One of the most astonishing transformations in music history began with an earnest, bespectacled pianist named Reginald Kenneth Dwight — a shy kid who dreamed of writing songs for others. Our guest will take us inside that dream that took an unexpected turn when he reinvented himself as Elton John - a name that would soon be synonymous with spectacle, melody, and superstardom - releasing a run of number one albums that redefined pop and rock music. In this episode, you’ll learn:- How Elton never intended to be a stage performer at all — his plan was to write songs for others - The unlikely and almost accidental origins of his ultimate songwriting partner - How his very first American concert drew a dozen rock legends into the audience - A deep, inside look at the classic albums that made him unstoppable - The artists who shaped his sound, his showmanship, and his fearless stage persona - And how he evolved into a master of the modern soundtrack — from Broadway to Hollywood Want to learn more music history? Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channels Guest Biography Gillian Garr, author of Elton John, Captain Fantastic on the Yellow Brick Road. She's written extensively on music for a variety of publications, including Rolling Stone, Mojo and Goldmine. Gillian is the author of over 15 music biography books, including books on Green Day, Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix and the history of women in rock and roll. She joins us from Seattle.
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1:06:31
The Story of Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run album (50th Anniversary)
This special episode dives into one of the most pivotal moments in rock history. With a new Bruce Springsteen biopic hitting theatres this month, we uncover the real story behind the making of an epic album — and the desperate fight to save his career. It’s 1974...after two critically acclaimed but commercially disappointing albums, Bruce Springsteen is on the brink of being dropped by Columbia Records. Cornered by doubt and haunted by his past, he pushes himself, his band, and his producers to the breaking point — all in pursuit of the sound that would define him.In this episode, you’ll learn:The backstory of his troubled childhood and how it affected him for lifeThe complicated dichotomy that is Bruce's internal conflict for his entire careerHow the songs Born to Run, Jungleland and others evolved substantially in the studioThe hidden meanings and themes of key songs on the album A surprising reveal about the album's underlying themeThe key role of a 22-year-old Born to Run studio sound engineer who would go to become a billionaireWant to learn more music history from music insider experts? Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channelsGuest Bio Today we'll explore the making of the landmark album Born to Run with Bruce insider Peter Ames Carlin, author of the recently released Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run, which has already become a New York Times bestseller. Peter was on our previous episodes on the Story of R.E.M. and Story of Bruce Springsteen. He's also written definitive biographies on Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.
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1:09:47
Garage To Stadiums Trailer
A top 5% of podcasts in the world, Garage to Stadiums is a podcast for true music fans — the ones who want more than just headlines and hype. This show is for listeners who care about the full story behind the artists: their childhoods, musical influences, early gigs, personal battles, journey to stadium-level fame and the drama in between. Why are we different? In each episode host Dave Anthony features guests who know their stuff and bring real insights from their time with the performers — from respected rock journalists to documentary filmmakers.If you want smarter music commentary and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else, subscribe now and get your backstage pass to music history.
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Garage Classics: The Story of The Beatles
From music to hairstyles to the very fabric of pop culture, The Beatles changed everything. Having interviewed several Beatles himself, guest best-selling author Bob Spitz, (The Beatles: The Biography) shares astonishing, never-before-heard insights into their journey, influence, and the untold stories that shaped the most influential band of all time. Don’t miss this deep dive into Beatlemania like you’ve never heard before! You'll learn:The Beatles’ extremely difficult childhoods—and how it affected their personalitiesThe fateful meeting that sparked John and Paul’s teenage friendship The wild tour debauchery they kept hidden—until nowThe unexpected influences that shaped their soundThe Beatles & Bob Dylan’s game-changing impact on each otherThe "biggest mistake that led to their breakup", according to insider Bob SpitzJohn Lennon’s near-tragic spiral into hard drugs and its effect on the groupHow a rock-n-roll outsider created The Beatles’ image Guest Bio:Bob Spitz is a journalist and author of the million-selling book The Beatles: The Biography. Early in his career, Bob was a rock insider as manager for Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. He also authored a New York Times best-seller on Led Zeppelin and joined us as a guest on our Story of Led Zeppelin episode. Want to learn more music history? Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channels
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1:19:04
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1:19:04
The Story of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Travel back to the political protests and civil unrest of the late 1960s that spawned the legendary Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young — America’s first supergroup comprised of members of previously successful bands. The result: clashing egos, legendary breakups, wild lives, yet timeless harmonies that stunned audiences and influenced The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, and many more that followed. You'll learn:1. The very different upbringings & personalities of each of the four members 2. How they played their first ever gig in front of 500,000 people 3. Their incredible creation of a powerful protest song only 3 weeks after an American tragedy 4. The often bitter in-group rivalries that challenged their very existence 5. How one member committed serious federal offences and was jailed Want to learn more interesting music history? Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channelsGuest Biography for this episodeDavid Browne is the author of Crosby Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock's Greatest Supergroup. David is a senior writer at Rolling Stone magazine and a former music critic at Entertainment Weekly. He's profiled legends like Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead and Sonic Youth. He joined us from New York.
Garage to Stadiums is one of the Top 5% of podcasts in the world. From the bars to the arenas, learn the fascinating stories of how our biggest rock music legends made the leap. Each episode reveals the stories, songs and little known facts of the journey from obscurity to fame of one of rock music’s biggest stars. Join us on Garage To Stadiums as host Dave Anthony teams up with an author of a rock biography or director of a rock documentary to explore that journey, their early years, the stories behind the scenes, their top songs, and their place in music history.
Learn about the passion, talent, luck and even scandal that often came together to propel these stars from obscurity to household names.
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