The John Clay Wolfe Show: JCW and Bobbo Riffing on Music – "GOOD STUFF!" (Podcast Only/Explicit)

Date: February 13, 2026
Summary Prepared By: Expert Podcast Summarizer

Overview

In this special, unaired podcast episode, John Clay Wolfe and Bobbo sit back for an unfiltered, off-the-cuff conversation about music—their lifelong loves, legendary bands, musical inspirations, and stories that shaped them. Veering from classic rock deep cuts to country and personal tales, their banter is equal parts irreverent, insightful, nostalgic, and raw. Expect explicit language, passionate musical takes, side-splitting anecdotes, and genuine reverence for the power of music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lynyrd Skynyrd: Underrated Greatness & Deep Cuts

• Rediscovering Skynyrd

  • John shares how being home alone led to rediscovering Skynyrd's album tracks, particularly "I Need You" and "Needle and the Spoon," songs often overlooked compared to radio standards.
    • “It just hit me this week...this is probably one of the best songs of all time.” – John (00:38)
  • Bobbo agrees on Skynyrd’s depth but points out all their hits are strong.
  • John ranks Skynyrd above Led Zeppelin, declaring them “underrated” and impacted by tragedy (plane crash), limiting their potential output.
    • “I think Skynyrd—they’re better than Led Zeppelin—and that takes a lot for me to say.” – John (01:20)

• Musicianship Comparison with Zeppelin

  • Both hosts discuss the rhythm section similarities between Zepp and Skynyrd—the rootedness in blues and syncopation.
    • “It’s the blues thing. It’s the black thing. It’s the slave thing... This song’s so fuckin’ good.” – John (03:21)

• Drug Themes and Tragedy

  • Bobbo ponders the authenticity of Skynyrd's lyrics about hard drug use.
    • “Who in that band knew anything about heroin? Because a lot of their lyrics deal very well with the problem of heavy drug usage.” – Bobbo (03:43)
  • John quips: “Maybe the pilots of the airplane.” (03:52)

2. Led Zeppelin: Musical Theft & Influence

• Accusations of Plagiarism

  • Bobbo and John debate Zeppelin's habit of “lifting” riffs and songs from early blues and other artists.
    • “Zeppelin—you know, they got sued for ripping off all these black artists in the ‘30s and ‘40s...” – John (04:48)
  • On "Stairway to Heaven" and the “Taurus” song by Spirit:
    • “If you wrote that, wouldn’t you be a little pissed?... You really can’t copyright that progression. It’s just a diminishing minor chord.” – Bobbo (09:17, 09:51)

• English Bands & Black American Music

  • They discuss how bands like the Beatles, Stones, and Zeppelin were inspired by American blues, often accessing it via bootlegs.
    • “A lot of English guys, Beatles included, loved old black American music. But they never saw it with a record label on it...” – Bobbo (10:46)

3. Musical Friends, Sex, and Personal Tales

• Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyles

  • The segment shifts to sex & touring stories — both their own and fellow cast member JD’s notorious escapades.
    • “JD's got the best stories of anyone—he’s a swinging nudist freak show and he’s clean jelly bean on the front.” – John (06:34)

• Radio Days & Regrets

  • Bobbo candidly discusses wild years DJing, burning bridges, and the price of being a womanizer.
    • “I lost a good woman over it. What’d you do? I screwed every woman that I got to know for about three years.” – Bobbo and John (06:16-06:34)

4. Eagles, Stones, and Legends That Endure

• Eagles with Vince Gill & Next Chapters

  • Conversation on Eagles post-Glenn Frey, with skepticism about their new lineup and commercial motives.
    • “So they bring in Fry’s son...then they just announce Vince Gill. So it’s gonna take two guys to replace Fry.” – John (12:20)
    • “They're not good...they're not talking about recording or anything. This is just for live concerts. Although, if the concerts go well, I would not be surprised if they didn't cut another, because Don Henley lacks money.” – Bobbo (12:32)

• Rolling Stones & Longevity

  • Brief admiration for the Stones’ latest album and Mick Jagger’s ageless energy.
    • “Mick...he's still slinging that to them gals. Is he 80 years old?” – John (12:03)

• Pearl Jam’s Place

  • John suggests Pearl Jam as the “Stones of our generation.”
    • “I think Eddie Vedder's Mick Jagger, maybe. Who would be, if it’s not him?” – John (11:34)

5. Steely Dan: The Musicians’ Band

• Trying to “Sell” the Band
  • Bobbo explains why Steely Dan attracts musicians—complex jazz-rock approach, intricate lyrics, a “band for bands.”
    • “It’s jazz rock without trying to be jazz rock... Steely Dan's kind of a band for bands to listen to.” – Bobbo (14:42, 14:58)

6. Techniques, Learning, Musical Upbringing

• Musical Education & Family

  • Bobbo details learning guitar by ear; his father, a skilled mandolinist, tried (and failed) to teach him formally.
    • “He gave up. No, he decided he couldn’t show me... he wanted to throttle me because I couldn’t make the rabbit ears [for tying shoes].” – Bobbo (16:20, 16:38)

