The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music

64-“..All or Nothing from BFBS..”

“All or Nothing” by the Small Faces is Eileen’s favourite song…ever. Something I wasn’t aware of when I sat down for a wonderful chat with Eileen, a lovely family friend, about her musical journey through the decades. From the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s onwards, Eileen shared some fantastic memories of music and life. Having travelled around the world due to military life, we instantly connected over our love and memories of BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service)…ohh, the nostalgia. From actually seeing Queen LIVE in Brussels on their final ever tour, to her love of rock bands such as Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses and Meat Loaf — especially the powerful ballads they produced — this was only the tip of the iceberg in what turned out to be a fascinating conversation. Erm…Eileen’s not too keen on classical music either, but she does love a great musical! 🎭🎶

63-“..Eurovision Sing contest..err really!!..”

This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music is a rather short one… It’s just me sending my condolences following the recent passing of the lead singer of Dr Hook. I also give my personal thoughts and views on this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. You may agree, you may completely disagree… but that’s part of the fun, right? After all, there’s a reason the podcast is called The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music….😉

61-“..the Odeon comes Alive..”

This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music was a rather special one for me, as I chatted to my uncle for the first time in many years…and what a reunion conversation it turned out to be. I’ve always known my uncle Melvin has a huge passion for music, but hearing the stories firsthand was something else. Growing up in Birmingham, where he still proudly resides, Melvin shared stories about seeing and even chatting with Paul & Linda McCartney, watching arguably one of his favourite bands Queen not once, not twice, but many times throughout the 70’s at Birmingham Odeon. And speaking of the Odeon…just how many legendary artists has Melvin seen there over the years? Quite a few…and somehow he even managed to see some of them for free!!! We spoke about why he believes Bruce Springsteen is one of the greatest artists around, his admiration for 10cc, and the moment he nearly fell off his seat when I explained one of the band members used to live where I now live and was even a regular customer where I worked as a chef! Add in memories of seeing The Jam, The Ramones and so many others, and the stories just kept flowing. Most poignant of all was hearing how his brother…my dad…helped influence his love and involvement in music over the years. This really was a special episode for me personally, and trust me, another conversation with Melvin will definitely be happening soon…and I genuinely can’t wait.

60-“..The Works of The Dead South..”

This episode sees me catching up with Craig Bloom for the first time since our boarding school days back in the 80s—and it honestly felt like no time had passed at all. We dive straight into music, with Craig sharing his deep admiration for Queen, and in particular the legendary Freddie Mercury. We chat about Freddie’s unmatched charisma and energy as a frontman, and like many, Craig reflects on how he wishes he’d had the chance to see him perform live. Craig then takes us through his playlist—and what a mix it is. From the pure pop of Barbie Girl by Aqua, to the timeless classic Stand by Me by Ben E. King, and plenty in between. It’s a fascinating look at how wide-ranging musical taste can be, including his appreciation for blues and what draws him to that sound. We also get into a couple of really interesting personal insights—Craig talks about one particular song he’ll never play (and the story behind that), plus what it’s like working security at a live music venue…standing with the crowd in front of him while the artists perform just behind. A proper “other side of the stage” perspective. A great catch-up, full of nostalgia, stories, and a shared love of music.

59-“..Bruce is on Fire..”

This episode of The Grumpy Cyclist Talks Music features Olly, a friend of Chris Cole, who previously joined us for a podcast back in the summer of 2025. Olly, who spends most of his year living in the UAE, took some time while visiting the UK to sit down and talk about his life and his deep connection with music. Growing up, his early influences were shaped at home—his mum leaning toward Rod Stewart, while his dad filled the car with bands like Fleetwood Mac and Electric Light Orchestra. Safe to say, Olly didn’t have much choice in the matter back then. As he found his own taste, bands like Blink-182, Feeder, and Sum 41 pulled him further into guitar-driven rock. But the real turning point came in 2012, when he saw Bruce Springsteen live at the Isle of Wight Festival. That performance sparked what can only be described as a full-blown love affair—one that’s arguably made him one of Springsteen’s biggest fans (much to the amusement of his friends). Olly dives into the albums that have shaped him, his experiences seeing Springsteen live multiple times, and the sheer energy of shows that can stretch to three or four hours while still selling out stadiums worldwide. We also get into his appreciation for folk music, and an honest take on live performances—including why seeing Bob Dylan ranks as one of the most disappointing gigs he’s attended. The conversation broadens into the realities of the music scene—how tough it can be for bands to break through in the UK, compared to Olly’s experiences in places like Texas, where live music thrives in local bars almost every night of the week, often with strong support from local crowds (and, unsurprisingly, a heavy dose of country music). It’s a thoughtful and personal insight into what music really means to Olly—how it shapes identity, connection, and experience over time.