This months’s guest is a man who makes a living writing about chaos—and somehow makes it sound poetic. James Campion, American author, rock journalist, podcaster, and professional wordsmith of mayhem, joins Ian Prowse and Mick Ord for a transatlantic chinwag about music, writing, and the sweet spot where obsession meets the printed page.
He’s interviewed rock gods, written books on Springsteen, Zappa, jazz, psychedelia, and even boxing, and somehow still finds time to co-host Underwater Sunshine with Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz. In short, Campion doesn’t just write about culture—he’s part of it.
“My job is to get as close to the madness as possible, without needing a lawyer.”
James chats about:
- How music journalism changed in the digital age
- Why writing about songs is like trying to bottle lightning
- Stories from backstage, front rows, and slightly awkward phone interviews
- The difference between covering a gig and understanding a movement
- Why he treats every assignment like it’s a conversation with the reader—not a press release
He’s insightful, hilarious, and just self-aware enough to mock his own thesaurus addiction. The result? A rock ‘n’ roll journalist who doesn’t take himself too seriously—but takes the music very seriously indeed.
What You’ll Love About This Episode:
- The deep respect James has for the craft of songwriting
- His stories about fandom, fear, and the weird magic of creative flow
- A look into the New York writing hustle (yes, it involves whiskey)
- His thoughts on legacy artists and why music journalism still matters
Ian and Mick hold their own beautifully, even when Campion drops quotes faster than a Dylan lyrics generator. It’s smart, fast, and packed with “you had to be there” energy—except now, you are there.
James is now promoting a fascinating and revealing book about Prince – one of the greatest songwriters and musicians of his era who passed away much too soon in 2016 aged 57.
His new book ‘Revolution – Prince, the band, the era” focuses on his prolific and ground-breaking music from the 80’s when he and his band took the music world by storm.
James makes a really strong case that Prince should be considered one of our greatest ever pop artists – in the same league as Bowie and The Beatles ; crucially, he emphasizes the huge influence that the other members of the band, The Revolution, had on the music.
It’s a warts and all portrait of an enigmatic, hugely gifted individual who drove himself and his musical family to the limits and beyond.
Prince and the Revolution’s is a tale worth savouring, told by a master storyteller.
Get the book – https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/revolution-9781493080847/
James Playlist
