Long Way to the Top

About Long Way to the Top

Every song has a story. Every legend has a journey. Long Way to the Top is where those stories come alive — the raw, revealing, and often hilarious moments behind rock’s most enduring names. Hosted by Shayne Brian, this is the ultimate backstage pass into the minds of the artists who built the soundtrack of our lives. From chart-topping anthems and studio secrets to the reinventions that kept them alive across decades, each episode dives deep into the grit, the glory, and the genius that made these icons who they are. Featuring legendary guests including: Stewart Copeland (The Police) — on the art of rhythm, rebellion, and creating one of the most innovative bands in rock history. Leo Sayer — sharing stories from a five-decade career of global hits, resilience, and reinvention. Russell Morris — reflecting on The Real Thing and the timeless spirit of Australian music. Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool, Mondo Rock) — taking us through six decades of songs that shaped Aussie rock. Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) — reliving the glamour, sound, and legacy of the 1980s New Romantic movement. Steve Kilbey (The Church) — exploring mysticism, creativity, and the making of Under the Milky Way. Whether you grew up spinning vinyl or streaming playlists, Long Way to the Top takes you deep into the world of the artists who defined generations — and are still climbing. Hit plus or follow to subscribe to the podcast. And head over to Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheLongWayToTheTopPodcast, Keep on Rocking!

Publisher

Shayne Brian

Category

music

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

9 Apr 2023

Latest episode

25 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

87 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Aug 2026

   S4E18 - Patrick Simmons: The Doobie Brothers, Black Water and Walking the Road for 50 Years

   This is a reshare of an interview conducted in July 2025 with Patrick Simmons...enjoy! Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers joins Shayne Brian on Long Way to the Top for a conversation spanning more than five decades of music, from the band’s earliest days to their latest studio album, Walk This Road. As a founding member of The Doobie Brothers, Patrick Simmons has been there for one of rock music’s great journeys. The band has sold more than 48 million albums, won four GRAMMY Awards and created an extraordinary catalogue of songs including Listen to the Music, China Grove, Long Train Runnin’, Takin’ It to the Streets, What a Fool Believes, Jesus Is Just All Right and Simmons’ own chart-topping classic, Black Water. In this episode, Patrick takes us back to the rise of The Doobie Brothers and the chemistry that created their unmistakable blend of rock, blues, soul, country and American roots music. We explore the story behind Black Water, the evolution of the band through the 1970s, the arrival of Michael McDonald and how The Doobie Brothers managed to evolve musically without losing the identity that first connected them with audiences. Patrick also talks about the latest chapter in that story, Walk This Road, the new Doobie Brothers studio album featuring Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and John McFee. More than 50 years after their journey began, The Doobie Brothers are still recording new music and taking it around the world. Patrick reflects on what it means to still share a stage with his longtime bandmates, how those relationships have changed over the decades and what keeps him wanting to climb aboard that long train one more time. We also go deeper into the journey behind the hits. What happens when a band survives long enough to become part of music history? How does Patrick define success today compared with the young musician who started The Doobie Brothers? Are there songs buried in the catalogue that he wishes people would rediscover? And after thousands of performances, can music still surprise him? From Toulouse Street and The Captain and Me to Minute by Minute, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Walk This Road, this is Patrick Simmons and the remarkable story of The Doobie Brothers. It’s a conversation about songwriting, longevity, friendship, change, survival and the road that never really ends. 🎧 Listen now to Long Way to the Top with Shayne Brian. 👉 Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLongWayToTheTopPodcast (https://www.facebook.com/TheLongWayToTheTopPodcast) #PatrickSimmons #TheDoobieBrothers #DoobieBrothers #WalkThisRoad #BlackWater #ListenToTheMusic #LongTrainRunnin #MichaelMcDonald #TomJohnston #ClassicRock #RockAndRoll #MusicPodcast #MusicInterview #LongWayToTheTop #ShayneBrian See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

2. 

