From the bars to the arenas, how did our biggest music legends make the leap? Join us as we take a deep dive into music history to explore the stories surrounding the fascinating journey and sometimes little-known facts of rock music’s biggest legends.

In each episode of Garage To Stadiums, host Dave Anthony teams up with an author of a rock biography or director of a rock documentary to explore that journey, their early years, the stories behind the scenes, their top songs, and their place in music history.

Learn about the passion, talent, luck and even scandal that often came together to propel these stars from obscurity to household names.

Learn how Bob Marley transformed from humble beginnings as child in one of the poorest areas of Jamaica to international superstar. John Masouri, author of Simmer Down: Marley-Tosh-Livingston is a renowned reggae historian and tells us how Marley became synonymous with an innovative new music form called reggae, and political activism that defended disenfranchised people globally. You’ll learn:

-About the incredible age difference of Bob's white father and his black mother and how their relationship led to Bob's subsequent challenges as a mixed race child in Jamaica
-How reggae was not Bob's first music genre of choice
-Learn how reggae was created from American R'n'B and several other forms melded together
-Why an assassination attempt was made on Bob’s life and led to gunshot wounds
-The international royal figure that led to Bob discovering the Rastafarian religion and its dreadlock look
-Which of Bob's musical accomplishments TIME magazine listed as the best music of the 20th Century

Bob Marley is an international superstar who has reached the top of the musical and political worlds. Incredibly, he has won a UN humanitarian award for his political efforts and one of his albums was voted the best album of the 20th Century.

But his incredibly productive life did not begin this way. Nor did his music career begin with reggae. To hear more about Bob Marley's surprising and uplifting story, listen to this engaging episode to understand how and why he achieved his international superstar status.

Guest Bio
John Masouri is a distinguished reggae historian and the author of several books on the genre including the definitive text on Bob Marley's life Simmer Down: Marley-Tosh-Livingston. John is a highly acclaimed author and music journalist specializing in reggae and dancehall genres for more than 35 years. John's work has appeared in Music Week, The Guardian Observer and New Musical Express (NME).

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You will taken from the mid-1960s through the early ‘70s Los Angeles, when a band would emerge that changed all of the rules of music. Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined joins us to tell the mesmerizing story of a band fronted by an electrifying, handsome poet named Jim Morrison. The Doors relentlessly challenged, confronted and inspired fans with their provocative songs and performances. In this episode you'll learn:

-About a shocking highway incident that changed the lead singer forever
-The strange origins of how The Doors formed in Venice, California
-The incredible secret that nobody knew about the Vietnam War and Jim Morrison
-Why The Doors were banned from radio and concert appearances in several US states
-The reasons for the arrest of a key member of the band during various concert performances
-How the band played a key role in the punk music movement

Guest Bio
Jim Cherry is the author of The Doors Examined and was formally a columnist for the Rants, Raves and Rock and Roll Magazine radio show. He is also a novelist, having written several novels, short stories and poems.

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1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums The Doors playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on The Doors, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

While other 1960's bands warbled on about peace and love, The Doors explored the dark side of human nature with songs like People are Strange, The End, LA Woman, and Strange Days. They also possessed one of the most electrifying figures in rock history, Jim Morrison, their lead singer who was an incredibly well-read individual, and also a poet. Morrison possessed an intoxicating blend of charisma, good looks and a curiosity for the dark side of life that combined with the band's mesmerizing music, often forcing audiences to straddle that fine balance between jubilation and mayhem. Accordingly, Morrison became the very embodiment of 1960's rebellion.

The Doors have sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and have been the inspiration for many bands that followed in various genres like alternative rock and punk.

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 songs
-The bizarre tale of The Who's manager accused of a violent crime in an uncharted part of the Amazon Rainforest
-How the band used an opera structure to create new formats for music
-Why the band was banned from a major hotel chain for life
-How 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.

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1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums The Who playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit 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.

In this episode, you'll step into the early 1960s to see how a young Bob Dylan 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 influence on superstars like The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and more. Join host Dave Anthony and our guest, Harold Lepidus, author of Friends and Other Strangers: Bob Dylan Examined, and learn:

• How Bob grew up in a Jewish family in Minnesota and changed his name
• The very strange obsession that brought him to New York in the early '60s
• How 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 roll
• How a near-tragic motorcycle accident actually may have saved his life
• About 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 debut

Bob 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.

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1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums Bob Dylan playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
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Go deep into the incredible rise of Bruce Springsteen, one of the legendary songwriters and performers of the 20th century, with our guest Peter Ames Carlin, author of the New York Times bestselling book Bruce. In this episode, you'll hear:

• How Bruce grew up poor in a dysfunctional family with significant mental health issues
• The proto-metal music that he played in a previous band
• How the stress of a legal battle with his first manager resulted in one of the top albums of the 1970's
• How a Rolling Stone writer not only changed his destiny but became his manager
• How the characters in his town infused his many poignant songs
• How he played a vital role in both AIDs awareness and New York's 9/11 recovery

Bruce became a touchstone with poignant songs that struck a chord with an audience looking for the meaning of life in the mid-to-late 1970s and early 80s. Ironically, before Bruce, the fans who attended rock concerts and bought albums rarely were the subjects of the day's music.

Guest Bio:
Peter Ames Carlin is a journalist, critic and author of the New York Times best-seller called Bruce and is working on an upcoming book on the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run album. His work has been published in the New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, and the Times in the UK.

