Dave Sweetmore's Blog - March 6th 2025

Last Friday, February 28th, I launched my new monthly podcast 'ROOTS'.  The idea of me hosting a podcast is something I have been thinking about for a few years, but with the help, support and encouragement from others, it is finally up and running. The aim of the podcast isn't to do the obvious people in which i am lucky to work with on the Manchester Music Scene and who I am lucky to be connected with, and it isn't about getting the biggest household names in music on, it's about hearing the stories from people who have played an integral part of the music scene and have great stories to tel

The podcast will be released on the last day of each month, and although it will start as a series of 12 over the next year, I will be adding bonus editions in too, with people who perhaps haven't had hit records or toured the world, but still have an important story to tell. My first podcast, which was released on Friday, features John Steel (pictured), who is the drummer and the founding member of legendary band The Animals, and is the only original member still touring the world today. John and The Animals were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994, and two of the band's songs. 'House Of The Rising Sun' and 'We Gotta Get Out Of This Place' are also included in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame as 'Songs which shaped Rock n Roll Music'. The Animals have always been one of my favourite bands, so to have John as my first guest was a privilege and an honour. I met John at a hotel he was staying at on the way to a gig in Mid February to record the podcast, and he spent a lot of time telling me about his childhood, to him forming The Animals, to still being out touring the world today at the age of 84, playing all of the hits that are so important to British Music. The hits and tracks made famous by The Animals helped shaped a generation, and were a key part of the British Invasion in the 1960's. They remain one of the most influential bands of all time. John Steel is the perfect start to my series of podcasts, all of which will be available on Spotify. You can find them by searching Roots - The Dave Sweetmore Podcast. A big thank you must also go to Michael Bamford and his team at www.morethantraining.co.uk who have sponsored the podcasts for the next 12 months, please consider using the company for any Health and Safety training you or your company may need. For more information and to find out more about future guests on 'Roots', you will find all details on Facebook and Instagram by searching 'Roots The Dave Sweetmore Podcast', or @davesweetmore on all social media platforms. Please have a listen to my first podcast with guest John Steel, it really is a great listen and will take you back to the real roots of our amazing British music scene.