Guitarist extraordinaire Leslie West recounts some of the most classic rock and roll stories you’ll ever hear in this terrific interview. Recorded on an unknown date in 1987, the interviewer (whom is referred to by two different names over the course of this chat) barely plays a part here, only speaking when West comes to lulls between anecdotes. The result is wonderful, with West reeling off hilarious stories about The Who, Keith Moon and Ozzy Osbourne as well as more sensitive recollections of Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Felix Pappalardi and Jack Bruce. Whether funny or serious, West seems sincerely appreciative for the times he has had and, as a result, if you weren’t already a fan of the man you will be after this listening.

00:00 – Recording with The Who / confusing Felixes 01:22 – Staying friendly with The Who 01:44 – A close encounter with death for Keith Moon 03:15 – Reminiscing about Keith Moon and the tension in The Who 04:01 – How The Who were able to stay together for so long / implications for Mountain 06:46 – Learning from Keith Moon 07:44 – One of the funniest stories about Ozzy Osbourne you may ever hear 08:38 – PR work for Mountain by Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, Ten Years After 09:47 – Touring with Ten Years After / playing the same set for three years 10:46 – Being star-struck (Jagger and Lennon) 12:00 – Playing for fun / learning from Phil Collins / keeping busy 13:30 – Biggest influences for becoming a musician (Presley, Clapton, Townshend) 14:49 – Felix Pappalardi producing Cream and The Vagrants / how Mountain started 16:20 – Playing with Jack Bruce 16:33 – Mountain’s quick ascent (Woodstock as the third gig) 17:50 – How the record industry has changed / one in a million shot 19:19 – Not wanting to meet Clapton 19:57 – His favorite concert (Cream) / a life-changing experience

Peter Wolf, the front man for the J. Geils Band, would leave the group shortly after this interview was recorded due to artistic differences. However, here he comes across as very appreciative of the band and confident in its continued existence. Added bonuses include his surprise at Lisa Robinson’s insinuation that he was a bit loopy, his thoughts on the FCC’s ban of “Give it to Me,” and his description of some of his stranger stage antics.

00:00 – The excitement of the first number one hit, having goals, making good music, growth as a band 01:30 – Having a private life, enjoying the fans 01:45 – “Give It To Me” banned by the FCC, becoming “the bad boys of Boston” 03:00 – Continuing to push boundaries, rock n’ roll as a means of rebellion 04:20 – Trying their best at everything they do as a band, achieving success 05:00 – Exciting music and new groups / the economy giving rock n’ roll a new vitality, conservative nature of record companies and radio 06:05 – No personnel changes within the band / “musical group therapy” 07:00 – Debt and bankruptcy within the band 07:55 – The ways he is crazy / releasing emotion helps the music 09:00 – Focusing on the work instead of the “show business” side of things, private life is private 09:40 – Jumping into the audience / invention of the wireless mic / going into the balconies to be with the fans

Lisa Robinson sat down to chat with Rob Halford while Judas Priest was on tour in support of their 1984 album, Defenders of the Faith. This interview focuses neither on the album nor the tour, however. Rather, the two talk more generally about the then-current state of heavy metal, which included a plethora of bands inspired by the sound and look of Judas Priest – Metallica, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, etc. With Halford caught in a predicament somewhere between continual pioneer and kindly grandfather of metal, this talk is a must-listen for fans of Priest, fans of metal, and fans of 1980’s pop culture.

00:00 – Dedication to heavy metal 01:51 – Heavy metal has become respectable 03:26 – “The heavy metal fan club” 04:31 – Heavy metal is harmless 06:05 – Heavy metal is all about the look 07:42 – The evolution of the look 09:04 – The look at the expense of comfort 10:15 – The stage show and albums catching up with one another 11:37 – The theatrical leanings of the British 13:03 – Hopes for touring less 14:47 – More females coming to the shows / heavy metal is masculine 16:33 – Modernizing heavy metal for the 80’s 18:04 – Succeeding in the face of adversity