[EP 378] THE CLEAN: The Band That Changed Indie Forever With Richard Langston

[EP 378] THE CLEAN: The Band That Changed Indie Forever With Richard Langston

From Booked On Rock by Eric Senich

April 24, 2026 · 58 min

About this episode

This episode explores the influential band The Clean and their impact on indie music through an interview with Richard Langston.

From a $50 single to global influence, The Clean helped shape the sound and spirit of independent music as we know it. In this episode, we dive into the definitive story of The Clean—formed in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1978 by the Kilgour brothers and their friends—and how their raw, lo-fi approach sparked an entire movement. From the underground success of “Tally Ho!” to their role in building the Flying Nun scene, The Clean’s impact can still be heard in bands like Pavement and Yo La Tengo. Featuring an in-depth interview with Richard Langston, author of The Clean: In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul , we explore the band’s story in their own words—through the voices of the musicians, collaborators, and friends who lived it. From early days in Dunedin to international tours and beyond, this is the inside story of a band that changed indie music forever. Purchase a copy of The Clean: In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul Follow Richard Langston: Facebook Instagram ---------- 🎧 Listen Ad-Free on Patreon Support Booked On Rock and get every new episode completely commercial-free with the Backstage Pass. Join here: https://www.patreon.com/cw/BookedOnRock 🛒 Old Glory - Iconic…

People in this episode

Host: Eric Senich

Guest: Richard Langston

Topics covered

  • independent music
  • The Clean
  • music history
  • interviews
  • Dunedin music scene
  • Flying Nun records

Keywords

  • The Clean
  • indie music
  • Richard Langston
  • Flying Nun
  • Dunedin
  • music history
  • Tally Ho!
  • lo-fi
  • Pavement
  • Yo La Tengo

Sponsors

Old Glory

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Flying Nun, Booked On Rock

Books & works: The Clean: In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul

Places: Dunedin, New Zealand

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