The Story of Elton John: One half of the duo who changed pop forever
GARAGE TO STADIUMS Music History PodcastShow Notes
One of the most astonishing transformations in music history began with an earnest, bespectacled pianist named Reginald Kenneth Dwight — a shy kid who dreamed of writing songs for others. Our guest will take us inside that dream that took an unexpected turn when he reinvented himself as Elton John - a name that would soon be synonymous with spectacle, melody, and superstardom - releasing a run of number one albums that redefined pop and rock music.
In this episode, you’ll learn: - How Elton never intended to be a stage performer at all — his plan was to write songs for others - The unlikely and almost accidental origins of his ultimate songwriting partner - How his very first American concert drew a dozen rock legends into the audience - A deep, inside look at the classic albums that made him unstoppable - The artists who shaped his sound, his showmanship, and his fearless stage persona - And how he evolved into a master of the modern soundtrack — from Broadway to Hollywood
Want to learn more music history? Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channels Guest Biography Gillian Garr, author of Elton John, Captain Fantastic on the Yellow Brick Road. She's written extensively on music for a variety of publications, including Rolling Stone, Mojo and Goldmine. Gillian is the author of over 15 music biography books, including books on Green Day, Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix and the history of women in rock and roll. She joins us from Seattle.
More from GARAGE TO STADIUMS Music History Podcast
Now rising to the top 3% of all 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.
Travel back to the political protests and civil unrest of the late 1960s that spawned the legendary Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young — America’s first supergroup comprised of members of previously successful bands. The result: clashing egos, legendary breakups, wild lives, yet timeless harmonies that stunned audiences and influenced The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, and many more that followed. You'll learn: 1. The very different upbringings & personalities of each of the four members 2. How they played one of their first gigs in front of 500,000 people 3. Their incredible creation of a powerful protest song only 3 weeks after an American tragedy 4. The often bitter in-group rivalries that challenged their very existence 5. How one member committed serious federal offences and was jailed Want to learn more interesting music history? Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channels Guest Biography for this episode David Browne is the author of Crosby Stills, Nash and Young: The Wild, Definitive Saga of Rock's Greatest Supergroup. David is a senior writer at Rolling Stone magazine and a former music critic at Entertainment Weekly. He's profiled legends like Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead and Sonic Youth. He joined us from New York City. Follow the Show / Receive bonus content: Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode drops Follow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or Spotify Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Who, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.
In chaotic Tijuana, Mexico a young violinist, Carlos Santana, is pushed into music by his demanding Mexican band leader father. He secretly discovers blues and R&B guitarists and changes his instrument. After moving to San Francisco's explosive late-1960s rock scene, Carlos fusing those influences with his native Latin rhythms . Then an unlikely opportunity places his unknown band on an unimaginable stage and changes everything, introducing audience to a sound that was powerful, hypnotic, and deeply melodic. In this episode you'll learn: The painful childhood secret Carlos carried for decades How his demanding father shaped the musician he became How an unexpected industry legend changed his destiny Why Santana risked success by repeatedly reinventing their sound How Santana achieved one of music’s most improbable comebacks Guest bio: Our guest is Ashley Kahn, a Grammy-winning American music historian, author, professor, and producer who co-wrote Carlos Santana's autobiography, The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light, which won the prestigious American Book Award. Ashley teaches at New York University's Clive Davis Institute for Recorded Music and is a producer of the 2023 documentary on Carlos Santana that is available on many streaming platforms. Follow the Show / Receive bonus content: Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode drops Follow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or Spotify Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on Santana including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.
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 phenomenon 2) How an early tragedy involving their primary song writer nearly derailed the band 3) The staggering evolution of sound this band executed 4) The interpersonal drama that produced incredible albums and significant tension 5) Details of the final internal battles that engulfed the band Want to learn more music history? Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social, podcast & web channels Guest Bio Our 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 drops Follow Garage to Stadiums (GTS) on social channels Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or Spotify Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on Pink Floyd, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.
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 time The surprising musical influences that inspired The Cure sound Why Robert Smith was embarrassed by some of his biggest hits The levels of The Cure's debauchery that rival rock's most controversial acts The intellectual prowess of Robert Smith and its various influences Guest 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 channels Follow the Show / Receive bonus content: Follow GTS on Apple or Spotify podcasts to be alerted when our next episode drops Download the Official Garage to Stadiums playlists for each episode on Apple Music or Spotify Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Cure including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.