Podcasts by A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music

A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music

A definitive, but light-hearted look at the world of mid to late-Sixties psychedelia. Exploring the world changing counter-culture on both sides of the Atlantic via music, art, mind-bending band names and an impressive rogues gallery. Paying homage to legends such as Hendrix and Pink Floyd whilst celebrating lesser-known artists like Linda Perhacs. Some wonderful stories too - George Clinton’s hair-straightening job, The Beatles’ chauffeur on backing vocals and what Brian Wilson and his brothers did when their mum and dad went on holiday. Researched and presented by BBC 6 Music’s Marc Riley and music journalist Rob Hughes. Adult themes and drugs references mentioned throughout.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
Welcome to the A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music from 2018-07-17T02:30

Full length introductory episode to welcome you to the box set. Marc and Rob set out their stall discussing the main themes and players & their flexible approach to the alphabet!

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A is for Acid, Animals and Ambrose Slade from 2018-07-17T02:25

Did you know the Rolling Stones took a witch on tour with them? How drugs affected the 13th Floor Elevators' Roky Erickson and the treatment he had to endure? It's all in here.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
B is for Barrett, Buckley and Byrds from 2018-07-17T02:20

When Syd met Gilmore, what is the definition of psycedelia, the truth about the Byrds song Eight Miles High and how a gift of a banjo aged 13, influenced the young Tim Buckley.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
C is for Cream, Crazy World and Chocolate Watchband from 2018-07-17T02:15

The Chocolate Watchband support Frank Zappa but don't support The Grateful Dead or Jefferson Airplane - disaster. The Creation play an electric guitar with a violin bow - unique.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
D is for Doors, Donovan and Dantalian's Chariot from 2018-07-17T02:10

Was Jim Morrison's dad responsible for the escalation of the Vietnam War? Was there tension between Donovan and Bob Dylan? - see Donovan's song Hey Mr Tangerine Eyes.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
E is for Easy Riders, Experiments and Electric Prunes from 2018-07-17T02:05

Which band were given their first break by an estate agent and played the definitive Psych song? Eddie Kramer helps the beatles and the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix - legend.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
F is for Funkadelic, Fairport and Flowers from 2018-07-17T02:00

Non violent demonstrations and the flower power symbol linked to HG Well's Time Machine - wow. There's an in-depth look at The Fool a Dutch Design company working for The Beatles.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
G is for Groundhogs, Garcia and Grace Slick from 2018-07-17T01:55

Advice for Jerry Garcia's parents, while a middle finger goes missing. Bill Graham is discussed, the greatest rock promoter ever. Plus Grace Slick's lift off moment - pun intended

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
H is for Hendrix, Head and Hapshash from 2018-07-17T01:50

A plot-less film called Head as the Monkees go slapstick, Beatniks are explained, discussed and dissected and band posters come into their own under Hapshash and the Coloured Coat

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
I is for International Times, Iron Butterfly and Incredible String Band from 2018-07-17T01:45

In The Park becomes a tribute to Brian Jones and why were Marc's wife's grandparents there. Jeff Lynn and Roy Wood a match made in heaven and Marianne Faithfull's botty on show?

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
J&K are for Jefferson Airplane, John's Children and Kevin Ayers from 2018-07-17T01:40

The only band to play at Woodstock, Monterey and Altamont - Jefferson Airplane. Marc Bolan leaves John's Children after 4 months to join Tyrannosaurus Rex & Kevin Ayres in Malaya

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
L is for Love, Lewis Carroll and Lucy In The Sky from 2018-07-17T01:35

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - the stories behind this iconic title. The Leaves take over The Byrds' residency at Ciro's on sunset Boulevard and the real Pat Boone steps forward.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
M is for Move, Monterey and Moby Grape. Part 1 from 2018-07-17T01:30

Moby Grape launches first album at The Avalon Ballroom - they had their own wine made - but nobody brought a corkscrew - oops and somebody skips recordings by The Move - naughty.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
M is for Moody Blues, Misunderstood and Magical Mystery Tour. Part 2 from 2018-07-17T01:25

