Rock & Roll High School With Pete Ganbarg

For the second edition of the Rock & Roll High School Book Club, we're joined by legendary writer Nik Cohn, whose new book, Corner Boy: Loiterings New and Old, edited by Ben Ratliff and published by ZE Books, brings together more than six decades of extraordinary writing about music, culture, and the fascinating characters who inhabit those worlds.

Nik Cohn is one of the true pioneers of rock journalism. At a time when rock criticism barely existed, he helped invent the form, bringing a distinctive voice and perspective to the music and cultural movements that would define generations.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Nik and Pete travel back to Nik's youth in the UK and the tribal worlds of Teddy Boys, Mods and Rockers; his early days chronicling the emerging rock & roll scene; and his friendship with Pete Townshend, including the remarkable story of how their relationship helped inspire one of the central ideas behind The Who's groundbreaking rock opera Tommy.

They also explore Nik's landmark New York magazine story, "Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night," which became the inspiration for Saturday Night Fever, and his 2005 book Triksta, chronicling his immersion in the world of New Orleans hip-hop.

Along the way, Nik shares stories and insights from a remarkable career spent documenting popular culture from a vantage point uniquely his own — often discovering the people, places and movements the rest of the world has yet to notice.

From the birth of rock criticism to the cultural revolutions of the past six decades, this is a fascinating conversation with one of popular music's most original and influential chroniclers.

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Welcome to the first-ever edition of the Rock & Roll High School Book Club!

For our inaugural selection, we're joined by veteran music writer and record executive Mitchell Cohen, author of Wake Me, Shake Me: New York City, the '60s, and the Pop-Rock Youthquake, along with a very special guest — founding member and drummer of The Smithereens, Dennis Diken, a lifelong student of rock & roll history in his own right.

Wake Me, Shake Me takes us back to New York City in the 1960s, when an extraordinary collection of artists, songwriters, musicians, producers and hustlers helped create a musical revolution that would change popular culture forever.

The Lovin' Spoonful. The Rascals. Dion. Simon & Garfunkel. The Blues Project. Laura Nyro. And many more.

Together, Mitchell, Dennis and Pete dig into the stories behind the book and the people, places and records that made New York one of the epicenters of the musical revolution of the 1960s.

They explore what made the New York music scene different from what was happening in Liverpool, London, Los Angeles and San Francisco — and how a generation of young New Yorkers absorbed everything from doo-wop and R&B to folk, soul and the British Invasion, turning those influences into something uniquely their own.

It's a fascinating look back at an extraordinary time and place in music history, told through the eyes of an author who has spent years exploring it, a musician who knows the records inside and out, and a host who shares their passion.

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For our 100th episode, we're joined by legendary Hall of Fame songwriter Desmond Child.

For nearly 50 years, Desmond has written or co-written some of the most iconic songs of the last half-century: "Livin' On A Prayer," "You Give Love A Bad Name," "I Was Made For Lovin' You," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)," "I Hate Myself For Lovin' You," "Livin' La Vida Loca," and many, many more.

In this interview, Desmond shares the story of his upbringing in Florida, living with a larger-than-life Cuban mother and a father who, despite Desmond not learning the truth until he was 18 years old, was not his biological dad. Two of his aunts in Cuba were mistresses to men who led opposite sides of the Cuban Revolution: Batista AND Castro. And the stories just get more remarkable from there.

After moving to New York City and forming his own band, Desmond Child & Rouge, Desmond began a songwriting apprenticeship with legendary songwriter Bob Crewe (The Four Seasons, "Lady Marmalade"), through which he learned the secrets of writing songs that truly connect with an audience — lessons he would soon put to use writing some of the biggest hits in the history of popular music.

The list of artists who have recorded Desmond's songs is a who's who of music history: Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Barbra Streisand, Bon Jovi, Cher, Joan Jett, KISS, Ricky Martin and many more.

Desmond's great 2023 memoir, Livin' On A Prayer: Big Songs Big Life, written with David Ritz, tells these stories and many more in even greater detail. His latest album, Desmond Child Rocks The Parthenon — The Live Concert Album, is out now.

