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

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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.

This special episode dives into one of the most pivotal moments in rock history. With a new Bruce Springsteen biopic hitting theatres this month, we uncover the real story behind the making of an epic album — and the desperate fight to save his career. It’s 1974...after two critically acclaimed but commercially disappointing albums, Bruce Springsteen is on the brink of being dropped by Columbia Records. Cornered by doubt and haunted by his past, he pushes himself, his band, and his producers to the breaking point — all in pursuit of the sound that would define him.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The backstory of his troubled childhood and how it affected him for life
• The complicated dichotomy that is Bruce's internal conflict for his entire career
• How the songs Born to Run, Jungleland and others evolved substantially in the studio
• The hidden meanings and themes of key songs on the album
• A surprising reveal about the album's underlying theme
• The key role of a 22-year-old Born to Run studio sound engineer who would go to become a billionaire

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Guest Bio
Today we'll explore the making of the landmark album Born to Run with Bruce insider Peter Ames Carlin, author of the recently released Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run, which has already become a New York Times bestseller. Peter was on our previous episodes on the Story of R.E.M. and Story of Bruce Springsteen. He's also written definitive biographies on Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

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.

From music to hairstyles to the very fabric of pop culture, The Beatles changed everything. Having interviewed several Beatles himself, guest best-selling author Bob Spitz, (The Beatles: The Biography) shares astonishing, never-before-heard insights into their journey, influence, and the untold stories that shaped the most influential band of all time. Don’t miss this deep dive into Beatlemania like you’ve never heard before! You'll learn:

• The Beatles’ extremely difficult childhoods—and how it affected their personalities
• The fateful meeting that sparked John and Paul’s teenage friendship
• The wild tour debauchery they kept hidden—until now
• The unexpected influences that shaped their sound
• The Beatles & Bob Dylan’s game-changing impact on each other
• The "biggest mistake that led to their breakup", according to insider Bob Spitz
• John Lennon’s near-tragic spiral into hard drugs and its effect on the group
• How a rock-n-roll outsider created The Beatles’ image

Guest Bio:
Bob Spitz is a journalist and author of the million-selling book The Beatles: The Biography. Early in his career, Bob was a rock insider as manager for Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. He also authored a New York Times best-seller on Led Zeppelin and joined us as a guest on our Story of Led Zeppelin episode.

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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 their first ever gig 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

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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.

Experience one of music's big bang moments when 19-year-old Mick Jagger, carrying a handful of RnB albums, ran into Keith Richards on a train platform. Together, they would overcome tragedy, addictions, death and mayhem of all sorts to make it to the top and stay there. This isn't just the tale of a band, it's the saga of survival, reinvention and rebellion, and at its core, it's the story of two kids from Dartford, Mick and Keith, who led The Stones to became undisputed icons of rock and roll. In Part 1 you'll learn.

1. How fate intervened to bring all of The Stones together as a band
2. Who really founded The Stones and the strange origins of the band name
3. The role that two women played in influencing their music
4. About one of the first famous deaths in rock
5. The financial mayhem they faced & the role of a mysterious Prince
6. Some of the factors that drove their dark songs like Gimme Shelter & Sympathy for the Devil

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Guest Bio
Christopher Sanford is the author of The Rolling Stones: 60 years, he's written acclaimed biographies of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, Sting and Kurt Cobain, as well as books on John F Kennedy and Roman Polanski. For more than two decades, he's written about music and film for major media outlets on both sides of the Atlantic. Rolling Stone magazine has called him "the preeminent author in his field".

In Part 2, we journey through the 1970s and ’80s, to experience how The Rolling Stones navigated financial ruin, courtroom battles, and drug-fueled chaos. Their survival and evolution forged their legend—every scar a jewel in the crown they wear today. In Part 2 you'll learn:

1. How financial problems led to one of their finest albums
2. About their legendary debaucherous 1972 tour
3. That the chaos of 1970s New York City played a key role in their sound evolution
4. Why Mick and Keith's relationship almost came to an end
5. How one of their most famous tunes started as a reggae song
6. The innovation The Stones brought to the concert touring model

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Subscribe to our bonus Garage to Stadium content across our social + web channels

Guest Bio
Christopher Sanford is the author of The Rolling Stones: 60 years, he's written acclaimed biographies of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, Sting and Kurt Cobain, as well as books on John F Kennedy and Roman Polanski. For more than two decades, he's written about music and film for major media outlets on both sides of the Atlantic. Rolling Stone magazine has called him "the preeminent author in his field".

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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Bonus Content:

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

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: 2024
Host: Dave Anthony