Inside Madonna’s Rise: Guitarist Paul Pesco on Demos, Tours, and Determination

Guitarist Paul Pesco joins Madonna Songbook host Giulio Mazzoleni to share his story of working with Madonna from her earliest days in music to their world tours together. Paul recalls Madonna’s 1979 audition for Patrick Hernandez, her rise from New York’s club scene, and his role in shaping early recordings like “Everybody,” “Aint No Big Deal,” “Burning Up,” and “Lucky Star.” He also performed with her on The Virgin Tour, Live Aid, and The Girlie Show, playing guitar on the “Erotica” album and songs like “Deeper and Deeper,” and “Why’s It SO Hard,”witnessing firsthand her drive and creative evolution. In this in-depth conversation, Paul reflects on collaborating with such a legendary artist and the shared perseverance and adaptability that defined both his and Madonna’s journeys. An interview with Paul Pesco is also available on the book Madonna Songbook : www.lnk.bio/MadonnaSongbook Chapters • 00:00 Introduction • 07:30 Meeting Madonna at her audition for Patrick Hernandez • 14:00 Playing on Ain’t No Bog Deal and Other Demos • 17:00 An Unknown Song: Social Butterfly • 22:30 recording Lucky Star and Burning Up • 30:00 Madonna’s Selfconfidence From the Beginning • 33:00 The Virgin Tour and Live Aid • 41:00 Collaborating on Erotica • 46:30 The Girlie Show Tour and Beyond • 50:00 Madonna As a Songwriter and Producer