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

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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.

Maybe I'm Amazed - A Story of Love & Connection in 10 Songs is one of the music books of the year it tells the story of how writer John Harris connects with his autistic son James via the music of The Clash, The Velvet Underground, The Beatles, Kraftwerk, Ian Hunter, Magazine, The Band, Wire, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis, Amy Winehouse & more.

We hear how music was woven into the fabric of James's life, becoming an essential part of who he is. It takes us through the struggles of raising an autistic child in a prejudiced world, and uncovers a hidden history of neurodivergence and creativity that casts new light on why notes, chords and lyrics speak so powerfully to the human mind.

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

Produced & Edited by Simon Cardwell

Music by Andy Maxwell

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

We go back to the sixties this week as we welcome Tom McGuinness to tell us about his various number 1s as a member of Manfred Mann.

A chance meeting with a young Eric Clapton at the Station Hotel in Richmond led to them forming The Roosters, it fizzles out but the are both briefly involved in another band, Casey Jones & the Engineers.

Eric drifts off to the Yardbirds shortly after & Tom ends up in Manfred Mann. It wasn’t until Tom heard Eric’s work with John Mayall he realised how far he would go.

Upon joining The Manfreds, their breakthrough hit 5-4-3-2-1 had been recorded but was not yet released. It had been commissioned as a new theme for the popular music TV program Ready, Steady, Go!

In the autumn of 1964 Do Was Diddy Diddy goes to number 1 in the UK & the US as part of the British Invasion, despite it almost getting dropped from the bands live set prior to release.

The band become known for their Bob Dylan covers, scoring a string of hits with Dylan tracks including ‘If You Gotta Go, Go Now’, ‘With God On Our Side’ & the Mighty Quinn.

Pretty Flamingo becomes their next number 1 in May of 1966 as Tom moves from bass to lead guitar. We find out about Bruce Springsteen’s love for the song.

Lead singer Paul Jones leaves the band & is replaced by Mike D’Abo & Jack Bruce is briefly a member of the band before moving onto Cream to be replaced by Klaus Voorman.

The band comes to a sudden end in 1969 but has reformed several times since & continues to tour to this day & you can find their tour dates here.

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.

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

Join us as we welcome our local Member of Parliament here in Walthamstow, Stella Creasy to Music Maps by way of Manchester & Colchester.

Stella grew up in Manchester where she loved the Stone Roses & her Mum taught A Guy Called Gerald at school. As a teenager she was unexpectedly uprooted to the suburbs in Colchester where she discovered a local band by the name of Blur.

She tells us about her love for Pulp, James, Suede & her well documented passion for The Wedding Present.

We also discuss issues for touring bands as a result of Brexit & how we can do more & assistance for grassroots venues to ensure new acts continue to come through.

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

Blue Sky: @musicmaps.bsky.social

X: @simonmusicmaps

Facebook: E17rockbookclub

Hosted by Mark Hart & Simon Cardwell

Written, Edited & Produced by Simon Cardwell

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

Join us & celebrate the 40th anniversary of Live Aid which took place on July 13th 1985. And to do that we are joined by John Kennedy, one of the original trustees of the Band Aid Trust.

One morning in November 1984 John was surprised when his office door flung open & Bob Geldof walked in. Insisting that John gave him one hour of his time, it led to a lifelong commitment.

Following unprecedented attention from the media & the public, Bob Geldof decides he has to put on a concert, eventually it is decided this will take place not only in London but also in Philadelphia on the same day.

Some were easier to persuade than others, but the star studded lineup at Wembley Stadium eventually includes Elton John, Queen, U2, George Michael, Paul McCartney, David Bowie, The Who & of course Status Quo.

Phil Collins performs at both shows after travelling on Concorde & John himself ends up in the Royal Box with princess Diana.

Join us to find out how this all unfolded from someone who was there from the very beginning & continues to be involved on a daily basis today.

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

Blue Sky: @musicmaps.bsky.social

X: @simonmusicmaps

Facebook: E17rockbookclub

Hosted, Written, Edited & Produced by Simon Cardwell

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