E5: Led Zeppelin + Kate Bush with special guest John Mendelssohn

Welcoming special guest and featured writer John Mendelssohn, RBP's Barney Hoskyns and Mark Pringle present an excerpt from an interview with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant and discuss the finer points of rock criticism with John, including the glamour of being threatened by Led Zeppelin from the stage at one of their gigs. Ahead of the publication of a new book of Kate Bush's lyrics, the three of them consider Wuthering Heights (John liked it, Barney didn't, and Mark hated it so much that he didn't listen to her music again for two decades) and discuss Mendelssohn's own book on the singer, Waiting for Kate Bush. Their guest also regales Barney and Mark with tales of finding David Bowie 'really pretty' and how 'deeply appalling' he thinks Richard Meltzer is.

Find John's own podcast at bit.ly/john_mendelssohn, his blog at johnmendelssohn.blogspot.com and visit his band's website at www.freudiansluts.co.uk.

Produced by Jasper Murison-Bowie

Pieces discussed: Led Zeppelin's Page and Plant, David Bowie, The Man Who Sold the World, Jefferson Airplane, Ashbone Wish, Kate Bush is Dreaming, Kate Bush takes charge, Kate Bush would rather be sophisticated, Manfred Mann, Giorgio Gomelsky, Leon Huff, Blue Öyster Cult and Motörhead, Kate McGarrigle, The Temptations and Massive Attack in Jamaica