1972: LITTLE RICHARD interview is the GOAT | Late Night Line-Up | Classic BBC music | BBC Archive

Little Richard is many things; the King of Rock and Roll, the emancipator of soul, the creator and originator, the best-looking of twelve siblings... but is he shy? This wonderful, joyous free-wheeling interview suggests emphatically not. Topics covered include: Little Richard's journey from dishwasher in Macon, Georgia to global superstar, his make-up regimen, retiring to study religion, performing with the Beatles, Mick Jagger, James Brown and Jimi Hendrix before they were famous and the importance of doing your own thing, letting it all hang out and being yourself.
Fun fact: This was interviewer Ray Connolly's first ever time on television - talk about a baptism of fire!
This clip is from Late Night Line-Up, originally broadcast 4 August 1972.
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[@thelostfutures]

This is like the perfect combination between a religious sermon and a WWE interview

[@MrImperial67]

lmao

[@freemind1923]

right on the spot, lol

[@jayskywalker5049]

EXACTLY

[@megamoneyk]

Omg 😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@megamoneyk]

​@@SRose-vp6ew do you believe he became straight?

[@Uknowthatimnogood]

“I was the best looking one of all of em and I’m not conceited at all” 😂 you have to love Little Richard

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

Lol

[@delishme2]

The other half to that statement which he didn't get out is ...." He just confident " 😂❤

[@robertdevoy3119]

He's not conceited, he's convinced.

[@ARDG89]

I LAUGHED SO HARD LITERALLY IN TEARS AT 2 in the morning lol

[@juice2835]

Little Richard was very much ahead of his time. Excellent interview.

[@patremagilbert682]

Yes he was

[@thebeardedseeker5633]

very much, indeed. and very brave for his time.

[@sergiolandz6056]

little richard is a by product of abuse and rape and then mind controlled. He is another tool of the machine to try and pervert people's mind.

[@mjmr197810]

Yes ❤

[@greenvortex7]

My fav quote and now never say that anyone is ever ahead of their time which goes: "No one is ever ahead of their time, Little Richard was, by design - right on time, it was the world that was behind!"

[@shaughton9690]

No one asked him if he was the best looking out of his siblings. I am dying laughing 🤣 He’s my spirit animal 😂

[@nieceypiecey100]

Hahaha! He said it with a super straight face too!

[@Hersheykisss03]

Wit the straight face then said he’s not conceited sent me 😂

[@dusroots]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 he was a character forreal!

[@CashUnlimited8]

🤣🤣

[@TheJazzy1980]

Now I wanna see pics of his siblings 😂😂

[@Ebonynini]

You can’t help but to LOVE Little Richard’s energy. His confidence, humor and talent alone just never disappoints. He was definitely his biggest cheerleader. Can’t hate him for being the goat of Rock and Roll 🎸 💯🙌🏽❤️🙌🏽

[@yumyumbumblebee]

Talk about depth of character ✨

[@ohwhatworld5851]

His drugs.

[@tsongromytv4412]

He was Prince before Prince.

[@focusandefficiency9359]

Naa. Only a young idiot would say that.

[@SheenaCarector]

Facts

[@chiefvirgobleu6744]

Nah not even...Prince wasn't gay mf

[@SadDad01]

Stop it

[@joseph9531]

He was a lot less inhibited and a lot funnier, a very bright soul.

[@gvrpresentsbearwilliams]

"When I walked into the airport here in London today, a man dropped his cup of coffee!"😂

[@francoisbessing]

Lol😂

[@Kelvin_Trekker]

I like to put it on

[@glen4326]

Little Richard. He has this otherworldly persona. I loved when the interviewer asked him if he was shy. Can you imagine being raised in the environment he was raised in and still having to fight to break free and show his talent? Brave.

[@subg8858]

People in the past weren’t as bad as they make out. People thinking all of a sudden they are the good ones. Laughable

[@DevvGaming101]

@@subg8858 really? People still feed babies to alligators? It was worse in the south..

