Rock in Retrospect

Helen and Jeff return to discuss the 2007 documentary Joy Division, which covers the history of the legendary post-punk band. We give our takes on the movie and reveal our favorite Joy Division songs. We conclude this episode with a discussion of Joy Division and New Order's upcoming induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We discuss all the drama within New Order, and ponder who will induct and perform with them at the ceremony.

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Darren and Peter return to discuss the 2025 documentary Di’Anno: Iron Maiden’s Lost Singer, which chronicles the final years of original Iron Maiden singer Paul Di’Anno. They talk about their Iron Maiden fandoms and share their thoughts on the documentary.

We conclude by discussing Iron Maiden's upcoming Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction next month. We speculate on who we think could induct them and how their segment will go down.

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Jon and Mike return to discuss the 2026 documentary Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger, which focuses on the legendary band's massively successful return tour from 2025. They detail their experiences going to the shows in their respective cities, seeing the movie in theaters (in IMAX no less!), and share their thoughts on the documentary.

We conclude with your thoughts on their pending Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction next month and speculate who will show up, who will induct them, and what songs they play during their segment.

Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

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Today, we're discussing the 1996 television documentary The Phil Collins Big Band, which takes us behind the scenes of one of Phil Collins' most fascinating musical side projects. Best known for his work with Genesis and his hugely successful solo career, Collins decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing instrumental jazz and big band music. And that's exactly what he did! The documentary also features some famous faces, including Quincy Jones and Tony Bennett.

But this is an especially exciting episode of Movie Talk because we're joined by someone who actually appears in the documentary: the great trumpet player Daniel Fornero! Having performed with Collins for decades, including during his big band era, Daniel shares candid stories and firsthand insights that make this episode a must-listen for any Phil Collins fan.

We're also joined by the wonderful Traci Baker (We Got Phil Voted In), whose incredible knowledge of all things Phil Collins helps us contextualize the documentary and celebrate this fascinating chapter of his career.

NOTE: This is the first in a series of special episodes spotlighting the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 2026 inductees.

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Fellow librarian John returns to discuss the 2020 documentary The Library That Dolly Built, which explores country music icon Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and its mission to provide free books to millions of children around the world.

This episode is also, in part, a tribute to the late, great Dolly Parton, an extraordinary artist, philanthropist, and one of the greatest humans ever to grace our planet. Dolly, we will always love you.

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Kyle, Patrick, and Hector return to discuss Don Argott and Demian Fenton's 2022 documentary Dio: Dreamers Never Die, which focuses on the life and career of iconic hard rock and metal singer Ronnie James Dio. Whether he was in Rainbow, Black Sabbath, or Dio, his operatic vocals and magnetic stage presence stood out every time he performed. We give our take on the movie, share lots of personal stories, and pick our favorite songs from his iconoclastic career. This is a must-listen for any hard rock or metal fan.

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Tim Durling (Author of On Record: The April Wine Album Review) returns to discuss the career and legacy of Canadian classic rockers April Wine.

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Kevin Brown (The Tom Petty Project) joins Nick to discuss Cameron Crowe’s 1983 music documentary Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party. Originally filmed as an MTV promotional special supporting the band’s 1982 album Long After Dark, the film captures Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the height of their popularity while offering a fascinating, behind-the-scenes glimpse into their world.

In addition to discussing the film, Kevin and Nick share their favorite songs from the band’s legendary career.

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Nick is joined by his friends and A24k Gold co-hosts Amanda, Darren, and Kailyn for a special crossover episode! Together, they discuss Jonathan Demme’s classic concert film Stop Making Sense (1984), featuring the legendary Talking Heads at the height of their powers.

Often hailed as the greatest concert film of all time, Stop Making Sense captures the band’s iconic live show through unforgettable performances, inventive staging, and, of course, David Byrne’s very big suit. The group dives into what makes it so enduring, their favorite musical moments, Demme’s approach to capturing the concert experience, and why it remains such a singular piece of music and movie history.

And what better excuse for an A24k Gold crossover? A24 acquired and restored Stop Making Sense in 2023, bringing this landmark concert movie back to theaters for a whole new generation.

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Josh and Kyle join Nick to discuss the career and legacy of 21st century hitmakers Coldplay. We discuss their consistent popularity over the last quarter century, their status as a great live act, share our favorite songs and albums from their legendary career, and why they are no brainers for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

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Jacob and Rachel, hosts of the podcast Cinema Role, join Nick to discuss James Griffiths' 2025 musical comedy-drama The Ballad of Wallis Island. The film stars Tom Baden, Tim Key, and Carey Mulligan.

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Patrick, Mike, and Hector return to discuss Rob Reiner's 2025 mockumentary Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues. We share on thoughts on the movie, and conclude by selecting our favorite film from Reiner's legendary career.

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Cliff and Helen are back to revisit one of the biggest music scandals of all time as they discuss the 2023 Paramount+ documentary Milli Vanilli. We dive into the incredible rise and spectacular fall of the 80s pop duo, unpack the infamous lip-syncing controversy, and explore how the documentary reshapes a story many thought they already knew.

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Today marks the 5-year anniversary of Rock in Retrospect! To celebrate this milestone, I turned it over to listeners to ask Nick anything they wanted him to answer or share stories about. From behind-the-scenes stories to questions he's never answered before, nothing was off limits. Let's celebrate five years together!

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Albert and Diya return to discuss Antoine Fuqua's Michael (2026), the long-awaited music biopic chronicling the early life and career of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

They share their thoughts on the film—both its strengths and shortcomings—highlight the standout performances (including Jaafar Jackson's portrayal of his famous uncle), and dive into several of the film's most memorable moments and themes. We wrap up the episode by counting down some of our favorite Michael Jackson songs.

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Comedian and writer Murray Valeriano returns to discuss the 2023 documentary Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd. We analyze the film, sharing plenty of funny stories and anecdotes along the way. We wrap up the episode with a mixtape of our favorite Pink Floyd songs spanning every era of the iconic band.

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Scott Kummer (co-host of I've Got That On Vinyl) returns to join Nick to discuss his podcast and his ongoing Project My Top 10 series.

The first half of the episode covers IGTOV's origins, format, and a rundown of the current rankings. The second half features Nick and Scott each revealing their top 10 favorite albums of all time.

Support Scott's show and register for a free account on the IGTOV website. You can participate in polls for albums featured on past episodes and post your own top 10 favorite albums of all time. It's a lot of fun and helps support independent music podcasters and pollsters.

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Mike (Retro Rock Roundup) and Tony return to discuss their thoughts on the 2025 biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, which explores Bruce Springsteen’s personal and professional struggles during the making of his 1982 album Nebraska.

We also discuss the newly released Electric Nebraska to cap off the conversation!

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Prolific country music writer Barry Mazor joins Nick to talk about his recent book Blood Harmony: The Everly Brothers Story. The book has been widely praised as the definitive biopgraphy about the iconic musical duo and it's definitely one of the best music history books written in the last few years. Definitely check this one out!

You can purchase a copy of Blood Harmony at any major retailer, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.

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Greg returns to the show to discuss the career and legacy of the iconic rock band Smashing Pumpkins. We discuss their history, success, their catalog, and why they deserve to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

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