Without the Beatles cover art

Without the Beatles

Without the Beatles

Written by: Des Burkinshaw
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About this listen

Des Burkinshaw and a selection of co-hosts including Mark Hooper and Richard Merrett, meet a variety of famous guests to discuss how the Beatles directly impacted on them and their careers..

Recorded over the past 10 years, guests include Sir Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Steve Van Zandt, Nancy Sinatra, all four members of 10cc, Barbara Dickson, Sir David Attenborough, Sir Willy Russell, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, Richie Sambora, Diane Warren and some of the last interviews done by Neil Innes, Mary Quant and Lemmy.

Each episode we also feature a member of the public who also has a Beatles' story to tell.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Art Music Social Sciences
Episodes
  • #19 Kevin Godley (10cc, Hotlegs, Godley & Creme)
    May 13 2026

    Back in 2010/2011 we started collecting interviews for the Without the Beatles project. One of the first stories we tackled was how the Beatles were responsible for starting many other bands, including 10cc. Not only were they successful, and inspired others to make music, but the various members went on to do lots of other things too.

    Not least of those achievements came from Kevin Godley, 10cc's drummer.

    When he and bandmate Lol Creme left 10cc in 1975, they invented a new musical instrument, the Gizmo, and released several hit singles as a duo, Godley & Creme.

    They then became two of the biggest and most important music promo directors of the 80s, directing famous promos for Duran Duran, Visage, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, The Police, Herbie Hancock, and themselves - who can forget the video for Cry?


    Kevin Godley in conversation with our host, Des Burkinshaw, talks about the Fab Four's influence on him and culture more generally.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • #18 Sir David Attenborough
    May 11 2026

    This short episode features a previously unheard interview between Sir David Attenborough and Des Burkinshaw.

    Back in 1965, Sir David became the first controller of the BBC's first colour TV channel, BBC2. As well as focusing on Arts and music, it became the only place in the UK to see a film in colour - but was considered a minority channel. On Boxing Day 1967, the Beatles screened The Magical Mystery Tour film on BBC1 - in black and white. Heavily criticised as a plotless, psychedelic film anyway, commentators have often wondered why it was screened in black and white first.

    In this interview, you'll finally find out why - as well as hearing Sir David's thoughts on how BBC2 was doing in 20212.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    14 mins
  • #17 Graham Gouldman (10cc, Hotlegs, WAX)
    May 4 2026

    Back in 2010/2011 when we began the Without the Beatles project, we interviewed all four members of 10cc on how the Fab Four impacted each member.

    Today, for the first time anywhere, here's the interview with Graham Gouldman. Easily one of Britain's top 10 best and most successful songwriters, here he talks to Des Burkinshaw about his career, the 10cc dynamic, how tracks like I'm Not in Love came together, and how the Beatles changed society.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr
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