Advertise on podcast: Rock n Roll Book and Documentary Reviews: Rock Talk Studio

THIS MONTH"S SPECIAL OFFER: Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the '90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed by Mike Ayers  For a limited time, get 20% off the paperback plus FREE shipping! CLICK HERE TO ORDER>> https://go.rocktalkstudio.com/sharinginthegroove  Use code ROCKTALK at checkout.  BOOK DESCRIPTION: What do Phish, Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews Band, and a forgotten rock scene in Princeton, New Jersey, have in common? Sharing in the Groove: The Untold Story of the '90s Jam Band Explosion and the Scene That Followed by Mike Ayers is an oral history packed with firsthand accounts of how the ’90s jam-band movement grew from small clubs into a nationwide phenomenon, often leaving the record industry scratching its head. It was one of my absolute favorite books of last year, so I teamed up with Mike to celebrate the paperback release and get you a special deal. Enjoy! IN THIS EPISODE: Is the Las Vegas Sphere the boldest evolution in live rock music, or just another flashy, over-the-top Vegas residency? In this episode of Rock Talk Studio, I break down how legendary acts like U2, Dead & Company, Phish, and Metallica are redefining the concert experience inside this multi-billion dollar venue. From mind bending visuals and acoustic challenges to my dream rock acts for the venue, I explore whether the Sphere is setting a new standard for live music or losing rock’s raw edge. Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

Rush never really got the chance to say a proper public goodbye to Neil Peart after his passing in 2020. Between tour schedules, world events, and grief, that planned tribute seemed stalled—until now. In this episode, I breaks down the powerful new documentary, Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple. From emotional conversations between Geddy and Alex to legendary drummers (Chad Smith, Danny Carey, Stewart Copeland, Gavin Harrison) stepping behind the drums to discover just how grueling his parts truly were, this film quietly delivers the profound, honest farewell Neil always deserved. Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

Gregg Allman was one of rock’s great blues voices, but did the new documentary Music of My Soul really do his story justice? In this episode I break down what the film gets right, what makes it unique, and what longtime Allman Brothers fans may feel is missing. Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

Before Hotel California became one of the biggest albums in rock history, the Eagles were already living inside the fame, money, pressure, and power struggles that helped create it. Today we dive into this new book Eagles and Hotel California: 50 Years and look at how the California dream turned darker inside the band’s masterpiece. *WIN A COPY OF Eagles and Hotel California: 50 Years * Sign up for the free Rock Talk Studio newsletter to enter to win! Enter here Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival is where the world's greatest guitarists share one stage- Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Trey Anastasio, Derek Trucks, Gary Clark Jr., Marcus King,  & more. 🎸 From the first show at the Cotton Bowl in 2004 to the 7th festival at the Moody Center in Austin this September, we look back at 20+ years of legendary sets. Gary Clark Jr. became a star here. John Mayer's career got its rocket boost here. Bill Murray ran the room here. And this year 90 year old Buddy Guy will be honored. Discover how Clapton personally curates the lineup, the iconic guitars that are being brought out to play (Clapton's Blackie, Stevie Ray Vaughn's Lenny), and why this festival is something to look forward to.  Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

There’s a tucked-away place in Hollywood where rock stars have lived, disappeared, let loose, and made history since the 60s. This episode digs into the new documentary If These Walls Could Rock, the wild stories behind the legendary Sunset Marquis, and why this place became one of rock n roll’s true clubhouses.  Want to win a copy of Metallica: Album by Album by Martin Popoff? This killer hardcover is packed with more than 200 photos and a deep dive into Metallica’s catalog with musicians and industry insiders who know the music. Sign up for the free Rock Talk Studio newsletter to enter to win! Enter here Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

Martin Popoff’s new book Metallica: Album by Album takes a different approach to one of metal’s most analyzed catalogs. With insight from Kim Thayil (Soundgarden) Frank Bello (Anthrax) , Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest), Brian Slagel (Metal Blade Records) and others, the book digs deep into the songs, albums and evolution that made Metallica one of rock’s biggest bands. *WIN THE METALLICA BOOK!!    Want to win a copy of Metallica: Album by Album by Martin Popoff? This killer hardcover is packed with more than 200 photos and a deep dive into Metallica’s catalog with musicians and industry insiders who know the music. Sign up for the free Rock Talk Studio newsletter to enter to win! Enter here Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

