The Now Spinning Magazine Podcast
“Interviewed By Phil Aston”
“Phil is the Parkinson of rock n roll podcasting; softly spoken and deceptively understated, he knows exactly when to ask a pointed question and exactly when to let the talent reveal truths and facts about the subject (check out his channel on YouTube and you’ll see what I mean!)”. James Heron – Cats in Space
Full Episode List Available via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Podscasts , Google Podcasts, YouTube and all major platforms.
“In-depth conversations with legendary artists, producers, authors and musicians from across the worlds of classic rock, progressive music, metal and beyond.”
Now Spinning Magazine – Latest Podcasts
- Steven Wilson – Requiem for a Village: Why I Think It’s His Finest Album 10th November 2026s Steven Wilson’s Requiem for a Village a masterpiece, or an album you are still trying to understand? In this review, I share why I believe it is his finest album—and why it has overtaken Hand. Cannot. Erase. as my personal favourite.From the haunting narration by David Tennant and words by Andy Partridge to the […]
- Ian Gillan: Nothing Left to Prove, So Much to Thank You For 9th November 2026I’ve been an Ian Gillan and Deep Purple fan since 1972, when I first heard “Never Before” from Machine Head. Their music has been part of my life ever since.Following Ian’s announcement that the rest of Deep Purple’s European and UK tour is postponed on medical advice, I wanted to share a few personal thoughts […]
- Steven Wilson on Requiem for a Village: Finding Magic in the Mistakes 5th November 2026Steven Wilson returns to the Now Spinning Magazine podcast to explore Requiem for a Village — an album he describes as “54 minutes of cinema for the ears”.Living in a small rural village in Cornwall, I felt an immediate connection to its atmosphere: the old ways overlapping with the new, familiar places holding strange stories, and the […]
- Cats in Space Have Made Their Finest Album – Greg Hart on Suit of Armour 2nd November 2026We’ve Risked Everything on This Album” – Cats in Space’s Greg HartIs Suit of Armour the finest album Cats in Space have made? For me, it is—and in my second interview with Greg Hart, we explore every track and the extraordinary stories behind the music.Greg joins me, Phil Aston, for an in-depth Now Spinning Magazine […]
- Ritchie Blackmore Interview: “I’ve Never Followed Any Rules” 2nd November 2026Ritchie Blackmore Interview: In His Own Words – Parts 6–8Family Favourites, Breaking the Rules and Learning to Love the Acoustic Guitar.Three questions. Three very different sides of Ritchie Blackmore.In this extended instalment of my exclusive Ritchie Blackmore Interview : In His Own Words interview series, I bring together Parts 6, 7 and 8.We talk about […]
- Dave Hill: Slade Memories, Recovery and a New Musical Chapter | Part 3 28th October 2026Dave Hill Slade Interview Part 3 In the final part of our Now Spinning Magazine interview, Dave Hill talks about making his solo album, Dirty Foot Lane, and the personal stories within its songs.Dave explains how Noddy Holder suggested working with his son Django, and how that collaboration helped bring space, warmth and fresh ideas […]
- Ritchie Blackmore Reveals the Guitarists and Music He Listens to Today 21st October 2026Ritchie Blackmore: In His Own Words – Episode Five.What does Ritchie Blackmore actually listen to today?In this episode of my exclusive 13-part interview series, I ask Ritchie about the classical and Renaissance music that has influenced him throughout his life — and whether his musical tastes have changed over the years.His answer takes us from […]
- Dave Hill from SLADE on Songwriting, Spirituality and Family | Part 2 20th October 2026In the second part of my interview with Dave Hill from SLADE he reflects on the personal experiences that have shaped his songwriting.From working on music during lockdown to the memories behind “Dirty Foot Lane” and “Sweet and Tender,” Dave talks about family, his musical influences, spirituality and the creative ideas that arrive while walking […]
- Leo Lyons Interview: Ten Years After, Alvin Lee, Woodstock & UFO 19th October 2026My guest on the Now Spinning Magazine podcast is Leo Lyons, founding bassist of Ten Years After and producer of UFO’s Phenomenon, Force It and No Heavy Petting.Beginning with the Chrysalis reissues of Ssssh and Cricklewood Green, we explore how Ten Years After created music in the moment, both onstage and in the studio. Leo […]
