Share

The Politics Show
The ageing rock gods and me - Kate Mossman on meeting KISS, Bon Jovi, Terence Trent D'arby and more
"Meet your heroes - it'll help you get over them"
Kate Mossman is known for her singular, surprising and ultra-perceptive interviews - in which she often reveals more about her subjects than sometimes they appear to know themselves.
And there is one breed of interview subject Kate has written about more than any other: the ageing male rock star.
If anyone knows about meeting their heroes, it’s her.
In her debut book, Men of a Certain Age, Kate Mossman collects and revisits the interviews she’s conducted with rock royalty such as Kiss, Jon Bon Jovi, Nick Cave, Ray Davies… and her teenage obsession: Roger Taylor of Queen.
In this episode of Culture from the New Statesman Kate join Tom Gatti to discuss her obsession with ageing rockers, and shares some behind the scenes stories of her time with rock royalty.
BUY KATE'S BOOK
Men of a Certain Age is available to pre-order here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/men-of-a-certain-age-my-encounters-with-rock-royalty-kate-mossman/7792527?ean=9781788705646
SEE KATE LIVE
Kate Mossman in discussion with Alexis Petridis, live in London
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/men-of-a-certain-age-kate-mossman-with-alexis-petridis-tickets-1270535970289?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&_gl=1*25lj0d*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTU1MDAwNzE1Ni4xNzQzMTg1MTYz*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*MTc0MzE4NTE2My4xLjAuMTc0MzE4NTE2My4wLjAuMA..
READ MORE
Kate interviews Jon Bon Jovi: https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2016/11/jon-bon-jovi-on-trump-bono-bieber-and-the-agony-of-his-split-with-richie-sambora
Kate meets Terence Trent D'Arby: https://www.newstatesman.com/long-reads/2015/10/i-was-killed-when-i-was-27-curious-afterlife-terence-trent-d-arby
How Jeff Beck became a guitar hero by saying no: https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/music/2023/01/jeff-beck-interview-tribute-guitar-hero
LISTEN AD-FREE
Get the New Statesman app:
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB
SUBSCRIBE
Join the New Statesman from £8.99 per month https://secure.newstatesman.com/offer
LISTEN AD-FREE:
📱Download the New Statesman app
MORE FROM THE NEW STATESMAN:
❓ Ask a question – we answer them every Friday
⏰ Get our daily politics newsletter every morning
✍️ Enjoy the best of our writing via email every Saturday
More episodes
View all episodes

Burnham's political donations headache
32:26|Reform UK received two £36 million donations from crypto billionaire Ben Delo. This has sent shockwaves through Westminster and thrown the question of political finance reform into sharp relief.Labour is caught in an uncomfortable bind - appalled by the scale of Reform's fundraising, but reluctant to cap donations in a way that could threaten trade union funding and destabilise its own finances.
Farage’s fan club doesn’t care about scandal
28:28|The fallout from Reform’s latest scandal, John Healey’s first major speech as Chancellor and Ukraine’s plan to tax porn stars.Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn discuss the stories of the week.Read: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2026/09/the-gospel-according-to-nigel-paul-farage
Ed Miliband resets relations with Israel
01:04:50|Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has unveiled the biggest reset in UK relations with Israel for decades, and, in typical fashion, is putting his stamp on his new role.Meanwhile, the scandal surrounding Reform and their finances continues, with the Met Police announcing they are launching a criminal investigation.Pippa Bailey is joined by Ailbhe Rea, and guest Ben Judah, to discuss.
Andy Burnham can’t explain the economy
36:28|Labour’s missing money metaphor, the millionaires still getting benefits and Dyson’s £420 toothbrush. Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Will Dunn to round up the stories of the week.READ: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/bursting-the-bubble/2026/09/andy-burnham-cant-explain-the-economyhttps://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2026/09/britain-must-stop-paying-benefits-to-millionaires
Burnham vs Badenoch: PMQs, round one
01:02:30|This week was Andy Burnham’s first in the Commons as Prime Minister, facing his inaugural head to head with Kemi Badenoch at PMQs.As for the Tories, they have undergone a major reshuffle.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ailbhe Rea and Tom McTague.
How can the UK protect its historic buildings from climate change?
22:57|As the UK faces hotter summers, wetter winters and more unpredictable weather, its historic buildings will need to adapt. But how can Britain make them more resilient without compromising the heritage that makes them worth protecting? Host Sarah Dawood is joined by Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, and Tor Burrows, Chief Sustainability Officer at Grosvenor, to ask whether the current system is fit for a changing climate. Their discussion explores the barriers to adapting and retrofitting older buildings, from complex planning processes to skills shortages. They also consider how historic buildings could contribute to housing, economic growth and the UK’s climate goals. They discuss the case for a more coordinated approach across government, a “reuse first” policy and clearer rules for low-risk retrofit. The conversation also looks at what needs to change to keep historic buildings useful, comfortable and resilient for the future. This New Statesman podcast episode has been fully funded by Grosvenor.
The investigation into “Farage Fest”
28:00|The investigation into Nigel’s “Farage Fest” election party, Andy Burnham’s Ukrainian jam session and Pope Leo XIV making it onto Vanity Fair’s best dressed list.Anoosh Chakelian and Will Dunn round up the stories of the week.
Zack Polanski's honeymoon is over
36:34|It’s nearly a year since Zack Polanski took the reins of the Green party. In many ways the party has never been so successful – with five MPs, leading six local authorities and a leader who cuts through with the public. But now the Greens have to contend with a new – and relatively popular – Prime Minister, and internal factions within the party threaten to make life difficult for Polanski as he heads towards the summer conference.How is the Green leader faring one year on?Anoosh Chakelian is joined by Ailbhe Rea and Megan KenyonProduced by Chris Stone
How will Burnham navigate the North Sea?
30:10|One of the first big decisions of Andy Burnham’s premiership is looming: whether to drill for North Sea oil and gas. Labour made a manifesto promise not to grant new licences for oil and gas exploration, but the question of whether to go ahead and drill at the Rosebank and Jackdaw sites - offshore oil and gas fields that have pre-existing licences - remains.After a summer of wildfires and heatwaves, but with our energy security and cost-of-living precarious, the new Prime Minister faces a political dilemma.Anoosh Chakelian is joined by political editor Ailbhe Rea.