Rock in Retrospect
“Rock in Retrospect” focuses on the lives, careers and legacies of artists who made a significant impact on the music industry. Host Nick Bambach invites a guest to discuss their favorite artists and why they matter. We also occasionally create episodes focusing on awards shows and music-related institutions such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Oscars, and the Grammys. If you enjoy stimulating and often-humorous discussions about music history in a laid-back environment, then this is the podcast for you!
Episodes
Jon and Mike return to discuss the 2026 documentary Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger, which focuses on the legendary band's massively successful return tour from 2025. They detail their experiences going to the shows in their respective cities, seeing the movie in theaters (in IMAX no less!), and share their thoughts on the documentary.
We conclude with your thoughts on their pending Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction next ...
Today, we're discussing the 1996 television documentary The Phil Collins Big Band, which takes us behind the scenes of one of Phil Collins' most fascinating musical side projects. Best known for his work with Genesis and his hugely successful solo career, Collins decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing instrumental jazz and big band music. And that's exactly what he did! The documentary also features some famous faces, inclu...
Fellow librarian John returns to discuss the 2020 documentary The Library That Dolly Built, which explores country music icon Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and its mission to provide free books to millions of children around the world.
This episode is also, in part, a tribute to the late, great Dolly Parton, an extraordinary artist, philanthropist, and one of the greatest humans ever to grace our planet. Dolly, we will al...
Kyle, Patrick, and Hector return to discuss Don Argott and Demian Fenton's 2022 documentary Dio: Dreamers Never Die, which focuses on the life and career of iconic hard rock and metal singer Ronnie James Dio. Whether he was in Rainbow, Black Sabbath, or Dio, his operatic vocals and magnetic stage presence stood out every time he performed. We give our take on the movie, share lots of personal stories, and pick our favorite songs fr...
Tim Durling (Author of On Record: The April Wine Album Review) returns to discuss the career and legacy of Canadian classic rockers April Wine.
Kevin Brown (The Tom Petty Project) joins Nick to discuss Cameron Crowe’s 1983 music documentary Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party. Originally filmed as an MTV promotional special supporting the band’s 1982 album Long After Dark, the film captures Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the height of their popularity while offering a fascinating, behind-the-scenes glimpse into their world.
In addition to discussing the fil...
Nick is joined by his friends and A24k Gold co-hosts Amanda, Darren, and Kailyn for a special crossover episode! Together, they discuss Jonathan Demme’s classic concert film Stop Making Sense (1984), featuring the legendary Talking Heads at the height of their powers.
Often hailed as the greatest concert film of all time, Stop Making Sense captures the band’s iconic live show through unforgettable performances, inventive...
Josh and Kyle join Nick to discuss the career and legacy of 21st century hitmakers Coldplay. We discuss their consistent popularity over the last quarter century, their status as a great live act, share our favorite songs and albums from their legendary career, and why they are no brainers for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Jacob and Rachel, hosts of the podcast Cinema Role, join Nick to discuss James Griffiths' 2025 musical comedy-drama The Ballad of Wallis Island. The film stars Tom Baden, Tim Key, and Carey Mulligan.
Patrick, Mike, and Hector return to discuss Rob Reiner's 2025 mockumentary Spinal Tap 2: The End Continues. We share on thoughts on the movie, and conclude by selecting our favorite film from Reiner's legendary career.
Cliff and Helen are back to revisit one of the biggest music scandals of all time as they discuss the 2023 Paramount+ documentary Milli Vanilli. We dive into the incredible rise and spectacular fall of the 80s pop duo, unpack the infamous lip-syncing controversy, and explore how the documentary reshapes a story many thought they already knew.
Today marks the 5-year anniversary of Rock in Retrospect! To celebrate this milestone, I turned it over to listeners to ask Nick anything they wanted him to answer or share stories about. From behind-the-scenes stories to questions he's never answered before, nothing was off limits. Let's celebrate five years together!
Albert and Diya return to discuss Antoine Fuqua's Michael (2026), the long-awaited music biopic chronicling the early life and career of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
They share their thoughts on the film—both its strengths and shortcomings—highlight the standout performances (including Jaafar Jackson's portrayal of his famous uncle), and dive into several of the film's most memorable moments and themes. We wra...
Comedian and writer Murray Valeriano returns to discuss the 2023 documentary Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd. We analyze the film, sharing plenty of funny stories and anecdotes along the way. We wrap up the episode with a mixtape of our favorite Pink Floyd songs spanning every era of the iconic band.
Scott Kummer (co-host of I've Got That On Vinyl) returns to join Nick to discuss his podcast and his ongoing Project My Top 10 series.
The first half of the episode covers IGTOV's origins, format, and a rundown of the current rankings. The second half features Nick and Scott each revealing their top 10 favorite albums of all time.
Support Scott's show and register for a free account on the IGTOV website. You can participate in polls ...
Mike (Retro Rock Roundup) and Tony return to discuss their thoughts on the 2025 biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, which explores Bruce Springsteen’s personal and professional struggles during the making of his 1982 album Nebraska.
We also discuss the newly released Electric Nebraska to cap off the conversation!
Prolific country music writer Barry Mazor joins Nick to talk about his recent book Blood Harmony: The Everly Brothers Story. The book has been widely praised as the definitive biopgraphy about the iconic musical duo and it's definitely one of the best music history books written in the last few years. Definitely check this one out!
You can purchase a copy of Blood Harmony at any major retailer, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ...
Greg returns to the show to discuss the career and legacy of the iconic rock band Smashing Pumpkins. We discuss their history, success, their catalog, and why they deserve to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The Douche Caravan returns! Jon (Host of The Hustle Podcast), Patrick (Host of The EETF Podcast) and Michael join Nick to discuss Stanley Nelson and Nicole London's 2025 documentary We Want the Funk!, which covers the history of the genre.
Prolific rock writer Martin Popoff joins Nick to talk about his latest book Kiss '76: Twelve Months That Defined the Hottest Band in the Land.
You can purchase a copy of Popoff's book at any major retailer, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Quatro.
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