This is my personal collection of classic interviews, favorite photos, and memorable moments in radio history. With over thirty five years on-the-air at WNEW-FM, WFUV and SiriusXM I’ve worked with an amazing group of musicians, artists and friends.
Take a look around, listen in and come back again to see what we’ve added.
Audio & video archives below. If you're interested in pictures only, click here to view the Gallery.
For more information regarding the complete interviews and/or use of the materials please contact archives@denniselsas.com
Rock 'n' Roll Never Forgets is a live multimedia presentation of the archives. Click here for a preview and details on our next show.
Join the email list - Stay in touch and find out what's new.
Dennis Elsas with Ron Wood
There are a lot of different ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve, but I’ll always remember 12/31/82 as the one I got to spend with Ron Wood. Stopping by my show to promote an upcoming appearance, Ron and his entourage were clearly in a holiday mood. With a rock ‘n’ roll lineage that includes the Jeff Beck Group, the Faces, and the Stones he had some great stories to share, plus a comment about their upcoming album Undercover that made me hope the FCC wasn’t listening.
Dennis Elsas with Clarence Clemons
The first time I met Clarence Clemons was backstage at New York’s Bottom Line in August 1975 during his historic series of performances with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.
In 1985 I did a TV profile about him for PM Magazine spotlighting his solo career. When we sat down again in Feb 2004 he was working on some solo projects, but still very much a pivotal member of Bruce’s band and firmly established as one of the defining saxophone players of rock n’ roll. We talked about all of these things and he shared the wonderful story of the night forever immortalized in “Tenth Avenue Freezout” when “the Big Man joined the band. ”
Click here to listen to the full audio
Hoist
Their album Hoist had just been released when they visited me on April 13, 1994 for a lunchtime in-studio mini-concert and interview. Trey Anastasio, Page McConnell, Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman were in good spirits as they prepared for their first ever show at New York’s Beacon Theatre that night. Trey (who does most of the talking) explores the band’s history, his recently broken foot, the possibility of a Snapple commercial and more in this memorable clip.
Dennis Elsas at the Museum at Bethel Woods
Woodstock didn’t happen in the town of Woodstock, NY. The three-day festival that defined a generation actually took place fifty miles away in Bethel, NY. The Museum at Bethel Woods – the Story of the Sixties and Woodstock – has opened at the original festival site and I’m proud to be featured as the “Voice of Rock History” throughout the exhibits.
The concert’s promoters were forced to make the decision to move the Festival just weeks before the scheduled dates. They turned to FM radio to spread the word. In this clip, legendary WNEW-FM personalities Scott Muni and Rosko give their listeners all the details, newsman Mike Eisgrau reports from the scene as the extraordinary events unfold in August 1969, and nearly forty years later (May 2008) Richie Havens and John Sebastian told me how they became a part of rock n’ roll history.
Dennis Elsas with John Fogerty
Creedence Clearwater Revival was one of the most successful bands of the late 1960’s and early 70’s.
Their leader, John Fogerty, emerged as a performer with one of the most distinctive vocal and guitar sounds in rock ‘n’ roll. Many of the songs he wrote and recorded became not only rock classics, but also political touchstones of the period.
Disbanding the group in 1972, he went on to pursue a solo career and continued making memorable music.
Despite his success, there were lengthy legal battles with his former record company and bandmates that made it difficult for him to embrace CCR’s legacy.
In 2005 John finally made peace with his past symbolized by re-signing with his former record company (Fantasy Records, now under new ownership). He has since released several CD’s and DVD’s including Revival which was released in October 2007.
We spoke in the fall of 2004 and again in 2007 about his latest releases, and, of course, that classic Creedence sound.
Click here to listen to the full audio
Dennis Elsas with Ray Davies
Of all the bands to come out of the British Invasion I always thought that the Kinks’ music was the most representative of life in England. Their long time leader and primary songwriter, Ray Davies, captured the characters of his North London upbringing (Muswell Hill) with clarity and wit. He also wound up writing and recording one of the best songs ever about Hollywood, two of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll hits of the 60’s and so many more.
In the fall of 2009 he toured and released a new album called the Kinks Choral Collection and we explored some of those wonderful Kinks Classics.
To listen to my full interview with Ray Davies click here
Dennis Elsas with John Mellancamp
“I Need a Lover” by John Cougar (not Mellencamp at the time) was one of my favorite records of 1979. I became friendly with John, introduced him to NY on-stage at the Bottom Line and our relationship grew throughout the years. Combining commercial success with social activism (and helping to establish Farm Aid), John’s never been shy to speak his mind on a variety of subjects. When we sat down to discuss his 2003 album Trouble No More, he offered some surprising insights into how he viewed his own celebrity and we shared a mutual passion for an old 45 RPM single.
Click here to listen to the full audio
Clouds
We spoke in the fall of 1985 as she was promoting her latest album Dog Eat Dog. She was gracious and open and happily receptive to my questions regarding some earlier Joni classics including “Both Sides Now” and an obvious DJ favorite about the radio
Dennis Elsas with Paul Simon
As a student at Queens College in the mid 1960’s, I started to hear rumors that one half of a new folk rock duo that was getting airplay, was a recent graduate of our school. The alum was Paul Simon who along with his partner, Art Garfunkel, had grown up in nearby Forest Hills and would soon become known worldwide. By the time they split up in the early 70’s, I was on-the-air at WNEW-FM and introducing their solo projects to my listeners. Paul especially was trying out new musical genres and he was my in-studio guest on September 8, 1986 to discuss his latest project, the groundbreaking album Graceland.
Seventeen years (and one day) later on September 9, 2003, Simon and Garfunkel announced their long awaited reunion. It was called the Old Friends tour, based on a song title that was part of their classic Bookends album. I arranged for a live radio broadcast of the event over WFUV live from The Bottom Line club and here are highlights from that press conference and performance.
Click here to listen to the full audio
Jorma Kaukonen – Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane
Dennis Elsas & Jorma Kaukonen
As a founding member of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, Jorma Kaukonen has long been an important and respected figure in rock and roll history.
Though the original Airplane disbanded in 1972 and Hot Tuna has been through various changes of personnel and status, Jorma has never stopped performing and recording. His unique fingerstyle guitar playing has been heard in numerous solo projects and together with Jack Cassady he’s often back on the road as Hot Tuna.
Jorma and his wife Vanessa own and operate the Fur Peace Ranch, a music and guitar camp in the hills of Southeast Ohio. Aspiring musicians from all over the world travel there to study with Jorma and an amazing array of guitar masters.
When he visited with me along with fellow musician Barry Mitterhoff, in January 2008 he shared some early Airplane/Tuna history.
To listen to the full interview, click here.