The Keyboard Chronicles

The Head, Heart and American Idol

The Keyboard Chronicles — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:20:46 GMT

This weekend we had the pleasure of recording two shows, with two amazing but very different players.

The first was Kenny Hensley from The Head and the Heart, a brilliant folk rock band out of Seattle USA. In this member-only early access vid, Kenny chats on a funny blank-out he had on stage - something all of us have experienced at different times.

Don Walker: Early Access

The Keyboard Chronicles — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:31:53 GMT

In an Australian context, players don’t get more iconic than Don Walker. As initial primary songwriter for Cold Chisel, Don has created some of the greatest Australian rock songs ever. For those unaware of Cold Chisel and Don’s work, check out songs like Flame Trees, Khe Sanh, Saturday Night, Choir Girl and Standing on the Outside, to name just five of many. Add in his stellar solo work (including this week’s release Love Songs) and successful collaborations and there’s lots to enjoy.

Masters Series Players and an upcoming question opportunity

The Keyboard Chronicles — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 01:28:51 GMT

For your eyes only as a supporter…

Our next episode is the second in our ‘Masters Series’ of shows to coincide with our 200th episode. Episode 197, which will be released in a week, features Mr Lawrence Gowan, current keys player and singer for Styx and icomic solo artist in his own right, particularly in his home country of Canada

Not for distrubution bu…

Lawrence Gowan's Styx Keyboard Rig

The Keyboard Chronicles — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:33:58 GMT

What a pleasure it was catching up with Lawrence Gowan in the past 48 hours. Lawrence has covered vocals and keys from Styx since 1999, on top of a stellar solo career. In this early access snippet for you, he talks on his keyboard rig.

Behind the curtain: we recorded on a hot Saturday morning for Lawrence, with him on the tour bus in North Carolina prio…

Early Access: Peter Manning Robinson

The Keyboard Chronicles — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:35:16 GMT

Was great catching up with composer and pianist Peter Manning Robinson today for an interview. In this early access piece for our subscribers, Peter talks on his issues with tendonitis, what saved his career and his approaching to relearning how to play piano.

3 Icons in 72 hours

The Keyboard Chronicles — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:23:18 GMT

What a week. Over the past 72 hours we’ve burned plenty of midnight to 6am oil interviewing three amazing players, and you get to see them first.

Day 1: David Paich (Toto)

David Paich’s work as player and songwriter in Toto is incredible in its own right, but add in the more than 1600 album credits across his session career, and it becomes all a bit mind-…

Not Your Average Corporate Gig

The Keyboard Chronicles — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 00:31:28 GMT

Christian Dinh Gulino is an experienced Musical Director and keyboard player of more than 20 years standing. In this supporter only early access piece from a few hours ago, Christian talks about one of his earlier roles as part of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s band. More specifically, there were a decent number of weekend corporate gigs in Russia - some of whic…

John Linnell - They Might Be Giants

The Keyboard Chronicles — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 03:35:33 GMT

I was beyond thrilled to get a chance to speak with John Linnell for an hour last night. I’ve been a TMBG fan since the early 1990s, have seem them live a few times and just love their approach to lyrics and music. I wasn’t surprised to find that John was a warm, thoughtful guest with some great perspectives.

In this early access snippet, John talks on h…

Squeezebox Wally

The Keyboard Chronicles — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:19:59 GMT

I got off an interview with Mark Wallace / Squeezebox Wally and hour ago, and still buzzing. From a personal viewpoint, Weddings Parties Anything still top my list as the best gig I’ve ever attended, and like most people of my vintage I’ve attended quite a few.

In this super early access snippet, I’ve asked ‘Wal’ what he’d like his musical legacy to be, …

Geoff Downes and a new album from Yes

The Keyboard Chronicles — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:29:01 GMT

Tonight we had the pleasure of spending 45 minutes with Geoff Downes, longest serving keyboard player in Yes, alongside an impressive career as a producer and member of Asia and The Buggles.

We’d interviewed Geoff on the breadth and depth of his career previously, way back in Episode 38, so this was an opportunity to focus on some specific aspects of com…

Brother Paul and Famous James

The Keyboard Chronicles — Sun, 17 May 2026 01:56:48 GMT

Over the weekend I had the privilege of checking out The Waterboys for the first time. I’ve been a fan for thirty plus years, and bought tickets without hesitation. I then reached out to ‘Brother Paul’ Brown, who we’ve had on the show before . Being the generous human being he is, he immediately agreed to do a rig tour, and also offered to involve his bandmate ‘Famous James’ Hallawell, so we suddenly had a two-in-one rig tour. It turned out to be a very eventful one as well, in the best possible way.

