Mick Wall

For me there hasn't been one rock star since Prince and before that David Bowie that has consistently produced musical, multi-genre masterpieces across the decades like Steven Wilson. Plus... he's so normal in person. By normal I mean of course he's not normal - who is? - but the only other rock star I got to know well personally that was as real and unaffected by bullshit fame was Ozzy. And because his career was so big, coming from the 70s when rock was the biggest medium of all, Ozzy had the mansion and pool and 24-7 arse lickers. Steven doesn't have any of that. He talked about why in the book we wrote together, Limited Edition Of One. But it still never ceases to surprise me how... normal he is, in person. Though never in the studio or onstage. That's when he sheds his mild-mannered cloak and becomes an Immortal.

Concluding part to an extraordinary interview with Rory Gallagher's manager - and brother - Dónal Gallagher. His ace memoir of his life with Rory - EDGED IN BLUE - has just been published and has Xmas prezzie written all over it. If you don't know who Rory was, check out my feature in the next issue of Classic Rock. You can watch the full unedited video of this interview on my patreon site https://www.patreon.com/c/u60531281

I first met Dónal Gallagher when I was 21 and had recently begun work at Heavy Publicity, which Regular Readers will recall them as the most decadent and depraved PR firm in town at that time - which was 1979. One of my first big assignments was taking the only two music-related journalists I could round up - chick from Superpop, cat from Record Mirror. Neither big Rory readerships but hey this was when punk and new wave had destroyed almost all music weekly interest in this 'type of thing'. It was a gig in Germany. So off we went. You'll learn more in the pod but one of my main memories is of the flight home the next day, sitting next to Dónal regaling me with brilliant stories. Then when we got off the plane at Heathrow, asking me if I'd mind carrying a duty free bag for him through customs for him. Her already ha a big bag and would I mind pretending this other one was mine (you were only allowed one, I think, then) No problem. Then when we got out the other side him opening the bag to reveal bundles of cash - the take from the gig. His bag was also full of spondies. Diffferent days... This is part One. Part Two next weeks. Full video also on my patreon site.

This is one of the most harrowing interviews I've ever done - and I've done too many.In 1977, Marc B Frank was a Lynyrd Skynyrd road crew member. Today he is a wounded witness to one of the most devastating events in rock history, when on October 20, 1977, the Convair CV-240 passenger aircraft carrying Skynyrd to their next gig, ran out of fuel and crashed in a wooded area near Gillsburg, Mississippi.Six died - including singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister, backing singer Cassie Gaines - and 20 survived in various states of injury, both short- and longterm. Marc was one of them. Please excuse his coughing, he was attached to a mask and oxygen tank as we spoke via zoom from his current home in Spartanburg, South Carolina.You can see a video of the full unedited interview on my.patreon.com site.

Its interesting but I have never had anyone interviewed by me for my pod that has provoked a bigger response than those I've done over thr years with Alan Niven. It's the Guns N' Roses connection, of course. Also, don't forget, the fact he also managed (and cowrote songs with) Great White. But the truth is it's actually that and something more. His personality. His character. His intelligence and warmth. His humanity and humour and, I believe, the fact you never feel you're being talked down to or lied to. The very things, ironically, tragically, that convinced Axl he had to get rid of him. Alan speaks truth to poqwer - and not only when the world is watching. Let me know your thoughts.

Alan's book SOUND N' FURY: ROCK N' ROLL STORIES should have come out over a year ago. But Axl Rose has set his lawyers on his publishers and now him personally. But why? Is Axl paranoid about what might be in there? Well, no, he can't be. He knows what's in there because he was sent a copy of the book last year. What then? And why have Axl's lawyers demanded to see every email that's ever been sent between Alan and myself? Find out more...

In the 70s Richard Ogden worked with the greats of rock and metal from Hawkwind to Aerosmith to Ted Nugent to Black Sabbath to Black Oak Arkansas. In the late 80s/early 90s he managed Paul McCartney. Along the way he also started Heavy Publicity, which as Regular Readers will know also gave me my ticket to ride in the late-70s. His fab new book Bigger Than The Beatles is out nowI

Geoff has a new DBA album released this month. It's their 6th. He's also still part of Yes - and Asia - and should it ever arise Buggles.