The Joe Jackson Interviews

Frank Zappa "The Chieftains make more timeless music that U2!"

Imagine the scene. It's a morning after the Grammy Awards show, I'm sitting in Frank Zappa's studio in LA, watching Tom Jones record with The Chieftains. Zappa, who rarely gives interviews, is told that U2 are more appreciated in Ireland than The Chieftains, gets angry, and gives me one of his rare interviews. It was also one of his last 

David Gray on Dylan, Morrison and Springsteen

Gray was at the peak of his popularity in Ireland when we did this interview in his home. He talks with great passion about Dylan, Morrison and Springsteen. It's a team of solicitors! Kidding

Damien Dempsey on Phil Lynott, Christy Moore and Sinead O Connor.

I love celebrating the music of the Irish in particular, because I am a proud 'Paddy"! Here I am in 2004 discussing some Irish great with Damien Dempsey.

Joe Elliot on David Bowie, Marc Boland and Thin Lizzy

We all remember the music that first moved us. I did a series of interviews with musicians about just that. This is a chat I had with Mr Elliot, from Def Leppard.

George Benson remembers playing for Sinatra on the LA Is My Lady L.P.

I bought that Sinatra album when it was released. It has been reissued this month. It isn't Sinatra at his best vocally, but he's still bnuiriong it up and the band is fantastic, including Benson

Dermot Morgan Uncensored and Enraged Dublin 1993

I have many reasons for reposting the podcast from The Joe Jackson Archive. 

One is that it has Dermot, a man I very much admired, angry at the fact that he was driven out of his homeland and ours in order to make Father Ted. 

Sometimes, a country scatters its finest to the furthest shores. 

 

Christy Dignam 2004. "Heroin is Satan's semen." A soul-searchng interview

A relative of mine died from a heroin overdose. My Dad died addicted to drugs. Being anti-drugs in the Irish rock music scene worked against me for years. I don't care.

Drug use is on the rise again, in Ireland, and elsewhere

Christy's story is more relevant than ever

Kris Kristofferson tells Joe Jackson the story of Sunday Morning Coming Down. A Tribute

I became an interviewer to track down and talk with my music heroes. Kris Kristofferson was one of them. He influenced me greatly. This is my tribute to one of the greatest songwriters in any genre, who died yesterday. Kris R.I.P. 

Neil Diamond Soul-to-Soul with Joe Jackson

As part of a radio interview we did in his recording studio, Diamond and I talked about the roots of one of his most resonant songs, I Am; I Said.  He even joked about the talking chair! 

Sinead O' Connor 2000 Talking About the music that made her.

I like reposting this to remind people of Sinead's love of music. When all the the stories are forgotten about Sinead, her music will be remembered. In this podcasts she talks about her early influences