Facts - The Beatles's Magical Mystery Tour reaches only number 2 in the UK charts, John Peel champions The Misunderstood and The Moody Blues perform their first gig in 1964.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
M is for Middle Earth, Mardas and Mamas and Papas. Part 3 from 2018-07-17T01:20

Michelle Phillips is served with a writ to leave the Mamas and The Papas, Mama Cass is involved in blanketgate & Magic Alex promises The Beatles x ray cameras and invisible paint.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
N is for Nirvana, Nice and Nuggets from 2018-07-17T01:15

Todmorden is revealed as the rock capitol of the north, The Nice recruit Lemmy as a roadie and Floyd's Nick Mason owns a helicopter and completes the Le Mans classic car race.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
O is for Owsley Stanley, Other Half and Os Mutantes from 2018-07-17T01:10

Does Randy Holden save the day for The Yardbirds? Did he really leave The Other Half because he didn't like his guitar? And what band used to be called The Six Sided Rockets? Enc.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
P is for Prankster, Procol Harum and Pink Floyd. Part 1 from 2018-07-17T01:05

Where did Syd Barrett get the name Pink Floyd from? Which Procol Harum track sold over 10 Million copies? And Linda Perhacs releases Parallelograms.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
P is for Parliament, Pearly Queens and Pink Fairies. Part 2 from 2018-07-17T01:00

George Clinton straightens hair for a living but goes onto produce cosmic funk operas. Janis Joplin has a sad decline but The Pink Fairies are on the up and up.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
P is for Peel, Protest and Purple Band. Part 3 from 2018-07-17T00:55

It's all kicking off in Vietnam and the Civil Right's Movement is centre stage. The Purple Gang's singer was a disciple of occultist Aleistar Crowley, John Peel was a huge fan.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
Q&R are for Quicksilver, Roky and Rolling Stones from 2018-07-17T00:50

Virgos and Geminis are all ruled by the planet Mercury - a good way to name a band? The Rolling Stones take inspiration from African culture and Rocky Erickson's hair cut protest.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
S is for Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Part 1 from 2018-07-17T00:45

Marc's Uncle Chris played the Sgt Pepper album to him when he was 6 so The Beatles were the first band he ever got into, Rob's first was I'm a Tiger by Lulu - enough said.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
S is for Seeds, Sky Saxon and Strawberry Alarm Clock. Part 2 from 2018-07-17T00:40

Can Marc and Rob solve the mystery of Sky Saxon's birth date? Did you know The Seeds coined the phrase Flower Power? Plus Strawberry Alarm Clock on tour with The Beach boys.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
S is for Skip Spence, Studios and Syd Barrett. Part 3 from 2018-07-17T00:35

Skip Spence's life is dissected as is his album Oar, learn more than you've ever forgotten about legendary studio Abbey Road and hear Marc's Abbey Road anecdotes - tempting.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
S is for Small Faces and Steve Marriot. Part 4 from 2018-07-17T00:30

The Small Faces and their singer Steve Marriott profiled in this episode. Steve was a huge Buddy Holly fan, a prankster and played in the stage play Oliver, much more inside.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
S is for Smoke, Shankar and Strawberry Fields. Part 5 from 2018-07-17T00:25

Giggles galore as Marc and Rob discover The Smoke were managed by The Krays. Strawberry Fields is put under the microscope and Ravi Shankar too small to dance? - discuss.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
S is for Steppenwolf, Spirit and Sly Stone. Part 6 from 2018-07-17T00:20

Some great names in this Acid Rock episode - Mars Bonfire, Goldy McJohn, Hoyt Axton and Rushton Moreve download to check for other humdingers. Spirit play with Led Zeppelin - wow.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
S is for Soft Machine, Simon Dupree and Side Trips.Part 7 from 2018-07-17T00:15

Soft Machine's first single was produced by Chaz Chandler, Jimi Hendrix was very shy and polite, extremely courteous to a Victorian extreme.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
T is for T. Rex, Trip and Tintern Abbey. Part 1 from 2018-07-17T00:10

T. Rex go from making rock to baroque in a musical career change. The film The Trip, staring Peter Fonda, happily confuses Marc and Rob as to its location.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
T is for Traffic, Tomorrow and Technicolour Dream. Part 2 from 2018-07-17T00:05

