Rock n Roll History & Culture: Rock Talk Studio

The Hollywood Hotel Built for Rock Star Debauchery

There’s a tucked-away place in Hollywood where rock stars have lived, disappeared, let loose, and made history since the 60s. This episode digs into the new documentary I

Metallica’s Albums Through the Eyes of Rock & Metal Insiders

Martin Popoff’s new book Metallica: Album by Album takes a different approach to one of metal’s most analyzed catalogs. With insight from Kim Thayil (Soundgarden) Frank B

Robyn Hitchcock's Memoir Just Broke a Rock Rule

Robyn Hitchcock has written a rock memoir unlike anything else I’ve read. His new book, Stranded in the Future, takes us through 1968–1978 in a strange, funny, surreal tr

Roland Orzabal’s Very Unusual Memoir + A Neil Peart Tribute You Need to See

Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears has written one of the most unusual rock memoirs I’ve ever read, one built around his lifelong fascination with astrology. I dig into We

The Book and Doc That Changed My Mind About Elvis

In this episode of Rock Talk Studio, I break down the three things that finally made Elvis "click" for me: The Colonel and the King: Why understanding the mysterious and

The Best Books About New York City Rock 'n' Roll? Start Here

 This week on Rock Talk Studio, Big Rick reviews Jesse Malin’s Almost Grown and counts down some of the greatest New York City rock books ever written. From Patti Smith a

Rock’s Most Unusual Books: 5 Strange and Fascinating Reads

Rock n roll books usually follow a predictable path, but these five books go somewhere completely different. Today's show explores some of rock’s most unusual reads,

Does Foreign Tongues Belong in the Stones’ Top 10?

Did the Rolling Stones, now in their 80's, just release on of their top 10 studio albums of all time? No way right? Let's count them down and see. *Want the la

Jeff Beck: The Restless Genius of a Guitar God- Blow by Blow Book Review

Jeff Beck was a guitarist’s guitarist-a restless genius who could do things that even contemporaries like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix couldn't touch.

Top 5 Rock n Roll Documentaries of 2026...So Far

Looking for that next great rock n roll documentary to dig into? Today it’s the Top 5 best rock n roll docs of 2026…so far. I've got one that take you inside the pri

Top 5 Best Rock Books of 2026… So Far

Looking for your next great rock n' roll read? In this episode I rank the Top 5 best rock books of 2026 so far. From the definitive history of The Clash and The Roll

Inside Soundgarden: Kim Thayil on the Band’s Real Legacy

Grunge is often told as a Seattle story. But Kim Thayil’s new memoir, A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond, reveals a deeper and more perso

Ranking Rock’s 5 Greatest Resurrections: Rush, Allman Brothers & More

Inspired by the news of Rush returning to the stage with drummer Anika Nilles, I take a look at the bands that managed to turn tragedy into a second life. But I’m going

The Definitive Clash Bio? The Clash: Passion Is A Fashion Book Review

As The Clash approach their 50-year anniversary, a new essential book takes us back inside their mission, music, and mythology.  And the deeper I got into it, the more I

Ozzy as an AI Avatar: Tribute, Exploitation, or the Future of Rock?

Ozzy Osbourne may be coming back as an AI avatar, and the idea has everyone asking a very uncomfortable question: Is this a meaningful tribute, or has the rock legacy mac

Van Halen, The Clash, Jeff Beck, Soundgarden & More: 7 Rock Books on My Radar

Before you spend money on another rock ’n’ roll book, here's seven upcoming releases worth knowing about-from Van Halen, The Clash, Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Dave Mus

Power Ballads, Excess, and the Secret War for 80s Radio

A new book, Raised on Radio, looks at a controversial time in rock: 1976–1986, when Journey, Boston, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Def Leppard, Heart, and Toto ruled the a

Grateful Dead's Vault Surprises and Rush's 2112 at 50

The Dead vault has split open and over 400 live recording have been released. But that is not all, every Tuesday new shows are coming. Also, how did Rush save their caree

The Rolling Stones-The Greatest Rock n Roll Story Ever Told

Reviewing the greatest story ever told about a rock n roll band. A new 700 page book dares to breathe new life into a famous old tale. Plus- Frampton, Iron Maiden, CSN, G

Gregg Allman documentary is coming, plus a Rolling Stones biography not to miss

The news has finally broken on the new Gregg Allman documentary. What am I looking for from this one? The list is pretty long. I also take a peek inside the new Rolling S