARIAs, 11 Golden Guitars (with 5 more nominations this year), it's clear he's one of the great Aussie song writers. His next album, "Living in Colour" is out now and as you check out the tracks from 'And You Will Have Your Way' and 'Helena' you see how the story has continued from the last album. It's clearly the next chapter, just 2.5 years later.
He's got a lot of stories from a career on the road and being known as "Kasey Chambers' Ex" - he'll tell you a funny tale about that in the podcast.
This is The Rider with Becko, and Shane Nicholson
The Hoodoo Gurus are one of Australia's favourites coming out of the pub scene. It was such a fertile era, bands like Midnight Oil, Cold Chisel, Mental As Anything and The Angels ruled the 'sticky floors' of Australia.
In their 40th (well.. 41st) year, the Gurus have released their new album "Chariot of the Gods" coming with some wicked tracks - their farewell to Donald Trump "Hung Out to Dry" was one of the most notable.
I got to visit them in the studio while recording in Surry Hills and in the podcast you'll hear about some of the history of that studio. Also the limitations, when recording during covid.
Dave opens up on the music that influenced him, when growing up and what is on the Gurus' Rider after all these years.
Their tour may be postponed at this stage, but we can't wait to see the Hoodoo Gurus back on the road with the Dandy Warhols celebrating 40 years.
This is Dave Faulkner, on The Rider with Becko
The Whitlams waited 15 years to release "Sancho" but it felt like the right time. The 7th record is out and the "Gaffage & Clink" tour continues - you'll find out what that is, a little later in the podcast!
Tim Freedman was ready to start on a new project when The Whitlams' long time tour manager, Greg Weaver tragically passed away. This gave Tim more inspiration and a chance to salute "Sancho" in this new album.
The Rider gets plenty of great stories from Tim as he navigates through touring life and even being a father. "Eternal Nightcap" fans will also get some positive news on what is to come!
This is The Rider with Becko and Tim Freedman, from The Whitlams
Brandon Boyd is nothing less than a musical genius, so to sit down and chat to him about the stories behind his latest album is a real privilege.
The lead man of Incubus, Brandon Boyd has come back with his new album "Echoes and Cocoons". This comes after new Incubus releases in 2019/2020 with "Trust Fall" Side B: "Into The Summer" and "Our Love" which was a gift to Incubus fans in the middle of lockdown.
Yes, that Covid lockdown... it sucked, but it lit the flame of many song writers, including Brandon. But it wasn't isolation that sparked this creativity, it was a newly moved-in girlfriend with a passion for music that got John Congleton (Sigur Ros, Lana Del Ray) on Brandon's radar. In fact, they started writing new music in isolation without having met!
This is an honest and warm chat, direct from his home.
This is Brandon Boyd, on The Rider with Becko
Slash has released his 4th album with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators and this one didn't come easy.
Post-Covid, recording comes with its risks. They jumped in a tour bus and travelled across the country to Nashville, to record in the historic RCA Studios - famous for Elvis and the Everly Brothers.
The band wanted to get in the right head-space to record an album "as LIVE" and the tour bus trip was the perfect opportunity, especially after the isolation of Covid lockdowns to get to know each other again. What they didn't know, is that Myles Kennedy at the time had Covid and was about to sit out a week after a positive test. Then Todd and Brent Fitz caught it, and the album stalled.
Despite the set-backs, the latest album 4 comes with a killer sound. "The River is Rising" and "Call off The Dogs" are clear highlights.
Becko chats with Todd about life before working with Slash and how the audition went to get the gig - imagine growing up with 'Appetite' and 'Use Your Illusion' and then getting to work with Slash! Todd also opens up about his chats with GN'R legend Duff McKagan.
This is The Rider with Becko, and Todd Kerns from Slash, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
We are so excited to have international bands back on tour with Under The Southern Stars kicking off last week. The band, Cheap Trick weren't an overnight success. They relentlessly toured warehouse parties and taverns until they were signed to a major label - funnily enough, discovered playing at a bowling alley! The first 2 albums weren't a huge success either, but after a 'Beatlemania like' trip to Japan and the release of 'Live at Budokan' it all just happened! That lead to 'Surrender' and 'Dream Police' and worldwide attention.
As part of Under the Southern Stars, they are coming back to Australia and a lot has changed! UTSS was revolutionary, trying to bring international bands to Australia while we were cut off from the world during covid. The solution was, they all stay at a resort together for two weeks in quarantine. It would have been wild! Luckily it hasn't come to that, and it's on until March 27 in Brisbane.