For more on Desmond, follow @desmond.child on Instagram.

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Richard Gottehrer is one of the most influential figures in the history of popular music—but unless you're a serious student of music history, you may not know his name.

Over the course of an extraordinary career spanning more than six decades, Richard has reinvented himself time and again -- as a hit songwriter, recording artist, record executive, producer, and digital pioneer. So much so that we had to split this episode into two parts.

In Part Two of our conversation, Richard picks up where he left off after departing Sire Records and embarking on one of the most remarkable second acts in music history.

As a producer, Richard helped define the sound of New York's emerging punk and new wave movement, producing landmark recordings by Blondie, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, and later guiding The Go-Go's to international superstardom with their groundbreaking debut album, Beauty and the Beat.

He reflects on working with artists who would go on to become cultural icons, the creative instincts that allowed him to recognize greatness before the rest of the world, and the producer's role in capturing an artist's true identity on record.

But Richard wasn't finished reinventing himself.

Long before most of the music industry understood the coming digital revolution, Richard co-founded The Orchard, helping create the company that transformed digital distribution for independent artists and labels around the world. His vision once again placed him at the forefront of one of the biggest changes in the history of the music business.

This conversation is a masterclass in creativity, innovation, and lifelong reinvention from a man whose fingerprints can be found on virtually every era of modern popular music.

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Richard Gottehrer is one of the most influential figures in the history of popular music—but unless you're a serious student of music history, there's a good chance you've never heard his name.

Over the course of an extraordinary career spanning more than six decades, Richard has reinvented himself time and again -- as a hit songwriter, recording artist, record executive, producer, and digital pioneer. So much so that we had to split this episode into two parts.

In Part One of our conversation, we go back to where it all began.

Growing up in the Bronx, Richard broke into New York's legendary Brill Building songwriting scene, where he co-wrote timeless hits including "My Boyfriend's Back" and "I Want Candy." He later stepped into the spotlight as a member of The Strangeloves, whose recording of "I Want Candy" became a garage rock classic.

Richard also discovered a teenage guitarist and vocalist named Richard Zehringer, who played with a local Ohio band called Rick and the Raiders. After changing his name to Rick Derringer and renaming the band The McCoys, Gottehrer and his Strangeloves bandmates produced their #1 smash, "Hang On Sloopy."

Richard also shares the story behind the founding of Sire Records, the groundbreaking label he co-created with his lifelong friend Seymour Stein. Together they built one of the most influential independent labels of all time, helping launch artists who would forever change the sound of popular music.

Part One concludes with the remarkable story of one of Sire's earliest breakthrough successes: the international hit "Hocus Pocus" by the Dutch band Focus.

This is the fascinating origin story of a man who would go on to help shape virtually every corner of the modern music business. And it's only the beginning.

Part Two picks up with Richard's departure from Sire Records, his landmark production work with Blondie, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, and The Go-Go's, and his remarkable reinvention as the co-founder of The Orchard, the company that revolutionized digital distribution for independent music.

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Jim Messina has had one of the most remarkable and influential careers in American music.

As a member (and producer) of Buffalo Springfield, he helped shape one of the defining bands of the late 1960s before going on to form Poco, where he became one of the architects of the country rock movement. He later teamed with Kenny Loggins to create Loggins & Messina, one of the most successful and beloved duos of the 1970s, producing a string of enduring hits including "Danny's Song," "Your Mama Don't Dance," "House at Pooh Corner," and "Thinking of You."

But Messina's impact extends far beyond the spotlight. An accomplished producer, engineer, songwriter, and guitarist, he played a pivotal role behind the scenes, helping refine the sound of artists ranging from Buffalo Springfield to Loggins & Messina while earning a reputation as one of the era's great musical craftsmen.

In this conversation, Jim reflects on his extraordinary journey through some of the most important chapters in American popular music. We discuss the final days of Buffalo Springfield, the creation of Poco, how an intended producer-artist relationship with Kenny Loggins evolved into one of the decade's biggest recording acts, and the stories behind many of his best-loved songs.

He also shares candid thoughts on touring, recording, songwriting, and the lessons learned over more than six decades in music.

Whether you know him from Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Loggins & Messina, or his remarkable work behind the console, this is a conversation with one of rock's true architects.

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Howard Jones helped define the sound of the 1980s by proving that synthesizers could be every bit as expressive and emotionally resonant as guitars or pianos.

Classically trained as a pianist before embracing the emerging world of electronic music, Howard exploded onto the international stage with a remarkable string of hit singles, including "New Song," "What Is Love?," "Things Can Only Get Better," "Like to Get to Know You Well," and the U.S. Top 10 smash "No One Is to Blame." His first two albums, Human's Lib and Dream Into Action, established him as one of the defining artists of the MTV era, blending infectious melodies with thoughtful lyrics shaped in part by his lifelong Buddhist practice.

Howard's influence extended well beyond the charts. In 1985, he joined fellow keyboard innovators Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, and Thomas Dolby for a memorable synthesizer summit at the Grammy Awards, and later that year performed at the historic Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, performing solo on Freddie Mercury's piano before a global audience of hundreds of millions. More than four decades later, he continues to record new music and tour internationally, bringing his timeless songs to audiences around the world.

In this conversation, Howard reflects on his classical training, the birth of synth-pop, his longtime onstage collaboraor, mime artist Jed Hoile, the stories behind his biggest hits, his Buddhist philosophy, and the role technology has played throughout his remarkable career. We also discuss songwriting, live performance, and why maintaining a sense of curiosity and optimism has remained at the heart of both his music and his life.

Thoughtful, innovative, and endlessly creative, Howard Jones continues to demonstrate that great songs—and great ideas—stand the test of time.

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Colin Hay is one of those rare artists whose career has unfolded in two remarkable acts.

As the lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter of Men at Work, Hay helped create some of the defining songs of the early MTV era, including "Who Can It Be Now?," "Down Under," "Overkill," "It's a Mistake," and "Be Good Johnny." The band's landmark debut album, Business As Usual, spent an extraordinary fifteen consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart before finally giving way to Michael Jackson's Thriller. Along the way, the group won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and became one of Australia's most successful musical exports.

Rather than living in the past, Hay embarked on one of rock's most remarkable second acts. Through an acclaimed series of solo albums, appearances on Scrubs, the inclusion of his music in Zach Braff's Garden State, and years of unforgettable performances at Los Angeles' legendary Café Largo, he reinvented himself as a deeply respected singer-songwriter with a devoted worldwide following. He also continues to tour internationally and perform as a longtime member of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.

In this conversation, Colin reflects on his upbringing in Scotland and Australia, the meteoric rise of Men at Work, the stories behind some of the band's biggest hits, and the evolution of his extraordinary solo career. We also discuss the years-long "Kookaburra"/"Down Under" copyright lawsuit—and the personal toll it took on the Men at Work family and Colin's own family—as well as songwriting, resilience, and why some of life's greatest setbacks can ultimately lead to unexpected new beginnings.

Funny, thoughtful, and profoundly insightful, Colin Hay has never stopped evolving, and his music continues to resonate more deeply each year.

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This week on Rock & Roll High School, we're joined by rock & roll pioneer Gary U.S. Bonds.

Long before the British Invasion, Gary U.S. Bonds was one of the defining voices of early rock & roll. Bursting onto the charts with classics like "New Orleans," "Quarter to Three," "School Is Out," and "Dear Lady Twist," he became one of the biggest hitmakers of the early 1960s, helping bridge the worlds of rhythm & blues and rock with a sound that influenced generations of artists.

In this conversation, Gary looks back on his remarkable career—from growing up in Norfolk, Virginia and breaking through with legendary producer Frank Guida, to navigating the changing music industry, and enjoying an extraordinary second act in the 1980s thanks to his friendship with Bruce Springsteen and Little Steven Van Zandt. Bruce and Steve produced Gary's acclaimed albums Dedication and On the Line, wrote songs for him, and helped introduce his music to an entirely new generation of fans.

We also discuss Gary's friendships with fellow rock & roll pioneers, the stories behind his biggest records, and what it was like to witness—and help create—the birth of rock music from the very beginning.

More than sixty years after his first hits, Gary U.S. Bonds remains one of the true architects of American rock & roll. His stories are as vibrant as the music itself, making this a fascinating conversation with a genuine living legend.

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Legendary guitarist, producer, author, music historian, and cultural curator Lenny Kaye joins us this week on Rock & Roll High School.

For more than five decades, Lenny has occupied a singular place in popular music. As the longtime guitarist and closest musical collaborator of Patti Smith, he helped shape the sound of one of rock's most influential artists and has remained by her side since the earliest days of the Patti Smith Group. He is also the compiler of the groundbreaking 1972 anthology Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968, a collection that helped spark the garage-rock revival and laid much of the foundation for punk rock as we know it.

In this conversation, we trace Lenny's remarkable journey—from his childhood in New Jersey and his early years as a music journalist and record-store clerk, to the creation of Nuggets, the birth of the Patti Smith Group, and a lifetime spent documenting, preserving, and advancing rock & roll culture.

We also discuss Goin' Local, Lenny's long-awaited debut solo album, arriving July 17, 2026. Written across decades and featuring contributions from Patti Smith and other longtime friends and collaborators, the album represents a deeply personal statement from an artist whose influence on modern music extends far beyond the stage.

Whether you know him as Patti Smith's guitarist, the architect of Nuggets, author of some brilliant books about music, or one of rock's most respected historians and tastemakers, Lenny Kaye's impact on music is impossible to overstate. This is a conversation decades in the making.

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All of us at Rock & Roll High School are very saddened to learn of the passing of our friend and former guest Clive Davis. This is a new edit of our conversation with the legend himself, originally recorded shortly after Clive’s 90th birthday in 2022.

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Vernon Reid has spent more than four decades pushing the boundaries of what rock music can be.

Best known as the founder, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the groundbreaking band Living Colour, Reid helped redefine hard rock in the late 1980s by fusing rock, metal, funk, jazz, punk, and hip-hop into a sound that was entirely their own. Living Colour's debut album Vivid became a cultural phenomenon, powered by the Grammy-winning hit "Cult of Personality," while establishing the band as one of the most important and influential acts of their era.

But Reid's impact extends far beyond Living Colour. In 1985, alongside the late cultural critic, writer, and musician Greg Tate, he co-founded the Black Rock Coalition, an influential organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for Black artists in rock and alternative music. Over the years, Reid has collaborated with an astonishing range of artists, including Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen, Public Enemy, Carlos Santana, and Meshell Ndegeocello, while also building a celebrated career as a composer for film, television, theater, and multimedia projects.

Reid remains as creatively active today as ever. He was among the artists who participated in Ozzy Osbourne's landmark Back to the Beginning concert, celebrating the legacy of Ozzy and Black Sabbath alongside an all-star lineup of rock and metal musicians. More recently, he released Hoodoo Telemetry, an adventurous new solo project that further demonstrates his continuing appetite for musical exploration and sonic innovation.

In this conversation, Vernon reflects on his early jazz and rock musical influences, the formation and breakthrough of Living Colour, the mission behind the Black Rock Coalition, and the artistic philosophy that has guided his remarkable career. We also discuss creativity, technology, social commentary, guitar playing, and why curiosity remains the driving force behind one of modern music's most innovative and uncompromising artists.

A true original, Vernon Reid continues to challenge expectations and expand the possibilities of contemporary music.

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Few artists have lived as many lives in music as Judy Collins.

Emerging from the folk revival of the early 1960s, Judy became one of the era's defining voices, recording timeless interpretations of songs by artists such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, and Leonard Cohen, while helping introduce many of them to a wider audience. Her recording of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" became a signature hit, and her career has since spanned more than six decades of music, activism, writing, and performance.

