If you’ve never come across Howard Stern before and only stumble upon his content because you’re interested in the person he’s interviewing, he can be a tough pill to swallow. But it doesn’t take too long to realise (maybe from appearance or questioning technique) that he epitomises the abrasive, shock jock attitude of his era, pushing sensationalism as a means to get beneath the surface of the music.
Obviously, this also comes with his share of questionable moments, like when he very openly provoked Natasha Lyonne about her parents (“Is it true that you’re the best girl to date because you’re always looking for your daddy?”), Or when he wouldn’t stop insinuating that Harry Styles had an inappropriate relationship with his therapist because she’s a woman.
In today’s world, that’s grounds for cancellation. And those are just two examples. But, on the other side of the debate, his approach has pushed artists to open up in ways they wouldn’t elsewhere, talking about their music, approach, personal experiences, influences, and inspirations with a casual, relaxed demeanour that reveals more about who they are as people and why they’ve curated such an impactful legacy.
It’s a purposeful and intentional approach that picks people apart, for better or worse. For instance, Neil Young once revealed a different side to CSNY, a more improvisational one behind the scenes that, even though we don’t hear it on the recorded versions, occurred during a time when they were changing their attitudes about being perfect – “Big bummer,” he said. “Never should have done that.” Bruce Springsteen also once told Stern why he wouldn’t like to be a musician today, because the game is far more brutal than he knew as an aspiring singer with a guitar and a dream. And there are countless other examples that forever embellished these legends’ stories.
But Stern can also guide conversations in only the way something with intense know-how and genuine musical passion could, often comparing certain situations, ideas, and even sounds to other game-changers, encouraging his guests to share their views on some of the biggest names or tropes and how they influenced or changed their own styles. He also revels in these name-dropping moments for all the reasons anyone would, anyone who’d take a microphone to someone like Paul McCartney and say, “What did you really think of the Stones?”
But, as a fan and shock jock, all of this makes Stern’s all-time favourites even more interesting. Think about it: he’s interviewed every name under the sun, and probably knows more about each and every one of them than the average music lover (even the chronically online ones forever stuck in X threads and Reddit posts). So, when it comes to revealing his beloved bands, we can’t help but straighten up and listen. Perhaps it’s slightly surprising, therefore, that one of them is Led Zeppelin.
“You’re saying, what are the best albums where every song is fucking killer,” he said. Continuing, “If you were going to pick number one, it would have to be a Beatles album, I’d probably say it’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Adding: “The other album that comes to mind, the second Led Zeppelin album [Led Zeppelin II], you know, with ‘Heartbreaker’ into ‘Living Loving Maid’ … if I put that whole album on it’s mesmerising.”
But then again, it’s probably not all that surprising at all. Stern doesn’t care much about snootiness or disregarding rock greats because they might be too commercial or not rock enough – if he likes the music, that’s enough to let him run with it. If it makes him feel something, that’s enough for him to feel confident in his own opinion that they’re worthy of their legendary titles. Being a music lover, for Stern, is simply about being real if it incites genuine enjoyment.