(Make sure you catch up on the chat with Gavin Rossdale from Bush and Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots)
This is Robin Zander from Cheap Trick, on The Rider with Becko
and.... bonus, Rusty from Electric Mary
Stone Temple Pilots are one of the great bands to come out of the 90s. Out of San Diego, the original lineup was Scott Weiland, Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo and of course Eric Kretz on drums. Their insane debut album Core blew us all away in '92 and somehow this band found their place while the market was crowded with other bands at the time, like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Soundgarden and Porno for Pyros. The album Purple came soon after in '94 and that confirmed they were onto something special. One thing they couldn't control was their relationship with Scott, who joined Velvet Revolver after the band took a break / broke up in 2002. They eventually reconciled and recorded more music only to have him sacked in 2013 and then the gifted lead singer passed away in 2015.
They are back to prove they can carry on with a brand new lead singer, Jeff Gutt and recently released a new acoustic album.
As part of Under the Southern Stars, they are coming back to Australia. UTSS was revolutionary, trying to bring international bands to Australia while we were cut off from the world during covid. The solution was, they all stay at a resort together for two weeks in quarantine. It would have been wild! Luckily it hasn't come to that, and it all kicks off March 11 - 27.
Still to come next week, the iconic Robin Zander, the lead singer of Cheap Trick. (and make sure you catch up on the chat with Gavin Rossdale from Bush and Rick Neilsen)
This is Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots, on The Rider with Becko
I may have used the word legendary a few too many times in this podcast to describe Rick Nielsen. The band, Cheap Trick weren't an overnight success. They relentlessly toured warehouse parties and taverns until they were signed to a major label - funnily enough, discovered playing at a bowling alley! The first 2 albums weren't a huge success either, but after a 'Beatlemania like' trip to Japan and the release of 'Live at Budokan' it all just happened! That lead to 'Surrender' and 'Dream Police' and worldwide attention.
As part of Under the Southern Stars, they are coming back to Australia and a lot has changed! UTSS was revolutionary, trying to bring international bands to Australia while we were cut off from the world during covid. The solution was, they all stay at a resort together for two weeks in quarantine. It would have been wild! Luckily it hasn't come to that, and it all kicks off March 11 - 27.
Still to come we chat to Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots and Robin Zander, the lead singer of Cheap Trick. (and make sure you catch up on the chat with Gavin Rossdale from Bush)
This is Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick, on The Rider with Becko
Bush formed in London, in 1992 - right in the middle of a cultural change in music. The band were hard to define initially, it wasn't grunge. it wasn't classic rock - but my god, they had a polished sound. He could have easily not been a lead singer in a rock band, and you'll hear why in the podcast.
As part of Under the Southern Stars, they are coming back to Australia for the first time in about 6 years, and a lot has changed! UTSS was revolutionary, trying to bring international bands to Australia while we were cut off from the world during covid. The solution was, they all stay at a resort together for two weeks in quarantine. It would have been wild! Luckily it hasn't come to that, and it all kicks off March 11 - 27.
Still to come we chat to Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick and Eric Kretz from Stone Temple Pilots next week.
This is Gavin Rossdale from Bush, on The Rider with Becko
Midnight Oil's 13th and final album is out, Resist and the band is ready to say farewell to their fans with one massive final tour.
This is a special album, recorded after going into the studio after the massive 'Great Circle' tour - 20 tracks were recorded and these ended up being the last with Bones Hillman.
They released the Makarrata Project as a mini album and now Resist, their first full-length album in 20 years and their last.
Rob Hirst joins The Rider with Becko, only a few days after the release of the album to talk about how special these songs are and why it's important to still have a voice and stay angry. Also, wait till you hear the Paul Hester prank - it's a classic.
This is Rob Hirst from Midnight Oil, on The Rider with Becko
Music industry icon, that's what he is. Michael Chugg has seen the rise of AC/DC, been there for Stevie Wright and Billy Thorpe and then his meeting with Michael Gudinski would change the landscape forever.
We all have so much to thank him for, countless tours from artists we never thought we'd see in Australia. ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan and Elton John to name a few.
Part 2 of this chat with Chuggy is a combination of great stories: The backstage demands of Fleetwood Mac, how he brought back Frank Sinatra and the wild Guns N Roses 'Use Your Illusion Tour'.
