Stupid & Contagious

In episode160 we’re diving headfirst into the hazy, effects drenched world of shoegaze with Stephen Patman from Chapterhouse.

Stephen takes us right back to the band’s beginnings, their early influences and shows with Spacemen 3, before finding themselves at the heart of the emerging shoegaze scene alongside the likes of Slowdive and Lush.

We get into the making of their classic debut album Whirlpool, the technology and effects pedals that helped shape that unmistakable Chapterhouse sound, and how the band pushed things in a more dance-influenced direction with Blood Musi...

In episode 159 we’re digging into a genuine Britpop time capsule. Our guest is Douglas Vicenzi, an American Anglophile who spent the mid 90s filming and interviewing British bands as they passed through New York, before heading over to the UK to capture even more live performances, backstage moments and interviews.

Then, incredibly, much of that footage sat unseen for around 30 years. Douglas joins us to tell the story behind his British Pop Time Capsule project, the bands and characters he encountered along the way, and what it’s like revisiting those grainy VHS memories three deca...

This week it’s time for one of Luke’s Summer Specials! With the rest of the Stupid & Contagious crew taking a well-earned week off, Luke takes the reins for a one on one dive into one of his favourite current bands, Irked! Joining him are Hubb and Mike to talk about the Newcastle band’s brilliantly abrasive take on punk, their debut album The Grievance, life on Wrong Speed Records, writing songs at breakneck speed, capturing their live energy in the studio, DIY gigs, touring, and why punk really shouldn’t be perfect!

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It's a wang week and in honour of the nominees being released for this years Mercury Prize we’re heading back to the 1990s and going through the Mercury Prize year by year: the nominees, the winners, the albums that should have won, and some choices that, looking back now, seem absolutely mental!

We’ve got Primal Scream, Suede, Pulp, Portishead, Blur, Oasis, Radiohead, The Prodigy and plenty more plus, inevitably, a few albums we’ve barely heard of.

So, who deserved their Mercury Prize, who was completely robbed, and which 90s album should...

It's episode 156 and this week we're joined by Adi Vines from SwerveDriver!

We dive into the story behind Raise, the early days of the band, the Oxford scene, Creation Records, touring alongside some of the biggest names of the '90s and Adi's remarkable career behind the scenes as a guitar tech for some of rock's biggest artists. We also get an exclusive heads up on the upcoming release of the original Raise demos 35 years after the album's release. Enjoy!

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Welcome to The...

In episode 155 we're diving into one of the most debated eras in British music with author Paul Laird, whose brilliant book The Birth and Impact of Britpop challenges everything you thought you knew about the movement.

Was Britpop really all about Oasis vs Blur? Were some of the era's most important bands completely overlooked? And could the real architect of Britpop have been... Morrissey?

We explore the forgotten bands that deserved far more recognition, the scenes that shaped the movement before it exploded into the mainstream, and why the accepted history of Britpop...

This week on the Stupid And Contagious Podcast, we're joined by Mat Flint, the founder of one of the most underrated bands of the shoegaze era - Revolver!

In the early '90s, Revolver had the music press behind them, major labels fighting to sign them... and even the chance to join Alan McGee's legendary Creation Records. But they said no!

Matt tells us the full story from the label bidding war and the highs and lows of the '90s music industry to Death In Vegas, the return of Revolver over 30 years...

It's episode 153 & England are out. Again!

The dream's over, the memes have started, and Three Lions has gone back on the shelf for another tournament.

But rather than talking about what might have been, we're looking back at something England have always been world class at... football songs.

From World in Motion to Three Lions, from Vindaloo to some absolute forgotten disasters, we're ranking the greatest and the worst football anthems of the 90s!

Is World in Motion actually better than Three Lions?

Let's find out! Enjoy!<...

In episode 152 we're joined by James McColl, frontman of one of the great underrated bands of the Britpop eraThe Supernaturals.

From DIY cassette releases and touring the Highlands of Scotland, to Top 10 albums, hit singles like "Smile" and "I Wasn't Built to Get Up", and sharing stages with everyone from Blur and Supergrass to Robbie Williams, James takes us through the incredible journey of a band that quietly became one of the defining sounds of the late '90s!

We talk about getting signed to Food Records at the height of Britpop, life...

This week on the podcast, we're joined by Andy Cairns, frontman of Therapy? one of the most distinctive and enduring bands to come out of the UK alternative rock scene.

Over the last three decades, Therapy? have released 17 studio albums, toured the world, appeared on Top of the Pops, shared stages with everyone from Helmet and the Jesus Lizard to Henry Rollins, and somehow managed to survive every trend the music industry has thrown at them!

But this conversation goes way beyond the music.

Andy talks about what it was really...

In episode 150 we chat to Danny McNamara, frontman of Embrace.

Over the last three decades, Embrace have had one of the most fascinating careers in British music. From exploding onto the scene in the late '90s, to being dropped by their record label, coming back stronger than ever, and still releasing acclaimed new music today, they've managed something very few bands ever do - they've survived!

Danny joins us to talk about the band's brand new album Avalanche, why he believes they're making some of the best music of their career, how...

Joining us for our 'Hot Take' Special are Mike and Dave, and we've all come armed with a collection of music opinions that are guaranteed to divide listeners. Some of them we genuinely believe. Some of them we're going to have to defend whether we believe them or not!

Over the next hour we're arguing over questions like: Is Britpop actually better than grunge? Was Oasis destined for greatness without The Beatles? Is Screamadelica overrated? Were Coldplay ever actually good? And does modern music have anything on the 90s?

The rules are simple...

Thirty years ago, Vent 414 arrived with one incredible album and then disappeared almost as quickly as they came. Formed from the ashes of The Wonder Stuff and featuring Miles Hunt, Morgan Nicholls and Pete Howard, they left behind a record that became a cult favourite for fans of 90s alternative rock.

Now, three decades later, they're back!

In episode 148 Miles and Morgan join us to talk about how an unexpected studio session turned into a brand new Vent 414 album, what it was like reconnecting after 30 years, working with legendary producer Steve Albini on the...

This week we're shining a light on one of Britpop's great hidden gems: Flamingoes! If you were digging through the pages of NME and Melody Maker in the mid-90s, you'll probably remember them. If not, you're in for a treat!

They rubbed shoulders with the New Wave of New Wave scene, and released a string of brilliant singles before putting out their cult classic album, Plastic Jewels.

Joining us today is James Cook, It's a fascinating conversation about music, creativity, luck, and what it was really like trying to make it during...

In episode 146 we dive deep into the wild world of the early 90s UK underground scene with Tabitha Zu!

Melanie and John join us to talk about chaotic DIY touring, sleeping on floors, playing over 150 gigs in a year, muddy festivals, VHS archives, and the surreal experience of opening for Nirvana during the legendary Rollercoaster tour era.

We also get into Nottingham’s underground music scene, goth clubs, shoegaze, crusties, four-track recordings, and what it was really like trying to survive as an indie band before the internet existed.

Plus after more th...

It's a wang week so who's up for a game of Pop or Plop? Will Smith, TLC, Spin Doctors, Lighthouse Family, Mariah Carey, Five, Saint Etienne… POP or complete PLOP?

One of us is recording from Seoul, South Korea… one of us defends Will Smith unironically… and somebody absolutely loses their mind over Spin Doctors!

So grab a beer, put your Kangol hat back on, and prepare to get irrationally angry about bands you haven’t thought about in 30 years!

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Welcome to The Stup...

It's episode 144 & Incase you hadn't heard A are back with a new album!

Today’s guest is one of the great survivors of British rock music. From fronting late-90s alt-rock band A to producing massive records for bands like McFly, Jason Perry has lived every side of the music industry, the highs, the crashes, the reinventions, and the comebacks.

In this episode, Jason tells unbelievable stories from the road: getting dropped before his biggest hit, flying by helicopter straight from Top Of The Pops to a gig in Plymouth, touring with Faith No...

From the psychedelic shadows of the late 80s to touring alongside bands like The Smashing Pumpkins, Scorpio Rising were one of those bands that seemed destined for something massive until the music industry, bad timing, and real life got in the way!

In episode 143 we talk about major label deals, shoegaze and grunge, Reading Festival, living on the dole in Manchester, recording under churches, setting amps on fire in the studio, and what happens when the dream suddenly disappears?

It’s about loss, survival, reinvention, and finding meaning after the chaos. From cleaning bi...

In episode 142 we’re joined by Phil Ward better known as The Albino Priest from Lo Fidelity Allstars! A band that somehow went from their very first gig… straight to getting signed to Skint, landing on the cover of the music press, and suddenly finding themselves in the middle of the madness that was the late 90s!

We get into everything, the chaotic early days, what it was really like being part of that Skint Records era, blowing up in America, and the reality behind the highs and lows of the music industry.

It’s funn...

This week… we’re going back to 1996!

A year where Oasis ruled the world, the Spice Girls kicked the door down, and somehow both “Firestarter” and “Wannabe” existed at the same time and everyone loved both!

We’re talking Knebworth.

We’re talking Trainspotting.

We’re talking the Fugees, Beck, Manics… and yes we are talking 'Jesus to a f*cking child'!

So whether you were there, taped it off the radio, or you’re just here to find out what all the fuss was about…Let’s rewind to 1996.

