Marc Riley's Musical Time Machine

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Marc Riley

Marc Riley unearths archive music interviews that share something in common.

Marc Riley delves into the BBC spoken word music archive. In each programme, he unearths two interviews that share something in common.

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Marc Riley's Musical Time Machine: Series 1: Frank Zappa and Lou Reed

Frank Zappa and Lou Reed

Series 1

BBC Radio 4 - Marc Riley's Musical Time Machine, Series 1, Frank Zappa and Lou Reed

Marc Riley delves into the BBC archive to unearth interviews with Frank Zappa and Lou Reed

Marc Riley explores the BBC spoken word music archive: linked by rivalry - Frank Zappa in 1984 and Lou Reed in 1992. From 2015.

The BBC's archive is justifiably and inarguably world-famous, but most of this attention and praise is showered on the riches contained within the Beeb's music archive - the life-changing Peel performances, seminal sessions from Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and David Bowie.

But these musical marvels risk over-shadowing another archive that's just as diverse, rich and rewarding - the BBC's spoken word, music archive.

As long as there have been pop stars, the BBC has spoken to them. Marc Riley and his trusty Time Machine - a rickety rust-bucket, back-firing jalopy - travel back through the years to visit the great and the good, the famous and the infamous, safely ensconced within the treasure trove of the BBC archive. Marc replays candid snapshots at crucial points in the careers of some of the biggest names in music.

In each episode, Marc lines up the Time Machine to travel to two different points in time and revisit two interviews with something in common - a person or place, a shared influence or ideology, a discovery, a misunderstanding.

In the last of two episodes, the featured interviewees share a fierce rivalry. 

Both artists were intent on creating grown-up rock 'n roll, both pushed the boundaries of rock music. Both were anti-establishment, both were anti-hippy. Both were the kings of their exciting new scenes - one in New York, one in LA. Yet, despite the similarities and the common ground, each loathed the other. 

First there's Frank Zappa in conversation with BBC Radio 1's Andy Batten-Foster from 1984, while the second interview comes from a 1992 interview by Johnnie Walker with Lou Reed.

Producer: Ian Callaghan

A Smooth Operations production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in February 2015.

Marc Riley's Musical Time Machine: Series 1

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Marc Riley delves into the diverse, rich and rewarding BBC spoken word archive.

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Marc Riley's Musical Time Machine

Series 1

Frank Zappa and Lou Reed

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