   18 Aug 2026

   S4E18 - Suzi Quatro: Freedom, the Detroit Sound and the Queen of Rock

   Suzi Quatro joins Long Way to the Top for a career-spanning conversation about her incredible rock and roll journey, her new album Freedom, recording with Alice Cooper and her massive Down Under 2026 Australian tour. From Can the Can, 48 Crash and Devil Gate Drive to The Wild One, If You Can't Give Me Love and Stumblin' In, Suzi Quatro didn't simply become one of the biggest rock stars of the 1970s. She helped change what a rock star could look like. In this episode, Suzi talks about growing up in the extraordinary Detroit music scene, picking up the bass, leaving America for England, working with legendary producer Mickie Most and the explosion of success that followed Can the Can in 1973. We also revisit Leather Tuscadero and Happy Days, her influence on generations of women in rock and her remarkable relationship with Australian audiences. But Suzi Quatro is far from living in the past. Her latest studio album, Freedom, sees her reconnecting with her rock and roll roots in her third album collaboration with her son Richard Tuckey. The record also features fellow Detroit rock legend Alice Cooper joining Suzi for a blistering version of the MC5 classic Kick Out the Jams. Suzi tells Shayne about working with Alice, why Detroit remains such an important part of her musical DNA, making records with her son and why, more than six decades into her career, she still has no intention of quietly putting the bass guitar away. We also look ahead to the Suzi Quatro Down Under 2026 Tour, which takes her across Australia throughout November and December with Baby Animals as special guests on the headline concerts, plus Red Hot Summer Tour appearances featuring artists including Jon Stevens, Baby Animals, Rose Tattoo, The Screaming Jets, Dragon and Choirboys, with line-ups varying between shows. If you love Suzi Quatro, 70s rock, glam rock, classic rock, Australian rock history, Alice Cooper, Detroit rock and the stories behind the songs, this is an episode you don't want to miss. IN THIS EPISODE Suzi Quatro talks about: Returning to Australia for the Down Under 2026 Tour Her extraordinary relationship with Australian audiences Why she still loves performing live Her new 2026 album Freedom Working with her son Richard Tuckey Recording Kick Out the Jams with Alice Cooper Growing up inside Detroit's legendary rock and roll scene Starting out with The Pleasure Seekers Moving to England and working with Mickie Most The breakthrough success of Can the Can 48 Crash, Devil Gate Drive, The Wild One and her classic 1970s hits Becoming Leather Tuscadero on Happy Days Breaking down barriers for women playing rock and roll The continuing popularity of Stumblin' In More than six decades of surviving the music business Why retirement still isn't part of the Suzi Quatro plan SUZI QUATRO DOWN UNDER 2026 AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATESNOVEMBER 2026 Saturday 14 November Rooty Hill, NSW Coliseum Theatre With special guests Baby Animals. Sunday 15 November Sydney, NSW Sydney Opera House With special guests Baby Animals. Thursday 19 November Hobart, TAS Wrest Point Entertainment Centre With special guests Baby Animals. Friday 20 November Gold Coast, QLD The Star Gold Coast With special guests Baby Animals. Sunday 22 November Brisbane, QLD Roma Street Parkland Red Hot Summer Tour. Saturday 28 November Lake Macquarie, NSW Speers Point Park Red Hot Summer Tour. Sunday 29 November Torquay, VIC Torquay Common Red Hot Summer Tour. DECEMBER 2026 Wednesday 2 December Melbourne, VIC Palais Theatre With special guests Baby Animals. Saturday 5 December Seppeltsfield, SA Seppeltsfield Wines Red Hot Summer Tour. Sunday 6 December Fremantle, WA Fremantle Prison With special guests Baby Animals. 🎟 Tickets and full tour information are available through Face to Face Touring. https://facetofacetouring.com.au/current-tours/suzi-quatro-down-under-2026 (https://facetofacetouring.com.au/current-tours/suzi-quatro-down-under-2026) FOLLOW LONG WAY TO THE TOP Love the stories behind the songs and the long road travelled by the artists who made them? Hit plus or follow to subscribe to Long Way to the Top and never miss an episode. Join us on Facebook for new interviews, classic rock stories, upcoming guests and more: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLongWayToTheTopPodcast (https://www.facebook.com/TheLongWayToTheTopPodcast) And if you enjoyed this episode with Suzi Quatro, share it with another classic rock fan and help us keep these incredible stories alive. Keep on Rocking! #SuziQuatro #AliceCooper #Freedom #KickOutTheJams #LongWayToTheTop #ClassicRock #RockNRoll #SuziQuatro2026 #AustralianTour #BabyAnimals #RedHotSummerTour #CanTheCan #DevilGateDrive #StumblinIn #70sRock #DetroitRock See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

3. 

   5 Aug 2026

   S4E17 - Go West's Peter Cox: The Story Behind The King of Wishful Thinking & 40 Years of Hit Songs

   Go West became one of the defining pop acts of the 1980s with timeless hits including We Close Our Eyes, Call Me, Don't Look Down and the global favourite The King of Wishful Thinking. In this episode of Long Way to the Top, Shayne Brian sits down with Peter Cox, the unmistakable voice of Go West, to discuss the band's incredible 40-year journey, the stories behind their biggest songs, and why their music continues to connect with audiences around the world. Peter reflects on Go West's rise during the golden age of MTV, the success of The King of Wishful Thinking after its appearance in Pretty Woman, and the band's enduring popularity. He also talks about returning to Australia after touring here with Nik Kershaw in 2024, and what fans can expect from the new Australian tour alongside Debbie Gibson. If you love classic 1980s music, behind-the-scenes stories, songwriting, and the artists who created the soundtrack to a generation, this is an episode you won't want to miss. In this episode: The origins of Go West The story behind We Close Our Eyes How The King of Wishful Thinking became a worldwide classic The impact of Pretty Woman Touring Australia with Nik Kershaw and now Debbie Gibson Life on the road after four decades Peter Cox's thoughts on legacy and longevity Shayne's Fast Five AUSTRALIAN TOUR AND TICKET INFORMATION Tour dates, venues, VIP packages and tickets: https://www.destroyalllines.com/tours/go-west (https://www.destroyalllines.com/tours/go-west) Official Ticketek ticket page: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=GOWEST26 (https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=GOWEST26) Debbie Gibson official website: https://debbiegibsonofficial.com/ (https://debbiegibsonofficial.com/) Subscribe to Long Way to the Top for more in-depth conversations with the artists who created the songs, albums and unforgettable moments that shaped popular music. Visit: https://facebook.com/thelongwaytothetoppodcast (https://facebook.com/thelongwaytothetoppodcast) #GoWest #PeterCox #TheKingOfWishfulThinking #DebbieGibson #LongWayToTheTop #80sMusic #ClassicPop #WeCloseOurEyes #PrettyWoman #MusicPodcast #ShayneBrian #AustralianTour #RetroMusic #NewWave #PopMusic See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

54,532

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

82

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

30

Contact Long Way to the Top

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.