
Advertise on podcast: A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Rating
4.8from
This podcast has
261 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Andrew HickeyExplicit
No
Date created
2018/09/26
Latest episode
2026/09/03
Average duration
108 min.
Release period
30 days
Description
Andrew Hickey presents a history of rock music from 1938 to 1999, looking at five hundred songs that shaped the genre.
Unlock A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs podcast Email contact info,
Listeners & Audience details
Email contact information
Direct podcast contact details

Listeners
Audience numbers & engagement insights

Audience details
Podcast Insights

Social media
Check A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs social media presence
Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs podcast
Song 186: “Frownland” by Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
2026/09/03
This episode is on “Frownland” by Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, and is the third part of a trilogy following the episodes on the GTOs and Frank Zappa. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.
Patreon backers also have a twenty-five-minute bonus episode available, on “The Tra-La-La Song (One Banana, Two Banana) by the Banana Splits.
Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by editing, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/
(more…)
Song 185: “Peaches En Regalia” by Frank Zappa
2026/07/21
This episode follows on from the episode on the GTOs. These two make up two parts of a three-part story, and I’m hoping to have part three, on Captain Beefheart, up before the end of the month.
This episode is on “Peaches En Regalia” by Frank Zappa. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.
Patreon backers also have a fifty-five-minute bonus episode available, on “Song to the Siren” by Tim Buckley.
Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by editing, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/
(more…)
Teaser Trailer: It’s a Superpower??
2026/07/21
Some of you will have seen me talk in the past about a site called The Daily Tism, a satirical news site by and for autistic people which is run by some friends of mine, and which I’ve written the odd piece for. (Perhaps you haven’t, in which case I’ll say again now, if you’re autistic yourself and/or you like really funny satirical news articles, you should head to http://thedailytism.com and read their stuff, and then go and back their Patreon at https://patreon.com/thedailytism ).
Well, a little under a year ago I was chatting with my friend Sara Gibbs, one of the co-runners of that site, who is an amazing comedy writer who’s written for all sorts of TV and radio stuff (if you’re in Britain you’ll undoubtedly have heard or seen her work — she’s had credits on The Now Show, The News Quiz, The Mash Report, Have I Got News For You, Dead Ringers, and many more, though now she concentrates on The Daily Tism), and we were talking about how much we enjoy things that really use the potential of the audio medium. When it’s done well there’s nothing like it in the world.
Anyway, we talked, and Sara said “What I’d really like to do is this” and I said “ooh yes… and you could do this!” Sara said “Oh yes, and if I did that then I could do this as well!” and I replied “and then you could…” and soon by bouncing ideas off each other we’d come up with the concept for a really, really, interesting show.
Sara, being the comedy writer in the conversation, then went off and made it a reality. She worked for months and turned that basic idea we’d had together into a fully-fleshed out eight-episode sitcom, writing eight wonderful scripts and creating some fabulous characters and a whole world for them to live in, and rounded up an incredible cast and crew, to create the world’s first (we think this is a first something, for once!) sitcom by and for autistic people. She’s done an amazing job and created something very very special here.
We’ve also got some very surprising celebrity guests making cameos, whose names have been announced to The Daily Tism’s backers if you’re curious, but who we’re otherwise keeping a surprise for now.
The show stars The Daily Tism co-editor Sarah Amero (voicing two characters), Alasdair Beckett-King, John Butler, The Daily Tism writer Guy Kelly, Stuart Laws, Georgia Mackenzie, Lizzie Schenk and Abigail Weinstock, with appearances by Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch and Grace Jarvis, and is produced by Sara Gibbs with Hare Lockwood and Sarah Amero, and directed by Sara Gibbs with Sarah Amero.
We’re having a live launch for it on Zoom on Sunday the 26th July at 6PM BST, which you can find more details of at https://www.patreon.com/TheDailyTism/posts/you-are-invited-162380067 — dress code is “autistic red carpet”. After that the whole season will be dropping early and ad-free for selected tiers on the Daily Tism’s Patreon, or it’ll be available weekly on all the normal podcast platforms.
Check https://allmylinks.com/itsasuperpower for links to the show on various platforms, or search It’s a Superpower??
Song 184: “The Captain’s Fat Theresa Shoes” by the GTOs