• Playing at Home

  • Whole family jams together, but session shifts to hymns, which he finds off-putting.
    • “All that Jesus music sucks. But you can make it good, dude—Elvis could make it good.” – John & Bobbo (17:39-17:45)

7. The Power of Music Versus Religion

• Music as a Deeper Force
  • Both hosts reflect on music’s power to stir emotion and nostalgia.
    • “I think music is stronger than religion, I really do... music is a more powerful force than religion.” – John (18:39, 18:53)
    • “The feelings it invokes...it’s a deeper vibe.” – Bobbo (18:59)

8. Modern Recording, Lost Chemistry, and New Music

• Producers and “Track-by-Track” Recording

  • Discussion of modern music’s lack of band chemistry, as explained by Simon Cowell & Alan Parsons.
    • “Simon said, it’s real simple, John—the bands don’t play together anymore...there’s no chemistry.” – John (20:13, 20:25)
    • “They’re waiting for the next culmination of that kind of chemistry to come along.” – Bobbo (20:54)

• Country, Alabama Shakes, and New Acts

  • Acknowledging the crowd fervor and “passion” shifting to country music, John contemplates giving modern country a fair shot.
    • “I think I’m fixing to cave in and start embracing country music...maybe I need to shut the fuck up for a minute and go at it with an open mind.” – John (21:15)

9. Nostalgia, Childhood, and Emotional Resonance

• Music as a Trigger for Memories
  • The emotional pull of music is discussed—whether love for a song is about quality or the memories it brings back.
    • “Is it that they’re so good, or is it the memories you’re dialing back into?” – John (23:07)
    • “Memories is really—I don’t know if it’s the music’s so good or it’s the memories that it triggers from childhood...” – Bobbo (22:43)

10. Anecdotes & Concert Antics

• Booing Chicago, Doobie Brothers Love

  • Bobbo recounts booing Chicago at a concert after being mesmerized by the Doobie Brothers.
    • “We got about four songs in—they started playing that ‘Colour My World’...all the fat ladies have their lighters out...” – Bobbo (25:02)

• Passing Out at Joe Walsh/Bad Company Concert

  • Hilarious story of Bobbo passing out from a single hit at a concert, breaking his glasses and nose, and getting wheeled out.
    • “You took that hit and passed out, and broke your glasses and had to get wheeled off in a wheelchair!” – John (25:24)
    • “Dude, this stuff was different...” – Bobbo (25:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I think Skynyrd—they’re better than Led Zeppelin—and that takes a lot for me to say.” – John (01:20)
• “It’s the blues thing...it’s the black thing... This song’s so fuckin’ good.” – John (03:21)
• “Who in that band knew anything about heroin? A lot of their lyrics deal very well with heavy drug usage.” – Bobbo (03:43)
• “Zeppelin...they got sued for ripping off all these black artists...a few of them complete ripoffs.” – John (04:48)
• “I lost a good woman over it...I screwed every woman I got to know for about three years.” – Bobbo (06:16)
• “He a girl on the star of Texas stadium...on the first turn at the horse racetrack.” – John (07:04)
• “I think Eddie Vedder's Mick Jagger, maybe.” – John (11:34)
• “Steely Dan’s kind of a band for bands to listen to.” – Bobbo (14:58)
• “He gave up. No, he decided he couldn’t show me...he wanted to throttle me because I couldn’t make the rabbit ears.” – Bobbo (16:20, 16:38)
• “Music is a more powerful force than religion.” – John (18:53)
• “Simon said...bands don’t play together anymore. There’s no chemistry.” – John (20:25)
• “I think I’m fixing to cave in and start embracing country music...give it a try.” – John (21:15)
• “Is it that they’re so good, or is it the memories you’re dialing back into?” – John (23:07)
• “You took that hit and passed out...broke your glasses and had to get wheeled off in a wheelchair!” – John (25:24)

Important Timestamps for Segments

• Skynyrd vs. Zeppelin, Deep Tracks: 00:38–05:09
• Zeppelin’s Plagiarism & Song Comparisons ("Taurus"/"Stairway"): 05:09–10:25
• Personal War Stories (Rock & Radio Days): 05:38–07:16
• Eagles, Stones, Generational Bands: 11:19–13:54
• Steely Dan Discussion: 14:13–15:13
• Learning Guitar & Musical Upbringing: 15:13–18:07
• Music vs. Religion: 18:07–19:16
• Modern Music, Lost Chemistry: 19:46–21:15
• Nostalgia/Memories in Music: 22:43–23:16
• Concert Anecdotes (Chicago/Doobie Brothers, Joe Walsh): 24:07–26:58

Tone and Language

The discussion is irreverent, honest, peppered with explicit language and self-deprecating humor. The hosts pull no punches with their opinions—delivering raw, in-the-moment reactions, and maintaining the classic “bar talk among friends” vibe that’s both inviting and revealing. There’s deep affection for music’s role as art and therapy, as well as for stories that only fanatics and insiders would know.

For Listeners

This episode is a must for music lovers who appreciate candid opinions, music history, personal stories from the trenches, and the camaraderie of radio veterans. The dynamic between John and Bobbo delivers both the laughs and the feels—reminding us how music is deeply rooted in both culture and memory.

Explicit Content Warning: Strong language, mature content, and unfiltered conversation throughout.