Robyn Hitchcock has written a rock memoir unlike anything else I’ve read. His new book, Stranded in the Future, takes us through 1968–1978 in a strange, funny, surreal trip through songwriting, first crushes, musical obsession, and the beginnings of the Soft Boys. I also go back to Hitchcock’s first memoir, 1967: How I Got There and Why I Never Left, and explain why these two books are best experienced together. *Want the latest in Rock N Roll Book and Documentaries news sent to your inbox? New editions come out on the last Friday of the month featuring all the book buzz and doc news, recently released titles, top 5 lists, and entry into ALL giveaways and more. Enter here Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears has written one of the most unusual rock memoirs I’ve ever read, one built around his lifelong fascination with astrology. I dig into Welcome to Your Life and whether the book works even if astrology isn’t your thing. Plus, a new Neil Peart documentary is coming featuring Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, Stewart Copeland, Chad Smith, Danny Carey and more paying tribute to the legendary Rush drummer. Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

In this episode of Rock Talk Studio, I break down the three things that finally made Elvis "click" for me: The Colonel and the King: Why understanding the mysterious and relentless Colonel Tom Parker provided the context I was missing.EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert: How seeing  these rehearsals and concert footage revealed the raw work ethic behind the spectacle.Elvis Presley: Conversations With Scotty Moore: A look at the new book by Jim Berkenstadt that gives a first-hand account of Elvis’s early career through the eyes of his legendary guitarist.Whether you're a die-hard Elvis fan or a skeptic like I was, this is a story about how the right history can make you reconsider an artist you thought you had all figured out. Special shout out to listener Vaughan M. for the encouragement to dive deeper! *Want the latest in Rock N Roll Book and Documentaries news sent to your inbox? New editions come out on the last Friday of the month featuring all the book buzz and doc news, recently released titles, top 5 lists, and entry into ALL giveaways and more. Enter here Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

This week on Rock Talk Studio, Big Rick reviews Jesse Malin’s Almost Grown and counts down some of the greatest New York City rock books ever written. From Patti Smith and Jim Carroll to Please Kill Me, discover the books that best capture the music, the people, and the spirit of New York rock ’n’ roll.  *Want the latest in Rock N Roll Book and Documentaries news sent to your inbox? New editions come out on the last Friday of the month featuring all the book buzz and doc news, recently released titles, top 5 lists, and entry into ALL giveaways and more. Enter here Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

Rock n roll books usually follow a predictable path, but these five books go somewhere completely different. Today's show explores some of rock’s most unusual reads, featuring Robyn Hitchcock, Peter Wolf, a forgotten Beatle, a CIA-recruited hair-metal drummer, and one author’s deeply personal journey through the music and life of Joni Mitchell. Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

Did the Rolling Stones, now in their 80's, just release on of their top 10 studio albums of all time? No way right? Let's count them down and see. *Want the latest in Rock N Roll Book and Documentaries news sent to your inbox? New editions come out on the last Friday of the month featuring all the book buzz and doc news, recently released titles, top 5 lists, and entry into ALL giveaways and more. Enter here Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

Jeff Beck was a guitarist’s guitarist-a restless genius who could do things that even contemporaries like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix couldn't touch. But why did one of the top five greatest guitarists of all time never achieve the same massive commercial success as his peers? The new book Blow by Blow: The Jeff Beck Story looks at the "Woodstock moment" that defined his career, his complicated artistic identity, and why his refusal to be "packaged" made him both a legend and an enigma. Plus, a look at "Jeff’s Guitar Garage," a technical breakdown of the gear that powered his otherworldly sound. Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]

Looking for that next great rock n roll documentary to dig into? Today it’s the Top 5 best rock n roll docs of 2026…so far. I've got one that take you inside the private collapse and comeback of a legend, one that gives overdue credit to a person who lit the match of an huge band,  a story about someone has done more than any other artist has done for the New York concert scene, a punk rocker who figured out how to win on MTV, and a part one doc that definitely needs a part two! Support the show email Big Rick at: [email protected]