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1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums Bruce Springsteen playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on Bruce Springsteen, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

Written from the everyday person's perspective, Springsteen songs like Born to Run, Thunder Road, Promised Land and Hungry Heart are mini-movies that put you squarely inside the main character's mind as they navigate life. As Bono of U2 said when he inducted Bruce into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, "if John Steinbeck could sing…".

The themes are as familiar as the American fabric: racing cars, highways, run-down factories, failed relationships, hopeful dreams, desperation, and redemption. Bruce helped create the American songbook of the ordinary person facing life milestones and challenges.

As you will hear, his songwriting was driven home with legendary concert performances that leave audiences in awe, lasting at least three hours and sometimes stretching to four. Bruce's philosophy seems to be: if hard-working people are going to spend hard-earned dollars to see me play, I'll make sure they get their money's worth. His work ethic on stage fits his working-class image. Or, as our guest, Peter Ames Carlin calls him, "a blue-collar troubadour".

Peter also describes in detail the impact of Bruce's father's mental health challenges on the family, which affected the family's finances and reputation in the community. He also outlines Bruce's later mental health struggles, as Bruce describes in this interview.

Hop on the wild ride of Led Zeppelin that swings between euphoric triumphs and gut-wrenching tragedies. Delve deep into the Led Zeppelin story with Bob Spitz, the author of Led Zeppelin: The Biography, who sheds light on the band's journey from their humble beginnings in 1968 to their premature demise in 1980. In this episode, learn:

• How the founder of Zeppelin was a stellar studio musician seeking a new career challenge
• How the lead singer had the same background as the Peaky Blinders
• How two famous members of the band were unknowns playing in bar bands
• How Led Zep tours reached levels of sexual debauchery not seen before or since
• How Zeppelin transformed music styles and concert economics for all artists
• How a 300-pound former wrestler created their innovative marketing strategy
• That one of its members was studying to be an accountant
• How several tragic events changed the band forever

Led Zeppelin wasn't just a band but a powerhouse of talent. Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones weren't your average musicians—they were session legends, popping up on more records than you can shake a drumstick at. From The Who and The Kinks to classical orchestra songs to commercial jingles, these guys played on all of them, bringing a wealth of musical experience to Led Zep recordings. Jimmy Page even seemed destined for prodigy status when, as a 13-year-old guitar player, he appeared on the BBC.

Guest Bio:
Bob Spitz is a journalist and author of the best-selling book Led Zeppelin: The Biography. Early in his career, Bob worked as a manager for Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. He also authored a New York Times best-seller on the Beatles.

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Led Zeppelin's journey was a whirlwind of highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies. Their musical prowess, unmatched charisma, and savvy marketing propelled them to the pinnacle of rock 'n' roll success. Led Zeppelin left an indelible mark on music history, from sold-out stadiums to groundbreaking albums. Zep even teased everyone with a stellar performance in 2007 reunification in London featuring the three core members plus the son of their deceased drummer.

Air date: May 2024
Host: Dave Anthony

Step into the whirlwind journey of Fleetwood Mac, where relationships intertwine, songwriting flourishes, and musical evolution knows no bounds. We delve deep into the band's captivating narrative. In this rollicking episode, you'll learn:

• The origins of the band in England in the 1960s as a blues band featuring a very different lineup
• How the founder suffered a severe mental health decline that altered the course of the band
• How the aristocratic son of a Royal Air Force commander went from a window cleaner to Fleetwood Mac leader
• How one band member left the band to join a cult
• How a trip to the grocery store led to the discovery of soon-to-be superstars Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham
• The revealing true meaning of 5 of their most famous songs based on Mark Blake's interviews with the band

Join host Dave Anthony and Fleetwood Mac author Mark Blake for the fascinating story behind Fleetwood Mac's journey from the pubs of England to become a US and global phenomenon. Picture this: a plot straight out of a gripping soap opera, where band members forge romantic connections, battle with addiction, weather breakups, and witness a revolving door of musical talent. And at the heart of it all lies Fleetwood Mac, a band synonymous with drama and musical brilliance.

Guest Bio:
Mark Blake is the author of the soon-to-be-released Dreams: The A to Z of Fleetwood Mac and has interviewed each member of Fleetwood Mac several times over the decades. He has also written books on Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Pink Floyd.

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Bonus Content:

1. Download the Official Garage to Stadiums Fleetwood Mac playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
2. Visit GaragetoStadiums.com for bonus content on Fleetwood Mac, including concert footage, transcripts and other interesting facts.

In this episode, you will experience the sights and sounds of the mid-1960s London scene version of Fleetwood Mac, typified by this performance on the BBC from the era. Blake reveals the incredibly random way Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were discovered and went from a folk performing duo on their first album to becoming additional band members, contributing powerful songwriting, vocal harmonies, and Buckingham's blazing guitar. These two were directly responsible for massive hits like Rhiannon, which was seen in a scorching live performance in 1976 on NBC’s music show Midnight Special.

Fleetwood Mac's journey had its share of challenges amid the musical triumphs. Mark Blake paints a vivid portrait of the band's dynamic personalities, fueled by passion, breakups, tension, drug use and the occasional thrown drink. Yet, from this cauldron of creativity emerged an album born from chaos yet etched into the annals of music history as one of the Top 10 albums of all time.

Air Date: 2024

Host: Dave Anthony