Marc calls Traffic's Steve Winwood a genius Rob calls him something all together different. While still as school Steve supported the likes of Muddy Waters, BB King & Chuck Berry

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
U&V are for UFO, Vanilla Fudge and United States of America from 2018-07-17T00:00

Politics feature highly in The United States of America band, courtesy of singer Joseph Byrd and singer Dorothy Moskowitz. Plus The UFO club was a victim of it's own success.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
V is for Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart. Part 1 from 2018-07-16T23:55

Unravelling the truths from the many claims made about Beefheart's extraordinary & dark life from the LA Zoo to Trout Mask Replica. Marc recounts a story about a Beefheart doodle

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
V is for Voorman, Vincebus Eruptum and Velvet Underground. Part 2 from 2018-07-16T23:50

The emergence of 'The Velvet Underground & Nico' under Warhol's management, 'Revolver' sleeve designer Klaus Voorman and ground-breaking and gut-busting volume from Blue Cheer.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
W is for Woodstock and Brian Wilson's Beach Boys from 2018-07-16T23:45

We explore the psychedelic brilliance and sandpit of Brian Wilson and hear how Woodstock became a free festival by default with Hendrix playing the Monday morning graveyard shift.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
W, X&Y are for Who, Yardbirds and West Coast from 2018-07-16T23:40

A band named The Detours change their name to The Who, write Tommy and sell over 20 million copies - but was it an original idea, controversial - See, The Pretty Things.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
Y&Z are for Yellow Submarine and Zombies from 2018-07-16T23:35

Ringo Star sings, Abbey Rd sound effects room is raided and The Beatles Chauffeur performs backing vocals. Marc and Rob also look at the career of the Zombies.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
Z is for Zappa and Year Zero from 2018-07-16T23:30

Zappa and the Mothers of Invention 'Freak Out!' and insist 'We're Only In It For The Money'. Plus the ultimate death of the psychedelic Summer of Love at Altamont.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: A is for Anarchy, Ants and Adverts from 2017-10-24T11:55

Stories from the notorious Anarchy Tour in 1976, how watching The Sex Pistols inspired Stuart Goddard to form Adam and the Ants and ‘One Chord Wonders’ The Adverts get a deserved mention.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: B is for Boredom, Brains and Blondie from 2017-10-24T11:50

The story of Buzzcocks including the seminal ‘Spiral Scratch’, ‘hardcore’ punk band from Washington Bad Brains, who famously hated the association with hardcore and the band Blondie, not just th...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: C is for Complete Control and The Clash from 2017-10-24T11:45

The Clash sign to CBS, New York's CBGB venue becomes the home of punk and New Wave and the bard of Salford himself Dr John Cooper Clarke makes an appearance.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: D is for Damned Damned Damned from 2017-10-24T11:00

Find out how Chrissie Hynde was very nearly in The Damned and what Dave Vanian did before he became lead singer of the band.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: E is for EMI, Eater and the Electric Chairs from 2017-10-24T10:55

Ever wondered who Eddie was in Eddie and the Hot Rods? Wonder no more. Plus learn all about Erics, Liverpool's Punk rock answer to the Cavern.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: F is for Falling Out, Fire Engines and Factory from 2017-10-24T10:50

Tales of The Fall with its 66 members, the phenomenon of fanzines including the bible of the punk movement, ‘Sniffing Glue’ fanzine plus the ubiquitous record label Factory Records, set up in 19...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: G is for Grundy, Goading and Gobbing from 2017-10-24T10:45

The story of the provocative Bill Grundy interview with Sex Pistols and the furore that followed. Plus, the story behind why Glenn Matlock wasn’t in the film ‘The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle’, a...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: H is for Heroin, Heartbreakers and Hynde from 2017-10-24T10:40

Marc and Rob take a look at the introduction of Heroin into the Punk scene. H is also a tribute to Buzzcocks frontman Howard Devoto, the influence of the 100 Club, plus Marc reads some special m...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: I is for Idol, Iggy and Influences from 2017-10-24T10:35

Marc proposes that 1930's band leader Louis Jordan is the godfather of Punk Rock and in some shocking news, reveals Sid Vicious was named after a hamster - true fact.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: J is for Jam, Jelly and Jordan (not that one) from 2017-10-24T10:30

