Long Way to the Top

What was it like creating one of the most iconic guitar solos of the 1980s? How do you go from recording with Tears for Fears to performing in front of hundreds of thousands of people with Robbie Williams? And after a lifetime at the top of the music industry, what inspires the next chapter?

In this episode of Long Way to the T...

Australian rock powerhouse Rose Carleo joins Shayne Brian on Long Way to the Top for a powerful, honest, and deeply personal conversation about her brand-new album 42 Days.

In this episode, Rose opens up about the emotional journey behind the record — a raw, blues-rock driven album born from real-life experiences, grief, resilience, and healing. Best known for her commanding vocals and standout appearance on The Voice Austral...

Australian country rock star Casey Barnes joins Shayne Brian on Long Way to the Top for an in-depth conversation about his brand-new album Made For This, his powerful duet with Pete Murray called Time To Burn, and the incredible journey that has made him one of the biggest names in Australian c...

The queen of 80s pop is back — and this is one of the most revealing interviews Kim Wilde has done in years.

In this special episode of Long Way to the Top, Shayne Brian sits down with global pop icon Kim Wilde ahead of her 2026 Australian Closer Tour for an in-depth conversation about f...

In this episode of Long Way to the Top, host Shayne Brian sits down with legendary New Zealand singer-songwriter Tim Finn for a deep dive into one of the most influential careers in Australasian rock history.

From the art-school origins and global breakthrough of Split Enz, to his pivotal role in Crowded House, and a celebrated...

What happens when legendary musicians from Procol Harum, Tears for Fears, Robbie Williams and Simple Minds come together to form a brand new band?

Welcome to Blue Water Giants — a true rock supergroup made up of some of the most respected players in music.

INXS sold over 75 million records worldwide, boasting an impressive catalogue of hits that include ten Australian Top 10 singles and seven US Top 10 singles. The band’s accolades include three Grammy nominations, a BRIT Award for Best International Group, five MTV Music Awards, and seven ARIA Awards, with induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2001. This year INXS is nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

But behind t...

As the frontman of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Lloyd burst onto the scene in the mid-80s with a sound that blended jangly guitar pop with deeply intelligent, often cinematic lyricism. Songs like Rattlesnakes, Perfect Skin, and Lost Weekend didn’t just stand out on radio… they...

Welcome to Season 4 of Long Way to the Top, the podcast where we dive deep into the stories behind rock’s biggest names, their defining moments, and the road that brought them here.

I’m kicking off this year with a bang. Maybe a little later than planned, but with some incredible guests on the way. Andrew Farriss, Tim Finn, members of Spandau Ballet, and we’ll also be revisiting some inte...

From Hit and Run and Shape I’m In to Chained to the Wheel and Harley and Rose, Joe Camilleri has written the soundtrack to Australian life. As the frontman of The Black Sorro...

From the shadows of Manchester’s post-punk explosion to the neon pulse of the world’s dance floors, few musicians have shaped modern music the way Peter Hook has. As the founding bassist of Joy Division, Hook’s distinctive melodic basslines defined a generation, carrying the raw power of songs like ‘Disorder’ and ‘Transmission’ into the history books.

When tragedy struck with the loss of Ia...

From the psychedelic poetry of ‘The Real Thing’ to the blues-soaked grit of ‘Sharkmouth,’ Russell Morris has lived every verse of the Australian rock story. Across six decades, he’s reinvented himself again and again—never chasing trends, always chasing truth.

As he prepares to take his final bow on tour, we sit down with a man who didn’t just witness the rise of Aussie rock—he helped...

They’re not just a band — they’re a revolving door of rock royalty. With members who’ve shared stages with Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Dio, Mötley Crüe, and INXS, The Dead Daisies have become something bigger than a supergroup. They’re a living, breathing celebration of loud guitars, road-worn truth, and the raw power of rock 'n' roll.

If you grew up in the 70’s and 80’s you would have heard at least one of the records that my guest produced. With a string of huge artists like U2, Rolling Stones, Simple Minds, Talking Heads, Ultravox, Peter Gabriel, Steve Lillywhite has been responsible for over 500 records during his career.

He has been awarded 6 grammy awards, including U2’s Beautiful Day & Walk On, and the U2 album How to Dismantle and At...

My guest on today's show was described to me by Kate Ceberano as the God of Australian music. Apart from The Church, he's been in too many alt music bands to count, worked with countless artists here and abroad and with The Church has recorded over 26 full length albums and they're about to embark on a singles tour around Australia. Today's guest is lead singer & bass guitarist of The Church, Steve Kilby.

Find out all about the...

Excited to have spoken with my next guest, Alan Edwards, the godfather of British music PR. Alan has worked with some of the most legendary artists of our time, from David Bowie to the Spice Girls via the Rolling Stones, the Stranglers, Blondie, Prince and Amy Winehouse.

His book "I Was There" is a snapshot of his life in the fast paced rock world with stories like working with Keith Moon, heading to the US to work with Blondie, fo...

My next guest was a founding member of 80’s rock band Killing Joke, influencing bands like Metallica, Nirvana, Soundgarden. A self taught super producer, Youth started a label was responsible for artists like Take That, Wet Wet Wet, Tom Jones and Maria McKee.

He has produced, worked and remixed Kate Bush, The Verve, Guns n Roses, Pink Floyd, U2, INXS and he even managed to get Crowded House to record naked.

Oh and did I menti...

My next guest is an English cricket commentator, former English Test Cricketer from 1992 until his retirement in 2009. He made his Test debut in 1997 in the Ashes series against Australia, Captained England once, known as the Runaway leader then in traded it all in for a music career. Mark Butcher has performed with former Stranglers front man Hugh Cornwell and performed on TV with Sarah Brightman. And now he has had his music reco...