Our guest has had a front row seat for a good chunk of rock and roll’s history. And thankfully for us, he has had a camera with him the entire time. Bob Gruen is best known for his iconic image of John Lennon in the New York City t-shirt. Arms folded in front of him, looking through dark sunglasses, part of the New York Skyline behind him. Gruen calls that photo his “hit single,” and it’s one of many photos from 40 years of rock n roll featured in his new book, “Rock Seen,” published in 2011 by Abrams New York.

Basement Rock’s Glen Braget interviews Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member of Traffic and accomplished solo artist Dave Mason in November 2005.

Dave Mason first found fame with the rock band Traffic. Aside from Traffic, Mason has played and recorded with many of the era’s most notable pop and rock musicians, including Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Delaney Bramlett, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Fleetwood Mac, Steve Winwood, and Cass Elliot. Mason’s best known song is “Feelin’ Alright”, recorded by Traffic in 1968 and later by many other performers, including Joe Cocker, who had a major hit with the song in 1969. For Traffic, he also wrote “Hole in My Shoe”, a psychedelic pop song that became a hit in its own right. “We Just Disagree”, Mason’s 1977 solo US hit written by Jim Krueger, has become a staple of US Classic Hits and Adult Contemporary radio playlists.

Today Mason performs about 100 shows a year with the Dave Mason Band across the U.S. and Canada. He is also involved with Work Vessels for Veterans (WVFV), an all volunteer movement that provides veterans transitioning to civilian work with tools that have ranged from computers to boats to tractors.

Basement Rock’s Glen Braget interviews Ygarr Ygarrist, founder of 70’s Space-Glam rock group Zolar X, in February, 2005 to talk about the release of Timeless, a Zolar X collection released by Jello Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles records.

Zolar X was a glam rock band, founded in 1973. Zolar X became known, on the LA club scene, for dressing and acting like space-aliens. They spoke an alien language of their own invention. Thier image was matched by their performances, stage sets, and music. They were the house band at Rodney’s English Disco, run by influential Los Angeles radio DJ and hipster Rodney Bingenheimer.

Since the release of the collection Timeless, Zolar X has reformed and continue to play shows in 2013.

Basement Rock’s Glen Braget interviews former Buffalo Springfield and Poco member Richie Furay in October, 2005.

Richie Furay is best known for forming the bands Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin, and Poco with Jim Messina, Rusty Young, George Grantham and Randy Meisner. His best known song (originally written during his tenure in Buffalo Springfield, but eventually performed by Poco, as well) was “Kind Woman”, which he wrote for his wife, Nancy. Richie is currently performing with the Richie Furay Band

Aside from musical accomplishments, Furay is a senior pastor of the Calvary Chapel in Broomfield, Colorado, a non-sectarian Christian church in the Denver area.

Basement Rock’s Glen Braget interviews the Legendary Eric Burdon, frontman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1960’s British Invasion band the Animals in February, 2006 about his solo release The Soul of a Man.

Eric Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a member and vocalist of rock band The Animals and the funk band War and for his aggressive stage performance. He was ranked 57th in Rolling Stone’s list – The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.