It's Only Rock and Roll is a Phil Blizzard Radio Production - for your production email philblizzardmedia@gmail.com

The night rock and roll first grabbed Stan Urban wasn’t on a stage; it was in a cinema, watching Little Richard tear through Long Tall Sally. From that moment, a Dundee kid with two fingers on an old family piano set off on a six-decade run that takes us from church halls and converted radios to Chuck Berry’s stage, Led Zeppelin’s cocktail tab, and a viral train-station jam that made thousands miss their trains.

We sit with Stan to unpack the craft behind the chaos. He strips pianos to the frame, drops a podium mic inside, and turns boots and pedals into percussion. His left hand flips the groove—pink donk instead of donk pink—while his right hand leans ahead, stretching time until the room starts to shake. Along the way are stories that anchor an era: Jerry Lee Lewis returning his Yamaha CP with snapped strings, James Brown’s brisk handshake, and Robert Plant climbing stairs to sing Summertime Blues in a tiny Ibiza flat. Hamburg’s Star-Club brings long nights and hard lessons while Britain goes polite; East German television offers Saturday-night spectacle and the odd secret door; Denmark becomes home when touring turns into belonging.

This is a love letter to live music and the people who keep it honest. We talk writing rock and roll that isn’t pastiche, why “perfect” timing can drain feel, and how a pianist becomes a one-man rhythm section. There’s joy, grit, and plenty of laughter: Bahrain New Year’s Eve mayhem, a cannabis festival that forgot the piano, and the small, lonely minute before midnight when fireworks bloom outside and the crowd waits inside. If you care about rock and roll piano, Little Richard’s spark, Chuck Berry’s engine, Led Zeppelin lore, and the craft that makes a room move, you’ll feel right at home here.

Subscribe, share with a friend who loves real live music, and leave a review to tell us your favourite moment—we’ll feature the best replies next week.

It's Only Rock and Roll is a Phil Blizzard Radio Production - for your production email philblizzardmedia@gmail.com

Step backstage with Phil Blizzard & Russell Mason in this the debut episode of It's Only Rock n Roll into the chaotic, exhilarating world of rock and roll touring. Special guests are industry veterans Jake Duncan and Steve Martin and together they pull back the curtain on nearly a century of combined experience managing tours for some of music's biggest legends.

From accidental beginnings to career-defining moments, these production wizards recount their journeys with refreshing honesty. Jake stumbled into the industry in 1972 after spontaneously offering to help the Bay City Rollers' crew, while Steve's passion for Nine Below Zero led him from devoted fan to trusted crew member. Both admit to "bluffing it" early on – learning technical skills through necessity rather than training, with Steve confessing to being "the worst guitar tech in the world" despite working with extraordinary musicians.

The conversation takes us through pivotal moments in rock history, including exclusive behind-the-scenes accounts of Live Aid in 1985. Steve provides a unique dual perspective, having worked both for Nick Kershaw and promoter Harvey Goldsmith during the iconic event. Their insights reveal how Queen strategically stole the show with their legendary performance, while Paul McCartney faced technical difficulties despite being the artist everyone backstage was most excited to see.

Perhaps most fascinating are their candid revelations about working with mercurial personalities. From Shirley Bassey's dressing room color requirements to Elton John's dramatic pre-show tantrums, these stories humanize the stars while highlighting the diplomatic skills required in tour management. One particularly amusing anecdote involves David Bowie being turned away from Japan's final UK show because the doorman didn't recognize him!

Whether you're a music industry professional, an aspiring tour manager, or simply a fan curious about what happens behind the scenes, this episode offers invaluable insight into the machinery that powers the magic of live music. Subscribe now and join us for more unfiltered conversations with the unsung heroes who've kept the show on the road for decades.

It's Only Rock and Roll is a Phil Blizzard Radio Production - for your production email philblizzardmedia@gmail.com