[@TheHarrip]

Great human being. It’s hard to believe our planet can create such beauty and talent.

[@petergedd9330]

Not at all. Our planet is beauty itself, it's our mother, it has just about everything on it that reflects the divine. We all have that in us too, yes all of us.

[@TheHarrip]

@@petergedd9330 that's the meaning of life

[@Rontlc3317]

TMH GOD YESHAU HAMACHSHIACK JESUS OF NAZARETH MADE THE HEAVENS N THE EARTH.❤❤❤

[@dianapark1586]

Our planet has no powers except what God gives, allows, or man does to it. God's the creator of all, above, & below.

[@IntoAllTruth.]

God created our planet and Little Richard. ❤

[@savannahmonet9582]

The fact he lived til 2020 but he left the industry n was heavy in the church - seemed like no one cared he died he was so important to culture

[@zippymufo9765]

He was rejected by the liberal media because he denounced homosexuality

[@MeMeDaVinci]

Him and Chuck Berry....Elvis was a performer but did nothing to move writing music as a songwriter forward. And that Elvis didn't play or use any instruments, depending on other people to write for him....eh. Sure, Elvis strummed his guitar or whatever, but his show was his hips, voice and swagger.

[@gedionsamuel2256]

Facts, he even announced that he wasn’t gay anymore 😅

[@dejstoney]

Because people don’t respect rock n roll enough.

[@allrequiredfields]

​​@@gedionsamuel2256 Which ultimately just meant he didn't engage in homosexual activities. I think he reached a point where he wasn't judging homosexuals or homosexuality, more that he personally felt his relationship with god would be better if he didn't engage in that behavior. Everyone's got their superstitions or cultural habits and that's fine, as long as they aren't judging others, and judging others was never really his bag.

[@el_puma_real]

Little Richard is the personification of the rock star, everyone after him has taken from him, whether they know it or not. Long live the true king Little Richard.

[@C.STRIKER-yo7zg]

You NAILED it Sir!! From mick jagger to Bowie to Hendrix to Elton John to Prince, Michael Jackson etc…..and every rock star in between, owes a tremendous debt to little Richard. He is truly the originator. He had NO PRECEDENT. There was NO ONE like Richard Penniman Prior to him coming onto the scene and no one since had quite the FIRE and charisma Richard has in large quantity!!

[@donjensen785]

I never get tired of watching Little Richard speak. Total entertainment wether you like him or not.

[@MattsManyHats]

My mother worked for some religious television organization years ago as a secretary and she told me that he would come in often to do work with them, and would always show up early and just sit there and talk with her about absolutely anything and everything. She said probably the most fun she ever had at work.

[@munchyman6898]

So eccentric. I love this dude. The true King of Rock n Roll. RIP

[@joeyday1252]

Little Richard and Chuck Berry on the same bill. No matter who went on first, that had to be a fantastic show.

[@ThisIsJ.Nicole]

Could you imagine being there?! Wow.

[@idan3521]

Actually it was pretty bad

[@peterchecksfield9958]

Those who were there generally agree that Bill Haley and His Comets stole the show.

[@IosuamacaMhadaidh]

​@@ThisIsJ.Nicole for real. Those who were... I wonder if they realized the history they were witnessing in real time.

[@randyrhodes7137]

I saw Gerry Lee Lewis , Little Richard and Chuck Berry on the same bill at Wembley. All smashed it

[@ciggieshoreditch507]

Little Richard was a gem. A one in a billion. Just think, a young dish washing man in a bus station in Macon, GA, changes music forever. I hope he is always remembered and thought of in the manner he deserves-Ohh! My Soul

[@mastomasto6197]

Yes.

[@user-pt9gh6gl6q]

@@mastomasto6197go by

[@candystar27]

Yes

[@Oialca]

Man knew exactly who he was!

