The Joe Jackson Interviews

Joe Jackson interviewer 2023 interviewed about his book Richard Harris Raising Hell and Reaching for Heaven

In late 2022/ early 2023, I was interviewed many times on Irish radio about my book, Richard Harris Raising Hell and Reaching for Heaven. In other words, as a professional interviewer, the tables were turned on me. This is the first of two podcasts based on those interviews. 

Tommy Tiernan 2004 Soul Searching and Uncensored Part Two. Repost

Tommy Tiernan is back on RTE televison with a new series of interviews. Here he is, interviewed by me nearly a decade ago. However, Tommy should not expect all his guests to be as forthcoming to me as he was. Every interviewee has the right to draw a line in the sand. 

Richard Harris mocks the ”Method,” Robert De Niro, and Gabriel Byrne etc. From the book Richard Harris Raising Hell and Reaching for Heaven

This podcast is a blend of Richard Harris 1987-style mocking the "method" approach to acting, which he once practised and espoused, and its practitioners, such as De Niro, in The Untouchables, and me reading a section of my new book Richard Harris Raising Hell and Reaching for Heaven. It will be available in America from January 10th onwards. In the section I read - because it was a pub chat with Richard - he mocks the likes of Gabriel Byrne and Patrick Bergin. And praises Brendan Gleeson. It's all in good fun. I hope we don't hurt those named actors!!!

Tommy Tiernan Soul Searching and uncensored 2004 style. Repost

It's nearly 2023. This is a repost. Nowadays, Tommy does on TV what I did with him and all my interviewees all my life - went soul searching with them. But when I use that phrase, I don't mean it only as searching for the soul of the interviewee. My new book, Richard Harris: Raising Hell and Reaching for Heaven, highlights that fact. I hoped, pretentious as it may sound, to find truths that would enlighten my own soul and the souls of those who read my articles or books or listened to my radio shows. The same is true of my podcasts.  This is part one of two. And it is Tiernan, as you never heard him before and probably will never hear him again - unless you heard the podcast already! 

Soul Searching with Sean Hughes 1993 style. A tribute five years after his death.

This is a repost as my tribute to Sean Hughes nearly thirty years after we did the original interview - which was done for a Christmas issue of a magazine in Ireland. It's been five years since Sean died, and I wanted, at Christmas 2017, to mark that event by including this programme in my radio series The Joe Jackosn Tapes Revisited. However, I was asked not to broadcast it as RTE Radio 1 had other plans to "mark his passing." If they did, I never heard that show. But here, you can hear this one. Let's not forget our old heroes - especially those who blessed us with laughter. 

Scott Walker on The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore from Joe Jackson ’s Ebook The Fugitive Kind. Repost.

In 2000 Scott Walker asked me to allow him to use a 1990 12,000-word two-part article I wrote about his work as the essay for his 5-CD box set Five Easy Pieces. Sadly we couldn't come to an agreement on the deal. So, I have published the essay and its backstory as an Ebook. This clip, however, is from a major in-depth interview we did in 1994,  and we talk about what Scott rightly described as one of the best pop records ever made in the UK.

”Men and women began fighting in the Garden of Eden! Now it’s open revenge.” Richard Harris on the war between the sexes. 1987

Here, I read from my book, Richard Harris: Raising Hell and Reaching for Heaven, the opening section of Chapter 14, Lovemaking or 'Hate-Making' in a Sexual War Zone.'  This is a lead into Richard Harris's highly contentious views on men and women during the late 1980s. But a word of warning, much of what he says will enrage feminists, such as 'women should have thoughts and not be allowed to express them.' Was he being serious when he said things like that to other journalists? That's what I wanted to find out. You decide. 

Richard Harris 2001 Remembers: his last pub brawl. From the book Richard Harris Raising Hell and Reaching for Heaven.

Firstly, coming up to Christmas 2022, I want to thank sincerely and wish a Happy Christmas and a fulfilling New Year all those who listen to my podcasts and inspire me to keep making them! No one wants to podcast into an abyss of silence!

This is a bit of fun from my new book, Richard Harris: Raising Hell and Reaching for Heaven. Harris at 70, remembers his last fight. 

 

 

Joe Jackson’s personal tribute to Ronan Collins

Yesterday, December 9th 2022, I read the sad news that my one-time fellow broadcaster in RETE Radio 1, Ronan Collins, is vacating his daily music show, though he will still do occasional programmes for the station. Even so, for 43 years, his voice has been part of the social fabric of Irish society, so, today, I put together this, my personal tribute to the man - even though he slagged me!

Reviewing the reviewer. Joe Jackson deconstructs a review of his Richard Harris book.

Today, December 10th, I have published in the Irish Independent, a letter under the headline, 'Why review of my Harris book made me laugh.' It is a reference to Daily Telegraph writer Jasper Rees. Today also happens to be the 90th birthday of Richard Harris's only remaining sibling, Noel. He told me he "felt sick" when he read in the Irish Independent the review by Mr Rees. This is my response.