VRP Rocks - Classic Rock Interviews

• 138. Russ Ballard - Breaks Down His Iconic Hits

  Russ Ballard is back on VRP Rocks! In this exclusive interview, the legendary singer, songwriter, and musician talks to Paul about his brand new double album Songs from the Warehouse: The Hits Rewired. Russ opens up about the creative process behind 13 brand-new tracks written during lockdown, including the powerful and emotional “Courageous,” and shares insight into how he reimagined 13 of his biggest hits – from “Since You’ve Been Gone” and “I Surrender” to “New York Groove” and “Voices.” Hear never-before-shared stories about the songs that became huge hits for Rainbow, KISS, Hot Chocolate, Uriah Heep, and more. Plus, the fascinating origins of “Voices” and how it ended up on Miami Vice, the story behind Ace Frehley’s hit version of “New York Groove,” and what it's like for Russ to revisit the songs that made him a rock legend. If you’re a fan of classic rock and great songwriting, this is one you don’t want to miss. 👉 Subscribe now so you never miss an episode 🎥 Check out the VRP Rocks YouTube channel (27k+ subs and 8.5M views!) 📱 Follow VRP Rocks on Facebook for more classic rock content Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 137. Paul Rappaport - Sr VP Columbia Records

  On this episode of VRP Rocks, I sit down with Paul Rappaport, the legendary rock promotions executive who helped shape the careers of The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and so many more. His new book, Gliders Over Hollywood, reveals the craziest behind-the-scenes stories from the golden age of rock—some of which have never been told before! Paul shares how he: 🎸 Turned a flop live album into a gold-selling hit. 🚀 Launched unknown artists to number one, making enemies in the industry. 🔥 Manipulated the rock charts to keep The Rolling Stones at #1 for months. 💥 Fought a fencing duel with Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson in the hallways of Columbia Records! It’s a wild, no-holds-barred look at the crazy world of rock promotions, where creativity, risk-taking, and sheer audacity changed the music industry forever. 📖 Gliders Over Hollywood is out April 15th—pre-order now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your favorite bookstore! 🎧 Listen now for some of the best rock stories you’ve never heard! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 136. Peter Holsapple - The dB's / R.E.M. / Hootie

  On this episode of VRP Rocks, Peter Holsapple joins me to talk about his incredible career in music—from co-founding The dB’s, touring and recording with R.E.M., and spending 20 years with Hootie & the Blowfish, to his brand-new solo album, The Face of 68. Peter shares fascinating stories about: The dB’s – Their rise, critical acclaim, and struggles to break through in the U.S. R.E.M. – Touring the world on the Green tour & recording Out of Time, including "Losing My Religion." Hootie & the Blowfish – 20 years on the road and in the studio with one of the biggest bands of the '90s. The Face of 68 – His latest album, inspired by his love of classic British rock, and the stories behind the songs. Whether you’re a fan of power pop, alternative rock, or classic rock, this episode is packed with insights from a musician who’s been at the heart of some legendary bands. 🎧 Subscribe to VRP Rocks for more interviews with rock legends! #PeterHolsapple #TheDBs #REM #HootieAndTheBlowfish #ClassicRock #PowerPop #VRPRocks #Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 135. Tracii Guns - LA Guns

  On this episode of VRP Rocks, I’m joined by legendary guitarist Tracii Guns—founder of L.A. Guns and an early member of Guns N’ Roses. From the Sunset Strip’s wildest days to the release of L.A. Guns’ brand-new album Leopard Skin, Tracii takes us on a journey through his incredible career. We dive into the new record, its bluesy, sleazy rock ‘n’ roll feel, and why Tracii sees it as a fresh chapter for the band. He also shares stories from the early days—playing alongside Slash, forming Guns N’ Roses with Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin, and what really went down in those wild 80s rock days. We also talk about the evolution of L.A. Guns, why he still loves making music, and how he keeps things fresh after all these years. Plus, Tracii gives us the inside scoop on the making of Leopard Skin, the upcoming tour, and his all-time favourite L.A. Guns song. If you love 80s rock, Sunset Strip stories, and killer new music, this one’s for you! 🎸🔥 🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to pre-order Leopard Skin—out April 4th on Cleopatra Records! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 134. Tony Butler - Big Country

  In this episode of VRP Rocks, I sit down with Tony Butler, best known as the bassist for Big Country and a musician with an impressive career spanning collaborations with Pete Townshend & The Pretenders. Tony shares fascinating stories from his time in Big Country, including the making of The Crossing, the pressures of the music industry and why he ultimately stepped away from the band. We also discuss his new solo album, No Profit in a Peaceful World, and his involvement in the Think Loud for Parkinson’s charity project, which features contributions from legends like Pete Townshend, Roger Taylor, and John Illsley. If you're a fan of great bass playing, rock history and behind-the-scenes insights into the industry, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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