Interview with John Wood (Producer of The Session Man: Nicky Hopkins)

Interview with John Wood (Producer of The Session Man: Nicky Hopkins)

Author: Nick Bambach August 1, 2025 Duration: 1:05:11
Film producer John Wood joins Nick to talk about his documentary The Session Man (2023), which is about the career of rock-and-roll pianist and organist Nicky Hopkins. We talk about Hopkins' pending induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame later this year, the making of The Session Man, and our favorite songs that Hopkins played on. Hopkins has worked so many legendary artists including The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Cat Stevens, Jeff Beck...

Nick Bambach hosts Rock in Retrospect, a podcast that digs into the stories behind the artists who truly shaped our musical landscape. Each conversation goes beyond the greatest hits, exploring the personal journeys, creative breakthroughs, and enduring influence of iconic figures. Bambach brings in a different guest for every episode, allowing their personal passion and expertise to guide a deep dive into why a particular artist or band matters. These discussions are both insightful and genuinely funny, capturing the kind of talk you’d have with a friend about a shared musical obsession. While the core of the podcast is artist-focused, it also branches out to examine the institutions and ceremonies that frame music history, from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions to the spectacle of the Grammys. Tuning in feels like joining a lively, informed debate about the sounds that define generations. You’ll come away from each episode with a richer understanding of the music you love and probably a few new additions to your playlist. It’s a celebration of legacy, filled with the kind of context and humor that makes music history come alive.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Rock in Retrospect
Podcast Episodes
Artist Spotlight: Culture Club [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:51
Lisa returns to discuss the career and legacy of the legendary new wave band Culture Club. Topics discussed include the band's eclectic sound, Boy George's status as an icon of the 1980s and beyond, discuss our favorite…
Movie Talk: Devo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:11
The Douche Caravan returns! Jon Lamoreaux (Host of The Hustle Podcast), Patrick Dupuis (Host of The EETF Podcast) and Michael Bagford join Nick to discuss Chris Smith's 2025 Netflix documentary Devo. The movie focuses on…
Artist Spotlight: Tom Lehrer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:59
Mark Lempke returns to pay tribute to the career and legacy of the late, great Tom Lehrer. We discuss Lehrer's one-of-a-kind pathway to the music industry, his historical significance during the Cold War era, share our f…
Interview with Daniel Bukszpan (Author of Iron Maiden at 50) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:13
Prolific author Daniel Bukszpan (The Encyclopedia of New Wave, Ozzy at 75, among others) joins Nick to discuss his latest book, Iron Maiden at 50, and we talk about all things Maiden. We not only discuss his book, but al…
Movie Talk: Not Just a Goof [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:21
Kailyn, Jordan, and Sam return to discuss the recent Disney+ documentary Not Just a Goof, which focuses on the creation and legacy of the 1995 movie A Goofy Movie (celebrating its 30th anniversary this year). We heavily…
Artist Spotlight: Fall Out Boy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:04
Joel Weyrauch joins Nick to discuss the career and legacy of pop punk hitmakers Fall Out Boy. Topics discussed include their formation, contributions to the pop punk and emo genres, collaborations with other artists, and…
Movie Talk: The World According To Allee Willis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:41
Cliff O'Neill joins Nick to discuss the 2024 documentary The World According To Allee Willis. The film focuses on the life and career of songwriter Allee Willis who penned legendary songs such as Earth, Wind & Fire's "Se…
Movie Talk: Becoming Led Zeppelin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:17
Scott and Andrew (hosts of I've Got That on Vinyl) join Nick to discuss Bernard MacMahon's documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025), which focuses on the band's formation and first two studio albums. Support the show
Movie Talk: This is Spinal Tap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:44
To celebrate the release of its sequel, we are going to discuss the legendary 1984 comedy film This is Spinal Tap. Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer, the film follow…
Artist Spotlight: UB40 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:51
First-time guest Helen Galarza joins Nick to discuss the career and legacy of the iconic new wave band UB40. We discuss the band's origins, their contributions to popular music, their tremulous legal drama, and why they…