GARAGE TO STADIUMS Music History Podcast

Jaksot

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  The Story of Pink Floyd: architects of sound and vision 16.09.2026 56min

  In the mid 1960s, four English university students still learning to play instruments began jamming. What emerged was Pink Floyd psychedelic early architects to experimenting with grand, cinematic soundscapes, deeply philosophical themes and live shows that felt more like journeys to the human mind than concerts. Prepare for an absolute roller coaster ride from the London Underground clubs to global domination, heartbreaking losses and dramatic fireworks from within.  You'll learn:1) How university students who could barely play instruments became a global phenomenon2) How an early tragedy involving their primary song writer nearly derailed the band3) The staggering evolution of sound this band executed4) The interpersonal drama that produced incredible albums and significant tension5) Details of the final internal battles that engulfed the bandWant to learn more music history?  Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social, podcast & web channelsGuest BioOur returning guest is acclaimed rock journalist and author Mark Blake wrote Pink Floyd Shine On: The Definitive Oral History. He is also the author of books on Queen and Fleetwood Mac.Follow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on Pink Floyd, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.
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  The Story of The Cure: A rare combination of darkness and pop hits 02.09.2026 56min

  The Cure proved something very rare in the history of music: that darkness and beauty could coexist in the very same catalog. While navigating immense and shocking internal chaos, band leader and guitarist Robert Smith and The Cure inspired generations of artists, helped define the sound of alternative music, and showed millions of outsiders that they weren't alone.  In this episode you'll learn:How Robert Smith managed to perform in two famous bands at one timeThe surprising musical influences that inspired The Cure soundWhy Robert Smith was embarrassed by some of his biggest hitsThe levels of The Cure's debauchery that rival rock's most controversial actsThe intellectual prowess of Robert Smith and its various influencesGuest Bio Acclaimed music writer and journalist Ian Gittins is author of The Cure: Perfect Dream, a coffee table-like retrospective of The Cure's career, complete with album indexes, song listings and rare photographs included. Ian is a music writer for the British paper The Guardian, and has also written for Melody Maker, Q, MTV, The Daily Telegraph, and New York Times, and he is a best-selling author who has penned biographies of Bjork and Talking Heads.   Want to learn more music history?  Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channelsFollow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsDownload the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Cure including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.
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  What is Garage to Stadiums? - trailer for the show 28.08.2026 2min

  A top 5% of podcasts in the world, Garage to Stadiums is a podcast for true music fans — the ones who want more than just headlines and hype. This show is for listeners who care about the full story behind the artists:  their childhoods, musical influences, early gigs, personal battles, journey to stadium-level fame and the drama in between. Why are we different? In each episode host Dave Anthony features guests who know their stuff and bring real insights from their time with the performers — from respected rock journalists to documentary filmmakers.If you want smarter music commentary and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else, subscribe now and get your backstage pass to music history.    
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  The Story of R.E.M. The most successful college radio band ever 20.08.2026 46min

  Picture a 1970s American teen, dressed as Frank N. Furter from Rocky Horror, interviewed on local TV outside a suburban cinema. That fearless teen grows up to be Michael Stipe, lead singer of R.E.M., the first alternative band to achieve global commercial success, from its origins in tiny Athens, Georgia.  The first alternative band from the college radio airwaves to experience mass commercial success with 90 million albums sold, R.E.M. occupies an influential position in music history, inspiring many bands with their fiercely independent spirit and sound.  On this episode you'll learn:How Athens, Georgia became the unlikely spawning ground for several successful bands.How R.E.M. created a memorable sound by combining punk, pop music, southern rock and R'n'B  Why Pearl Jam and Nirvana cited R.E.M. as a major trailblazer, and influence on their soundHow an onstage near-tragedy changed the band forever... The college radio strategy the company employed to build its credibility and momentumWhy R.E.M. turned down the offer to write a theme song for the popular TV show FriendsGuest Bio - Peter Ames Carlin, author & journalistBest-selling author Peter Ames Carlin appeared on our Bruce Springsteen episode. He is the author of  The Name of This Band is R.E.M. He's also written biographies on Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and Paul McCartney of The Beatles.  Follow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for R.E.M. Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on all of our acts featured including concert footage, etranscripts and other interesting facts.
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  The Story of The Eagles: From California country rock to stadium legends 12.08.2026 1t 1min

  Listen to how a true California sound was born… from musicians who didn’t even come from California. In the late 1960s, four young artists arrived in Los Angeles from completely different corners of America. Blending country, rock, and soaring harmonies, Eagles captured the spirit of the American West and helped launch a new musical movement. Over the decades they would sell more than 150 million records and secure 2 of the top 4 spots in album sales in history. This is their journey from the garage to stadiums.  In this episode, you'll learn: How their childhoods shaped the music they would createThe superstar who gave Eagles their first big break in Los AngelesThe personality clashes that simmered behind the harmoniesWhy the band deliberately changed their sound at their peakThe onstage threat of violence that foreshadowed the band’s breakupWho shaped their sound - and the artists they went on to influenceGuest BioThe guests for this episode are the authors of Eagles: Up Ahead in The Distance Eagles, Steve Caparelli and Rik Forgo. They have authored a trilogy of books chronicling the incredible rise of this quintessential band.Want to learn more music history?  Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channelsFollow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for The Eagles on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts on all the acts we've featured.
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  The Story of Brian Wilson & The Beach Boys: The boy who built a musical revolution 02.08.2026 1t 1min

  In this repeat episode explore one of the most influential figures in modern music history - Brian Wilson leader of The Beach Boys.  Known for layered orchestrations and an innovative approach to studio recording, Brian influenced artists like The Beatles, Elton John, Queen, The Eagles and more. Incredibly, Brian created one of rock’s great lost albums - Smile begun in 1966 - but it was shelved for 37 years. Decades later... our guest today, David Leaf, helped bring it to the world.  You'll learn:1) Brian's abusive upbringing and how it shaped him and his music2) How 5 teenagers went to global stardom 6 months after forming3) How Brian influenced The Beatles musical direction4) The incredible story of how Brian overcame a corrupt psychologist controlling his life5) How our guest helped rescue a "lost album" long anticipated in rock historyWant more music history?  Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channelsGuest BioDavid Leaf is the author of Smile: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson, chronicling Brian Wilson’s lost album masterpiece which was shelved for 37 years before release. He also directed the Brian documentary Beautiful Dreamer and teaches music history at UCLA.  David has won a Peabody award for powerful and intelligent story-telling. Follow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.
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  The Story of U2: From near breakup to stadium legends 23.07.2026 1t 4min

  Incredibly, U2 began as a band of barely-formed teenagers—two 14-year-olds and two 15-year-olds—at Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, Ireland. Just 4 years later, they were signed to a major label, and not long after that, they were reshaping rock on a global scale with music driven by faith, politics, and social unrest. U2 would go on to sell more than 175 million albums, never standing still—shifting from raw post-punk urgency to towering arena anthems to daring electronic reinvention. This is a band that survived by constantly changing. In this episode, you’ll learn:The bizarre early incident that nearly ended U2 before it truly beganThe heartbreaking childhood tragedies that shaped two of its membersThe unlikely spiritual and political roots behind their lyrical missionThe global live performance the band openly hated—yet became legendaryThe intense internal struggles over where their music should go nextHow a frontman with barely a high school education became a global humanitarian voiceWant to learn more music history?  Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channelsGuest Bio:Bradley Morgan, author of U2: Until the End of the World. Bradley also has a book U2's Joshua Tree: Planting Roots in Mythic America about their breakthrough album, 1987's The Joshua Tree, a release that put them at the top of international album charts. Follow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.
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  The Story of Blondie: Masters of image and innovators of sound 10.07.2026 52min

  From a crumbling New York of the mid-'70s, in a tiny downtown club on the edge of collapse, a sound began to cut through the noise and redefine what popular music could be. One of those bands, Blondie, fronted by a punk-era Marilyn Monroe, fused art, New York street cool, visual invention, and razor-sharp pop songwriting, fearlessly moving between punk, new wave, rock, disco, reggae, and hip hop -- to climb from the underground to the top of the charts in the late 1970s and early '80s. In this episode, you'll discover:1. How a collapsing New York City birthed a new sound 2. How the lead singer Debbie Harry rose as punk's most magnetic female icon,3. How Debbie and guitarist Chris Stein created a creative and romantic partnership4. How Blondie brought rap into mainstream pop culture, 5. The mysterious forces that ended their first golden eraGuest bio Fred Schruers is a former Rolling Stone magazine staff writer who has contributed to The Washington Post, the LA Times, and he appeared on our story of Billy Joel episode. He profiled Blondie in Rolling Stone in the '70s and '80s time period, and the subject of a biography he wrote about hanging out with the band in that seminal period. Follow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Who, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.
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  The Story of Stevie Nicks: The poetic teenager who became rock royalty 29.06.2026 1t 6min

  Travel back to Northern California of the mid 1960s with a young teenage girl writing poems in her bedroom after enduring countless moves across the country with her family.  Then on to a succession of menial jobs to support herself and her guitarist boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham to a strange twist that catapults her to becoming a mystical, fierce, powerful song writer fronting one of the top bands of the 1970s.  Stevie Nicks has faced serious personal challenges, the kind that could have ended the dreams of many, yet now stands as a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer with over 150 million albums sold.  You'll learn:How Stevie's musician grandfather formed a musical act with a 5-year-old Stevie How Stevie and Lindsey actually met & the unlikely way they met Fleetwood MacHer unsuccessful attempt to leave Fleetwood Mac to join another famous band How one of her biggest hits was given as a gift to her How she overcame her torturous battle with various addictionsEpisode GuestZoë Howe is a writer, broadcaster, musician and artist. She is the author of the biography Vision, Dreams & Rumours: A Portrait of Stevie Nicks. She is an acclaimed music journalist who has written books on a variety of performers.  She joins us from the UK.Want to learn more music history?  Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channels Follow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.
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  The Story of KISS: Masters in the Business of Rock 15.06.2026 50min

  From the streets of New York came four young men — including one born to Holocaust survivors — obsessed from their earliest days with becoming the biggest band in the world. Behind greasepaint and fire, they transformed themselves into larger-than-life characters, igniting the imaginations of millions of youths. With thunderous riffs, explosive stage shows, and relentless ambition, KISS became one of the most influential and commercially successful bands in rock history, selling over 100 million albums worldwide. In this episode you’ll learn:·       The background of the KISS member from Israel ·       How a founding member overcame disfigurement and deafness as a child·       The calculated strategy behind donning the make-up ·       How KISS saved itself and its record company with a bold roll of the dice·       The business model that propelled KISS to financial success ·       KISS' shocking move to reinvent itself in the 1980s for a new emerging music genre Follow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on KISS, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.Guest BioOur guest Martin Popoff also appeared on our AC/DC episode.  He *has written extensively about KISS — including his first book, KISS at 50 Years. And his most recent work KISS '76, which carries the subtitle The Greatest Year of Rock’s Most Dynamic Band.Martin has written more record reviews than anyone in the history of music journalism across all genres. In addition, he has penned approximately 135 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock, prog, punk, and record collecting, and has contributed liner notes for releases featured on various music documentaries.
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  The Story of Bob Dylan: the music revolutionary 03.06.2026 38min

  Step into the early 1960s to see how a young performer appeared out of nowhere to shape modern rock music. You'll follow him through the decades to hear Dylan's incredible influence on all music through his effect on superstars like The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, and modern music in general.  How Bob grew up in a Jewish family in Minnesota and changed his nameThe very strange obsession that brought him to New York in the early '60sHow the women in his life greatly influenced his lyric writing Why audiences booing him was the mark of a key turning point in modern rock n rollHow a near-tragic motorcycle accident actually may have saved his lifeAbout his unknown backup band becoming a superstar band on their own without Bob His legacy and influence on all music that has come along since his debutBob Dylan is widely considered to be the inspiration for how rock music transformed itself from joyful ditties like Twist and Shout to deep and meaningful lyrics that communicated the challenges and dichotomies of life.  To understand the evolution of music, it is key to understand Dylan's key role in its transformation. Follow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on Bob Dylan, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.Guest BioHarold Lepidus is a Dylan historian and author of Friends and Other Strangers: Bob Dylan Examined. 
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  The Story of Talking Heads: Creators of a new blueprint for music 20.05.2026 55min

  Three art-school students leave Rhode Island for a collapsing New York City in the mid-1970s. It was a city on the edge of bankruptcy, violence, and.....artistic rebirth. They didn’t follow a musical movement; they built an entirely new language for rock. Discover how the chaos of a city in decline ignited the downtown scene that transformed Talking Heads into one of the most innovative forces in modern music. In this episode you’ll learn: How a college dropout in the band became one of rock’s most intellectual voices  How a struggling Manhattan club sparked New York’s punk and new wave explosion  The surprising influence of an English avant-garde artist on the band’s evolution  The creative tensions and personal fractures that both threatened and pushed the group  How Talking Heads invented a new “operating system” for constructing rock musicFollow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels for more music history delivered to your feedDownload the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on Talking Heads, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.Guest BiographyJonathan Gould, the author of books on The Beatles, soul R&B artist Otis Redding, and his current book, “Burning Down the House: Talking Heads and the New York Scene That Transformed Rock”, which was recently released. Jonathan joins us today from New York. 
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  The Story of Paul McCartney post-Beatles & Wings Part II 08.05.2026 49min

  Part 2 of Paul McCartney's story will take you inside the daily life of his band Wings as they ascend to the charts.  However, can they sustain their flight path given the fact that a famous Beatle is now at the helm with his own ideas of how a band should work...  In Part 2 you'll learn:How Paul recruited members of The BandAn analysis of Linda McCartney and her role in the band from a number of perspectives A discussion of the pioneering techniques employed by McCartney in the studio The untold and unbelievable circumstances during the legendary Band on the Run album recordingThe financial challenges members of the band facedAn insightful analysis of Paul McCartney's personality Follow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Beatles and Paul McCartney & Wings including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.Guest BioAllan Kozinn the co-author of a two volume pair of books called The McCartney Legacy, a retrospective of Paul McCartney's career from the end of the Beatles onward. Allan is best known for his 37 year tenure at the New York Times, covering classical music and what was called "The Beatles desk". He currently contributes reviews for the Wall Street Journal. The first volume of his works on McCartney covers the year 1969 to 73. Volume 2 picks up from 1974 to 1980. Rolling Stone described the book as "comprehensive, painstaking, dazzling, and a definitive chronicle..." The Weekend Mail the UK said of the book, the following quote, "If the devil is in the detail, then the McCartney legacy is positively satanic". Allan joined us today from Portland, Maine.  
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  The Story of Paul McCartney post-Beatles & Wings Part 1 08.05.2026 40min

  Listen in to inside details of how The Beatles empire collapsed and Paul McCartney's next challenge: could he be successful again without the banner, without the brothers, without the myth? What followed was not a smooth second act. It began as a retreat, a reinvention...hits, misses and masterpieces all followed, each carrying the fingerprints of a man unwilling to fade quietly into history. This is the story of what happens after you've already conquered the world and have to prove you can do it again...  In Part 1 you'll learn:The secret power struggle that tore The Beatles apart from the inside The hidden messages in the lyrical war between John Lennon and Paul McCartneyThe unlikely family connection that quietly fueled Paul’s post-Beatles rise The near-tragedy that sparked the birth of the name WingsThe early clues of looming challenges facing the new band Follow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Beatles and Paul McCartney & Wings including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.Guest BioAllan Kozinn the co-author of a two volume pair of books called The McCartney Legacy, a retrospective of Paul McCartney's career from the end of the Beatles onward. Allan is best known for his 37 year tenure at the New York Times, covering classical music and what was called "The Beatles desk". He currently contributes reviews for the Wall Street Journal. The first volume of his works on McCartney covers the year 1969 to 73. Volume 2 picks up from 1974 to 1980. Rolling Stone described the book as "comprehensive, painstaking, dazzling, and a definitive chronicle..." The Weekend Mail the UK said of the book, the following quote, "If the devil is in the detail, then the McCartney legacy is positively satanic". Allan joined us today from Portland, Maine. 
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  The Story of The Who: The architects of modern music 25.04.2026 55min

  Take yourself back to Swinging London for the formation of The Who in 1964.  Guest Mark Wilkerson, author of Who are You: The Life of Pete Townshend discussed The Who's enormous influence on rock music sound, album structure and concert staging all while navigating through the offstage mayhem that become synonymous with this group.  In this episode you'll learn:How lead songwriter and guitarist Pete Townshend became rock's foremost innovator How a mysterious religious figure’s theories were embedded in the band’s most famous songsThe bizarre tale of The Who's manager in a violent crime in an uncharted area of Amazon RainforestHow the band used an opera structure to create new formats for music Why the band was banned from a major hotel chain for lifeHow band members' distaste for one another was a cited key to their success Anchored by songwriter and guitarist Pete Townshend, an art school student, who as you will hear brought art concepts into the band's songs and stage performance. Townsend continued that innovation by creating incredible forms of rock music, modeled after operas and integrating computers into music before any other band. Guest Bio:Mark Wilkerson wrote Who are You: The Life of Pete Townshend. Mark was born in England and lived there for 14 years and fell in love with The Who's music before moving to the US in 1984. A few years later, a fellow Townshend fan Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, asked Mark to join the team that put together PJ:20 An official history of Pearl Jam to commemorate the band's 20th anniversary.  Follow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Who, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.Known for their influential music, explosive live shows and rebellious sound, The Who's impact on rock music and cultural landscape continues to inspire and influence generations, with over 100 million records sold. This band is truly a global phenomenon and has influenced bands across punk, alternative, and rock. You will be astonished at the story of The Who's musical sophistication and innovation.  Yet, The Who live in concert still knew how to get down to business and rock you.  For years, they were considered the best live band in the world, and the loudest.  And as you will hear, there were several tragic downsides that threatened this band to create an incredible story like no other.  
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  The Story of The Cars & Ric Ocasek: From folk rock origins to new wave royalty 14.04.2026 58min

  If any band defines the long odds of the garage-to-stadiums journey...it’s The Cars. Grinding through years in Boston, they cycled through wildly different sounds before finally striking gold—fusing punk edge with pop precision to help define a new musical decade.In this episode, you’ll learn:How bandleader Ric Ocasek and his partner Ben Orr struggled for years to unlock their breakthrough sound The surprising number of genres the band attemped before succeedingThe reveal of the secret formula of musical styles they combined and perfected  The strange, behind-the-scenes reasons the band unraveled at their peak How Ocasek’s vision went on to shape countless future artists Access the Episode Transcript Want to learn more music history?  Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channels for more interesting music history facts delivered to youEpisode GuestPeter Aaron is the author of Moving in Stereo: Ric Ocasek, The Driving Force Behind the Cars. Peter is a veteran of the music industry having written on acts like the Ramones and the Band, and as the arts editor of Chronogram Magazine.  Peter is also the front man of influential New York band The  Chrome Cranks. His writing has appeared in The Village Voice, the Boston Herald, and several other publications.  
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  The Story of R.E.M. The most successful college radio band ever 27.03.2026 45min

  Picture a 1970s American teen, dressed as Frank N. Furter from Rocky Horror, interviewed on local TV outside a suburban cinema. That fearless teen grows up to be Michael Stipe, lead singer of R.E.M., the first alternative band to achieve global commercial success, from its origins in tiny Athens, Georgia.  On this episode you'll learn:How Athens, Georgia became the unlikely spawning ground for several successful bands.How R.E.M. created a memorable sound by combining punk, pop music, southern rock and R'n'B  Why Pearl Jam and Nirvana cited R.E.M. as a major trailblazer, and influence on their soundHow an onstage near-tragedy changed the band forever... The college radio strategy the company employed to build its credibility and momentumWhy R.E.M. turned down the offer to write a theme song for the popular TV show FriendsThe first alternative band to experience mass commercial success, R.E.M. occupies an influential position in music history, inspiring many bands with their fiercely independent spirit and sound. Astonishingly, the band first heard on 1980s college radio went on to sell 90 million albums.   Guest Bio - Peter Ames Carlin, author & journalistPeter appeared on our Bruce Springsteen episode. In addition to writing a best-seller about Springsteen, he's chronicled Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and Paul McCartney of The Beatles. His new book, The Name of This Band is R.E.M., has just been released.   Follow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Share this episode with this linkFollow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcastsDownload our official killer playlists for each performer on Apple or Spotify Follow GTS on Instagram Follow GTS on LinkedIn Sign up for the Garage to Stadiums e-newsletter to get more bonus contentTranscript for this episode 
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  The Story of The Eagles: From California country rock to stadium legends 18.03.2026 1t 1min

  Listen to how a true California sound was born… from musicians who didn’t even come from California. In the late 1960s, four young artists arrived in Los Angeles from completely different corners of America. Blending country, rock, and soaring harmonies, Eagles captured the spirit of the American West and helped launch a new musical movement. Over the decades they would sell more than 150 million records and secure 2 of the top 4 spots in album sales in history. This is their journey from the garage to stadiums.  In this episode, you'll learn: How their childhoods shaped the music they would createThe superstar who gave Eagles their first big break in Los AngelesThe personality clashes that simmered behind the harmoniesWhy the band deliberately changed their sound at their peakThe onstage threat of violence that foreshadowed the band’s breakupWho shaped their sound - and the artists they went on to influenceGuest BioThe guests for this episode are the authors of Eagles: Up Ahead in The Distance Eagles, Steve Caparelli and Rik Forgo. They have authored a trilogy of books chronicling the incredible rise of this quintessential band.Want to learn more music history?  Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channelsFollow the Show / Receive bonus content:Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode dropsFollow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels  Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for The Eagles on Apple Music or SpotifyVisit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts on all the acts we've featured.
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  The Story of Stevie Wonder: The genius who changed popular music 07.03.2026 1t 3min

  This is an astonishing story of the human spirit. Travel back to early 1960s Motown when an 11-year old child prodigy mysteriously appeared on the scene. Stevie Wonder rose from deep poverty, a fractured home and a significant physical disability to become one of the most influential musicians of all time.  As you will hear, he was also a master of innovating new sounds, producing hits across many musical genres - soul, R'n'B, rock, reggae, pop, funk and more. In this episode you'll learn:The incredible story of Stevie's birth and difficult family life How Motown records was formed by an unexpected source, and then discovered StevieThe ultimatum by a young Stevie that changes his economic situation How a knock on a random door in New York resulted in Stevie's greatest albumsHow a terrible accident changed Stevie forever About his diverse set of hits from various genresWant to learn more music history?  Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channelsGuest Bio Paolo Hewitt  has followed Stevie's career for decades. Paulo was a writer for UK music magazines, New Musical Express and Melody Maker, where he both interviewed Stevie Wonder and reviewed several of his albums. Paulo has also written extensively about the hiphop scene and has authored books on several artists. He appeared on two very popular Garage to Stadiums episodes to discuss the careers of David Bowie and Oasis.   
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  The Story of The Band: How they changed rock music forever 27.02.2026 54min

  Experience the improbable ascent of The Band — five road-worn club musicians from forgotten rural towns who for years played beer-soaked barrooms, drove endless highways and dragged battered amps across borders. And then fate intervened for these four young Canadians and one Southerner. The result: the music they invented was the opposite of the psychedelic rage of the late ’60s — blending country, blues, R&B and story-telling into songs that reshaped rock’s future, leaving its mark on Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Eagles, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. In this episode you'll learn:1. How relentless touring of bars and clubs forged their otherworldly chemistry2. The incredible accident of timing that launched them from bar gigs to the global stage3. Their controversial world tour that changed modern music 4. The internal challenges that began to hinder The Band's chemistry5. How one member went on to be the musical architect of several famous Hollywood moviesFor more music history... Subscribe to our Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channelsGuest Bio Craig Harris, is the author of The Last Waltz: The Full Story of The Band, a musician who has performed with a member of the band and the host of the Craig Harris show on WAMU-FM, Bluegrass/Country.