logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
1h 37m

Episode 1539 - Billy Strings

Marc Maron
About this episode
When Marc saw Billy Strings play live on stage at Willie Nelson’s birthday show, he watched a born performer make bluegrass music vital to a modern audience. Billy talks with Marc about his joy of guitar playing as an adolescent in Michigan, how his family helped shape his musical sensibilities, and how substance abuse in and around his life worked hard to crush his dreams. Now invested more in playing than in partying, Billy also talks about the music he loves and the musical heroes he’s been honored to meet.

Sign up here for WTF+ to get the full show archives and weekly bonus material! https://plus.acast.com/s/wtf-with-marc-maron-podcast.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Aug 21
Episode 1671 - Peter Conheim
In a world of influencers and content creators, Peter Conheim represents an age of culture jamming and social disruption. Influenced by bands like Can and art collectives like The Residents, Peter talks with Marc about embracing the idea of doing art anonymously, which included h ... Show More
1h 22m
Aug 18
Episode 1670 - Ben Stiller
The last time Ben Stiller was on WTF, it was more than 15 years ago and it was a really big deal for an upstart podcast done out of a small garage to have a global movie star and film director as a guest. Now Ben and Marc reflect on the passage of time, Ben's choices of projects ... Show More
1h 38m
Aug 14
Episode 1669 - Neko Case
After recently releasing her memoir, The Harder I Fight the More I Love You, and finishing her eighth studio album, the upcoming Neon Grey Midnight Green, Neko Case is drawing a lot of conclusions. She tells Marc that animals and nature are more consistent and reliable than peopl ... Show More
1h 19m
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2024
Ep. 25: Michael Ray on Florida, Hunting Alligators, and Country Music
This week Dan and Reid Isbell host hit-making artist Michael Ray out in God’s Country. Ray shares his thoughts on keyboard warriors, how Joe Diffie impacted his life, and how he mentally recharges from life in the spotlight. He shares some crazy alligator-hunting stories from his ... Show More
1h 9m
Jun 2021
Rag’n’Bone Man on His Love of John Prine, Drum’n’Bass, and Life By Misadventure
Rag’n’Bone Man’s Rory Graham sits down with Kyle Meredith to talk about Life By Misadventure, a record that finds the British songwriter traveling to Nashville and linking up with Natalie Hemby and other top writers for a soulful, live set of songs. Graham discusses his love of J ... Show More
17m 46s
Feb 2021
Jon Bon Jovi Revisits His Roles on Sex and the City, 30 Rock, and The West Wing
Jon Bon Jovi hangs out with Kyle Meredith to talk about his new album, 2020, and writing topical as a witness to history. The frontman compares his latest songs to his '80s and '90s output, and shares how they revolve around school shootings, the pandemic, and his work wi ... Show More
38m 11s
Jul 3
Introducing: New Entertainment Podcast – Fields of Dreams
In 1970s Ireland, the nation's youth were craving an escape - and music was going to provide it. Over the course of the next few decades, what had been a gigging backwater was transformed into the centre of the live entertainment universe. Fields of Dreams tells the story of that ... Show More
1m 57s
May 28
Mexican Reggae – 50 Years of Don Felder
Legendary Eagles guitarist Don Felder joins for a deep dive into his extraordinary musical journey – from co-writing Hotel California and jamming with Joe Walsh to opening up “The Vault,” his new solo album featuring 50 years of unreleased material to growing up in Gainesville, F ... Show More
50m 38s
Nov 2024
Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg came up in East London—Barking, Essex to be exact. It's fitting given the characteristic howl of his vocals. Listening to him these days, it’s hard not to recall the late-great Joe Strummer or the modern brilliance of Archy Marshall, a.k.a. King Krule. In the mid-80s, ... Show More
1h 16m
Sep 2024
Bonus Bang: Jon Hamm, Paul F. Tompkins, Jessica McKenna, Zach Reino (Going Hamm)
This is part 4 of our "Going Hamm" series, originally episode 540 titled "Low Five." Actor and longtime friend of the show Jon Hamm of Mad Men fame joins Scott to chat about his new film Beirut, breaking the internet, and his middle name. Then, Al A. Peterson aka The Smooth Crimi ... Show More
1h 24m
Feb 2025
Bonus Episode: The Madness of Moviemaking
This week, Jake talks about his experience trying to get a movie made and reflects on the obsessive drive that is required for filmmakers like Martin Scorsese to take a film from concept to the screen.On Friday, we're celebrating Oscar week by bringing you our two part episode on ... Show More
42m 49s
Jul 3
Introducing: New Entertainment Podcast – Fields of Dreams
In 1970s Ireland, the nation's youth were craving an escape - and music was going to provide it. Over the course of the next few decades, what had been a gigging backwater was transformed into the centre of the live entertainment universe. Fields of Dreams tells the story of that ... Show More
1m 57s
Aug 2021
Jimmy Cliff on New Music, Working with Tarrus Riley, and the 50th Anniversary of The Harder They Come
Jimmy Cliff grabs some talk time with Kyle Meredith to tell us about his new single, “Human Touch,” and the upcoming album, Bridges. The reggae legend tips us on working with Tarrus Riley in the producer chair, reveals where his unending source of positivity comes from, and share ... Show More
11m 52s