...

There was a moment back in the 90s when music didn’t just soundtrack your life… it was your life!

For some of us, that meant saving up for cassette singles, taping songs off the radio, or heading straight to the record shop the second something new dropped. For others, like this week’s guest it became something even bigger: a way of understanding who you were.

Because for Anna Doble, the 90s weren’t just a great era… they were formative. And that journey is captured brilliantly in her book 'Connection Is a Song', a...

For every band that became a household name, there were dozens more who got this close, radio play, TV appearances, sold-out gigs and then… nothing.

Today’s episode is one of those stories, in episode 139 we chat to Philip from Britpop 'Shouldhavebeens' Speedy!

We’re talking to the former frontman who went from indie buzz, Radio 1 singles, and national TV… to being dropped, walking away, and eventually becoming an architect. It’s a story about timing, luck, the music industryand what happens when the dream doesn’t quite land the way you thought it would.

Joining us for episode 138 is none other than Peter Holmström from the The Dandy Warhols! We chat about the band’s journey from the early 90s Portland scene to global success, their influences, the reality behind the stories, and what it was really like being part of that era!

And of course, we get into Dig! that legendary documentary that followed The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre over several chaotic years. It’s raw, messy, and totally unfiltered, capturing the highs, the meltdowns, and everything in between. Peter shares his side of that story...

This week in episode 137 on the podcast… we’re diving headfirst into chaos!

30 years on, we’re revisiting The Fat of the Land by The Prodigy, an album that didn’t just shake the 90s… it kicked the door in! From banned videos and media outrage to some of the most aggressive, genre-defining tracks ever released… this was the moment rave collided with rock and changed everything!

We’re talking Firestarter. We’re talking Breathe. And yeah… we’re talking that video!

Was it genius? Was it too far? And does it still hit the sam...

This is Episode 136 and today’s one is a wild ride!

We’re joined by Ronnie O’Hara musician, journalist, and full-on 90s scene survivor who’s done everything from starting riot grrrl bands to turning up to gigs uninvited… and somehow getting away with it!

We get into DIY chaos, the reality of the 90s underground scene, sexism in music, and some genuinely unhinged stories from life on the road!

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Welcome to The Stupid And Contagious podcast, a podcast focused on...

Walter Schreifels is one of the most influential figures to come out of the New York hardcore scene. From his early days playing guitar in Youth of Today to forming groundbreaking bands like Quicksand, Gorilla Biscuits, Rival Schools, and Walking Concert, Walter helped shape the sound and culture of hardcore and post-hardcore for decades.

In episode 135, we dive into his journey growing up in New York during the explosion of the 1980s hardcore scene, the lessons he learned playing in multiple iconic bands, and how he’s continued to evolve creatively as a songwriter and musician. Wa...

Episode 134 of the Stupid and Contagious Podcast… and this week we’ve got a big one.

Today we’re talking about The God Machine, one of the most intense, mysterious and tragically short-lived bands of the 90s alternative scene. A band that started out in San Diego, ended up squatting in London, busking on the streets of Amsterdam just to survive, and somehow turned all of that chaos into some of the most powerful music of the decade.

In this episode we’re joined by Austin Lane, drummer of The God Machine, who tells th...

It's 'Wang' 26 and this week on the podcast, we’re diving headfirst into one of the most divisive eras in rock history… Nu Metal!

Adidas tracksuits. Chain wallets. DJ scratches. Angsty screams. Woodstock ’99 literally going up in flames.Was it a genuine evolution of heavy music or a frat-boy fueled regression that undid everything the ‘90s stood for?

From Korn and Limp Bizkit to Linkin Park and Slipknot, we’re breaking down the good, the bad, and the genuinely ugly side of nu metal. The riffs, the rap-rock experiments, the emotional vulnerability and the misogyny, chaos, and...

In episode 132 we bagged a chat with Chris Olley of Six By Seven, one of the most prolific and uncompromising figures to come out of the 90s British alternative scene!

From touring Germany in a caravan before they were signed to building a massive live guitar sound to going fully independent in 2004 this is a story about artistic survival 🤟🏻

We talk about the raw power of Peel Sessions, why he hated playing live despite giving everything on stage, what really happened with Britpop and why being an artist ultimately just means refusing to stop!<...

This week on episode 131 of the podcast, we’re joined by a true 90s survivor!

A man who’s Sat on top of a moving tour bus in Sweden with Liam Gallagher wearing nothing but a Union Jack…

Turned down the chance to join Oasis at their peak…

Played Live 8 with The Who…

And somehow lived to write a book about it!

From the chaos of Britpop to backstage madness at Knebworth… from John Peel sessions to Paul Weller’s band… from record label disasters to making one of the defin...

