Summary5 min read

Takin’ a Walk with Buzz Knight: Dream Walks with Gordy, Ed from Band of Heathens, and Gina Gershon on Music and Legacy

Podcast: Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
Date: March 26, 2026

Episode Overview

In this special “Dream Walks” edition, host Buzz Knight asks a signature question to his guests—“If you could take a walk with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?” This reflective and imaginative prompt leads to revealing answers from Gordy and Ed of Band of Heathens, Harold Bronson (co-founder of Rhino Records), and multi-talented actress and musician Gina Gershon. Their responses delve into personal roots, musical icons, and the legacy of inspiration that shapes not only them, but the wider world of music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Dream Walk Question

Host Buzz Knight sets the tone by explaining the recurring question:
“If you could take a walk with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? The answers always surprise me. This month's Dream Walks shows you who inspires the legends, the heroes behind the heroes.” (00:00)

2. Band of Heathens – Personal and Philosophical Choices

Ed’s Pick: His Grandfather
- Ed shares a touching, personal choice—his grandfather, after whom he was named.
- His grandfather passed away before Ed was born, but left an impression through family stories as a great amateur musician and a member of what Ed calls “the iconic generation of America.”
- On the significance:
  
  “It was never tangible... I think that would inform a lot of who I am in a way that it's probably subconscious or unconscious.” (00:31)
- He reflects on the values of that generation—saving the world from fascism, exporting American ideals—and wonders how those legacies shape him.
Gordy’s Pick: Spiritual Teachers
- Gordy gravitates toward profound philosophical figures:
  
  “I would probably go on a walk with, like, Jesus or Buddha or somebody enlightened... Jesus would be the easy one culturally in America, but honestly, I feel like modern Christianity has gone astray from what I think he intended. I'd have a ton of questions trying to get to the bottom of it.” (01:15)
- He expresses a desire to connect directly with the wisdom of these leaders and reflect on contemporary misinterpretations.

3. Harold Bronson (Rhino Records) – Connections Not Fully Made

Pick: Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits)
- Bronson chooses musician Peter Noone, emphasizing not only inspiration but also missed opportunities for personal connection:
  
  “On a couple occasions... I've said, oh, let's walk together, which we never have... We’ve sort of never done that. So I would like to have a walk with Peter Noon. I come to Santa Barbara because we've never done that together.” (01:42)
- He highlights the value in sharing experiences with influential friends before it’s too late.

4. Gina Gershon – Musical Icons in Dreams

Pick: Jimi Hendrix
- Gershon’s answer stands out for its whimsical and dream-like quality. She recounts frequent dreams where she and Hendrix hang out, collaborate, or simply have fun:
  
  “Jimi Hendrix comes into my dreams a lot. We, like, will be, like, smoking a joint or we'll go to In N Out Burger or, you know, like, random stuff, and we just, like, laugh. I wake up going, wait, what is this?” (02:25)
- Gershon admits to being unsure of what Hendrix represents in her subconscious but expresses delight in the imagined camaraderie:
  
  “I really have a good time with him in my dream, so he would be really fun to take a walk with. I'd be curious to talk to him.” (02:52)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Ed (Band of Heathens) on legacy:

“I think that would kind of inform a lot of who I am in a way that it's probably subconscious or unconscious because I just... it was never tangible.” (00:56)
Gordy (Band of Heathens) on spiritual quest:

"I feel like modern Christianity has gone astray from what I think he intended. I'd have a ton of questions trying to get to the bottom of it." (01:26)
Harold Bronson on friendship as legacy:

“Even though I offered, like, oh, come out to Santa Barbara. Let's go for a walk. We've sort of never done that... so I would like to have a walk with Peter Noon.” (01:54)
Gina Gershon on dream encounters with Jimi Hendrix:

