This week we have a world exclusive - we are the first podcast to discuss Freddie Mercury's recently discovered diaries/notebooks with biographer Lesley-Ann Jones.

You may have seen it reported in the press that Freddie Mercury left 17 volumes of notebooks to a daughter hardly anyone knew existed - we find a bit more out about these diaries which amount to 500,000 words in length & make up several autobiographies worth of information.

Within its pages we hear about Freddie's early years in Zanzibar, his summer holidays in Bombay, the fantasy land of Rhye, his lifelong passion for the royal family. the Bulsara family's sudden relocation to Feltham in South London & a Freddie the world never knew.

We hear new details regarding the writing or many of his most famous songs including Bohemian Rhapsody.

Freddie Mercury made his home at Garden Lodge in Kensington, the contents of which were sold off in a 2023 auction raising over £40m - what might Freddie have made of the auction? Or the suggestion the house should be turned into a Graceland style exhibit? Would Queen have toured again or would Freddie have retired?

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17

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Hosted, Produced & Edited by Simon Cardwell

Music by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In May 1980 an unknown Paul Westerberg walked into Oar Folk Records in Minneapolis & handed Peter Jesperson a demo tape. When Peter eventually got round to playing it he was bowled over by what he heard & asked to come & see them play live.

All does not go to plan as the band are thrown out of the venue as Peter arrives at the venue. He later falls into becoming their manager & creates the Twin Tone label in Minneapolis for the band.

It takes over 7 months to finish their debut album but before long the band begin to gain traction on college radio across the United States. The mini album Stink follows soon after & the Hootenanny album follows in April of 1983.

Peter briefly breaks off from the Replacements to become tour manager for R.E.M. & the bands tour together. The sessions for what becomes the Let It Be album begin towards the end of 1983 & the album becomes the top selling record in Twin Tone history.

An eventful trip to New York begins with the band making the cover of the Village Voice & playing a secret gig with Alex Chilton at CBGB's. The trip culminates in a show at Irving Plaza where Seymour Stein sees the band & later signs them to Sire Records.

The Replacements appear on Saturday Night Live in support of their next record Tim but Peter's time with the band comes to a sudden end in 1986.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17

X: @simonmusicmaps

Facebook: E17rockbookclub

Hosted, Produced & Edited by Simon Cardwell

Music by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us this week on Music Maps as we dive into the world of metal with Randy Blythe, the frontman of Lamb of God. Hear about his journey from a small-town punk rocker to global success.

Randy tells us about the early years of Lamb Of God, when they all worked day jobs in addition to the band, through to signing for Epic Records in 2004.

We also hear about Lamb Of God's recent participation in the final Black Sabbath show at Villa Park in Birmingham - Back To The Beginning & Randy's longstanding relationship with Ozzy Osbourne.

We discuss first hearing the Sex Pistols' Never Mind The Bollocks as a teenager as well as other significant influences including Nick Cave, Iggy Pop, Bad Brains, Judas Priest, Napalm Death, Black Flag & Henry Rollins,

Randy is also an accomplished photographer & he tells us how he got into the medium, developed his skills & his love for the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

It is hugely important for us to get positive reviews & star ratings - if you have enjoyed Music Maps & can spare the time to do either we would hugely appreciate it.

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17

X: @simonmusicmaps

Facebook: E17rockbookclub

Hosted, Produced & Edited by Simon Cardwell

Music by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.