[@rockconnoisseur76]

Where has this been all my life? I wish there were musicians around these days with even half of Little Richard's confidence and flamboyance. It's what the world needs now.

[@Poetic_Justice1962]

There are, or is. Lady Gaga.

[@cristinadriviera8144]

Drewbie H+ Beautiful black people!

[@rockconnoisseur76]

@@Poetic_Justice1962 I've never seen Gaga throw shade like that at someone she was sharing equal billing with. I wish she would though!

[@VelvetLovesU]

Nas X?

[@hellobooom]

​@@VelvetLovesU Trash

[@nadura55]

What a deep and layered man. His life story deserves to be told in a movie

[@ronniegladden7387]

it is -- and there's a new documentary out on little richard's life, too :)

[@fredneedle123]

​@@ronniegladden7387 I didn't know that. What's the film called?

[@enriquesalazar6101]

@@fredneedle123literally little Richard

[@fredneedle123]

@@enriquesalazar6101 Thank you

[@THEMARQUEEPOD]

It is

[@TheWingus]

We didn’t deserve Little Richard but he gave it all to us

[@joeybaseball7352]

I can't believe this was 50+ years ago. Richard was so ahead of his time. True trailblazer. All of the stuff he's doing and saying here is so commonplace today, you can't even tell that this was seen as outrageous and taboo back then.

[@arturwittensoeltner8729]

Well after all this was Great Britain and not the USA.

[@joeybaseball7352]

@@arturwittensoeltner8729 he did this in America too.

[@doc1672]

Disgusting 🤢

[@roseroyce15]

Agreed. I think that's one thing that gets lost in translation. This was WAAAAY out there for the time. So much so, that NO ONE else in show business - woman or man, black or white etc. was this audacious, free & authentic. Fearless even. ESPECIALLY as a black man. It was just unthinkable to 'some people' that someone like him even existed. He was so authentic & free that no one bothered him because they didn't know what to do with him. They were too scared to. Lol. The most they ever did was try to ignore him & minimize his contribution. And they did that for YEARS. That's why you always heard him exclaiming it LOUDLY in every interview & every chance he got until they FINALLY gave him his propers in his last years. As he said, he wasn't conceited. It wasn't out of arrogance the way he would exclaim. He knew that if he didn't state the truth about his contribution himself, they wouldn't give it to him & that they'd try to ascribe it to someone else - because he was black AND gay. This was a BRILLIANT man. He knew JUST what he was doing when he would use his persona to go on these rants about who he was, about how beautiful he was, & how he was the CREATOR. It worked to. Because they FINALLY gave him his props - and when they FINALLY did (on the AMA'S), he cried in humility. Because that's all he ever wanted. All he wanted was them (his industry, peers, & the world) to acknowledge the TRUTH & for them to give him the respect he DESERVED - not as a gift to him. But because he'd EARNED it. Little Richard was to show business what Ali was to the sports world. "Ahead of his time" is actually a HUGE understatement.

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

​@@roseroyce15I also think that because the BBC did such a great job of either preserving/restoration of this video has something to do with it getting lost in translation. Because this video is such high quality, the colors are so vibrant, and the sound is so clear, it's hard to tell that this was so long ago. It looks like it could've been filmed just a few years ago.

[@getyapaperup]

The architect of rock n roll.

[@joseph_arrow]

@Henry Galhardo He said it himself, actually.

[@theshapeexists]

I loved this dude. Crazy fun and a tremendous musician. Rest easy

[@JamaicaRouge]

4:34 “I used to sing opera Aaaaaaahhhh! Ooooaaaaaaaah!!!”

[@chancest.thomas5160]

I SQUAWKED

[@martinocelotl8326]

"I am the King of Rock n' Roll, the Emancipator of Soul, the Creator and the Originator --My God!" @ 2:47

[@subg8858]

In an interview, Larry Williams said when he first heard the Beatles cover one of his songs, on his car radio, he had to pull over to the side of the road from crying tears of joy. Said it was one of the happiest moments of his life. Little Richards showing appreciation to those he influenced reminded me of that story

[@nogoofystv]

You trying to give white man credit for this black legend. Cut the crap

[@peterchecksfield9958]

When/where was this Larry Williams interview? I can't imagine him being the kind of man impressed by white limeys copying his songs.