Marc and Rob discuss how Jello Biafra was influenced by the assassination of JFK and went on to form ‘Dead Kennedys’ with East Bay Ray, plus some of the exploits of Jordan including how she work...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: K is for Killers and Kaos from 2017-10-24T10:25

Hear stories about Killing Joke including their manifesto and connection with Kurt Cobain. K is also for Nick Kent and Kevin Rowland, who formed The Killjoys and later, Dexy’s

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: L is for Lux Interior, Lydia Lunch and Lesser Free Trade Hall from 2017-10-24T10:20

Marc and Rob champion the letter L including Lux Interior of the Cramps, who was once described as "a cross between Iggy Pop and Lurch". Lydia Lunch meets Brian Eno in New York and No Wave is bo...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: M is for two Malcolms and a Marquee from 2017-10-24T10:15

Marc and Rob bring you tales of The Ruts singer Malcolm Owen and music promoter and manager, amongst many things Malcolm McLaren. Also, Marquee Moon, a contender for the best debut album by Tele...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: N is for Nipples and No Future from 2017-10-24T10:10

Marc and Rob have No Future...on their minds at least. They also dip into Northern Ireland's punk rock scene and investigate the punk pasts of Nick Cave and Shane McGowan.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: O is for Outrage and Osterberg from 2017-10-24T10:08

The A to Z of Punk reaches O for outrage, so be warned. It's also for Gene October, Terry Ork and James Newell Osterberg.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: P is for Punk and Post Punk (obviously) from 2017-10-24T10:06

P can only be for Punk and its close relative Post Punk. It's also for Pere Ubu, Public Image and the Prefects. Plus we discover just who invented the Pogo and why.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: Q is for Queen, the Queen and Queensland from 2017-10-24T09:55

Discover how Freddy Mercury's teeth played a pivotal role in punk and how the Sex Pistols celebrated the Silver Jubilee.

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: R is for Ramones, Raincoats and Rough Trade from 2017-10-24T09:50

Discover the secret history of the brothers Ramone before they actually became brothers and learn just how John Lydon turned into Johnny Rotten. Plus Rough Trade Records and Rock Against Racism ...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: S is for Stranglers, Suicide and Spitting. Part 1 from 2017-10-24T09:45

The Punk A-Z reaches S for the Stranglers, Suicide, Sham 69 and Swell Maps. Plus Marc and Rob investigate the murky question - just who invented spitting? Nice

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: S is for Siouxsie, Strummer and Stiff. Part 2. from 2017-10-24T09:40

The second instalment of the letter S, with stories featuring Siouxsie and the Banshees, Patti Smith and the Skids. Learn how Woody Mellor became Joe Strummer and the story of Stiff, "the World'...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: T is for Talking Heads, TV Personalities and Throbbing Gristle. Part 1. from 2017-10-24T09:35

David Byrne's journey from Dumbarton to Talking Heads, "Part Time Punks" TV Personalities, plus The Producers - a whistle stop tour of the men behind punk's finest records. There's so much to fi...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: T is also for Transmissions, Thau and TRB. Part 2. from 2017-10-24T09:30

A guide to the TV and radio transmissions that brought punk to the nation (or in some cases, didn't) including The Old Grey Whistle Test and Top of the Pops. T is also for Marty Thau, the Boy Lo...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: U&V are for Undertones, Upstarts and Vibrators from 2017-10-24T09:25

The A-Z of Punk brings you two letters for the price of one with U and V, for Undertones, Upstarts and Vivienne Westwood. Learn how Sid Vicious was named after a hamster (yes, really) and how Ch...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: W is for Wally, Wire and Wreckless Eric from 2017-10-24T09:20

Marc and Rob discuss W for lost Pistol Wally Nightingale, 'not-a-punk-band' Wire and the dysfunctional success that is Wreckless Eric. Plus stories of glam rock from Wythenshawe and learn whose ...

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A to Z of Psychedelia on 6 Music
A to Z of Punk: X,Y&Z is for X-Ray Spex, Y and Less Than Zero from 2017-10-24T09:15

Stories about X-Ray Spex' Poly Styrene, The Pop Group's first album 'Y' and Elvis Costello

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