Rock in Retrospect

Kevin Brown ( The Tom Petty Project ) joins Nick to discuss Cameron Crowe’s 1983 music documentary Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party . Originally filmed as an MTV promotional special supporting the band’s 1982 album Long After Dark , the film captures Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the height of their popularity while offering a fascinating, behind-the-scenes glimpse into their world. In addition to discussing the film, Kevin and Nick share their favorite songs from the band’s legendary career. Support the show

Nick is joined by his friends and A24k Gold co-hosts Amanda, Darren, and Kailyn for a special crossover episode! Together, they discuss Jonathan Demme’s classic concert film Stop Making Sense (1984), featuring the legendary Talking Heads at the height of their powers. Often hailed as the greatest concert film of all time, Stop Making Sense captures the band’s iconic live show through unforgettable performances, inventive staging, and, of course, David Byrne’s very big suit. The group dives into what makes it so enduring, their favorite musical moments, Demme’s approach to capturing the concert experience, and why it remains such a singular piece of music and movie history. And what better excuse for an A24k Gold crossover? A24 acquired and restored Stop Making Sense in 2023, bringing this landmark concert movie back to theaters for a whole new generation. Support the show

Josh and Kyle join Nick to discuss the career and legacy of 21st century hitmakers Coldplay. We discuss their consistent popularity over the last quarter century, their status as a great live act, share our favorite songs and albums from their legendary career, and why they are no brainers for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Support the show

Jacob and Rachel, hosts of the podcast Cinema Role , join Nick to discuss James Griffiths' 2025 musical comedy-drama The Ballad of Wallis Island . The film stars Tom Baden, Tim Key, and Carey Mulligan. Support the show

Patrick, Mike, and Hector return to discuss Rob Reiner's 2025 mockumentary Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues . We share on thoughts on the movie, and conclude by selecting our favorite film from Reiner's legendary career. Support the show

Cliff and Helen are back to revisit one of the biggest music scandals of all time as they discuss the 2023 Paramount+ documentary Milli Vanilli . We dive into the incredible rise and spectacular fall of the 80s pop duo, unpack the infamous lip-syncing controversy, and explore how the documentary reshapes a story many thought they already knew. Support the show

Today marks the 5-year anniversary of Rock in Retrospect! To celebrate this milestone, I turned it over to listeners to ask Nick anything they wanted him to answer or share stories about. From behind-the-scenes stories to questions he's never answered before, nothing was off limits. Let's celebrate five years together! Support the show

Albert and Diya return to discuss Antoine Fuqua's Michael (2026), the long-awaited music biopic chronicling the early life and career of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. They share their thoughts on the film—both its strengths and shortcomings—highlight the standout performances (including Jaafar Jackson's portrayal of his famous uncle), and dive into several of the film's most memorable moments and themes. We wrap up the episode by counting down some of our favorite Michael Jackson songs. Support the show

Comedian and writer Murray Valeriano returns to discuss the 2023 documentary Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd . We analyze the film, sharing plenty of funny stories and anecdotes along the way. We wrap up the episode with a mixtape of our favorite Pink Floyd songs spanning every era of the iconic band. Support the show

Scott Kummer (co-host of I've Got That On Vinyl ) returns to join Nick to discuss his podcast and his ongoing Project My Top 10 series . The first half of the episode covers IGTOV's origins, format, and a rundown of the current rankings. The second half features Nick and Scott each revealing their top 10 favorite albums of all time. Support Scott's show and register for a free account on the IGTOV website . You can participate in polls for albums featured on past episodes and post your own top 10 favorite albums of all time. It's a lot of fun and helps support independent music podcasters and pollsters. Support the show

Mike ( Retro Rock Roundup ) and Tony return to discuss their thoughts on the 2025 biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, which explores Bruce Springsteen’s personal and professional struggles during the making of his 1982 album Nebraska . We also discuss the newly released Electric Nebraska to cap off the conversation! Support the show

Prolific country music writer Barry Mazor joins Nick to talk about his recent book Blood Harmony: The Everly Brothers Story . The book has been widely praised as the definitive biopgraphy about the iconic musical duo and it's definitely one of the best music history books written in the last few years. Definitely check this one out! You can purchase a copy of Blood Harmony at any major retailer, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books. Support the show

Greg returns to the show to discuss the career and legacy of the iconic rock band Smashing Pumpkins. We discuss their history, success, their catalog, and why they deserve to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Support the show

The Douche Caravan returns! Jon (Host of The Hustle Podcast ), Patrick (Host of The EETF Podcast ) and Michael join Nick to discuss Stanley Nelson and Nicole London's 2025 documentary We Want the Funk! , which covers the history of the genre. Support the show

Prolific rock writer Martin Popoff joins Nick to talk about his latest book Kiss '76: Twelve Months That Defined the Hottest Band in the Land. You can purchase a copy of Popoff's book at any major retailer, including Amazon , Barnes & Noble , and Quatro . Support the show

Albert and Dya join Nick to talk about the 2025 Netflix documentary Selena y Los Dinos . Support the show

The Rock Hall squad is back! David, Mark, Michelle, and Tom return to share their thoughts on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 inductees. We did things a little differently this time, asking our Patreon supporters for topics they wanted us to cover and questions they wanted us to answer. Support the show

Scott and Jon join Nick to discuss the career and legacy of Jonathan Richman. We talk about both his time with the proto-punk pioneers The Modern Lovers and his ever-eclectic solo career. We talk about a variety of topics, but have a lengthy conversation weighing the merits for a potential induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Support the show

Historian and writer Daniel Bukszpan returns to discuss his latest book Rush and 2112: Fifty Years . You can purchase a copy of Daniel's book at retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Quarto Books. Support the show

DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray ( Queue Points Podcast ) return to discuss the career and legacy of the iconic R&B and pop group New Edition. Topics include the group’s rise to fame, their legendary lineup of members, our favorite albums and songs from their catalog, and their current nomination for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Support the show