Everything Fab Four

• Episode 63: “Rocky Horror” cast on the one thing they have in common with the Beatles

  The longest-running theatrical release in film history, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is celebrating its 50th anniversary with original cast members Barry Bostwick (who played the iconic Brad Majors), Nell Campbell (who played the effervescent Columbia) and Patricia Quinn (who played the incomparable Magenta). They join our host, Kenneth Womack, this week for a spirited conversation about the collaboration behind the underdog movie that became a beloved cult classic, Tim Curry's powerful star turn, and the making of those iconic musical numbers. 

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• Episode 62: Max Weinberg on The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and his own first band

  This episode's guest is E Street Band drummer and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Max Weinberg.  In 1974, Max Weinberg answered an ad requesting a drummer capable of playing R&B and jazz for an audition. Weinberg had never seen Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and was unfamiliar with their material, but the skill, acumen, and attentiveness he displayed on Fats Domino's "Let the Four Winds Blow" won him the job. His ability to take cues from Springsteen — specifically, playing a rim shot when Bruce held up his hand to stop the band and then starting back into the song — made a strong impression. Max joined the E Street Band at the same time as new pianist Roy “the Professor” Bittan. Dubbed "The Mighty Max," his crisp, powerful drumming is a highlight of such hits as "Born in the U.S.A.," as well as deeper album tracks like "Candy's Room."  Following the band's hiatus in 1989, Max worked on several different projects. Beginning in 1993, he went on to great success as the musical director and band leader for "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," assembling a top-flight set of musicians to form the Max Weinberg 7. In 2014, Max was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the E Street Band. In 2017, he launched Max Weinberg’s Jukebox, an interactive live music show where the program changes nightly based on audience requests chosen from an ever-changing song list.  Mighty Max will be performing at the inaugural Everything Fab Four Fest, taking place this November 6th through 8th at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where we'll be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' Rubber Soul album. Visit ef4fest.com for more information and to book your tickets.

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• Episode 61: Nellie McKay, singer-songwriter, actor, and comedienne

  Known for her genre-bending music, sharp social commentary, and activism for animal rights and social justice, Nellie McKay was born in London and raised in the United States, where she studied jazz at the Manhattan School of Music. Her performances at various New York City music venues, including the Sidewalk Cafe and Joe's Pub, drew attention from record labels, which resulted in her debut album Get Away from Me. Produced by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, The New York Times lauded the LP as a tour-de-force. Nellie’s music can been heard on Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, Weeds, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Nurse Jackie, and SMILF. Nellie has made numerous radio appearances on NPR’s Mountain Stage, A Prairie Home Companion, eTown, and Marion McPartland’s Piano Jazz. She is a recipient of PETA’s Humanitarian Award and the Humane Society’s Doris Day Music Award in recognition of her dedication to animal rights.  She has won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Polly Peachum on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera.  Nelli co-created and starred in the award-winning off-Broadway hit Old Hats and has written three acclaimed musical biographies, including I Want to Live!, the story of Barbara Graham, the third woman executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin, Silent Spring: It’s Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature, an exploration of environmental pioneer Rachel Carson, and A GIRL NAMED BILL: The Life and Times of Billy Tipton. Nellie will be performing at the inaugural Everything Fab Four Fest, taking place this November 6th through 8th at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where we'll be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' Rubber Soul album. Visit ef4fest.com for more information and to book your tickets.

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• Episode 60: Psychedelic rockers Blac Rabbit, creators of our theme song "Seize the Day"

  Joining host Ken Womack on the first episode of season 7 is Blac Rabbit — familiar voices to our listeners. In 2018, Blac Rabbit released their first LP, "Interstella," which included the debut single “Seize the Day,” which has served as the "Everything Fab Four" theme song since our very first episode featuring Steve Lukather in September 2020. In 2018, a 48-second video of twin brothers Amiri and Rahiem Taylor, the guitarists and singer-songwriters who perform as Blac Rabbit, playing the Beatles' “Eight Days a Week” went viral, racking up millions of views. They went from staging impromptu shows in New York City subway stations to wowing international crowds from the Bowery Ballroom to Berlin, covering "Michelle" for a Gucci ad featuring Harry Styles, playing Liverpool's Cavern Club, and appearing on "Ellen." They have also famously recreated John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1969 Bed-In for Peace, recording “Give Peace a Chance” alongside Ono, Ringo Starr, Jeff Bridges, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.  Blac Rabbit will be performing at the inaugural Everything Fab Four Fest, November 6-8, 2025, at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where we'll be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' "Rubber Soul" album in fine style. Visit ef4fest.com for more information and to book your tickets today.

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• Episode 59 (Bonus): Singer-songwriter Peter Wolf on his musical upbringing: "It took me a while to warm up to the Beatles"

  On this episode of Everything American singer-songwriter Peter Wolf joins host Ken Womack to discuss Wolf’s life in music and his earliest musical influences.   A native of the Bronx, Wolf spent his youth soaking up New York City’s music scene, especially the Apollo Theater’s array of soul, rhythm & blues, and gospel performers. After moving to Boston, he attended Tufts University’s Museum of Fine Arts. During this period, he formed his first band, The Hallucinations, which performed in area clubs.    In 1967, Wolf and drummer Stephen Jo Bladd joined the J. Geils Band, which had recently formed in Worcester. During the 1970s, the group notched several Top 40 singles, including a cover of the Valentinos’ “Lookin’ for a Love” and the singles “Give It to Me,” “Must of Got Lost,” and “Come Back.” By this point, Wolf had emerged as the band’s principal songwriter. With “Love Stinks,” the J. Geils Band enjoyed breakthrough success, followed by the megahits “Centerfold” and “Freeze-Frame.”    In 1983, Wolf and the J. Geils Band parted ways after the singer expressed his interest in returning to the band’s rock ‘n’ roll roots. As a solo artist, he notched several hits, including “Lights Out” and “Come as You Are.” The latter song was featured in Rob Reiner’s acclaimed film The Sure Thing.    Wolf continues to enjoy accolades for his solo career. His 2002 album Sleepless featured guest performances by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and was feted by Rolling Stone as one the 500 Greatest Albums of all time. His 2010 album Midnight Souvenirs earned Album of the Year honors at the Boston Music Awards and featured duets with Shelby Lynne, Neko Case, and Merle Haggard. Wolf recently published his memoirs. Entitled Waiting on the Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters, and Goddesses, the book traces Wolf’s six-decade career in a series of unforgettable vignettes. 

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