To begin with, you'll hear Chuggy open up about his mate, Michael Gudinski. The plans they had to bring the companies together and what was said in their final conversation, only a few hours before MG passed away.
This is Michael Chugg, on The Rider with Becko
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @theriderpod
Music industry icon, that's what he is. Michael Chugg has seen the rise of AC/DC, been there for Stevie Wright and Billy Thorpe and then his meeting with Michael Gudinski would change the landscape forever.
We all have so much to thank him for, countless tours from artists we never thought we'd see in Australia. ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan and Elton John to name a few.
We hear about all the drama behind the scenes, how a switched-on security guard saved the ABBA tour, the craziness of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours tour and how the hell did he bring Frank Sinatra to Australia after he vowed to never return.
You'll also hear Chuggy open up about his mate, Michael Gudinski.
This is Michael Chugg, on The Rider with Becko
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @theriderpod
This week a whole lot of new music arrived from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Liam Gallagher (with some help from Dave Grohl) and we also celebrated the life of Glenn Wheatley with an incredible tribute from his son, Tim.
Now onto this week's guest: One half of Sydney rockers Polish Club, (David) Novak!
The band formed in 2014, but very quickly made a huge impression on the Sydney music scene.
We discuss the changing nature of the music business, especially post-covid, how he's made some extra cash during lockdowns and also for the upcoming tour, Polish Club is expanding to be a 4 piece!
The is Novak from Polish Club, on The Rider with Becko
Tim Rogers is one of the treasures of Aussie rock music. 90s music fans will always throw back to Hourly Daily or Hifi Way, but after releasing their 11th album "The Lives of Others" it shows they still can write brilliant rock songs. "The Waterboy" is already a crowd favourite in their live shows.
11 albums, 10 ARIAs, thousands of shows and now Tim Rogers steps into iconic Sydney rock group, The Hard Ons.
There's some great stories to come in this final part of 2 episodes with Tim: The brief but hilarious chat with Nick Cave, why the 90's weren't as easy as it seemed, and two meetings with The Who and Gene Simmons from Kiss.
The is Tim Rogers from You Am I, on The Rider with Becko
Tim Rogers is one of the treasures of Aussie rock music. 90s music fans will always throw back to Hourly Daily or Hifi Way, but after releasing their 11th album "The Lives of Others" it shows they still can write brilliant rock songs. "The Waterboy" is already a crowd favourite in their live shows.
11 albums, 10 ARIAs, thousands of shows and now Tim Rogers steps into iconic Sydney rock group, The Hard Ons.
There's some great stories to come in this first part of 2 episodes with Tim: You'll hear the differences between the Riders of YAI and The Hard Ons, a cracker Angry Anderson story and what Tim talked about to Mick Jagger backstage.
The is Tim Rogers from You Am I, on The Rider with Becko
We have to be thankful for Fifa Riccobono. She started off as a 16 year old secretary in the Alberts offices and worked her way up to office manager and CEO.
Responsible for so many careers in the Australian music industry, and we're not just talking about AC/DC and the Angels. There was Rose Tattoo, John Paul Young, Choirboys, Flash & The Pan, Stevie Wright and even Ted Mulry Gang.
Of course we'll get the story on her first meeting with Bon Scott, and the growth of AC/DC as a band both here and around the world. But also, what made Ted Albert such an influential leader of his time and how that rubbed off on the entire company.
Can't wait to also ask her what new music she is keeping an eye on!
This is Fifa Riccobono, on The Rider with Becko
Lockdown and gig cancellations presented challenges to all in the music industry. Many worked on new music, took up a day-job and some sat back on their millions and waited for covid to be over.
Mark Gable and Choirboys started doing weekly live streams, to thousands of fans also locked down in their homes.
After forming in 1978, and playing hundreds of gigs in (pretty much) every pub in Australia, this was a game changer for the band. They released a 9 track album from those covid performances, with a brand new song (first in 15 years). You'll hear the story on the origins of that song too.
Mark is always a great chat, he'll explain where 'they went wrong' at Alberts Music in the early years of the band. Some great stories of pub riders from around the country, and what happened when he first met Angry Anderson!!
This is Mark Gable from Choirboys, on The Rider with Becko
The Screaming Jets are back celebrating the 30th anniversary of their iconic debut album, All For One. Rather than doing the stock standard re-issue, in Covid they decided to re-record it as a band remotely. Sounds like a tough task, but the band in many ways made the album even better.
