Captain Kirk Douglas

Captain Kirk Douglas

Author: Pushkin Industries August 20, 2024 Duration: 1:00:15

Captain Kirk Douglas is the longtime guitarist for The Roots. Over the past 21 years he’s seen the group evolve from a touring act, to the house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, to having their own successful music festival in Philly. All the while continuing to record albums for themselves and others.

Between The Roots' many commitments, Kirk has also found time to record a solo project under the name Hundred Watt Heart. His most recent offering “New Unknown”  was recorded in the basement of his childhood home on Long Island where he first fell in love with the music of Van Halen, Hendrix, Sly and the Family Stone, and so many others.

On today’s Broken Record Justin Richmond talks with Captain Kirk from the Roots’ green room in 30 Rock about the seductive pull he felt as a little kid seeing electric guitars on the cover of an old Kiss album. He also reminisces about his early days gigging around New York City in the ‘90s while also working as a preschool teacher. And he recalls the elation he felt when Prince played one of his guitars on the Tonight Show, only to smash it onstage at the end of the performance.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Captain Kirk Douglas & The Roots songs HERE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Imagine a conversation where the only agenda is genuine curiosity about the creative process. That's the space Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond occupies. Hosted by these four distinct voices from the worlds of music production, writing, and journalism, this podcast strips away the standard interview format. Instead, it feels like you're overhearing an insightful, meandering talk between friends who happen to be some of the most fascinating artists alive. The discussions delve into the unglamorous realities of making art-the false starts, the moments of doubt, the sheer stubbornness required to push through. You'll hear legendary musicians and emerging talents alike discuss not just their hits, but the failures and personal stories that truly shaped their sound. It’s less about celebrity and more about the human experience behind the songs we love. Each episode is a deep, unstructured dive into why creators do what they do, offering a rare glimpse into the vulnerability and chaos that fuel great work. Produced by Pushkin Industries, this series connects the dots between music, culture, and the society that inspires it, making it feel like an essential listen for anyone interested in the stories behind the art.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
Podcast Episodes
Wyclef Jean - Live from On Air Fest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:33
Wyclef Jean may just be the most wide-ranging rapper, producer, performer, and composer of his time. As the lead producer and MC of The Fugees, he helped craft their 1996 landmark album The Score, one of the best-selling…
Jessie Ware [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:18
Jessie Ware has always moved between worlds. She's a British soul singer who spent the early part of her career making intimate, understated records. Then, in 2020, she released What's Your Pleasure? and morphed into a f…
Patrick Watson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:37
Patrick Watson first came to international attention in 2007 when his album Close to Paradise won the Polaris Music Prize, Canada's most prestigious award for a Canadian album. Over the course of his career, the Montreal…
George Michael: Beyond the Scandal, Beyond the Icon | From Big Lives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:03
There are a few artists we wish could've come on Broken Record, people who were sometimes misunderstood or hassled by the press and would have had the opportunity to be heard. One such artist is George Michael. Since tha…
Charlie Puth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:07
Charlie Puth is a meticulous songwriter whose knowledge of pop music runs deeper than your average chart topper. Charlie, who studied music production and engineering at Berklee College of Music, first gained widespread…
Rewind: Chris Robinson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:50
The Black Crowes are one of the great rock bands of the last 30 years, and now they're finally getting their flowers: a 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination, alongside Lauryn Hill, Phil Collins, Wu-Tang Clan, and O…
Tommy Emmanuel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:05
Tommy Emmanuel is an Australian guitarist who has spent over six decades mastering the art of fingerstyle acoustic guitar. He's now widely regarded as one of the best acoustic players in the world. Born in 1955, he recei…
Rodney Crowell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:01
Rodney Crowell has been a fixture in Nashville's songwriting community for over 50 years. Born in Houston in 1950, he was influenced early on by songwriters Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. In 1975, he joined Emmylou Harr…
FKA twigs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:54
FKA twigs has spent over a decade redefining the boundaries of pop music through her innovative blend of electronic production, experimental R&B, and striking visual art. Her albums LP1 and Magdalene earned widespread cr…
Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:48
Ben Bridwell has led Band of Horses for over two decades. He describes the band's sound as "y'all-ternative," a genre that tips its hat to Southern rock's deep myriad of musical influences. Next month, Band of Horses is…