2026/07/21
This episode took longer than normal to come up because, as you’ll see from the episode itself, I’m releasing it simultaneously with the next episode, on Frank Zappa. These two make up two parts of a three-part story, and I’m hoping to have part three, on Captain Beefheart, up before the end of the month. There will also be, between this and the next episode on the feed, a trailer for an exciting project I’m a minor part of.
This episode is on “The Captain’s Fat Theresa Shoes” by the GTOs. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.
Patreon backers also have a half-hour bonus episode available, on “My Pal Foot-Foot” by the Shaggs.
Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by editing, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/
(more…)
Song 183: “Pinball Wizard” by the Who, Part 2: “His Disciples Lead Him In”
2026/03/22
Apologies for the delay in posting this episode — health issues have continued to affect me. They *seem* to be improving, but I should also mention here that some of the guitar demonstrations in this episode are not quite the same part as Pete Townshend is playing on the records, because my arthritis is affecting my hands.
For those who haven’t heard the announcement I posted, songs from this point on will sometimes be split among multiple episodes, so this is the second part of a two-episode look at the song “Pinball Wizard” by The Who. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.
Patreon backers also have an forty-eight-minute bonus episode available, on “Time of the Season” by the Zombies.
Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by editing, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/
(more…)
Song 183: “Pinball Wizard” by the Who, part 1: Always Playing Clean
2026/02/12
Apologies for the delay in posting this episode — I had a chronic illness flare-up and a frankly awful January. With luck, part two of this story will be up before the end of February.
For those who haven’t heard the announcement I posted, songs from this point on will sometimes be split among multiple episodes, so this is the first part of a multi-episode look at the song “Pinball Wizard” by The Who. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.
Patreon backers also have an eighty-two-minute bonus episode available, on “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens.
Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by editing, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/
(more…)
Song 182: “Many Rivers to Cross” by Jimmy Cliff
2025/12/18
This episode, we look at the song “Many Rivers to Cross”, the birth of reggae, and the career of the late Jimmy Cliff. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.
Patreon backers also have a sixty-seven-minute bonus episode available, on “Return of Django” by the Upsetters.
Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by editing, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/.
(more…)
Song 181: “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
2025/11/03
This episode, we look at the song “Proud Mary” and the brief but productive career of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.
Patreon backers also have a forty-four-minute bonus episode available, on “Mendocino” by the Sir Douglas Quintet.
Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by editing, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/.
ERRATUM: Three times early on I talk about a 1940s label called Concord Records. That’s meant to be Coronet Records — Concord Records is the label that *bought* Fantasy Records in the early twenty-first century, Coronet Records is the label that *became* Fantasy Records.
(more…)
Song 180: "Dazed and Confused" by Led Zeppelin, Part Two -- "Inspiration i
2025/09/30
For those who haven’t heard the announcement I posted, songs from this point on will sometimes be split among multiple episodes, so this is the second part of a two-episode look at the song “Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin, although this episode doesn’t get as far as Led Zeppelin’s formation, and is mostly about the intertwining session careers of John Paul Jones and (especially) Jimmy Page. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.
Patreon backers also have a thirty-eight minute bonus episode available, on “Jim’s Blues” by P.J. Proby.
Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by editing, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/
(more…)
Song 180: “Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin, Part One, The Song Remains the Same
2025/08/24
For those who haven’t heard the announcement I posted, songs from this point on will sometimes be split among multiple episodes, so this is the first part of a two-episode look at the song “Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin, although this episode doesn’t get as far as Led Zeppelin’s formation, and is mostly about the intertwining session careers of John Paul Jones and (especially) Jimmy Page. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode.
Patreon backers also have a thirty-five minute bonus episode available, on “Boom-Bang-a-Bang” by Lulu.
Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by editing, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt’s irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/
(more…)
PLEDGE WEEK: “Light Flight” by Pentangle
2025/07/26
Erratum: At one point here I say “Cannonball Adderley” when I mean “Nat Adderley”.
This episode is part of Pledge Week 2025. For five days this week, I will be posting old Patreon bonus episodes to the main feed to encourage people to subscribe to my Patreon. If you want more of these, and only if you can afford it, subscribe for $1 a month at patreon.com/andrewhickey . Whether you do or not, I hope you enjoy this one.
(more…)
PLEDGE WEEK: “Fruit Tree” by Nick Drake
2025/07/25
This episode is part of Pledge Week 2025. For five days this week, I will be posting old Patreon bonus episodes to the main feed to encourage people to subscribe to my Patreon. If you want more of these, and only if you can afford it, subscribe for $1 a month at patreon.com/andrewhickey . Whether you do or not, I hope you enjoy this one.
(more…)
PLEDGE WEEK: “Living in the Past” by Jethro Tull
2025/07/24
This episode is part of Pledge Week 2025. For five days this week, I will be posting old Patreon bonus episodes to the main feed to encourage people to subscribe to my Patreon. If you want more of these, and only if you can afford it, subscribe for $1 a month at patreon.com/andrewhickey . Whether you do or not, I hope you enjoy this one.
(more…)
PLEDGE WEEK: “Pictures of Matchstick Men” by The Status Quo
2025/07/23
This episode is part of Pledge Week 2025. For five days this week, I will be posting old Patreon bonus episodes to the main feed to encourage people to subscribe to my Patreon. If you want more of these, and only if you can afford it, subscribe for $1 a month at patreon.com/andrewhickey . Whether you do or not, I hope you enjoy this one.
(more…)
PLEDGE WEEK: “La conferencia secreta del Toto’s Bar” by Los Shakers
2025/07/22
This episode is part of Pledge Week 2025. For five days this week, I will be posting old Patreon bonus episodes to the main feed to encourage people to subscribe to my Patreon. If you want more of these, and only if you can afford it, subscribe for $1 a month at patreon.com/andrewhickey . Whether you do or not, I hope you enjoy this one.
(more…)
Podcast reviews
Read A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs podcast reviews
slit lip 2026/09/30
Great podcast
A thorough deep dive with a lot of rare songs, gorgeous I highly recommend the one on Behar. It’s where I started and it’s amazing.
Ed32144 2026/09/20
Hickey Rocks
I love Rock and roll and I love the pre-70s era so this podcast is in my wheelhouse. It was informative and sad at the same time. How great these pi...
Oldironside99 2026/09/13
Details
Fantastic unbelievable if u like music(not talking bubble gum music)u will get will educated deep deep details how they have so much info on what we ...
Truthscreamer 2026/09/13
A master class in the history of Rock and Roll
If you were going for a Masters degree in Rock and Roll, this would be your most interesting class.
But even if taught by the finest university, it c...
JohnnyB12454 2026/09/07
Used to be so interesting
This was a fascinating history, explaining how politics, war, racism, technology, culture, and individual genius & personality all influenced the deve...
Primo diPietro 2026/09/05
Indispensable listening
I’ve been listening to Andrew’s podcast for years and I am proud to be a modest contributor via Patreon. AHoRMi500S is, by any measure, one of the bes...
FlexTuning 2026/08/22
Love this Podcast!
When a new one of these pops up in my podcast feed, I’m so happy. I love rock music and this pod is fantastic. I learn so much and just dig it. Enjoy!
MoodieMay 2026/08/21
The most comprehensive and interdisciplinary voice on 20th century western music !!
Mr. Hickey… thank you for the most detailed woven tapestry of musical history. Thank you for your inclusion of intersectionality in your discussion of...
ginofromlancaster 2026/08/14
A Must Listen for pure fans of rock
Don’t listen to or read the one star reviews. If you are here, it’s because you deeply and truly love rock music. And that could be any genre, from ...
Satan’sBlues 2026/08/11
Weird and random list of songs
I’ve listened to quite a few of these shows and while some are really interesting and I enjoy the details and all but some of them are rather lame and...
Podcast sponsorship advertising
Start advertising on A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs relevant audience podcasts
You may also like to advertise on these Podcasts

4.6137791998
The Rubin Report
Dave Rubin

4.921801090
The Carl Jackson Podcast
Salem Podcast Network

4.922712003
First15 Devotional
First15

4.6313621086
Wow in the World
Tinkercast

4.3231082424
Joel Osteen Podcast
Joel Osteen, SiriusXM

4.549182000
The Daily Stoic
Daily Stoic | Backyard Ventures

4.6432771255
Verdict with Ted Cruz
Premiere Networks

4.8104502000
Steve Deace Show
Blaze Podcast Network

4.6619822000
The Dan Bongino Show
Cumulus Podcast Network | Dan Bongino

4.831571362
The Late-Round Fantasy Football Podcast
iHeartPodcasts
