E91: John Simon on Janis Joplin + The Band + Van Morrison + Lillian Roxon

In the new episode of the Rock's Backpages Podcast, we welcome legendary producer, piano player and songwriter John Simon , beamed in from his winter retreat in the Florida Keys. Mere hours before the shocking assault on D.C.'s Capitol building, John reminisces wittily and insightfully about working with The Band , Janis Joplin , Taj Mahal & Bobby Charles — and about his trenchant musical memoir Truth, Lies & Hearsay . He also joins us as we listen to his sometime fellow Woodstocker Van Morrison talking in 1979 about the classic Astral Weeks . Van/Band fanboys Barney, Mark & Martin ask John about The Last Waltz , for which he served as musical director. The Joplin connection leads to discussion of famed writer and encyclopaedist Lillian Roxon , the pioneering Australian who became a den mother at NYC's Max's Kansas City in the late '60s — and whose Janis obit is one of her featured pieces on our new home page. The RBP team also pays homage to departed stars Gerry Marsden , Geoff Stephens and masked hip hop maverick MF DOOM . Mark and Jasper wrap matters up with remarks on recent RBP library additions, including pieces about Siouxsie & the Banshees , Bruce Springsteen and his pre-E Street band Steel Mill and "Welsh Wu Tang" Goldie Lookin Chain . Many thanks to special guest John Simon; please visit his website at johnsimonmusic.net for information about his book Truth, Lies & Hearsay and much else besides. The Rock's Backpages podcast is part of the Pantheon podcast network. Pieces discussed: John Simon , The Band , Janis Joplin , Van Morrison , Lillian Roxon on Janis , Merseybeat , Gerry Marsden , Winchester Cathedral , MF DOOM , Nor-Cal Folk-Rock Festival , Paul McCartney , Ska Jump , Kenickie , Divine Comedy , Billy Fury , Reggae in the USA , Siouxsie and the Banshees , Radiohead and Goldie Lookin Chain .