The Joe Jackson Interviews

Scott Walker: The 60s icon Walker dismisses Dylan and Ginsberg, talks about Bergman and the feminine psyche and gender in terms of his own songs

Scott Walker not only told Joe Jackson during the triple-set of in-depth interviews they did in 1995 - one for radio, one for a rock music magazine and the other for The Irish Times newspaper - that he remembered and really liked a review Jackson did of Walker's album Climate of Hunter in 1984. He said it helped him redefine for himself how his music could best be described at that point. Then, in 2003, Jackson was informed that Scott Walker wanted to use as the booklet notes in the forthcoming box-set Scott Walker in 5 Easy Pieces, a critique of Walker's life and work Jackson had written in 1990. That critique formed the basis of Scott Walker The Fugitive Kind, Jackson's previous book on Walker which also contained its backstory and a personal appreciation of Walker's music from the author's perspective as a lifelong fan. This book, Scott Walker The Joe Jackson Interviews is a companion piece to the first and it also includes a backstory, focusing on aspects of the late Scott Walker's life that have never been discussed in public.
One of these interviews when first published instantly became legendary among fans of The Walker Brothers and Scott Walker, particularly those who read Walkerpeople, the newsletter of The Walker Brothers Appreciation Society, in which Jackson gave permission for it to be included for fans. In its preface, Lynne Goodall wrote, ‘From all the press interviews given by Scott this time around THE definitive, in-depth interview surely has to be that which appeared in over two consecutive issues in a music paper. Well-deserved congratulations to interviewer Joe Jackson (and his ever-inquiring mind) for this “epic” volume.’ Jan de Rooij, from Holland, wrote, 'the 2-part Joe Jackson interview with Scott is the best I ever read.' Patrick Rogers, from Surrey, wrote, 'The Joe Jackson interview was remarkable-the sort of open-minded, appreciative approach to Scott's music and thinking that has been lacking for so long.' Pauline Armstrong, from Chester, wrote, 'what a masterful interview. Throw away the thumbscrews and send for Joe Jackson! What a shame that Mr Jackson didn't write Scott's biography - that would have been a real eye-opener.'
The latter comment, as Jackson says in this book, "had a sting in its tail." In 1990 he suggested to his literary agent that he would love to write a biography of Scott. She said, "I don't think there would be much interest right now in a biography of Scott Walker." However, thirty years later, Joe Jackson now suggests that "both these books, particularly Scott Walker The Joe Jackson Interviews, which I sub-title Looking Back 'Through Mirrors Dark and Blessed With Cracks' - a quote from his seminal song, Boychild - could legitimately be described as the autobiography that Scott Walker never wrote."

The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore. Lifelong fan Joe Jackson talks to Scott Walker about what he calls "one of the best pop records ever made."

On March 1st 1985, when a meeting with Leonard Cohen made me feel transcendent and decide to track down more of my music heroes to interview, Scott Walker was first on the list. During that interview a decade later Scott told me he not only remembered and really liked a review of his album Climate of Hunter I wrote in 1984 but that it helped him "redefine" in his own mind how his music could best be described at that point. Then in 2003, he said he wanted to use in his box set 5 Easy Pieces, a critique of his life and work which I wrote in 1990. Now, thirty years later, that critique and its backstory - it was never used in the box-set - is published in full in a digital magazine I called Scott Walker: The Fugitive kind, available in Amazon etc. And to think it all began when I was a boy and heard songs like The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore. Here, apart from an evocation of the time, I discovered Scott's music you hear Walker and I discuss the sound of the early Walker Brothers records. A fan meets one of his heroes

Having a pint in a pub with Joe Dolan 2000 and talking turkey - Dustin the Turkey! - and music and life and all that jazz.

My podcast based on a radio show I did with Joe Dolan - there's no show like a show with two Joe's! - was hugely popular especially in my homeland of Ireland. So, here, as a kind of Christmas gift to all Joe's many fans, and for his family, is the first part of a podcast series in which people can hear the original tapes uncensored. You may as well be in the snig of the bar in Dublin's Clarence Hotel eavesdropping on me and Joe. To which I could say, or would if I had seen you do so, "feck off." But hey it's Christmas and all are welcome to join in the craic! Happy Christmas

"Happy Christmas my arse!: Shane McGowan 1994 disses Dylan, praises Nick Cave, mocks music industry moguls and attacks music journalists!

This is part two of three podcasts based on an interview I did with Shane at the time of the release of his album The Snake. It's great fun, with Shane "correcting," mocking "breadheads" in charge of the music industry, saying most music is crap, dissing Dylan but praising Smokey Robinson, Nick Cave and Therapy. As for his dig at music journalists, if you are one, and sensitive, take a chill pill and listen, he's right in ways! 

Joe Jackson 1997 discusses interviewing Jewel and her album Pieces of You

In 1997 I got not only to review Pieces of You for The Irish Times, but I also got to interview her for the same newspaper. That interview will be another podcast. Then I was asked to go on an Irish radio show to talk about the interview we did and her success story. It is a relatively short exchange but I hope the discussion reminds people how wrong music moguls can be! Jewel still rules for her fans OK! 

Charley Pride: The Music that Made Me. In Memory of Charley Pride who died December 11th 2020. Special Edition

Charley Pride died today from Covid-19 complications. When I interviewed him for Irish radio, his fans and country music lovers all over Ireland, loved our little chat. So, here in memory of the man, and for this fans and family, is the master tape of the interview, uncut and minus music. It's just a good conversation with a true gentleman who, let it not be forgotten, broke racial barriers in country music. R.I.P Charely Pride

Mary Kenny 1999 Irish feminist icon, talks about her life in journalism, drunken days at The Irish Times and the death of two nephews as a result of heroin.

I made this show to be broadcast at Christmas 2018 as a kind of public service by RTE Radio 1, in my series the Joe Jackson Tapes Revisited. The interview was originally done in 1999, at the time of Mary Kenny's book, Death by heroin; Recovery by Hope. And as I say in the intro to the radio show I wanted to remind people prior to their Christmas excesses, about the dangers of drugs such as heroin. Sadly, RTE "pulled" the show. But happily, for me, and hopefully for listeners, it may pass on that warning and much more good info, as we head into Christmas celebration in 2020. 

Shane McGowan 1994 talks about nearly killing himself with alcohol and why he ended up having nightmares about touring with The Pogues.

Back in 1994, Shane released his first album with his new band, The Popes, which was called The Snake. We did this interview at that point but first, we talked about a newspaper report - in the Sunday Independent - that had suggested he was drinking himself to death and could die at any point, maybe even on stage, which might delight "ghoulish" fans as Shane calls them. He also talks about his final days with The Pogues and how he hated touring, in the end, had nightmares about it that left him waking up screaming, and how he hated the music they ended up making. But be warned, the interview took place in a hotel, Shane was at first finishing a meal, and this sometimes makes it hard to hear what he is saying. 

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller talk about the "filthy" blues they wrote for Elvis, Santa Claus is Back in Town and sing the "blue' blues song Bow-Legged Woman.

I am an Elvis fan and rock 'n' roll fan who was blessed to be able to interview my life-long heroes such as songwriters. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller,  and my delight shows in this "Singles" edition of my podcast. It is less than five minutes long but has a world exclusive! Leiber and Stoller not only telling me how that great blues for Elvis, Santa Claus is Back in Town, came about, but also singing a "blue" blues tune called Bow-Legged Woman. If this doesn't make you smile, or laugh, we must be on different frequencies, I am afraid!  Enjoy

David Bowie 1997. An appreciation, and analysis of David Bowie to mark the man's 50th birthday

Singer-songwriter Dory Previn said to me once, "I'd love you to do a psychosexual study of my work like the one you did about Sinatra." I laughed and said "a psychosexual study? Is that what I bloody well wrote!" But listening again after nearly a quarter-century to this radio show chat I had with Mike Murphy to mark Bowie's 50th birthday, Dory's comment more seriously comes to mind. This is a psychosexual study of Bowie, to a great degree, and with which Mike at times clearly did not agree! You may side with him or me or think it is all crap! Either way, this is my belated podcast tribute to Bowie who gave way to that black star - taking his title from an Elvis song of the same name - far too soon