Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Etheridge

Author: Ultimate Classic Rock March 28, 2026 Duration: 27:52
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee Melissa Etheridge is with us today to talk about her new album, Rise! She tells Matt how the record came together and they also dig into other topics including songwriting, her collaboration with Chris Stapleton, jamming with Chuck Berry at the Rock Hall's grand opening concert in 1995, playing "Thunder Road" with Bruce Springsteen on MTV Unplugged and many other things! Go see Melissa on her tour, which just started last night! You can find tour dates at www.melissaetheridge.com

For anyone who lives and breathes the stories behind the music, The UCR Podcast offers a deep, ongoing conversation about the artists who defined an era and those carrying the torch forward. This isn't just a recap of headlines; it's a thoughtful exploration from the team at Ultimate Classic Rock, led by host Matt Wardlaw. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair with knowledgeable friends who are just as passionate about the legacy of a landmark album as they are about a band's surprising new project. You'll hear candid interviews that go beyond the usual anecdotes, roundtable discussions where different perspectives collide, and analysis that connects yesterday's revolutions to today's scene. Tuning into this podcast means getting a richer understanding of rock's enduring impact, not only through its history but through its very alive and evolving present. It’s for listeners who want context with their news and substance with their stories, all centered on the legends and the culture they continue to shape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The UCR Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Geoff Tate Takes Us Inside 'Operation: Mindcrime III' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:21
Former Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate and his guitarist/collaborator Kieran Robertson are with us today to discuss the making of Operation: Mindcrime III. In two separate interviews, the pair take us through the process…
Inside Funkadelic's 'Maggot Brain' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:45
Legendary P-Funk guitarist Michael "Kidd Funkadelic" Hampton joins us to talk about his early days learning to play music, the important nuances that are buried within the grooves of "Maggot Brain" and how he got his hea…
50 Years: Rush and ‘2112' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:15
Author Daniel Bukszpan is with Matt on today's episode to talk about his new book, Rush & 2112: 50 Years, which landed in stores this week as you're hearing this. We dig into the history of 2112 (50 years later!) and als…
Zakk Wylde [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:32
Zakk Wylde is with us to talk about writing with the late Ozzy Osbourne, how he paid tribute to "the Boss" on the new Black Label Society album, Engines of Demolition, Black Sabbath and lots more. Speaking of that new BL…
The Legacy of Marshall Tucker Band's Toy Caldwell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05:20
Former Marshall Tucker Band drummer Paul T. Riddle joins Matt to talk about his exciting new band that pays homage to the songwriting of his former MTB bandmate, the late Toy Caldwell. Riddle is joined in the lineup of T…
Thomas Dolby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:19
Thomas joins Matt to discuss the innovative show he's taking out on the road starting in April. They talk about the secret project he's been previewing at some of the gigs and Thomas digs into a number of other topics, i…
Sebastian Bach [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:45
Sebastian Bach is with Matt to discuss his upcoming tour, The Party Never Ends, which will begin in late February. Baz gets into other things as well, including his thoughts on the Triumph reunion, Motley Crue, the lates…
Slash [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:48
Slash joins us for his first UCR visit of the new year to talk all things Guns N' Roses, including "Nothin'" and "Atlas," plus the upcoming tour. We discuss other things as well, including Brian May and a brief recollect…
Zak Starkey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:53
Zak Starkey...Who? That's the name of the new one-man show that Zak Starkey will bring to the Gramercy Theatre (www.thegramercytheatre.com) on Feb. 20, for the first time anywhere. Zak joined Matt to discuss what fans ca…
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:59
As the final Megadeth album hits the shelves today, we've got a conversation with Dave Mustaine to talk about a number of subjects, including the story behind the record and also, the new film, Megadeth: Behind the Mask,…