'60s '70s '80s - Warm, Candid, Classic Rock Interviews with Music Legends - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Step back into the unforgettable world of '70s pop as we welcom Philip Wright, original member, drummer and lead vocalist of the English band Paper Lace.
In this episode, Philip shares the remarkable story of a group from Nottingham that spent years working the clubs before suddenly finding itself at the top of the charts in Britain, Australia and America.
Paper Lace had been paying their dues for years when tv provided the breakthrough they desperately needed. Their appearances on the popular British talent show Opportunity Knocks introduced the band to millions of viewers and helped set in motion a chain of events that would turn them into international hitmakers.
The real explosion came in 74 with “Billy Don’t Be a Hero.”
Written by the songwriting team of Mitch Murray and Peter Callander, the dramatic story-song raced to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart and also became a huge No. 1 hit in Australia.
Suddenly Philip Wright and Paper Lace were experiencing the kind of success they had spent years dreaming about.
But the story took a fascinating turn in the US. American group Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods quickly released their own version of the song and took it to No. 1, effectively stealing Paper Lace’s American thunder.
Paper Lace didn't have to wait long for their own US triumph.
Their next major release, “The Night Chicago Died,” became an enormous international hit and took the band all the way to No. 1 in America.
Its colourful tale of Al Capone-era Chicago and gangsters made it one of the most distinctive story-songs of the decade. Despite taking considerable liberties with Chicago history, the record captured the imagination of millions and remains one of the songs most closely associated with '70s pop music.
Philip also revisits another Paper Lace favourite, “The Black-Eyed Boys,” which continued the band's extraordinary run of success in '74, and reflects on what it was like to go from years of relative obscurity to international fame in such a remarkably short period.
This conversation goes beyond the chart positions and gold records. Philip takes us inside the experience of being a member of Paper Lace at their peak: the relentless work that came before success, the excitement when it finally arrived, and the reality of trying to sustain that momentum once musical fashions began to change.
Philip reflects on what happened as the original Paper Lace line-up began to change and the extraordinary ride of '74 gradually came to an end. The Paper Lace name continued, and the band enjoyed another memorable connection with their hometown when they joined forces with Nottingham Forest Football Club for “We’ve Got the Whole World in Our Hands” in 1978.
The story didn't end there for Philip Wright. After the peak Paper Lace years, his life took some unexpected turns before music drew him back. He later became lead vocalist with the re-formed Nottingham band Sons and Lovers, eventually returning to the music and legacy that had made his voice familiar to millions.
More than 50 years after Paper Lace's extraordinary breakthrough, “Billy Don’t Be a Hero” and “The Night Chicago Died” remain enduring reminders of an era when a three-minute pop single could tell an entire story.
For anyone who grew up with the music of the 1970s, these songs can instantly bring back a particular time, place and feeling.
In this warm and revealing conversation with Sandy Kaye, Philip Wright looks back at the highs, surprises and challenges of the Paper Lace story and shares what it was really like to experience international pop stardom from the inside.
If you remember buying Paper Lace records, singing along to “Billy Don’t Be a Hero,” or hearing “The Night Chicago Died” pouring out of the radio, this episode of A Breath of Fresh Air is a nostalgic journey back to one of the most colourful chapters in British ’70s pop.

From founding member of Steely Dan and former guitarist with The Doobie Brothers, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, comes the astonishing true story of one of the most fascinating lives in American music, tracing his extraordinary journey from legendary rock and roll guitarist to cleared access missile-defense consultant and counterterrorism expert.
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter lives two lives. In one, he is a rock and roll legend, founding member of the Steely Dan and former core member of The Doobie Brothers, with fourteen Gold Records, eight Platinum albums, two Grammy Awards (plus six nominations), induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a Lifetime Achievement Award.
In the other, he is an advisor to the U.S. Department of War's Missile Defense Agency and, over the course of the past 30-plus years, a consultant to the Department of Homeland Security, NASA, prestigious research laboratories, and top defense contractors, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop-Grumman. Told in his own words for the first time, "the most interesting man in music" (NPR) chronicles the improbable twists and turns that carried Baxter from rock star to national security subject-matter expert.
Blessed with natural talent, insatiable curiosity, and serendipity, Baxter recalls how a music-obsessed-kid growing up between Mexico City and New York City quickly became a first-call session musician, and then a founding member of the band that would become a cornerstone of his legacy: Steely Dan.
