Ray Cooper joins Gary and Guy for Rockonteurs

Ray Cooper joins Gary and Guy for Rockonteurs

Author: Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt March 1, 2026 Duration: 1:05:15

This week on the Rockonteurs podcast, we are joined by the legendary percussionist Ray Cooper. Ray has performed with so many of our favourite artists over the years but is forever synonymous as being part of Elton John's band since 1972. 

In a fascinating conversation with Guy and Gary, Ray talks about a life with Elton and recording classic albums like 'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy', a masterpiece that recently turned 50.

You can but the 50th anniversary edition of that album here: https://eltonjohn.lnk.to/CF50


Instagram @rockonteurs @guyprattofficial @garyjkemp @raycooperofficial @eltonjohn @gimmesugarproductions 

 

Listen to the podcast and watch some of our latest episodes on our Rockonteurs YouTube channel.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rockonteurs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rockonteurs

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@therockonteurs

Produced for WMG UK by Ben Jones at Gimme Sugar Productions


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For anyone who’s ever wondered what really went on after the arena lights went down or before the tape started rolling, there’s Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt. This isn't a history lesson; it's a backstage pass handed to you by two blokes who were actually there. Gary, of Spandau Ballet fame, isn't just the voice behind 'True'-he lived the whirlwind of writing and performing those anthems. Guy Pratt’s bass lines have underpinned tracks for icons from Pink Floyd to Madonna, giving him a unique view from the studio floor and the tour bus. Together, they host conversations that feel more like a late-night chat in a lock-up than a formal interview. The podcast thrives on the specifics: the forgotten detail that changed a song, the chaotic tour moment that never made the biography, the unvarnished truth about collaboration and conflict in making classic rock. Each episode pulls back the curtain with artists, producers, and insiders who crafted the soundtrack to an era, sharing stories that are sometimes hilarious, often surprising, and always genuine. It’s for those who love the music but crave the real, unfiltered narrative behind it. Listening feels like you’ve pulled up a chair in a pub corner with the only people who can tell these tales, because they were in the room when it happened.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt
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