The ProgCast With Gregg Bendian

Chris Merrick Hughes is perhaps best known for producing Tears for Fears' "Songs from the Big Chair," and co-writing their "Everybody Wants To Rule The World." We talk about his early days as drummer…

RYAN OLCOTT, guitarist/singer/composer from 12RODS might be the most interesting  guy in pop music you've not yet heard of. Todd Rundgren produced their excellent "Separation Anxieties" disc and some…

Guitarist/composer Steve Hackett stops by the podcast to talk about his excellent new acoustic album "Under A Mediterranean Sky," his upcoming projects, and the 50th anniversary of Genesis' "Nursery …

HUGH PADGHAM is a Grammy-winning producer/engineer who's worked with Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Sting, XTC, David Bowie, Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd, and many more. Hugh and I chat about his m…

When Cecil Taylor, icon of the jazz avant garde asks if you'd like to tag along with him to The Garden to hear an iconic American rock band you say, "Yes!"  Grateful Dead aficionado and Sirius/XM DJ …

TERRY CHAMBERS is well-known as the drummer of XTC. We chat about his and the band's early years, how he developed his unique style, and the drum sound that changed everything. Plus, lots about his p…

Jade Warrior guitarist DAVID DUHIG joins me for a discussion of the band's origins (Steve Winwood got them signed), David's famous Monkey Chant solo, JW offshoots, and recollections of his brother To…

JOHN LECKIE has produced and/or engineered for Pink Floyd, Syd Barrett, Be Bop Deluxe, XTC and so many other great artists. We dig into his work with George Harrison, Lennon/Ono, McCartney, and of co…

Violinist/composer Tom Chiu leads the Flux Quartet, a cutting edge quartet from NYC who've taken on the massive 6-hour, "String Qt No.2 by Morton Feldman. Tom has collaborated with Oliver Lake, Muhal…

Fred Frith has changed the worlds of guitar, guitar sound, rock songs, rock bands, improv, and beyond. We chat about Fred's early years, Henry Cow, Art Bears, Massacre, and Skeleton Crew, plus Captai…

Composer/harpist/improviser/educator Anne LeBaron and I are old friends and collaborators from the New York improv/new music scene. She is renowned for pioneering extended harp techniques, and electr…

Part three kicks into interstellar overdrive with Andy's film and literary heroes, lots more Beefheart, Star Wars v. Space Patrol, Andy's ant fascination, Patrick Stewart v. Bill Shatner, and his POW…

In part two of my chat with Andy, we remember the late Harold Budd, and talk about Andy's writing process, the great Terry Chambers and the XTC drum sound, major comic book geekage on Jack Kirby and …

Guitarist/composer/raconteur ANDY PARTRIDGE of XTC is my delightful guest for the next three episodes of The ProgCast. Part one of our freewheeling exchange covers everything from novelty and psyched…

Pianist/composer/educator Hal Galper is an important elder-statesman of jazz, hailed as a bandleader ,and as a collaborator of Cannonball & Nat Adderly, Sam Rivers, Phil Woods, and Tony Williams. Hal…

Rolf Schulte is one of the most riveting violinists performing contemporary classical music. He is widely acknowledged as a passionate and exacting soloist, a champion of Elliott Carter's music, and …

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson is a violinist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and arranger well-known for his work with Thundercat, Erykah Badu, Flying Lotus, Kamasi Washington, and more. Miguel's work bri…

Pianist/composer/improviser Vicki Ray's musicality has spanned the gamut of many new musical worlds - genre-be-damned. Vicki's expressive reach is just incredible. We explore her work with The Califo…

Stu Goldberg was the keyboardist in the final, quartet version of the Mahavishnu Orchestra ("Inner Worlds") and went on to join John McLaughlin in the One Truth Band on "Electric Dreams." In addition…