E271 - John Robb (Membranes) - Top 5 Blackpool Bands & Musicians

E271 - John Robb (Membranes) - Top 5 Blackpool Bands & Musicians

Author: O3L Media May 13, 2025 Duration: 1:26:18
Blackpool, Lancashire lies on the Irish Sea on the northwest coast of England, situated roughly 50-some miles north of Liverpool and 50-some miles west of Manchester. This seaside destination may conjure up visions of tourists, the Promenade, Pleasure Beach, or Blackpool Tower, but this week we focus on Blackpool as a crucial stop on the musical map. Joining us for this engaging discussion is one of Blackpool's favourite musical sons, John Robb! John was outside enjoying a lovely sunny day in Manchester, and we were lucky to get nearly an hour of his time before his phone connection went kaput. John has been at the centre of Blackpool post-punk legends the Membranes from their original 1977-1990 run to their post-hiatus return since 2009. Their initial era (including their three UK Top 20 indie albums and three Top 20 indie singles) is covered on Cherry Red's comprehensive 5 CD box set, Everyone's Going Triple Bad Acid, Yeah! They added to their already impressive body of work in the 21st century with two of their finest and most ambitious albums yet: 2015's Dark Matter/Dark Energy and 2019's What Nature Gives...Nature Takes Away. But wait, there's far more to this multi-faceted artist. Aside from also leading the punk band Goldblade, Robb has also produced bands like Therapy? and Cornershop; been a TV presenter and pundit; a journalist; best-selling author (including The Art of Darkness - The History of Goth, Punk Rock: An Oral History, Stone Roses and the Resurrection of British Pop, The North Will Rise Again, and an upcoming Oasis biography); creator of the essential Louder Than War website and magazine; festival boss; green revolutionary; vegan behemoth...a true renaissance man. Thanks to Paul Richison for the suggestion and introduction! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dive into the sonic landscape of the '70s, '80s, and '90s with Only Three Lads-Classic Alternative Music Podcast. Hosted by Uncle Gregg and Brett Vargo, this podcast is a weekly conversation with a rotating cast of "Third Lads" who share their deep knowledge and personal passion for the era's defining sounds. Each episode feels like hanging out with friends who can't wait to tell you about a forgotten B-side or argue the merits of a classic album. You'll hear curated Top Five lists, behind-the-scenes stories, and spirited discussions that span the entire alternative spectrum-from the raw energy of punk and the shimmering hooks of power pop to the dense atmospheres of shoegaze and the gritty rebellion of grunge. The show thrives on discovery, whether revisiting a new wave classic or unpacking a Britpop phenomenon. More than just a retrospective, this podcast captures the ongoing conversation and community around the music. It’s a space for both lifelong fans and curious newcomers to find common ground in a shared love for the artists and anthems that built a genre. Tune in for the insightful, often humorous, and always genuine chat that makes this podcast a destination for anyone who believes great music never gets old.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Only Three Lads - Classic Alternative Music Podcast
Podcast Episodes
E292 - The Whimbrels - Top 5 Noise Rock Albums [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:55
Things are gonna get LOUD! This week, we turn the amps up to 11 and put the effects pedals on stun as we celebrate Noise Rock. What exactly is "noise rock" though?? At its simplest definition, it’s rock music that emphas…
E291 - doubleVee - Top 5 Family Bands [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:53
"Here's the story of a lovely couple Who are in a cool band they call doubleVee Allan & Barb Vest went on a podcast To discuss bands that are family. Here's the story of a groovy podcast, Hosted by two guys named Uncle G…
O3L Presents: Weekend Six Pack, Vol. 25 - Music Is Our Mattress [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:49
It’s Labor Day Weekend here in the U.S. and for our friends in Canada. And you know what THAT means? That’s right…mattress sales from coast to coast! Slashing prices 50%, 60%, 70%! (Plus applicable tariffs.) Well, guess…
E290 - Lemoyne Alexander - Top 5 Alt-Rock Inspired Hip-Hop Songs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:36:22
Hip-hop culture was a dominant force during the '80s and '90s, and inspired language, fashion, film, and music. Yes, that includes plenty of alternative music. But that's not what we're talking about today. Instead, we e…
E289 - Chris Stamey (the dB's) - Top 5 Producers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:18
Anything is possible as we welcome power pop icon Chris Stamey from the dB's as our Third Lad! Our focus topic is on the producers of the O3L era - the sonic architects that carry out the visions of the artists we love a…
E288 - Will Dailey - Top 5 Singer-Songwriter Albums of the '80s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:00:14
This week, it's just "boys talking" (or lads conversing, if you will), as we welcome the sublime singer-songwriter Will Dailey as our Third Lad. Will has spent the past two decades perfecting a style that is not beholden…
E277 - David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets) - in Conversation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:51
We are thrilled to welcome one of the seminal figures of alternative music - David J. Haskins (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets, solo). O3L's Brett Vargo chats with David J about his new poetry book, Rhapsody, Threnody & Prayer,…
E287 - Willie Nile - Top 5 Songs about New York [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:46
We’re in a New York State of Mind. Sure, L.A. has beaches and sun, San Francisco clings onto its peace and love vibes, Chicago oozes the blues, and these make for remarkable settings for great songs, but New York…New Yor…
O3L Presents: Weekend Six Pack, Vol. 24 - Pinch Punch! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:59
Pinch, punch, first of the month. White rabbit, white rabbit. Blowing cinnamon out of your front door. So superstition goes, these are all rituals that bring luck and prosperity for the month ahead. Might we suggest one…
E286 - Columbia Records SVP Paul Rappaport's Top 5 Album Rollouts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:31
The music business from the late '60s through the '90s was an exciting time that mirrored the music and the musicians making it. It was also a time of new and creative ideas on how to market this groundbreaking cultural…