He vividly captures the grit and magic of the rock music scene in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles in the '60s and '70s, and describes the soaring highs and rock-bottom lows of superstardom: his transition from Steely Dan to the Doobie Brothers, world tours, and recording with legends like Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Elton John, Ringo Starr, and Joni Mitchell.
Then, comes his surprising pivot to the defense industry, trading the recording booth for the cockpit of a recon plane. After all, if you can grasp the basic physics of converting a weak vibration from a guitar string into a distorted wail as loud as a jet engine, you can understand how a radar system works.
All the while-whether playing arenas or playing war games at the Pentagon—Baxter reflects on the mystical intersections of music and technology, and the mentors, friends, and collaborators who helped him.
His book - 'From Rock to Rockets' is to be released in January 2027. It features 16-pages of never-before seen photographs and fascinating insights into Baxter's favorite guitars and gear and is a testament to the power of curiosity and the extraordinary opportunities that come from embracing the unexpected.

Carlos Santana is celebrated worldwide as the guitar visionary whose fusion of Latin rhythms, rock, blues and jazz created one of the most distinctive sounds in popular music.
From Santana’s unforgettable appearance at Woodstock in 1969 to classics such as “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va” and “Evil Ways,” and the spectacular revival sparked by Supernatural, “Smooth” and “Maria Maria,” his music has crossed generations, genres and cultures.
In this deeply personal episode of A Breath of Fresh Air, Carlos joins Sandy Kaye for a conversation that goes far beyond his extraordinary musical career.
He speaks candidly about the sexual abuse he endured as a child and the anger, fear and mistrust that followed. Carlos explains how forgiving the person who abused him became an essential part of his recovery, allowing him to understand that he was not defined by what had happened to him.
Carlos traces his spiritual awakening to 1972, when Autobiography of a Yogi, John McLaughlin and the teachings of Sri Chinmoy opened the door to a new way of thinking. He also acknowledges the influence of Aretha Franklin, John Coltrane, George Harrison and Carole King, whose music helped him find what he calls his “heart centre.”
That spiritual transformation also changed Santana’s musical direction. Carlos recalls being warned that he was committing career suicide by refusing to recreate Abraxas. Instead, he chose growth, trusting that songs such as “Maria Maria” and “Smooth” were still waiting to be discovered.
He shares the story behind his collaboration with Rob Thomas, explains why “Smooth” was the final song recorded for Supernatural and reveals why commercial success is never his primary goal. Rather than trying to manufacture a hit, Carlos wants each piece of music to feel like a heartfelt embrace.
The conversation explores meditation, vulnerability, marriage, happiness and the importance of silencing the negative voices of the mind. Carlos offers practical advice for anyone curious about meditation and explains why patience, self-acceptance and recognising one’s own worth are central to his daily life.
Carlos also discusses Sentient, his hopes for a future “church of self-worth” and his plans for life when touring is no longer his priority. Honest, humorous, provocative and inspiring, this is Carlos Santana as few people have heard him: not only a legendary guitarist, but a survivor and spiritual seeker determined to use music as a source of healing, hope and light.
This is a must listen episode with Santana as you've never heard him before.

There are artists whose music instantly takes us back to another place and time, and Lobo is undoubtedly one of them.
His gentle voice and heartfelt songwriting produced some of the defining songs of the 1970s, including Me and You and a Dog Named Boo, I'd Love You to Want Me, Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend and How Can I Tell Her.
While millions fell in love with those timeless recordings, very few people ever got to know the man behind them.
In this revealing conversation, Kent LaVoie—better known to the world as Lobo—shares the extraordinary story behind a career that has spanned more than five decades.
Surprisingly, fame was never his ambition. He explains why he chose to hide behind the name "Lobo," how he deliberately avoided the celebrity lifestyle, and why he was happiest returning home to an ordinary life after stepping off stage.
Lobo recalls the chance moment that inspired Me and You and a Dog Named Boo, revealing how a glance into his backyard at his beloved German Shepherd unexpectedly created one of the biggest hits of the decade. He also opens up about the deeply personal inspiration behind I'd Love You to Want Me, a song that became an international phenomenon and spent thirteen weeks at number one in Germany while touching listeners across the globe.
