Speakeasy

Nile Rodgers, the three-time Grammy Award-winning producer, guitarist and founding member of CHIC, invites Valerie Simpson of Ashford and Simpson to reminisce and candidly discuss his illustrious career and personal journey. From his early days frequenting Studio 54 and his seminal work with David Bowie, to his Grammy Award-winning work with Daft Punk, Rodgers discusses how he’s kept a four decade-long career that has survived the excesses of an oft-documented drug culture of the 70s, very much intact.

In 1965, Roger Waters co-founded Pink Floyd, one of the most influential rock bands in history. “The man behind The Wall” sits down with American television journalist Bill Weir to discuss his legendary career; the past, present and future of the music industry; the ravages of war, political will and his controversial look at many of the underlying issues facing the world today.

John Mellencamp settles in to answer questions and to discuss his early days as Johnny Cougar, his work with Stephen King, Farm Aid, his recently released new album and work as a painter, with Rolling Stone magazine co-founder Jann Wenner. Mellencamp’s candid conversation also explores his philosophy on success, what drives his passion for expression and his uncompromising creative will.

Carlos Santana, the ten-time Grammy Award-winning guitarist and composer, meets with social activist and “King of Calypso” Harry Belafonte. Together, they discuss much debated social issues, spirituality and alternatives to the culture of fear inherent in today’s media.

Best known as the lead vocalist and bassist for the band Rush, Geddy Lee spends his time on Speakeasy talking with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon. The two discuss Lee’s perspective on growing up Jewish in an assimilated world, as well as the evolution of his bandmates’ relationships which have seen catastrophic loss, and the growth of a brotherhood that has sustained for more than four decades. The son of Polish Holocaust survivors, Lee also talks openly about how he has kept his singular singing voice very much intact.