[@fz7091]

​@@nogoofystvRock n roll knows no colour

[@gamma1695]

Little Richard was very honest and consistent in all his interviews in the various stages of his life. I like how he slips in his black bottom 7:24 ... the interviewer couldn't help but chuckle

[@codystarcowski5279]

"Learn how to help and treat each other" Bless his Soul.

[@tmariezartworks1722]

I can watch this video on replay and never get tired. 😂

[@ElvenQueen1980]

Have always loved Little Richard, love his music and his larger than life persona.

[@IndigoWisdom1]

When he had to correct the interviewer to realize that original Rock n Roll is SOUL music. ❤ 🎹

[@qcsmith2002]

I like how he stayed true to his roots. He shouted his city and state out over and over. Them southern roots made him the great performer and personality that he was.

[@yasminx16]

The true king of rock and roll Oozing with self confidence A deeply spiritual man A true individual Utterly fearless! Wow!

[@barbaradillard9080]

Love his dramatic ways and the compassion he displays for all people.

[@francoisbessing]

Except Chuck Berry who "shall be mashed".

[@IconicBlu]

I really do think Little Richard was an Egyptian Pharaoh in his past life.

[@Mr.Deko86]

If the Pharaohs drove in reverse with the trunk open, then sure.

[@kattiethomas4687]

Little Richard has always been humorous 😅

[@erickaivory7996]

Points & looks dead at the camera: “I am gonna fix Chuck Berry!!!!” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@thomasmarthinussen8978]

To say that this man was charismatic would be an understatement of grand proportions!

[@oliahaynes6761]

He truly was a mood! Icon! Legend! Such a light! R.I.P.

[@massagebroad]

"He can close the show, but when I get through the show gonna be closed anyhow!" And small little bits of wisdom like this is why I believe Little Richard is my Fairy Godbae❤😮

[@kristinzorn9522]

Little Richard was far more talented and wonderful than he was ever allowed!! Thank you for this personal account.🙌

[@JoseighBlogs]

What a diamond? A lovely sweet soul, hilarious and genuine in the artistry of his music and of the presentation of that 'let it all hang out' self? Some of us grew up with his music but didn't know him. Decades later this is a glorious rediscovery?🙂

[@JumbleTasteSpinning]

That's how an artist who was ahead of it's time look like. Rest in peace my hero ❤ I love you little richard

[@AmarYahu]

*The myth. The man. The LEGEND.* 👑

[@campfreddy3547]

Amazing man, charisma, Flamboyance and charm, Legend.

[@missnene8339]

This literally has blown me away! My love for Little Richard is even bigger now! How he responds with his confidence, being a Sabbath keeper, just been claiming to be the king since day one! This was an amazing interview. And, LOL, throwing pocketbooks in the church, nothing has changed!! LOL

[@NoellaKharyneYalley]

It’s the calm in his voice when he starts talking about God for me❤️😊

[@IfAshKetchumWasGay]

I absolutely adore this man. I truly hope he found inner peace before his passing and accepted himself in whatever way he seemed fit. Hopefully the after life brought him peace. What a light 💙

[@Lilly-fi9jg]

I have loved him since I first saw him perform. No one else gets close to his spirit.

[@malakia98]

my favorite interview of him. 😂🥰 God rest his soul 🕊

[@resetmyzen1585]

You can tell he been through a lot, but somehow still kept his soul and spirits. Rest in peace little Richard your star will shine forever. 🥰

[@gailbird100]

I had a crush on Little Richard as a kid and kept my mouth shut because if my mom ever found out, I would never of been allowed to watch him

[@fernandoelbrat]

He should be bigger than the Beatles

[@pinkfloydmeddle6692]

He’s good but not as good as the Beatles

[@fernandoelbrat]

@@pinkfloydmeddle6692 1 man vs a bunch of manufactured basic white men yeeee okay

[@debramitchell]

He made the beatles. Look it up.

