His dad was known as 'The Father of Rock and Roll' but he was, unfortunately, no father to his own son. BILL HALEY JR has a new book out about his legendary dad and tells us that all Bill Haley wanted to do was get kids up and dancing again. Join me to hear that despite Bill Haley being way ahead of his time, playing ‘race music’ with a ‘hillbilly touch’ he enjoyed success for only a few short years before Elvis 'pipped him at the post', sending him spiralling into depression until his life was tragically cut short.

Meet BILL PASCALI, a singer known as the ghost of rock n roll. You may not have heard his name but he's best known for carrying on the legend of that one hit wonder group, STEAM, into current times. You remember Steam don’t you? Or at least their monster hit- Na Na Na Hey Hey? Bill debunks all the myths around the track and the band for us.

For self taught bluesman, LARRY MCCRAY, his latest success is somewhat bittersweet. The 62 year old has recently been taken under the wing of blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa who has helped him cut his latest album 'Blues Without You'. We catch up with Larry to hear all about his roots, what his sadness is and what he sees as the future of the Blues genre he grew up with.

Join me won’t you? And don’t forget if you’d like to request a guest from the 60’s 70’s or 80’s, simply send me an email to sandy@abreathoffreshair.com.au

You can find more information about the artists I speak with every week by heading to the website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

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Hi my friends,

Hope you’re having a good one.

STEPPENWOLF have always been one of my very favourite bands so nailing JOHN KAY for an interview was something of a coup. He speaks to the media very rarely these days and when he does, it’s usually about his charitable foundation - https://mauekay.org/

After months of hounding him, the founder and lead singer of the 60's Canadian American rock band, finally agreed to chat with me.

He delves deep into his past with personal stories about his treacherous escape from war-torn Europe. He tells us about his early days in Canada, how he initially formed the band and how he stumbled upon the name from a book by German author Herman Hesse.

He talks about Steppenwolf's amazing rise to success.

John also shares tales about how living the life of the rock star with all the crazy excesses nearly killed him.

He fondly recounts the time recently when he was invited back to a little town in Germany to share the stage with the ghost of Johan Sebastian Bach.

Today, John Kay is also incredibly proud of his personal evolution that's seen him transform from ‘Rock God’ into Wildlife Warrior. He tells us all about the places he's seen and how his work has been able to help both humans and animals in need.

It's fascinating stuff.

Don't miss this conversation with Steppenwolf's John Kay or his latest film - Born to Be Wild ‘From Rock Star to Wildlife Advocate'. https://mauekay.org/born-to-be-wild

You'll find the transcript to this interview on my website https://abreathoffreshair.com.au/ Please visit and let me know how you enjoy the show.

And, don't forget if you'd like to request a guest from the 60's, 70's or 80's who you'd like to hear interviewed. simply send me a message sandy@abreathoffreshair.com.au

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A Breath of Fresh Air loves the music and the musicians of the 60's 70's and 80's. And, if you’re a fan of 80’s music, you’re likely a huge fan of English new wave band, SPANDAU BALLET. The group was inspired by London’s post-punk underground dance scene and became one of the most successful groups of the New Romantic era. We meet lead singer TONY HADLEY who tells us all about his time with the band, why he left it and we check in with some of his latest music that he's taking on tour.

My next guest has been dubbed “The First Lady of Roots Music” for albums that touch on her wide-ranging influences. On her latest excursion, MARIA MULDAUR teamed up with an unknown New Orleans street-band. The singer has had a long and storied career but is known around the world for that one particular song about a camel. You know the one I'm talking about, don’t you? We check in with Maria to hear all about how 'Midnight at the Oasis' came to be. You could be pretty surprised to learn the real story!

This week's listener's choice finds us chatting with one of Australia’s consummate hippies and most beloved musicians, RICHARD CLAPTON. The uber cool Richard joins us to walk us through his long career and regales us with stories of his past and present and his hopes for the future. If you don't know Richard Clapton's music, this interview will shine a lot of light on the man and the songs he's popularised over many years.

Do you have an artist you’d like to hear from? Just send me a message sandy@abreathoffreshair.com.au and I’ll do my best to get your favourite 60’s, 70’s or 80’s artist onto the show to chat with them. If you like, you'd be welcome to join me to say hi too!