“It's so weird. And we, like, will be, like, smoking a joint or we'll go to In N Out Burger... we just, like, laugh. I don't know what he means to me... but I really have a good time with him in my dream.” (02:27-02:49)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:00 — Buzz Knight introduces the “Dream Walks” concept
00:31 — Ed from Band of Heathens on his grandfather
01:13 — Gordy from Band of Heathens on Jesus/Buddha
01:42 — Harold Bronson on Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits)
02:25 — Gina Gershon on Jimi Hendrix in her dreams
03:01 — Host closes out with invitation to hear the full stories

Tone & Style

The episode carries a reflective, sometimes humorous and always personal tone. Guests are candid and thoughtful, moving fluidly between nostalgia, spiritual curiosity, and playful imagination. Buzz Knight maintains his characteristic warmth, letting the guests’ answers shine and encouraging listeners to reflect on their own sources of inspiration.

Summary

This episode of Takin’ A Walk uniquely peels back the curtain on legendary musicians and insiders, revealing who inspires them. Whether it’s an unmet grandfather, a spiritual leader, a musician friend, or a rock icon who visits in dreams, the stories are rich, relatable, and emblematic of the podcast’s deeper look into the meaning behind music, legacy, and connection.

For full-length interviews and more inspiring stories, subscribe to Takin’ A Walk wherever you get your podcasts.

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Transcript9 lines

[00:01]
A
Taking a Walk. Hey, it's Buzz Knight. Every episode of Taking a Walk, I ask my guests one question. If you could take a walk with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? The answers always surprise me. This month's Dream Walks shows you who inspires the legends, the heroes behind the heroes. Let's take a listen. Gordy and Ed from the Band of Heathens. Since we do call this podcast Taking a Walk, I do have to ask you the question, who would you take a walk with, living or dead?
[00:32]
B
I take a walk with my grandfather, who I was named after my dad's dad. I never got to meet him. He died after he found out that my mom was pregnant with me. And I've heard nothing but great stories about him. And I guess he was also a pretty great amateur musician. One of the gray generation, which I think is in the rearview mirror, really seems to be like the iconic generation of America in terms of saving the world from fascism and then, you know, kind of exporting the great ideals of America to the world. So I think. I think I get a lot out of that. I think that would kind of inform a lot of a lot of who I am in a way that it's probably subconscious or unconscious because I just. It was never, you know, it was never tangible.
[01:14]
A
Gordy.
[01:15]
B
I would probably go on a walk with, like, Jesus or Buddha or somebody enlightened. I mean, Jesus would be the easy one culturally in America, but. But honestly, I feel like modern Christianity has gone astray from what I think he intended. I'd have a ton of questions trying to get to the bottom of it.
[01:40]
A
Harold Bronson from Rhino Records, good friend
[01:43]
C
of mine for many years, is Peter Noon from Herman's Hermits. I don't see him very often. You know, sometimes we'll get together for lunch because, you know, I'm in Los Ang. He lives in Santa Barbara. But on a couple occasions, you know, I've said, oh, let's walk together, which we never have, but we have had sort of some chats when he's been walking. And, you know, and I've been walking, but it's just kind of been haphazard. So even though I offered, like, oh, come out to Santa Barbara. Let's go for a walk. We've sort of never done that. So I would like to have a walk with Peter Noon. I come to Santa Barbara because we've never done that together.
[02:23]
A
Gina Gershon, welcome to the Taking a Walk podcast.
[02:25]
D
You know, weirdly enough, you know, who comes into my dreams a lot. I swear to God, this is the weirdest thing. We always have the best time. We've even written weird songs together. I'm like, I wake up going, wait, what is this? Jimi Hendrix comes into my dreams a lot. It's so weird. And we, like, we'll be, like, smoking a joint or we'll go to In N Out Burger or, you know, like, random stuff, and we just, like, laugh. I don't know what he means to me, you know, I really tried to think about it, but I don't know. I really have a good time with him in my dream, so he would be really fun to take a walk with. I'd be curious to talk to him.
[03:01]
A
Those are this month's dream walks. The people who shaped the people who shaped music. Want to hear the full conversations with these incredible guests? Subscribe to Taking a Walk wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Buzz Knight, and I'll be back next month with more Dream Walks. Until then, keep on walking.