- Ritchie Blackmore: In His Own Words – Episode Four. 16th October 2026What happens after you have just stepped onto a stage with Deep Purple again for the first time in more than 30 years?In this episode, I ask Ritchie about the journey home after the reunion, whether he watched any footage afterwards, and how quickly family life returned to normal once the performance was over.It is […]
- Dave Hill: How Slade Came Together | Interview Part 1 16th October 2026Dave Hill from Slade joins me for the first part of a warm, funny and wide-ranging Now Spinning Magazine interview.Dave takes us back to his first guitar, his father’s encouragement and the chance encounters that brought him together with Don Powell, Jim Lea and Noddy Holder. He also remembers what Chas Chandler saw in the […]
- Downes Braide Association: Is Trauma Their Finest Album Yet? 11th October 2026Geoff Downes and Chris Braide join me, Phil Aston, on the Now Spinning Magazine podcast to explore Trauma, the latest album from Downes Braide Association — and already my favourite of their six albums.We talk about memory, loss, identity and moving forward, and how those themes became songs filled with powerful lyrics and beautiful melodies.Geoff […]
- Ritchie Blackmore: “The Band Was Nicer Than They’ve Ever Been” 9th October 2026Ritchie Blackmore: In His Own Words – Episode Three.What happened after Ritchie Blackmore walked off stage following his first performance with Deep Purple in more than three decades?In the third instalment of my exclusive 13-part interview series, Ritchie talks about meeting the band backstage, how his family reacted to the occasion, his concerns before walking […]
- Ritchie Blackmore: In His Own Words – Episode 2 | I Nearly Changed My Mind 2nd October 2026Ritchie Blackmore: In His Own Words – Episode Two.The Doubts, the Family and the Journey Back to Deep PurpleAfter deciding to step onto a stage with Deep Purple again, did Ritchie Blackmore ever have second thoughts?In the second part of my exclusive 13-part interview series, Ritchie talks about what happened after he'd agreed to play […]
- Steve Hackett Interview : Life on Tour and Finding New Musical Possibilities 29th September 2026Steve Hackett returns to the Now Spinning Magazine Podcast for his seventh conversation with Phil Aston, ahead of the Best of Genesis & Solo Gems 2026 UK tour.We discuss the response to The Roaring Waves, his collaboration with Steve Rothery, and the fresh energy keyboard player Lalle Larsson and drummer Felix Lehrmann bring to his […]
- Ritchie Blackmore: In His Own Words – Exclusive Interview Episode 1. 25th September 2026Ritchie Blackmore: In His Own Words – Episode 1.In the first part of this exclusive 13-part Now Spinning Magazine series, I ask Ritchie how the idea of appearing on stage with Deep Purple again first came about — and what happened when that idea suddenly became a reality.Ritchie tells the story in his own words.A […]
- Remembering Dolly Parton: Kindness Was Her Superpower 26th August 2026Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, leaving behind an extraordinary catalogue of music—and a legacy of kindness, generosity and humanity.In this personal tribute, I reflect on Dolly’s connection with my late mum, who introduced me to country music, and how I gradually discovered that country and heavy metal were often singing about […]
- Why Ritchie Blackmore’s Deep Purple Reunion Moved Fans to Tears 13th August 2026Ritchie Blackmore has performed with Deep Purple for the first time since 1993, joining the band at Jones Beach in New York for an unforgettable version of “Smoke on the Water.”In this video, I share my emotional response to those extraordinary six minutes—not simply the notes Ritchie played, but the smiles, affection and very human […]
- Greg Hart Builds His Dream 1976 Album + New Cats in Space Album Secrets 10th August 2026Greg Hart Builds His Dream 1976 Album – 10 Tracks, Two Sides, No FillersWhat would be on your perfect ten-track album from 1976?In this special episode of the Now Spinning Magazine podcast, I am joined by Greg Hart, guitarist and songwriter with Cats in Space, to create his dream vinyl compilation from one of the […]
- Steve Hackett Reveals How Steve Rothery Changed His Guitar Approach 6th August 2026Steve Hackett joins me for the sixth time on Now Spinning Magazine to discuss The Roaring Waves, his long-awaited instrumental collaboration with Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery.Steve explains how the album became “a musical conversation between two guitarists,” with no competition and no desire to fill every available space. We discuss the importance of restraint, sustain […]
