WATCH THE VIDEO OF THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE HERE.

Before there was Led Zeppelin, before Jimmy Page first bowed his electric guitar or worked his magic on the theremin, there was The Yardbirds—the legendary 1960s British psychedelic blues band that launched the careers of three of rock’s greatest guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page.

In this special episode of Rock is Lit, one of the original members of The Yardbirds joins me, and I couldn’t be more excited. Drummer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jim McCarty is here.

Jim is recognized world-wide for the innovative drumming style he introduced in the 1960s on songs that are now classics, such as “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” “Shapes of Things,” “The Train Kept A-Rollin’,” “You’re a Better Man Than I,” “Over Under Sideways Down,” and “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago.”

Since the end of The Yardbirds in the ‘60s, Jim has formed a number of successful bands and released three solo albums of his own songs. He is the author of the book ‘Nobody Told Me: My Life with the Yardbirds, Renaissance and Other Stories’, published in 2018, and the 2021 book ‘She Walks In Beauty: My Quest For The Bigger Picture’, both written with Dave Thompson.

Rock is Lit is a podcast about rock novels, and I’d originally contacted Jim to be a guest in the episode celebrating the audiobook release of my rock novel, ‘Searching for Jimmy Page’, but we were not able to make that happen. Later, after that episode aired and after I read Jim’s book ‘She Walks In Beauty’, inspired by the loss of his beloved wife, Lizzie, and his quest to connect with her following her death, AND after Jim and I finally did make contact and scheduled an interview, I decided to devote an entire episode to him.

In this episode, we talk about Jim’s family and childhood during WWII-torn Britain, his music career and experience as a member of The Yardbirds, his interest in and exploration of the paranormal and spirituality, his endearing and enduring relationship with Lizzie, and ‘She Walks In Beauty’, the fascinating book that details that relationship as well as Jim’s quest for the bigger picture, as the book’s subtitle states.

The interview is uncut and only minimally edited. I hope you enjoy it. It was an honor and a thrill to spend some time with one of rock’s legends: Jim McCarty.

LINKS:

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350

Jim McCarty’s website: http://www.jamesmccarty.com/

Jim’s 2018 album ‘Walking in the Wild Land’ is available to stream and download now: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02dnzoj4U768gqvbrEc4Ma7F8HHfqhTLLRTPP7CrEXh4izsgTyuiueN3QFaVeg4q9Xl&id=100063547871100

*Purchase Jim’s books and albums at his website

*All of Jim’s social media links can be found on his website

Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg

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In this episode, Jason Warburg joins me to talk about his rock novel ‘Believe in Me’, a story in which young political operative Tim Green finds himself in the orbit of a super famous rock ‘n roll band. Jason and I talk about his experience working in politics and as a music journalist, the relationship between politics and music, Jason’s family background and the loss of his parents and stepfather and how that impacted him as a person and as a writer, and more.

MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:

• No copyright indie rock background music
• “It Gets Easier” by Jason Isbell
• “I Don’t Wanna Know About It” by Uncle Green
• Barack Obama is a rockstar/clip from ‘Family Guy’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcRaq4ape_Y
• “Mr. Jones” by Counting Crows
• “Heroes” by David Bowie
• “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens
• “Candlestick Park” by Andy White
• “Roundabout” by Yes
• “Heavy Heavy Hands” by Honeybird

LINKS:

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350

Jason Warburg’s website: https://www.jasonwarburg.com/

Jason on Twitter: @JasonWarburg

Jason on Instagram: @jasonburg3

Wampus Multimedia website: https://wampus.com/

Richard Fulco episode of Rock is Lit

Peter McDade episode of Rock is Lit

Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg

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Hello, Lit Listeners. I hope you’re all geared up to party with the bands in this episode’s rock novel, because you’ve got a backstage pass and VIP access. Sarah Priscus is here to talk about her new novel, ‘Groupies’, a story that shines a light on the grungy yet glittery world of 1970s Los Angeles rock 'n roll and the women—the groupies—who unapologetically love too much in a world that doesn’t love them back.

Later, who else is better qualified to give real-world context to this very topic than the fabulous Super Groupie, member of Frank Zappa’s GTOs, and talented writer and podcaster, Pamela Des Barres? That’s right, Miss Pamela herself joins me during the last segment of the show, so break out your groovy boas and hot pants and drop some far-out vinyl on the turn table. You’re all with the band tonight.