In this episode of Rock & Roll High School, Judy joins Pete Ganbarg for a wide-ranging conversation about her extraordinary journey: growing up in a musical family, discovering folk music, the Greenwich Village scene, friendships with artists including Joan Baez, Stephen Stills, and Leonard Cohen, and the stories behind some of the most important songs of her career, including "Amazing Grace," and "Send In The Clowns."

They also discuss Judy's work as an author and filmmaker, her remarkable longevity as a performer, and her upcoming Sweet Judy Blues Farewell Tour, which begins July 4, 2026 and will continue into 2027.

At 87 years old, Judy Collins remains a singular voice in American music — reflective, insightful, and still creating. This is a conversation with a true living legend.

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Bobby Colomby has had an absolutely fascinating career in music.

Growing up in Manhattan, Bobby's older brothers were deeply entrenched in the city's thriving jazz scene: one was best friends with Miles Davis, while the other managed Thelonious Monk. That love of jazz rubbed off on Bobby, who, as drummer and co-founder, alongside his friends Al Kooper and Steve Katz, helped create one of the first bands to successfully blend jazz and rock: Blood, Sweat & Tears.

Blood, Sweat & Tears became one of the biggest bands in America in the late 1960s and early 1970s, producing a string of hit singles and albums. Their self-titled second album earned the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1970, famously besting The Beatles' Abbey Road.

The acclaimed 2023 documentary What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? tells the incredible story of what happened next: the band's controversial State Department-sponsored tour of Eastern Europe and the swift backlash that followed.

But Bobby never stopped.

He discovered the groundbreaking jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius, securing Jaco a recording contract with Epic Records and personally producing his landmark debut solo album.

While working at CBS Records in the late 1970s, Bobby oversaw and executive produced Destiny by The Jacksons, an album that featured the hits "Blame It on the Boogie" and "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)." The project marked a pivotal moment in Michael Jackson's artistic development as he emerged as a songwriter, producer, and creative force in his own right, serving as a precursor to his solo breakthrough, Off The Wall.

Bobby's subsequent artist discoveries include Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti and piano prodigy Jesús Molina.

Today, Bobby remains the owner and steward of the Blood, Sweat & Tears name and legacy.

Lots of amazing anecdotes, insider stories, and music history await on this episode of Rock & Roll High School.

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When Jonathan Cain joined Journey in 1980, the band was already successful. But with Cain’s arrival, Journey evolved into something even bigger: one of the defining melodic rock bands of all time.

As keyboardist and co-songwriter, Cain helped create some of the most enduring songs in popular music history — including “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” “Separate Ways,” and “Who’s Crying Now” — while also writing Journey’s iconic road-life ballad “Faithfully” entirely on his own.

But Jonathan’s story stretches far beyond Journey. In this episode, we trace his full creative arc: from surviving a devastating childhood tragedy and discovering music as salvation… to his early years with The Babys alongside John Waite… to Journey’s arena-rock peak in the 1980s… to his more recent evolution as a solo artist, author, and faith-driven songwriter.

We also discuss Cain’s memoir, Don’t Stop Believin’: The Man, the Band, and the Song That Inspired Generations; the origin stories behind Journey’s biggest hits; the creative chemistry between Cain, Steve Perry, and Neal Schon; and Journey’s current farewell tour.

This is a candid and thoughtful conversation with one of the principal architects of arena rock’s golden age.

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When people talk about the great American bands of the 1970s, The Doobie Brothers are always part of the conversation. Across more than five decades, the band has navigated multiple eras, lineups, and styles—moving seamlessly between biker bar rock, California harmony pop, blue-eyed soul, and FM radio classics while remaining one of the most enduring touring and recording acts in rock history.

At the center of that story from the very beginning is Patrick Simmons — guitarist, vocalist, and/or songwriter behind some of the band’s most beloved songs including “Black Water,” “Jesus Is Just Alright” and "Listen To The Music."