Hope you enjoy the show. If you do, perhaps you'd consider subscribing? Or maybe you could share it with some of your friends? You might even like to leave me a review/rating on the platform you're listening to it on. I'd be sooooo grateful!

Till next week then,

Warm regards

Sandy

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DIRE STRAITS filled giant stadiums around the world and sold hundreds of millions of records. Throughout the eighties they were one of the biggest bands on the planet. Their classic songs - 'Sultans of Swing', 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Money for Nothing', 'Brothers In Arms' - formed the soundtrack of a generation and live on today: still racking up sales, still being played on the radio on every continent.

This week we devote the entire episode of A Breath of Fresh Air to Dire Straits’ founding member and bassist, JOHN ILLSLEY who shares the story of one of the greatest live acts in rock history. Starting with his own unlikely beginnings in Middle England, he recounts the band's rise from humble origins in London's spit-and-sawdust pubs to the best-known venues in the world, the working man's clubs to Madison Square Garden, gigging with wild punk bands to the Live Aid stage at Wembley. From loading in their own equipment down beer chutes of London clubs to playing for seven million people on their final 1992 tour, he paints the expanding insanity of their global conquest, in a tale thick with unlikely characters, wild highs and inescapable downs. More than that, he describes the relationship that came through it all, which he values above any platinum disc.

Until, ultimately, the shattering demands of touring on a global scale and living life in the spotlight took their inevitable toll.

During our interview, John recounts stories about meeting and working with his great friend Mark Knopfler. He walks us through some of the band’s best known tracks, telling us how they came to be and discusses his latest solo album, simply called 8. He also details his newly released autobiography ‘My Life in Dire Straits’.

It’s a fascinating chat. One that will keep you glued to hear more.

Is there someone you'd like to hear featured on A Breath of Fresh Air? If so, please get in touch with me through the website, www.abreathoffreshair.com.au and let me know who you'd like me to find for you. It would be my pleasure to bring your favourite artist onto the show.

And, if you like what you hear, could you possibly subscribe to the podcast and/or leave me a review/rating?

It would really mean a lot to me.

I hope you enjoy this week's episode. Please let me know if you do.

Warm regards

Sandy

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He’s a guitarist who’s played with Roxy Music since 1972; he’s produced albums and tracks for David Gilmour, Pink Floyd and Rod Stewart as well as for New Zealand’s Split Enz. Today PHIL MANZANERA has a new solo album with Crowded House's Tim Finn and he joins me this week to talk about how he and his friend collaborated on it. Phil also chats about his time in Roxy Music; how he joined the band, what it was like and how excited he is to be heading out on tour again with the guys for Roxy Music's 50th anniversary tour.

The year was 1965 and in Cleveland Ohio, a teenage band called Tom King and The Starfires pooled their meagre resources to record an original song. The tune was called "Time Won't Let Me" and to their greatest surprise, the song began to receive radio airplay. The band became an overnight hit-sensation and with a name change, the youngsters became known as THE OUTSIDERS. For a while they were on top of the world as a One-Hit-Wonder but as we hear from RICKY B this week, success didn't last too long.

He’s a twelve-time nominated and two-time GRAMMY Award winner. He’s sold more than 40 million albums, has been making music for more than 60 years and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019. It's my absolute pleasure this week to introduce you to Mr. 'Gitarzan' RAY STEVENS whose music I certainly grew up with –and I know you probably did too. What a treat conducting an interview with Ray. Don’t miss hearing how all of those famous comedy songs came about and what Ray is up to today.

Would you like to hear from someone special? I'd love to bring a guest onto the show just for you. If there's a musician from the 60's, 70's or 80's that you'd like to catch up with, simply send me a message through the website, www.abreathoffreshair.com.au and I'll chase them up on your behalf. Maybe you'd like to say hi too? All can be arranged.

Send me a message, subscribe to the podcast and if you feel inclined, leave me a review too? It would really mean a lot to me.

Happy listening, love Sandy

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This week: It's our 100th episode of A Breath of Fresh Air so we're celebrating by bringing you the most requested artists of all time. We hear from the stars and reminisce through their classic hits. You voted for these guys so here they are.