FYI: Check out my full uncut YouTube video interview with Pamela Des Barres in the Rock is Lit Vault.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

Sarah and I talk about

• What she and Suzi Quatro have in common
• Sarah’s experience writing and publishing her debut novel
• Overview of plot and characters of ‘Groupies’
• The setting of ‘Groupies’: Los Angeles in the late 1970s
• The early seasons of SNL as part of Sarah’s research into the era/other research Sarah did for the novel, including watching ‘Almost Famous’ again
• Sarah’s long love affair with Pamela Des Barres’ seminal memoir ‘I’m With the Band’
• Led Zeppelin references in the novel and our shared love of the band
• Groupie definitions and rules, as presented in the novel ‘Groupies’
• Feminism and groupie culture in the 1970s/the Baby Groupie issue
• Instant gratification and the 1970s and Polaroid cameras, which the character Faun uses

Pamela and I talk about

• How and when she first got into the L.A. music scene
• Who christened each of the GTOs “Miss”
• The kazillion rock icons she’s known, including Frank Zappa, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, Led Zeppelin, The Stones, Love, Three Dog Night, Gene Simmons, Keith Moon
• The GTOs' album ‘Permanent Damage’, which Frank Zappa produced
• The L.A. scene in the ‘60s and ‘70s
• Baby Groupies of the 1970s
• The first time Pamela heard the word “groupie” and her definition of the word
• ‘I’m With the Band’ and some of the ridiculous comments people—especially early interviewers—have made
• Pamela’s ex-husband Michael Des Barres’ thoughts on ‘I’m With the Band’
• How Gram Parsons turned her onto Country music

MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:

1. 1970’s Retro Background Music (Royalty Free)
2. “Our Last Summer” by ABBA
3. “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel
4. “It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll” by The Rolling Stones
5. Clip of early SNL opening
6. “Life in the Fast Lane” by The Eagles
7. “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin
8. “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy
9. “We Shall Go Forth” by Margie Adam
10. “Hey Ya!” by OutKast
11. “Famous Groupies” by Paul McCartney
12. “I’m In Love With The Ooo-Ooo Man” by The GTOs
13. “Shock Treatment” by The GTOs, featuring Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart
14. “Sixteen and Savaged” by Silverhead
15. “Christine’s Tune” by The Flying Burrito Brothers
16. “Mystery Roach” by Frank Zappa and The Mothers

LINKS:

Sarah Priscus’s website: https://sarahpriscus.com/

Sarah on Twitter, @sarahpriscus

Sarah on Instagram, @sarah.priscus

Pamela Des Barres’ website: https://www.pameladesbarresofficial.com/

Pamela on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, @PamelaDesBarres

Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, @ChristyHallberg

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram, @christyhallberg

Christy Alexander Hallberg’s YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfSnRmlL5moSQYi6EjSvqag

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We said goodbye to 2022 and Season One of Rock is Lit last week. To celebrate the coming of Season Two, here's a brief recap of Season One, a thank you to all the folks who helped make the podcast happen, intro to Season Two, and an intro to the full video interview I conducted with legendary groupie Pamela Des Barres for the Season One Finale/Episode 17. Use the link below to view the YouTube video. Happy New Year, Lit Listeners!

YouTube interview with Pamela Des Barres: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlutwO7WMzk

Rock is Lit Vault: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/podcast-vault-feed/pameladesbarres

Christy Alexander Hallberg's website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter/Instagram: @christyhallberg

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Garth Risk Hallberg is my guest in this episode of Rock is Lit. Full disclosure, Garth is the son of my late husband, Bill Hallberg, who was also a writer and teacher. Garth is here to talk about the new Apple TV+ series ‘City on Fire’, which is based on his 2015 international bestselling novel of the same title.

The first three episodes of this eight-episode music-driven mystery thriller premiere Friday, May 12, 2023. You can catch one new episode weekly through June 16, 2023.

If you haven’t seen the show trailer or read the novel yet, here’s a very brief synopsis of the plot: “A college student is shot in Central Park on July 4, 2003. The investigation connects a series of mysterious citywide fires, the downtown music scene, and a wealthy uptown real estate family fraying under the strain of the many secrets they keep.”

MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:

• Royalty free indie instrumental music
• “Knuckleduster” by Muzz
• “No One Knows” by Queens of the Stone Age
• “NYC” by Interpol
• Clip from CBS This Morning on Garth—Focuses on NYC 1977 Blackout
• “Miami 2017” by Billy Joel
• “The Rat” by The Walkmen
• “You Only Live Once” by The Strokes
• “Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

LINKS:

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350

‘City on Fire’ Apple TV webpage: https://tv.apple.com/us/show/city-on-fire/umc.cmc.r6vntb5r9wwbjwtt58xmyuz9

Garth Risk Hallberg, Lit Hub Interview on the TV series ‘City on Fire’: https://lithub.com/garth-risk-hallberg-goes-behind-the-scenes-of-the-city-on-fire-adaptation/

IndieBound website, where you can locate indie bookstores to purchase the novel ‘City on Fire’ by Garth Risk Hallberg: https://bookshop.org/shop/indiebound

Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices