The Tapes Archive – Details, episodes & analysis

This 1974 Ozzy Osbourne interview has never been heard until now. It's the earliest known long-form audio interview with the Prince of Darkness. It’s also the only audio interview with Ozzy relating to Black Sabbath’s Sabbath Bloody Sabbath album.  It is recommended this interview be watched on YouTube so you can see the captions. Ozzy is hard to understand at times.  https://youtu.be/-yRVDfrjs54 The interview is conducted by Steve Rosen, one of the true legends in rock journalism. Rosen has a career spanning 50 years, thousands of articles, and several high-profile books with artists like Black Sabbath, Prince, Randy Rhoads, and others. But his most notable work is his recent Eddie Van Halen book, Tonechaser. Tonechaser is considered a must-have book for Eddie Van Halen fans and any music fan. No other book has uncovered so many untold stories about King Edward.  To order Rosen's Tonechaser: https://bit.ly/3MSVTo9 Check out Rosen's YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/49hIu1Z Read Rosen's article written about when he met Black Sabbath in 1974: https://bit.ly/45TxeWX In the interview, Ozzy talks about: Early days of Black Sabbath Why Black Sabbath has stayed together, and why other bands break up Playing an honest gig Does he think about the money he’s making If he thinks Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is a different direction than previous Sabbath albums Why they didn’t record in LA again like they did with Vol.4 Whose idea it was to add strings to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath What the Sab 4 got tired of hearing about If he is fulfilled by being in Black Sabbath If he’s working on a solo record Why and what it was like producing Sabbath Bloody Sabbath by themselves If there is more of an emphasis on the lyrics on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath If Black Sabbath’s songs mirror society If he thinks the press is unfair to Black Sabbath If Sabbath is working on a new album His fondness for synthesizers and spacey music Why he wants to make a solo record How he’d like to learn how to play guitar His love for Rick Wakeman vs Keith Emerson If he would have Wakeman play on his solo album Being on the road and away from home The movie soundtrack he would have wanted to make He sums up his current feelings on Black Sabbath and his belief he has helped people

Last week, we released an interview with David Lee Roth from 1984. This week, we are releasing another Roth interview, but 35 years later. We go from the height of Roth’s Van Halen career to his twilight years. I believe this interview is one of the most honest and humble interviews he’s ever given; he speaks very candidly on many topics.  At the time of this interview in 2019, Roth was 65 years old and promoting his line of tattoo skin care products called Ink the Orginal. In the interview, Roth talks at great lengths about his parents and growing up, the beginning and ending with Van Halen, why he never got married, why he’s never happy, plus so much more.  The interview was conducted by Debbie Millman and was originally aired on her award-winning awesome podcast Design Matters. We are so grateful that Ms. Millman is allowing us to share one of the most insightful David Lee Roth interviews with you. Please use the link below and subscribe to her podcast. Subscribe to Debbie Millan's Design Matters: https://www.designmattersmedia.com/ 00:00:00 - Intro to David Lee Roth interview 00:01:17 - Debbie Millman intro 00:02:19 - Start of David Lee Roth interview 00:02:47 - His Uncle Manny Roth 00:05:29 - His mother, Sibyl Roth, and her toughness on him 00:07:49 - Wearing leg braces as a kid 00:08:41 - His early jobs 00:09:34 - Where his youthful drive came from 00:11:14 - What the Roth family expected when they had get-togethers 00:12:29 - When he first realized he had a talent for singing 00:15:00 - Him being in plays as a child 00:16:11 - He tells where he really learned to sing from 00:18:59 - His parents threaten him with going to a foster home 00:19:16 - If “bad” Dave comes from his mother 00:21:08 - How he was taught to sing like the girls 00:22:43 - How many instruments he plays 00:23:25 - The first meeting with the Van Halen brothers 00:26:31 - Why he and the Van Halen brothers were crosstown rivals 00:28:26 - What inspired him to write music 00:30:57 - The near-death experience that chokes him up even today 00:34:38 - How much of his Playboy image is a story he was creating 00:37:15 - If he is confident he would make it in show business 00:37:33 - The idea of an album band 00:39:00 - An obscure Dutch radio reference 00:40:14 - Did they write Runnin’ with the Devil in 18 minutes 00:42:25 - Who are the best teachers and coaches 00:45:35 - When he has felt sorry for himself 00:46:45 - Why he hasn’t fallen into a lot of traps, other Rock and Rollers did 00:47:28 - Him stealing books 00:48:31 - What kept him from succumbing to drug abuse 00:49:55 - Where his ability to jump high comes from 00:53:46 - Why did he leave Van Halen in 1985 00:54:38 - Why didn’t he ever get married 00:56:44 - His ability to mimic others 00:58:54 - The teleplay he has been working on for three years 01:00:33 - Why his favorite audience is disbelieving nonbelievers 01:01:29 - Why he isn’t happy 01:02:14 - His window time 01:02:53 - How he’s always solving a catastrophe 01:05:12 - Why he decided to start Ink the Orginal 01:07:43 - Why take his life in this direction 01:09:41 - Tattoos today 01:12:11 - The process of making his product 01:13:53 - How the business is doing 01:14:22 - The difference between having a tattoo today and 30 years ago 01:17:37 - What advice would he give someone who has writer’s block 01:19:28 - Squeezing every single moment out of life

PLEASE WATCH ON YOUTUBE. https://youtu.be/ui_kEJ7C3O0 The documentary has hundreds of Vai-centric facts and stories that even the most ardent fan will not have known. Complete with a Vai’esque quirky sense of humor, the video covers Vai’s life growing up, attending Berklee College, playing with several artists like Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, the David Lee Roth band, and Whitesnake, the recording of both his solo albums Flex-Able and Passion and Warfare, plus Vai’s role in the movie Crossroads, and how he helped create the JEM guitar. To watch the video version https://youtu.be/ui_kEJ7C3O0 Other information, photos, etc. can be found here: https://bit.ly/3B9P0ZH Link to Arlen Roth's SoundCloud https://bit.ly/3cLQHTL Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PLEASE WATCH ON YOUTUBE. You can watch the video version here. https://youtu.be/A6GTf6rOepQ We take a look at Black Sabbath's masterful third album Master of Reality. For more information including other credits, articles, and images, please go here. https://bit.ly/385aj2L Timestamps: 00:00 - Start 00:43 - Intro 01:19 - Evil Woman and Paranoid 02:29 - Changing Management 03:07 - Jim Simpson is fired 03:37 - Sabbath plays Top of the Pops 04:22 - Was Sabbath a bubblegum band? 05:13 - John Peel hates on Sabbath 06:04 - Sabbath’s Peel Sessions 06:35 - John Peel talks about Sabbath 07:05 - Sabbath’s ban on singles 07:41 - Sabbath and Satan 08:54 - First attempt going to the US 10:14 - Confusion with Black Widow 11:31 - Sabbath using Satan for their benefit 13:08 - Coming to America 13:55 - The trial of Charles Manson 14:35 - Arriving in the United States 15:01 - Sabbath’s first concert in the United States 16:20 - Blowing the Small Faces off the stage 16:43 - Playing the West Coast 17:02 - Smoking Angel Dust with Joe Walsh 17:55 - Was there a parade in Sabbath’s honor? 18:40 - Ending the year 1970 20:06 - First day in the studio 20:42 - Spanish Sid 21:14 - Weevil Women 71 21:30 - Paranoid comes out in the United States 21:52 - Myponga Festival 22:13 - Denied entry to Japan 22:44 - The Four Musketeers 23:10 - Touring the United States for Paranoid 23:50 - Playing Union Catholic High School 25:53 - Returning to England 26:31 - Ozzy and his first family 28:10 - Master of Reality will be heavy 29:05 - Tunning down 30:17 - Why they called the album Master of Reality 30:37 - Sweet Leaf 33:51 - Ghost Titles 34:28 - After Forever 34:49 - Geezer Butler as a priest 37:59 - Children of the Grave 39:15 - Mars Bringer of War 40:13 - The Haunting 41:04 - Orchid 42:07 - Lord of this World 44:14 - Solitude 45:52 - Tony Iommi in Jethro Tull 47:35 - Into the Void 49:09 - Soundgarden does their version of Into the Void 51:35 - Various versions of Master of Reality 53:25 - Master of Reality Radio promo 54:02 - Black Sabbath’s Golden Ticket 55:01 - Reception of Master of Reality 55:46 - Nobody but the public digs Sabbath 57:00 - Outro 57:36 - Credits Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PLEASE WATCH ON YOUTUBE. https://youtu.be/CH8c4TKrIOo Sabotage is the sixth studio album by metal pioneers Black Sabbath, released in 1975. It was recorded in the midst of litigation with their former manager Patrick Meehan. The stress that resulted from the band’s ongoing legal woes infiltrated the recording process, inspiring the album’s title. This documentary looks at all the drama surrounding the band at the time and how shady managers took advantage of Sabbath’s kind nature. The video also examines every song on the album and offers up unearthed facts some fans may have never known. – Intro – Writing and Recording Sabotage – The Tale of the Mangers – Why Sabbath needed to break away from their first manager – Don Arden’s thugs – Jimmy Page gets Threatened – Don Arden making moves – The introduction to Patrick Meehan Jr. – Jim Simpson sues the band – Some Sabbath Success – Sabbath starts to crack – Tony Iommi collapses – A religious freak tries to stab Tony – Manipulation by Management – California Jam Festival – Quotes from Ozzy/Geezer/Tony on Meehan – The dark reality of their finances – The worst part – Does Sabbath even need a manager? – Don Arden comes back – The shadow cast from Patrick Meehan – Crap Compilations – Meehan robbing Sabbath – Sabbath is beginning to fracture – Crank it up! “Hole in the Sky” – “Don’t Start (Too Late)” – Symptom of the Universe – “Megalomania” – “Thrill of It All” – “Supertzar” – “Am I Going Insane (Radio)” – “The Writ” – The band Queen diss track – “Blow on the Jug” – The Making of Sabotage’s Album cover – Reception of Sabotage – One more stick in the gut by Meehan – Closing thoughts – Who made this video? Credits: Editor/Writer/Voice/Producer: Alan Berry Co-Writers: Mark Enochs Jason C, aka Godshifter For all credits go here https://www.thetapesarchive.com/black-sabbath-sabotage-documentary/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we have the Ramones’ frontman, Joey Ramone. At the time of this interview in 1988, Ramone was 37 years old and was in Japan for a tour. In the interview, Ramone talks about whether he considers The Ramones a punk band, the most exciting time in music history, how most bands lack originality, and whether rock and roll have paid him back for all of The Ramones' contributions.  The interview is conducted by Steve Harris. To learn more about Steve, please check out our podcast-only interview with him, which is out now. You can find the podcast at thetapesarchive.com. In the interview, Ramone talks about: The distinctive sound of The Ramones How most bands lack originality The most exciting period for music His admiration for David Byrne What The Ramones did with their influences Why he loved The New York Dolls His thoughts on David Johansen Whether he considers The Ramones a punk band Whether he considers himself a punk How the Ramones are commercial without trying to be commercial How he feels about bands like Bon Jovi and Poison Whether there is a flaw in the kids that likes that type of music How The Ramones are a multi-dimensional band Why they wrote "Bonzo Goes To Bitburg" and participated in “Sun City” Ramones Aid Whether decades from now will he be still singing “Blitzkrieg Bop” Why the Rolling Stones can go on forever How The Ramones are always changing His reaction to hearing that The Ramones are a big influence in Japan Whether he thinks rock and roll has sufficiently paid him back for all The Ramones’ contributions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A never-before-published and first known interview with Boston's original singer Brad Delp. At the time of this interview in 1978, Delp was 27 years old and was in the midst of recording Boston’s second record. Two years earlier, Boston released what would become the best-selling debut album of all time until Guns ‘N Roses’ first album. Full transcript The Tapes Archive In the interview, Delp talks about how the second album is coming along, if the band Boston is a democracy, his feelings on a recent insult from Elvis Costello, and his self-doubt. 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - Where is the new album? (Start of interview) 01:42 - The flooding of Tom Scholz’s basement 02:59 - Whether the band has recorded any new songs 04:28 - What happens when Tom gets a song idea 05:22 - How the record company feels about a two-year delay between albums 06:51 - Whether he was surprised by the success of the first album 07:17 - His self-doubt 08:45 - The history of Boston and how he got involved in the band 10:40 - The cover songs they played 11:08 - His love for the Beatles 12:42 - How they got signed to Epic Records 14:59 - What type of record deal they got 16:14 - Their “horrendous” early concerts 17:16 - Playing with Black Sabbath 17:59 - What his thoughts on Elvis Costello saying about Boston, “They may sell 9 million records, but they’re about as exciting as a plate of tripe.” 19:21 - Looking up to Rick Derringer 20:40 - How many overdubs were made on the first album 22:03 - What kind of an audience Boston has 23:30 - How the Beatles got him into music 24:16 - Whether the band Boston is a democracy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A never-before-published interview with Adrian Belew from 1981. Full transcript The Tapes Archive In this episode, we have a multi-instrumentalist and the secret weapon for so many bands, Adrian Belew. At the time of this interview in 1981, Belew was 31 years old and was promoting King Crimson’s album Discipline. In the interview, Belew talks about various aspects of playing with the Talking Heads, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, and King Crimson. He goes in-depth on King Crimson’s Discipline, he tells the story about when he got jumped by a gang and finishes the interview telling Marc about his deep love for his family. In the interview, Belew talks about: What brought him to King Crimson Where is currently with the Talking Heads How he expresses his own personality in the band The “D” section of Elephant Talk and the meaning behind it His part in the writing of the album How he gets that elephant sound What the lyrics in the song Indiscipline represent The song Matte Kudasai What Frame by Frame is about How his being in the band frees up Robert Fripp How well Fripp and drummer Bill Bruford get along If King Crimson as a band has malice and ill will as a constant part of its daily diet The dynamics of King Crimson His own plans for solo work The meaning of the song Thela Hun Ginjeet and how he was beaten up by a gang Why they don’t play 21st Century Schizoid Man Younger audiences What he thinks is attracting new fans to King Crimson What his solo albums will be like and who’s playing with him His fascination with rhinos Where he grew up Starting with David Bowie His assessment of the King Crimson’s show at the Metro How he looks like Mark Knopfler How he was blasted the night Fripp called him His surprise when Fripp wanted to call the lineup King Crimson The very beginnings of his career His first band If he is the most famous alumnus from his high school If Frank Zappa was tough to work for His Bob Dylan impersonation If had any problems with Zappa’s lyrics Why he left Zappa’s band His deep love for his family Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we have a founding member of The Who, Pete Townshend. At the time of this interview in 1996, Townshend was 51 years old and was promoting his greatest hits record. In the interview, Townshend talks about his plan to no longer make records, the remixing process of Quadrophenia, what’s now important to him, and finding a Jimi Hendrix master in his warehouse.  The interview is conducted by Steve Harris. To learn more about Steve please check out our podcast-only interview with him, which is out now. Full transcript 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Start of Pete Townshend interview 01:38 - His non-defined image of himself 04:19 - His ability to write story-oriented albums 05:41 - Why it’s very hard to write songs 06:51 - His plan to no longer make records 08:26 - Why he is releasing a compilation album 09:33 - The notion that he hates the Japanese 11:30 - Developing Quadrophenia for a concert theater piece 12:57 - Which album he thinks is The Who’s best 15:08 - The backstory of when The Who revived ‘Quadrophenia’ for Prince’s Trust Concert 18:58 - Remastering old Who albums 20:23 - Writing chamber plays 21:32 - The difficulty of working in movies 22:26 - His lack of enjoyment for music theater 23:28 - What connects music from the ’50s and animation 24:37 - What’s important to him now 26:12 - The remixing process of Quadrophenia 26:57 - The previous poor mastering process of Who records 28:36 - Finding a Jimi Hendrix master in his warehouse 29:38 - The unfinished rock opera “Lifehouse” 32:04 - The mods 30 years later 33:35 - What he found hypocritical playing Black music 37:39 - Chapter 25 39:01 - The songwriting that went into “My Generation” 41:32 - Kurt Cobain and the song “My Generation” 43:18 - Seeing Jimi Hendrix a couple of weeks before he died Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A never-before-published interview with Roger Daltrey from 1994. In the interview, Daltrey talks about: Whether he has gotten his due from his solo albums Which album was a writing breakthrough for him Why he thinks fans have a hard time accepting him outside of The Who What’s great about The Who’s music Why The Who isn’t touring How hard it is singing Who songs How anger changes in middle age If he feels competitive with Pete Townshend If he knew Townshend was competing with him How Tommy really became a hit record Why Townshend is the way he is about The Who Why it was a constant struggle to make more records How he feels everyone in the band but Pete did not get the recognition they deserved The chemistry in the band What was something he was proud of from the Carnegie Hall gig Playing with the Spin Doctors on the Dave Letterman show. How his upcoming concert differs from the Carnegie Hall show What Townshend said to him after the Carnegie show The challenges with the Carnegie Hall concert The bad sound at Carnegie Hall When he knew he was going to take the show on the road Whether he ever considered hitting the road with a three-member rock band Whether they considered playing Woodstock ‘94 The story of how he started spinning the microphone How the music biz is so “bloody corporate” Whether he thinks he will ever just sit back and relax Whether he goes to see his contemporaries in concert Whether he worries he’s going to disappoint fans Why didn’t the Who do encores Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.