Dave talks about how life is, juggling responsibilities as the lead man of both The Screaming Jets and The Angels. We find out how Covid dropped right in the middle of the Red Hot Summer Tour and this gave him a bit of free time and empty weekends. This lead to many online 'Streaming not Screaming' concerts and then the idea of recording the debut album, 'All For One' again - but separately!!
Becko also finds out what was in the standard Screaming Jets Rider... hey, that's the most important question, right??
Here is Dave Gleeson, on The Rider with Becko
Wolfmother have released their 6th album, Rock Out - a tribute to Eddie Van Halen.
We all know 'Woman', 'Joker & The Thief', 'New Moon Rising' and 'White Unicorn' and Rock Out continues with that winning formula.
The 2005 debut album was jam-packed full of hits, and Wolfmother felt like a band that was world class right away. What we didn't know was they had been rehearsing a playing those songs live for almost 2 years before the EP and album was released. It went on to sell over 1.5 million copies and even now is considered one of the great rock albums.
Wolfmother are headlining Uncaged Festival in Jan and Feb, 2022 and ready for a huge year of international touring.
Check out the latest ep of The Rider with Becko, and Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother
Nic Cester who we know as the lead-man from Jet has had a busy time in lockdown. Early on, recording and releasing an album with the Jaded Hearts Club - featuring Matt Bellamy and Miles Kane. Now with the help of his daughter, Matilda he shows a very different side to his creativity with the children's book and companion album, "Skipping Girl" - which is out now.
We all know the famous Skipping Girl sign in Melbourne and the sight of this landmark on a recent trip home, sparked so many memories from his childhood. Nic tells Becko all about the work behind the book and soundtrack.
Ben Lee is about as Indy as it gets, but as he releases his 20th album, "I'm Fun" - you get a feel that 2022 could be his year. It's like you've grown up with him, watched as he matured from a Bondi kid to hanging out with celebs in NYC, then being noticed by the Beastie Boys. It hasn't all been easy, he has reinvented himself countless times, made enemies and in some cases disappeared from the scene - but if you caught one of his variety shows lately with wife, Ione or maybe those small 'covid friendly' tours he did earlier this year - you get a feel that he is really comfortable with this stage of his music career.
We find out how he managed to make all the collaborations work on this new album "I'm Fun" and how the hell did he get famous on TikTok!!
This is Ben Lee, on The Rider with Becko
It feels like Andrew Farriss is the perfect guest to launch The Rider. Last count, INXS has sold 75 million (plus) records, and most of those were either written by him or co-written with Michael Hutchence. On the anniversary of Michael's death and recently, the 30th anniversary of "Live Baby LIVE" Andrew opens up on how he and Michael complimented each other so well as song writers for INXS.
Andrew also tells Becko how many like to package you as either a rock artist or a country artist and put you in a little box - why can't you do something new that challenges you?
He also shared how he felt INXS were really destined for something great on that fateful tour of Australia in 1997.
Please enjoy the first episode of The Rider with Becko and guest, Andrew Farriss (and click subscribe!!)
The Rider is a series of podcast and video interviews that get the gritty details from some of rock and roll’s greatest. From the process of bringing an album to life, to the gigs, the parties and everything in between. Fans want to know the hard work that goes into bringing entertainment to the masses and how the rock stars manage it all.
This podcast is an ode to the rider: the thing that gets musicians through the grind of a tour and the punishing schedule of late nights and red eye flights. Whether it’s their favourite brand of whiskey, or sweet, mellow tunes to get an artist in the zone.
Most of all, The Rider gives true fans access to the raw, unfiltered experience of loving rock and roll. Listeners will feel like they’re knocking one back at the Rainbow Bar and Grill on Sunset Strip.
Becko has been rocking on the airwaves since 1997. This podcast is his tribute to decades of interviewing rock and roll superstars from Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Angus Young, Gene Simmons, Billy Joe Armstrong, Kevin Parker and Mike Shinoda.
His most recent stint with Triple M in Sydney, Australia over 13 years saw Becko conduct a number of exceptional interviews, including heading backstage in Santiago, Chile to interview Iron Maiden for the start of their Legacy of the Beast tour in 2019. (Remember when we could travel?)
These interviews have struck a chord with listeners getting write ups in Rolling Stone, NME and local music press. These are interviews that gets people talking, gets the listeners plugged in and sheds new light on fan favourites.