[@lesterbronson2385]

He’s great, but he doesn’t touch the Beatles

[@Auntkekebaby]

He is bigger than the Beatles to a lot of people. I don't count polls and spin. This musical expression was build on terror, blood, sweat and TEARS. REAL sht!! There wouldn't even be a Beatles without all the pioneers. Not taking away for their talent. No debate. Straight facts.

[@sirfizz6518]

Got me outright LMFAO @ "His blackberry will be mashed!"

[@jamesz.williams8746]

I can always admire and respect anyone who’s honest, content, and just pure!!

[@princesscaprice]

I could watch this a million times. He seemed like so much fun to be around, would definitely be someone to lift your spirits with their energy ❤

[@stevenleslie8557]

It's hard to argue with him about being the King of Rock-'n'-roll.

[@Richbar-qe6bx]

He's the Queen of Rock n Roll.

[@jamminjohn]

If you have to self-proclaim, are you really?

[@Richbar-qe6bx]

@@jamminjohn LR said it himself.

[@leedza]

Chuck Berry

[@officialdanmurphy5534]

He had to self-proclaim, because no-one (of the time) did it for him. Still underrated, massively. Prince, JB, MJ, Aerosmith, Stones, The Scouse lot, Bruno Mars, Bowie, Huey Lewis... List goes on. None would've happened if it weren't for him.

[@Lisalynn7771]

I just loved his energy and styleee real baddd🥰

[@tiffanyhutchins6200]

He is fantastic!!!

[@Em.5.4.3.2.1]

I *never* tire of this. Joy.

[@mingmonk]

World wrestling federation owes little Richard estate some bread cause they totally lifted his swagger

[@torvlogs7390]

Haha “he can close the show but when I’m thru it’s gonna be closed anyhow” period 😂❤

[@hahaheeheehub]

I am elated that i came across this magical moment! I'm not religious...but I'd attend the Church of Little Richard, every "Saturday night when I've just been paid!"

[@carlawilliams5-26-27]

He's a 1 in a million

[@barneymaurirere9592]

I THINK 1 IN 10, TO 20 ,OR 50 ,TRILLION

[@resilience7810]

YESSS

[@yasminx16]

Once a generation talent/personality

[@bumblebee5059]

He was definitely ahead of his time living his truth and loving it

[@T.GardnerAkaMrBMG]

Living with what truth?

[@rjules1083]

He gave his life to The Lord so he really found out The Truth.

[@DRourk]

He was of his time, not ahead of it at all. You just misunderstand the time. Great man.

[@Bustaperizm]

​@@DRourk When people copy you decades later. They say you were ahead of his time. Maybe current people are just bland.

[@francoisbessing]

​@@Prime_Train_PerformThat's not accurate according to his book. He always liked men he just had lower libido as he got older and stopped having bisexual orgies...

[@tifu3274]

What a personality, the world needs more excitable entertainers like him

[@michaelkennedy6415]

He was crazy but also extremely intelligent.

[@martinry0427]

What a beautiful guy

[@vanityRoomest23]

I love his energy ❤❤❤

[@HowardT1879]

How can you not love this man rest in peace.

[@F8Lwrld]

i absolutely love this man, such a pretty personality. i can totally see why bowie idolized mr. richard

[@chrisholzhauer3698]

Too fabulous for words, Little Richard was something else.

[@sunnyhoney7665]

I loved thus man. He was so sincere and true oh and so hilarious 😂❤

[@cleopatra1633]

He really high here. Such a legend and good person. RIP Little Richard

[@mdecimal1753]

High?