In this conversation, Patrick reflects on the formation of the band in Northern California, the Doobies’ unlikely rise in the early 1970s, their evolution through multiple musical eras, and the balancing act of maintaining a band identity through decades of change. We also discuss songwriting, harmony singing, life on the road, the band’s enduring live popularity, and what it means to still be making music together more than 50 years later.

This episode is a firsthand look at one of America’s defining rock bands—from someone who helped build it from day one.

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For more than four decades, "Weird Al" Yankovic has done something almost nobody else in popular music has ever pulled off: he built a lasting career out of parody, satire, and sheer musical precision — while becoming one of the most beloved entertainers in pop culture history.

From early homemade recordings and cult radio exposure on The Dr. Demento Show to Grammy wins, platinum albums, MTV domination, and sold-out tours, Al transformed novelty music into an art form entirely his own. Along the way, he created unforgettable classics including “Eat It,” “The Saga Begins,” “Amish Paradise,” “Smells Like Nirvana,” and “White & Nerdy,” while also proving himself to be a gifted songwriter, arranger, accordion player, and live performer.

In this episode of Rock & Roll High School, Al joins Pete Ganbarg for a wide-ranging conversation about the creative process behind his parodies and originals, the changing relationship between comedy and popular music, navigating fame across multiple generations, and how he’s managed to stay both relevant and respected in an industry that rarely rewards longevity. We also discuss his 2026 Bigger & Weirder Tour, his lifelong love of music fandom, and the surprising discipline required to make funny records that actually last.

This is a funny, insightful, and unexpectedly deep conversation with one of the most original musical voices of the modern era.

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Everlast has had one of the most unconventional career arcs in modern music—from his early days as a teenager with Ice-T’s Rhyme Syndicate to mainstream success with House of Pain and their iconic hit Jump Around.

After a near-fatal heart episode, he reinvented himself with the deeply personal Whitey Ford Sings the Blues, which went 2X Platinum and features the breakout single What It's Like. He later won a Grammy for Put Your Lights On, his collaboration with Santana from the blockbuster Supernatural.

Now, with his upcoming album Embers and Ashes, Everlast returns to the introspective sound that redefined his career.

In this episode, he reflects on resilience, reinvention, and the journey behind the music.

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Few figures in the history of Southern music operated as both insider and architect the way Alan Walden did.

Best known as the co-founder (with his brother Phil) of Capricorn Records and manager (and music publisher) of both Lynyrd Skynyrd and Otis Redding, Alan helped build the infrastructure behind what became known as Southern rock—long before it had a name. Alongside his brother, he was at the center of a movement that blended blues, country, R&B, and rock into something entirely new.

In this conversation, Alan takes us inside the story of how two brothers from Macon, Georgia changed the complexion of the entire music business in the 1960s and 1970s. We also discuss his memoir, Southern Man: Music and Mayhem in the American South—a candid and deeply personal account of the triumphs, tragedies, and cultural forces that shaped both his career and the rise of Southern rock and soul.

This is a rare look at the often unseen side of music history: the people behind the scenes who don’t just discover artists—but build the worlds they live in and help shape the course of music itself.

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This week, we continue our Southern Rock trilogy with Don Barnes of .38 Special.

As the co-founder, lead singer, and chief songwriter behind .38 Special, Don helped define a sound that brought Southern rock squarely into the mainstream—melding muscle, melody, and undeniable hooks. With a string of hits like “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You,” and “Rockin’ Into the Night,” the band carved out a lane that was both radio-ready and deeply rooted in the traditions of the genre.

In this episode, Don takes us inside the 50th anniversary of .38 Special—from their Jacksonville beginnings and relentless touring years to their breakout success and lasting legacy, which includes their latest album, Milestone. We talk about the band’s songwriting approach, the importance of structure and craft in building hits, and how they stood shoulder-to-shoulder with peers like Lynyrd Skynyrd while pushing the sound in an even more melodic, accessible direction.

We also get into longevity—what it takes to sustain a career over decades, how these songs continue to connect across generations, and why that balance of grit and precision still resonates today.

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