From Gentle Giant to Bon Jovi - Derek Shulman Interview

From Gentle Giant to Bon Jovi - Derek Shulman Interview

Author: Phil Aston October 15, 2025 Duration: 52:36

Derek Shulman: Giant Steps - Exclusive Interview An in depth interview with Derek Shulman—Gentle Giant founder and the executive who helped power Bon Jovi, Pantera, AC/DC, Dream Theater, Slipknot and more. I discuss his remarkable memoir Giant Steps: grief and grit after his father’s passing, the leap from Simon Dupree & The Big Sound to Gentle Giant, mentorship from Tony Visconti, live reinvention, and the bold move to the business side (minus the clichés). Derek also drops news on remixing In A Glass House with cutting-edge AI, and explains why hip-hop embraced Gentle Giant.If you love honest music stories—from Top of the Pops to arena tours—this is essential.“We didn’t have a plan. We just needed musicians who would push each other. Out dripped Gentle Giant.” — Derek Shulman“Bon Jovi said, ‘I want to be bigger than Elvis.’ You can’t stop that kind of drive—you nurture it.” — Derek Shulman

Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine


Phil Aston brings the pages of Now Spinning Music Magazine-Artist Interviews and Music Reviews to life in this audio companion. Here, the focus remains firmly on the music itself and the artists who create it, championing a tangible connection to sound that goes beyond digital streams. Each episode delves into thoughtful conversations with musicians, exploring their creative processes and the stories behind their work. Alongside these interviews, you’ll find candid reviews of new releases and classic albums, all approached with an independent and honest perspective that values every format, from cherished vinyl records and CDs to elaborate box sets. This podcast extends the magazine’s global community, creating a space for enthusiasts of every genre and era. It’s for anyone who appreciates the artistry of an album as a complete physical object, not just a collection of tracks. Tune in for a deeply engaged discussion about music culture, where the passion for the material item and the music it contains is always at the forefront.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Now Spinning Music Magazine - Artist Interviews and Music Reviews
Podcast Episodes
Andy Bown - From Status Quo to a Space Opera [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:19
Andy Bown – Out There: The Status Quo Musician’s Space Opera Finally Comes to LifeAndy Bown from Status Quo joins the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast to talk about Out There, his long-gestating “mind-bending operatic deep…
Jon Lord Beyond Deep Purple: Inside Before We Forget with Ovais Naqvi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:05
Jon Lord was far more than the Hammond organ player in Deep Purple.In this episode of the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast, Phil Aston talks to author Ovais Naqvi about his new book Before We Forget — a deeply researched an…
Metal Monthly Ep2 : Darkthrone, Napalm Death, Rainbow and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:50
Metal Monthly Ep2- The Monthly Heavy Metal Show from Now Spinning Magazine, with Phil Aston and co-host Wayne McAloon.In this episode we dive into the huge Darkthrone vinyl box set, talk black metal old and new, discuss…
Katherine Priddy Interview - Songs That Whisper To The Heart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:07
In this episode, me and Sue Aston sit down with Katherine Priddy to explore her third album These Frightening Machines (out March 6 via Cooking Vinyl). Katherine discusses the lyrical themes running through the record —…
Danny Bryant Interview - Sober, Reborn, Unstoppable [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:40
Blues Rock Guitarist Danny Bryant returns to the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast for a powerful, honest conversation about his new album Nothing Left Behind — and the life-changing journey behind it.Since our last intervie…
Katherine Priddy Interview - Songs That Whisper To The Heart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:07
In this episode, me and Sue Aston sit down with Katherine Priddy to explore her third album These Frightening Machines (out March 6 via Cooking Vinyl). Katherine discusses the lyrical themes running through the record —…