We start with the inimitable GORDON LIGHTFOOT who at 83 years of age is still going strong and currently out on tour. Gordon walks us through many of the highlights of his mammoth career but also shares some of his deepest regrets. Don't miss an extraordinary chat with the 60+ year legend of country and folk music. I know many of Gordon's fans have never heard him speak like this before.

Declan Patrick McManus is better known as ELVIS COSTELLO – the English singer songwriter and record producer who’s won multiple awards, including Grammys. He’s married to singer Diana Krall and is dad to three sons. With his sixth album out now since 2020, Elvis shares some of the stories of his career, explains the thought process he uses to make music and why his most recent songs can only be described as urgent and immediate. A fascinating chat coupled with some exhilarating tunes.

Our third superstar this week is the one and only PETER FRAMPTON whose breakthrough success came with the amazing double concert album Frampton Comes Alive, released in January 1976. It was so phenomenally successful, and his resultant fame so widespread, that it is hard to remember a time when he wasn’t a household name. Peter has had so many ups and downs during the course of his career but I'd bet no-one would have thought his good looks would've been one of his hindrances. A car accident nearly killed him, he lost his love of his life and more recently has been diagnosed with a muscular degenerative disease that is set to prevent him from playing guitar. Our chat was nothing short of heartwarming and my affection for this man (already at a high level) grew beyond expectation. I'm sure you'll enjoy getting to know him too.

Join me won’t you? And if you’d like to hear from someone from this era - just send me a message through the website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au I would LOVE to hear from you!

Warmest regards

Sandy

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Welshman, VERDEN ALLEN founded the British hard rock band, MOTT THE HOOPLE in the early 70's. The band was a mix of glam, metal and attitude that was bolstered by Ian Hunter's clever and thoughtful songwriting. Mott The Hoople had a tough, muscular sound but their lack of mainstream success meant its members inevitably splintered apart. Most famous for a song given to them by David Bowie, this week Verden recounts those early days and previews his latest solo album.

The 1910 FRUIT GUM COMPANY has been credited with launching the craze known as bubblegum music and they certainly found an enthusiastic audience with fans looking for something sweeter than the edgy rock music of the late 60’s. History has it that the group consisted of session musicians but 1910’s band leader, FRANK JECKELL says they were railroaded into playing bubblegum music and this is totally untrue. I caught up with Frank in New Jersey this week to discover that 1910 is still alive, well and playing to crowds today.

He’s one of Australia’s most iconic singer songwriters who’s helped give the country a voice and made millions of Aussies proud to be just that.
JOHN WILLIAMSON boasts fans of all ages but I learned this week that his biggest support base is actually young Aussie males. Guys like Ned who asked me to bring John onto the show. Even if you dislike the rather quirky music, meeting John will give you a sense of his passion and an understanding of the influence he still exerts today.

Join me? And don't forget it you'd like to 'request a guest' simply send me a message through the website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au I'll track down and find anyone you'd like to hear from - as long as they were making music in the 60's, 70's or 80's!

https://linktr.ee/abreathoffreshair

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This week:

Remember the UK band, the EQUALS? If you were around in the late 60's early 70's there's no way you escaped hearing their smash hit 'Baby Come Back' all over the radio. Well, this week, founding member Patrick Lloyd joins me to tell us what it was like being one of the world's first multi-racial groups, how difficult it was for EDDY GRANT to recover from injuries sustained in a car accident and what the band is up to today. Yes, they're still around! They even have a new single out.

In our One-Hit-Wonder segment, I'm excited to introduce you to, Mr Spiders and Snakes, JIM STAFFORD - best known for his humorous country novelty songs of the mid-'70s. The multi-instrumentalist also enjoyed a lengthy career as a television personality and live entertainer and gives us the lowdown on his career high and lowlights as well as his marriage to singer songwriter, BOBBIE GENTRY.

Kiwi superstar singer/songwriter, SHARON O'NEILL built up a huge following in Australia and NZ during the 80’s and was a firm favourite with the boys. In fact, you could say she was something of a heart throb. Just ask one of our listeners who asked to me to find Sharon for him. I happily gave Steve the opportunity to say hi to his long time crush and he told us that he still gets into trouble with his wife for remembering Sharon’s birthday and not hers. You too can meet Sharon this week. She has some terrific stories to tell!

Join me? And if you’d like to request a guest simply send me a message through the website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

https://linktr.ee/abreathoffreshair

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