About this episode
In this episode we welcome the great Paul Gambaccini into RBP's world and ask him about his 50+ years as one of Britain's best-loved broadcasters. "The Great Gambo" tells us about his early radio days at Dartmouth College's WDCR station and explains how he slipped his foot in the door at Rolling Stone in 1970. He then recounts his first meeting with "underground deejay" John Peel (plus his BBC producer John Walters ) while still an Oxford postgraduate fleeing Richard Nixon's America, We ask our guest about his famous Stone interviews with Elton John (and Bernie Taupin ) and Paul McCartney , then hear about his Radio 1 debut in 1974. Paul discusses his sexuality, his winding up on the Beeb's "Christmas tree" list, and his nightmare year of being witch-hunted without evidence by the sleuths of Operation Yewtree . After offering his thoughts on the constitutional crisis in his homeland, our guest expresses his approval of Beyoncé ahead of her "Cowboy Carter" tour's London leg in June. We listen to clips from a 2003 audio interview with "Queen Bey" by The Observer Music Monthly 's Simon Garfield . After Mark quotes from newly-added interviews with Elvis Presley (1969) and Roxy Music's (Brian) Eno (1973), Jasper talks us out with his thoughts on pieces about the Roots (2005) and Beyoncé's sister Solange (2007). Many thanks to special guest Paul Gambaccini. Hear his radio shows on the air, including the Paul Gambaccini Collection on BBC Radio 2. Pieces discussed: Paul Gambaccini's writer's page on RBP , The Rolling Stone Interview: Elton John , Paul McCartney , Beyoncé audio , Elvis the Husband talks about Elvis the Pelvis , The Strange World of Roxy Music , The Roots: Growing Underground , Romanthony: A Prince Among Men and Why Solange Matters .