On Writing With Bands: Jules Emery

The Keyboard Chronicles — Mon, 11 May 2026 12:39:07 GMT

A super early access piece for you good people. Tonight we recorded an interview with producer Jules Emery. Jules has produced songs with a range of artists from McFly to Nothing But Thieves and Lissie. He’s not a keyboard player but is known for his use of keyboards as a producer so he has some fascinating insights we think you’ll enjoy.

Thanks as alwa…

When you join Bo Diddley's band..

The Keyboard Chronicles — Thu, 07 May 2026 06:34:35 GMT

Subscriber’s only video for you. We caught up with Scottie Miller and talked about his career as a blues piano player/organist, including more than a decade as the musical director for the brilliant Ruthie Foster. As you’ll hear, this ovelapped with Bo Diddley, with Scottie joining Bo’s band....

Full episode coming in 8 weeks or so, and it’s a great one.…

Making creative democracy work in a 7-piece band: Couch's Danny Silverston

The Keyboard Chronicles — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:06:12 GMT

Early access (full episode dropping in 8 weeks):

I just finished an interview with Danny Silverston from US outfit Couch. If you’re a fan of catchy and nuanced music along the lines of Vulfpeck and Lawrence then you’ll love Couch. In this snippet Danny talks about the process of writing an album where all seven members have equal credit.....

Check out Co…

From a class assigment at University to a successfull international rock band

The Keyboard Chronicles — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:48:35 GMT

Another members only video from today's recording with Paul Furness from Ball Park Music. Not many ensmebles that form for a class assignment go on to have more than a decade of success and counting. Full interview coming in 6-8 weeks. Thanks for your support.

Check out an example of BPM's music here:

Kerry Minnear - Gentle Giant

The Keyboard Chronicles — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 13:34:29 GMT

I quite often talk in the introductions to the interviews I record, about what a privilege and honour it is to speak with guests. I’m yet to not find that to be the case, and it certainly applied to speaking with Kerry Minnear. He was constantly cited by previous guests and had long been on my bucket list, but finding a contact was difficult. Then, a press release was emailed, about the remaster of Gentle Giant’s iconic live album, Playing The Fool, and suddenly the option was there. Kerry is so revered across music that there was some anxiety pre-interview, but you could not find a more humble and warm person than Kerry Minnear.

I cannot thank you enough for taking the time with us on this lovely weekend. I assume it’s a lovely weekend for you there in the UK.

It’s really good. It’s really nice and hot and warm, I’m wearing a pullover because it’s not really hot and warm at all.

There’s an imminent release of a remaster of your amazing live album, Playing the Fool, The Official Live Experience. I thought I’d just start off with asking about what was the momentum for that being remastered firstly, then I’d like to get into what your recollections of doing that album originally was.

Blimey, that’s a long time ago. The reason for doing it is we’ve done most of the rest of the catalogue courtesy of our friend Steven Wilson, who’s helped us out a lot. This one was a different kettle of fish because some of the masters that we need to do the remixing were missing. Also, we discovered we were actually using a mobile studio unit that was outside, it belonged to Jethro Tull, it was called Maison Rouge. I think he did a lot of stuff for people around about then. We actually recorded four concerts, one of which was pretty disastrous because the keyboards packed up. We really had three concerts to choose from.

When we started to listen back to them, the speeds were varying. In other words, the capstan wasn’t constant. It did produce some problems. We realized there were going to be so many problems with this that we couldn’t just send it to Steven Wilson and say, “Remix this,” because it was going to be hours of trying to sort things out before he could start. We have a very good friend called Dan Bornemark, who actually mixed the whole thing. First of all, he had to correct everything, take the hums out, take out all the broken leads apparently. He’s worth an interview himself, by the way, if ever you fancy finding out a bit more.

