Jimmy McDonough joins us this week to tell us about his new book Gary Stewart: I Am From The Honky Tonks.

The book is available in the UK & also in the US.

While not a household name Gary Stewart became a hugely influential singer described as ‘too country for country and too rock for rock’.

Jimmy developed a relationship with the Stewart family over a long period, enabling this book to come to fruition.

Jerry Lee lewis was a key influence on Gary in his younger years & the Allman Brothers Band became a significant influence as he grew older.

Gary Stewart was born in Kentucky before the family relocated to Fort Pierce, Florida.

His route into the music business came as a songwriter in Nashville, before signing a solo deal with RCA Records, where he achieved a number of country hits including a number 1 with "She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin' Doubles)".

Some of his more rock oriented material did not sit well with RCA & his relationship with the label began to fracture.

His later years were patchy filled with memorable gigs but also some questionable decisions.

Gary Stewart passed away in 2003 & his ashes were scattered outside the Texas Honky Tonk he had been due to play that night.

His influence was proven as names including Waylon Jennings, Dwight Yoakam, Sturgill Simpson & Willie Nelson went onto name check him over the years.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

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Hosted, Produced & Edited by Simon Cardwell

Music by Andy Maxwell

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Roy Boulter joins us to talk about his time in The Farm & also his new film Algorithm Party starring PJ Smith, which marks Roy’s directorial debut.

The idea came from a football game, Roy’s band The Farm had played an informal football game on Fridays in Birkenhead for over 20 years. One day PJ Smith turned up to play & Roy later found out.

Algorithm Party was filmed in St. Georges Hall in Liverpool, features mucis by fellow Farm member Steve Grimes & is out now.

Roy also tells us about his time writing for Brookside & Eastenders, his career in film & documentary working with the likes of Terence Davies, building a wicker man for The Coral, making a Beatles documentary with Mark Lewisohn & meeting Yoko Ono.

He also toured with the Justice Tonight band with Mick Jones playing The Clash songs to raise awareness for the Hillsbrough campaign.

In 1987 Roy joined The Farm as their new drummer. The band had originally had more of. Punk sound but with the help of producer Terry Farley they change their sound, closer to what becomes known as baggy.

The Happy Mondays become a key band in The Farm’s story & another key ingredient is the Channel 4 documentary A Short Film About Chillin’ about the bands trip to Ibiza.

We hear how close Bill Drummond ever was to managing The Farm.

A cover of the Monkee’s I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone nearly becomes a hit but its Groovy Train which becomes the breakthrough.

All Together Now follows & becomes a hit around the world. The track has a long afterlife being featured in football coverage, in Hollywood movies & famously as the 1995 Everton FA Cup final song.

Suggs, Paul Heaton & other play a part in the production of the Spartacus album which goes to number 1.

If you have enjoyed Music Maps please subscribe for more. We would also hugely appreciate a review or star rating.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

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Hosted, Produced & Edited by Simon Cardwell

Music by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we present an episode in 2 parts - in part 1 we welcome Holly Buckler daughter of The Jam drummer Rick Buckler.

Holly has organised a tribute gig to her Dad who passed away in February 2025. The gig will take place at Woking Theatre on October 12th 2026 & you can buy any remaining tickets here.

The gig is in aid of the Same Beare Hospice in Woking.

The lineup includes: A Band Called Malice, Steve Brookes (founding member of The Jam), The Highliners, Pretty Green, Instrumental support from Stuart Prosser (Style Council, trumpet player), Steve Grainger (Played on Culture Club Album, saxophonist), Jody Smith (Worked with Van Morrison, Nigel Price and Bill Shanley, keyboard player)

Stories and memories from: Dennis Munday - Polydor Record Label, Peter Wilson - The Jam Producer, Bill Smith - Album / Sleeve designer for The Jam, Luke Morgan (The Highliners) - Life after The Jam

Exhibition pieces from About The Young Idea Exhibition in the foyer on arrival and during the interval. Some pieces have never been displayed publicly before!

Holly tells us about her plans for the gig & who will be there on the night, how the tribute concert came together, growing up with a former member of The Jam for a Dad & more.

We are also joined by founder member of The Jam, Steve Brookes.

Steve met a young Paul Weller at Shearwater School after moving to Woking in the early 70s. The pair became close & Steve spent a lot of time at the Weller family home on Stanley Road.

They began to play some lunchtime gigs at school & this was soon followed by their first gig at Woking Working Mens Club.

They were originally joined by Dave Waller & Neil Harris to round out the lineup before Rick Buckler joined as drummer.

Rick was perhaps more into heavier music at the time, but liked the fact the band had gigs & appeared to be on an upward trajectory.

Bruce Foxton has similar thoughts when he joined originally on guitar, with Paul Weller still on bass, before swapping roles shortly after.

A very early Jam track, Takin’ My Love later appeared as a B Side to the debut single In The City a few years later. Although it sounded drastically different in its original guise as the band had not yet taken in harder punk influences later important in defining their sound.

Paul was still quite shy at this early stage, with Steve taking on more of a frontman role in the very early days of The Jam.

Notable gigs take place with a residency at Michael’s in Woking.

Steve Brookes left The Jam in 1975 as he wanted to keep more of a Beatles influenced sound whereas Paul has begun to take in harder influences including Dr. Feelgood & the Sex Pistols.

If you have enjoyed Music Maps please subscribe, like or leave a review or a comment.

It takes anything from 5 to 40 hours to prepare each episode of Music Maps - if you’d like to make a contribution to help us cover the costs & time of producing these episodes for you, you can do so at this link: ko-fi.com/musicmaps

You can see our upcoming live events here: https://rocknrollbookclub.co.uk/live/

Instagram: @rocknrollbookclube17

X: @simonmusicmaps

Facebook: E17rockbookclub

Hosted, Produced & Edited by Simon Cardwell

Music by Andy Maxwell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.