It's episode 130 and this week we’re joined by Steven McDonald aka Hollywood Steve, Redd Kross founder, bassist, songwriter, and survivor of just about every phase of alternative music you can name!

From starting a band at 12 years old, playing with Black Flag, and accidentally standing at the ground zero of grunge, to navigating Britpop envy, major-label fallout, and the strange feeling of being too early for your own moment, this is a proper rock-and-roll life story.

Steven talks candidly about Redd Kross’s long road, why Nirvana thought they were “too happy,” touring...

This week is a wang week and we’re doing what we probably should’ve avoided… an Ask Us Anything?!

We’re talking first gigs, worst gigs, bands we loved then fell out with, bands everyone else loves that we just don’t get and the ones we’ll defend forever!

There are regrets, strong opinions, questionable memories, and at least one story we legally cannot explain properly!

If you want nostalgia, hot takes, and three grown men still arguing about 90s guitar music… this one’s for you.

This is Epi...

In episode 128 we’re talking to a man who’s lived more lives than most people dream of!

He started out as a bike courier, picked up a camera, and somehow ended up photographing rock history - Lemmy, Ozzy, the Pistols, Henry Rollins, Sepultura… the list just keeps on going.

He’s shot legendary bands, directed music videos, crossed continents, and now lives full-time on a boat in the Mediterranean, because apparently normal life just wasn’t chaotic enough!

This is a proper deep dive into rock culture, DIY survival, and saying “fu...

In episode 127, we sit down with Andy Bollen (Captain America) and Derek McKee (Boyfriend) two key figures from the legendary early ’90s Scottish indie scene. Not only were they in two of its most revered bands, they were both in the room on the night Oasis were signed to Creation Records. Yep, that night

As if that wasn’t enough, Andy also toured with Nirvana during their Nevermind era right before they went stratospheric.

From backstage chaos to scene-defining moments, hear about their musical journeys and get an insider’s take on some truly...

In episode 126 we chat to Kevin Martin, the unmistakable voice behind Candlebox, one of the most enduring bands to emerge from the post-grunge era. From massive hits like Far Behind to navigating fame, backlash, and longevity in an unforgiving industry, Kevin’s career is a masterclass in resilience and authenticity.

In this episode, we talk about the realities of the grunge explosion, what it was really like coming up alongside Seattle legends, the misconceptions that followed Candlebox for decades, and how Kevin has continued to evolve as an artist and songwriter. This is an honest conversation ab...

It's our end of year album special! In episode 125 it's time to go off piste again as Luke chats to some of our lovely listeners about their favourite albums of 2025! We escape from the 90s just for this one episode every year and it always proves popular so defo have a listen! Get some new recommendations from likeminded musos & get involved in the comments in our socials and let us know your picks! Strap in, it's a long one, might need a couple of sittings! Happy New Year!

Episode 125 is here, and it’s time to go...

Alright…It's the big one, it's Dave's End Of Year Quiz!

It’s the end of the year, which means we’ve said a lot of stupid things… and today, we’re holding ourselves and you accountable!

Do you actually remember anything from this podcast in 2025? If you’ve been listening all year, this should be easy, If not… well, let's find out!

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Welcome to The Stupid And Contagious podcast, a podcast focused on bringing you interviews with the bands that defined a...

In episode 123, we welcome back Alex Boucher MBE and yes, since his last appearance on the podcast, he’s only gone and picked up an MBE!

Last time Alex joined us, we talked about his book Three And A Half Minutes Of Fame, which explored his brushes with fame in various guises throughout the 90s music scene. This time, he’s taking things a step further by turning the story into a documentary and he needs your help to make it happen. You can support the project via the crowdfunding link below!

In this...

Its a 'wang week' and in episode 122 we’re 'deep diving' into one of the most fascinating, divisive, and quietly influential albums in British music history: The Stone Roses’ Second Coming!

After five years of silence & legal battles the band returned not with more of the same, but with a sprawling, blues-soaked, guitar-driven odyssey that split fans right down the middle. Was it a misunderstood masterpiece, a bold reinvention, or the sound of a band cracking under the weight of their own legend?

In this episode, we’re unpacking the story behind the long w...

In episode 121 we speak to acclaimed journalist, author, and one of the most incisive voices in rock Ian Winwood! Ian has spent decades chronicling the stories, struggles, and triumphs that live behind the music we love!

From his celebrated work in Kerrang! and The Guardian to his powerful book Bodies, Ian has consistently peeled back the curtain on an industry that is as exhilarating as it is unforgiving. In this episode, we dive into the craft of storytelling, the realities of life on the road, and the hard truths that shape the music world from the...