He finished up with a slightly different objective too, rather than just remixing the tracks as they were on the original album. He said, “I would like to make this like a concert.” That is the whole concept, that you’re there at an hour and a quarter or so concert listening to the band, listening to the heckling from behind. If you’re listening in Atmos, which we had the privilege of doing, it’s amazing. It’s like you’re there. He’s chosen some great live tracks. They’re not all sincerely a remix of the original, they are a complete concert of genuine live performance, which for me was obviously a lot more exciting in many ways because they’re versions that we hadn’t heard.

It’s turned out to be something that is very special, especially to me. When I first heard it, I actually welled up because I haven’t been part of something that kind of creative and strong and confident and throwaway since those days. Everything else I’ve been part of has been an effort. It’s just lovely to hear what sounds like water off a duck’s back, which is throwing it out. It’s been mixed with such care by Dan, because he does love the band. I try and tell him not to be so obsessed, I can’t stop him.

I’m fascinated when you said you welled up because I can imagine if you’re hearing all that wider sound stuff from around the show, as you said, the banter, the heckling, all that sort of stuff. It’s essentially a time capture where you won’t have heard that stuff for well over 40 years. Was it a real head spinning experience for you listening to all that?

Yes, yeah, it was really. It’s been weird because I’ve done so many things since I left the band. Because of the interest in the band, that has taken a place in my memory that is closer than the stuff that I’ve done since the band. You get what I mean? It’s quite weird because it seems like almost yesterday. I finished up with just being overwhelmed really by the privilege of what it all was. I still can’t believe that there’s a continued interest. People just still coming, youngsters that are getting into the band, and the internet has done us such a favour in so many ways.

Kerry Minnear, 2025

A great Train Wreck Story

The Keyboard Chronicles — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:59:26 GMT

David Hirschfelder looks back at a funny train wreck from his time with iconic singer John Farnham. The moral of the story is don't smoke and play high-pressure gigs folks :)

Keyboard Chronicles and Substack: A Big Upgrade

The Keyboard Chronicles — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:08:51 GMT

For those of you who have supported this Substack to date: thank you. I don’t underestimate what it takes to throw some dollars at someone on a regular basis, and it is truly and deeply appreciated. I’ve been acutely aware that the content hasn’t been coming as quickly as it could here, but that’s about to change in a big way.

I’ve decided to offer the same premium offerings to all our supporters, whether they be paying YouTube members, Patreon Supporters or those of you right here on Substack. Specifically, this means for your dollars each month you get:

Early access to a snippet of each interview right after it’s recorded i.e. 6-8 weeks before the general public see the episode. This happens around twice a month.
You get the heads-up on future guests AND you get the opportunity to ask questions of future guests AND in some circumstances* you will join us as a guest co-host and ask those questions yourself.
We will ensure each and every episode is also posted directly here.
Q&A sessions / behind the scenes chats.
Continued access to our semi-frequent curated interviews in text form.

One really important point: Substack, YouTube and Patreon all have slightly different subscription structures, so for transparency do compare the pricing here with our Patreon membership (click here) and our YouTube membership (click here). The other two do have cheaper options as well.

I hope you think this is a good thing. For those of you who are already subscribed, I’ve extended your subscription for free for a further 6 months on top of what you’ve already paid for to reflect the price change. As things ramp up and you think you’re getting bang for your buck, then feel free to recommend us to other keyboard loving musicians :)

* We can’t always guarantee we can get you on the show to ask questions due to tight scheduling of guests and time zones, but we will damn well try!

Interview: Roger O'Donnell (Part 1)

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 21:50:22 GMT

In the lead-up to interviewing Roger O’Donnell, I was a little nervous. The Cure have a creative reputation that ranges between dark and brooding, through to outright pop joy. I’ve been a huge fan since Head on the Door (yes true fans, I know that makes me a latecomer), so I wasn’t sure how to tackle an interview with someone who’s seen more of that history than some.

Turns out I needn’t have worried - Roger was one of the most welcoming, forthcoming and erudite guests we’ve had, and that’s a high bar. In this first part we dig into recent activities, his recent solo release Projections, his years prior to The Cure and start an album by album rundown, starting with Songs of a Lost World.

On joining Paul Simon's band

The Keyboard Chronicles — Sat, 04 Oct 2025 12:38:19 GMT

A little bonus for our ever-patient Substack supporters. We completed an interview with Mick Rossi today. Aside from many years with Phillip Glass (and dozens of other collaborations, a consistent solo career and film work), Mick has been Paul Simon’s keyboard player since 2010. This short video details how that came about.