Episode 29: Whatever Gets You to the Light

Synopsis Rock N Roll Archaeology excavates the divergent paths of Elton John and John Lennon in the first half of the 1970s, a period where one man sprinted toward the brightest spotlight on Earth while the other desperately sought an escape. From Elton's star-making coronation at the Troubadour to Lennon's chaotic "Lost Weekend" in Los Angeles, their journeys collide in a New York studio with a high-stakes wager over the song "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night." This is a story of two friends, two paths, and the unforeseen consequences of getting exactly what you wish for, set against the backdrop of the post-Beatles power vacuum and the dizzying heights of 70s superstardom. Producer and Host: Christian Swain Head Writer: Richard Evans Sound Designer: Jerry Danielsen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can listen to Episode 29: Whatever Gets You to the Light online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Episode 29: Whatever Gets You to the Light is an episode from Rock N Roll Archaeology by Pantheon Media.

This episode is 87:39 long.

This episode was published on Nov 19, 2025.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Rock N Roll Archaeology when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.