The conversation explores his early years playing bars around Florida, the producer who convinced him he should concentrate on songwriting rather than performing, and the remarkable success that followed when he trusted his instincts. He reflects on touring with Three Dog Night, the highs and lows of life on the road, and why one disastrous concert taught him he was never completely comfortable with the demands of stardom.
Lobo also shares fascinating stories from his incredible popularity throughout Asia, where audiences embraced his music in ways he never imagined. From emotional performances in Vietnam to discovering that many fans had learned English by singing his songs around campfires, his memories reveal just how deeply his music connected with generations of listeners around the world.
Perhaps most revealing is Lobo's philosophy on success. Because he wrote his own songs, he was able to step away from the pressures of the music business and build a quiet, fulfilling life centred on family rather than fame. His honesty about money, songwriting royalties, marriage and happiness offers a refreshing perspective that is rarely heard from artists of his generation.
Today, Lobo continues to celebrate his remarkable catalogue while introducing his classic recordings to new audiences through digital platforms, proving that great songs never really grow old.
If you've ever found yourself humming Me and You and a Dog Named Boo, I'd Love You to Want Me or Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend, this is the story behind the music—and the remarkably humble man who created it.
This episode of A Breath of Fresh Air is a warm, funny and deeply honest conversation with one of the finest singer-songwriters of the 1970s, revealing that sometimes the greatest success comes not from chasing fame, but from quietly living life on your own terms.

Cheap Trick have been one of rock's most distinctive and enduring bands for more than five decades, creating timeless classics including I Want You To Want Me, Surrender, Dream Police and Ain't That a Shame.
But behind the arena anthems lies a story filled with determination, disappointment, innovation and more than a few extraordinary twists of fate.
In this fascinating episode, founding bassist Tom Petersson takes Sandy back to where it all began in Rockford, Illinois, explaining how the arrival of The Beatles and the British Invasion inspired a generation of teenagers to pick up instruments and dream of something bigger. What started as a hobby quickly evolved into a lifelong career, although success proved far more elusive than anyone expected.
Tom reveals how Cheap Trick emerged from a succession of earlier bands including Fuse and Sick Man of Europe, sharing the excitement of landing an early record deal before watching it disappear almost as quickly. Rather than giving up, the band returned to the clubs, determined to create music on their own terms instead of chasing radio trends or record company expectations.
One of the highlights of this conversation is the remarkable story behind Tom's invention of the revolutionary 12-string bass guitar.
Frustrated by the limitations of a traditional bass, he worked with Hamer Guitars to create an entirely new instrument capable of producing the huge orchestral sound that would become a defining feature of Cheap Trick's recordings.
Nearly fifty years later, it remains one of rock music's most recognisable and influential innovations.
Tom also shares the surprising origins of the band's name, explains why they deliberately refused to become another Top 40 cover band, and recalls opening for legendary acts including Kiss and Queen while slowly building a fiercely loyal following.
Along the way, he recounts memorable encounters with Frank Zappa, David Bowie and George Martin, offering a rare glimpse behind the scenes during one of rock's most creative eras.
Perhaps the most astonishing revelation is how Cheap Trick's biggest breakthrough almost never happened.
After three studio albums failed to find commercial success in America, a live recording made for Japanese television unexpectedly exploded in popularity. The resulting At Budokan album became an international phenomenon, while I Want You To Want Me—a song the band had actually stopped performing live —became the hit that finally launched them into rock superstardom.
Tom speaks openly about the relentless touring schedule that saw Cheap Trick perform almost 300 shows a year while recording two albums annually, the burnout that led to his temporary departure from the band, and the chance reunion that brought him back just in time for another hugely successful chapter in the group's history.
The conversation also explores Tom's passion for unusual guitars, the truth behind one of rock's enduring myths, the band's commitment to changing its set list every night, and the touching story behind Rocky's Speech, the musical project he created to help his autistic son develop language skills.
Warm, funny and refreshingly honest, Tom Petersson reflects on a remarkable career built not by following trends, but by trusting instinct, embracing originality and never compromising the music Cheap Trick wanted to make.
It's an inspiring conversation with one of rock's genuine innovators and a rare opportunity to hear the stories behind one of the world's most beloved bands—from someone who lived every moment.
If you enjoy hearing the real stories behind the soundtrack of our lives, don't forget to follow A Breath of Fresh Air so you never miss another conversation with the legendary artists who created the music that continues to inspire generations.