[@LAkadian]

I can hear the cocaine. 😂

[@nenej12]

@@LAkadianit was probably good cocaine as well…this is a good high, mood is stable just hype

[@mdooms76]

This interview is so funny. The interviewer is being so dry and condescending in parts. But, he answers every question with a straight face and confidence. We are God's bouquet..love that! His Chuck Berry rant had me LMBO!!!! Reminds me of Ali.

[@petergedd9330]

No I dont think he was condescending at all, neither did Little Richard, he was just being himself, I thought he allowed Little Richard to express himself.

[@cleopatra1633]

Was not condescending at all, you see things that are not there

[@joseph9531]

Yes, the Ali reminder. I thought the same thing😅

[@brandygee9954]

Right!😂

[@A-rl4or]

I can just picture this guy singing and dancing around while washing dishes

[@danielwagner5596]

I wish I had his optimism.

[@francoisbessing]

"I let it all hang out" this man was so powerful and ahead of his time

[@msyokoming6970]

Lmao at 5:46 , God bless yo hearttt when he kept trying to play. I’m enormous noww!

[@johnjamescapel3489]

God bless little richard. Great music, mega personality. Fantastic guy, much respect, and will alwys listen to his tunes

[@DanottiTR]

what a colorful personality rest in peace...

[@TNGURL08]

This is an amazing interview! Love it! ❤️

[@PassportBrosAndBlondeManWeaves]

Lmao he said a man dropped his coffee 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💀

[@brookegoslin]

Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwww such a spiritual lovely person I love him so much !

[@Multifacted_Brotha]

Little Richard was so eccentric and unique.... 4:33 - His opera voice 😂😂😂

[@maggotbrain7499]

He was so funny. The enterviewer stood there like a bag of bs. Till today many people don't understand this man. He is still too hip for the indoctrinated public.

[@athenamendenhall2651]

Little Richard! An amazing act, even when he wasn’t performing. The host could barely get a word in! 😂😂

[@ryanmcbride4619]

I would hang out with him all day

[@May-hem]

Larger than life 🥰

[@wadadli2manuk]

Lady Blue you having a laugh! Elvis didn't originate anything. Obviously if you look at the social times of American Jim Crow and segregation Elvis the imitator would have been far more socially hygienic and marketable for the Dominant anglo pre civil rights America the Little Richard. Paul Mc Cartney the Beatles Prince and all tbe others "took" from Little Richard not Elvis. Little Richard was indeed the Architect of Rock and Roll and obvious given the history of racism in America where the "code" was for a black person to be subservient and subordinate to white of course people would find him "to full of himself" for their liking. No Little Richard was the original and not the imitator. He didn't copy anyone whereas Elvis did.

[@sahbabii4332]

I wish they didn’t robbed him like that and treated him so unfair ….he’s truly a legend with a wonderful soul and he Love God!!!

[@keyzbeatific4660]

He is absolutely adorable

[@SadeWithTheReceipts]

@4:33 I heard a tad bit of Mahalia Jackson.

[@dundergod]

The King has spoken! God bless him!

[@famicomplicated]

These guys totally went out “for a drink” after this interview was over 😜

[@MouftahNana]

This Man is the Best Artiste that America has produced he was a natural genius alrounder RIP great Giant little Richard ❤❤❤

[@diegoportillo21]

Little Richard: You didnt know that? Interviewer: no I did n... Little Richard: "AHHHHHHHHHHH"

[@candicescoby6633]

The original “mr put it on”

[@calebmalpin6926]

A real meeting of the mind. Little Richard turned it into a Genius interview out of boredom.

[@ThisIsJ.Nicole]

I love him so much.

[@vmurt]

I just love Little Richard ..... so ahead of his time.

[@maggotbrain7499]

The many flamboyants of today time do not really got this inspiration to break free. The battle is lost. If LR was young in this time, he was terminated in no time. It was an other time back then. Things where possible. It was good he came in that time, who knows what we would be now.

[@Youknowmeozone]

God bless little Richard . Truly was special