REVIEW: Helix – 50: The Best Of (2025 LP + CD set)

HELIX – 50: The Best Of (2025 Crown X CD/LP)

In 2024, Helix celebrated their 50th anniversary as a band.  In 2025, they marked it with a new compilation album, at least their 11th to date.  Much like the legendary Rush, they went with a simple title for this milestone:  Helix 50.

This was a frustrating set to finally buy.  All I wanted was the CD, which has three extra tracks on top of what the vinyl has.  I don’t know if the CD was ever available separately but I never found one.  Then I waited and waited for the CD/LP combo set to show up at one of my preferred retailers and it never did.  I decided to order it from the Helix store with some Christmas money, and it took a month to arrive.  Weirdly, it was “in stock” when I ordered it, but when I emailed to ask about my order after almost a month, I was told they were awaiting more signed stock.  Then, it arrived three days later at my house.  Brian Vollmer’s autograph is in silver pen on top.  (Gold pen would have looked amazing!)

This CD/LP combo of Helix 50 has a gorgeous looking record inside, but is bare-bones packaging-wise.  The set came with a Helix guitar pick and a turntable mat, but lacks the booklet and liner notes that a 50th anniversary compilation deserves.  (I’m always available to write guest liner notes, boys!)  It comes housed in a gatefold sleeve, with the CD tucked inside the front cover.  There are roughly 45 monochromatic photos in the inner sleeve, celebrating the classic era of the band.  The album itself consists of 11 tracks, plus three bonus from the 1993 It’s A Business Doing Pleasure album.  (The first of several mistakes on the liner notes:  the songs are credited to ‘It’s A Pleasure Doing Business (1993)’, but that re-issued title actually came out in 2024, while the original It’s A Business Doing Pleasure was 1993.)  Of the songs, here is how they break down:

  • Seven are re-recordings of classic hits from the EMI years 1983-1987.  Two of these are unplugged re-recordings.  Only “Rock You” is new.
  • One track is from 1990’s Back For Another Taste unaltered.
  • Another track is a single mix from Back For Another Taste, previously released on other compilations.
  • One song is from 2009’s Vagabond Bones, unaltered.
  • Four are from 1993’s It’s A Business Doing Pleasure.
  • One is a “Radio Remix” of 2025’s download-only single “Stand Up”.  (At least we think so – on the back cover it says “Radio Remix”, but in a misprint, on the label it simply says “Remastered”, not “Remix”.)

In some more mis-prints, on the back cover “Heavy Metal Love”, “Deep Cuts the Knife”, “Wild in the Streets” “Make Me Do Anything You Want”, “Dream On” and “The Kids Are All Shakin'” are listed as “2025” versions, but these appear to be the previously released 2006, 2010 and 2011 recordings.  Only “Rock You” appears to be a new 2025 version.  The other versions were only “remastered” in 2025.  Some of the remasters leave something to be desired.  “Good to the Last Drop” sounds blunted compared to other offerings of it.

According to the internet, “Rock You” includes three special guests: Phil X (Bon Jovi) on guitar, Todd Kerns (Slash) on guitar and Brent Fitz (Slash) on drums.  In a tragic omission, none of this information is included in the Helix 50 package.  The only way you’d know is by Googling it.

The acoustic songs have been released before.  Of these re-recordings, it is the power ballad “Deep Cuts The Knife” that packs the most punch.  They went to great effort to replicate the keyboards and backing vocals of the original.  The songs also stay faithful to the original Doerner/Hackman solos.  This acoustic version of “(Make You Do) Anything You Want” is breezy and lighter, and Brian Vollmer absolutely nails everything about the vocals.  It’s a different, slightly softer take on the old classic.  It must also be pointed out that bassist Daryl Gray is an articulate musician with chops, who always finds the right notes.  An under-appreciated bassist.

The remix of “Stand Up” is the first physical release of this standalone download-only single.  The new mix sounds muffled compared to the 2024 version, which is still unreleased on CD or vinyl.  It’s a good song with blazing guitars and a melodic chorus.

Standouts include “The Animal Inside” from Vagabond Bones, which snarls out of the gates.  The acoustic numbers offer subtlety, but there are too many soft moments that don’t really reflect the full gestault of 50 years of Helix.

There are no songs representing the legendary first two albums (Breaking Loose and White Lace & Black Leather) which really takes the bite out of the Helix 50 concept.  “Billy Oxygen” would have been more than welcome.  Only two songs come from the last 30 years of the band, a period in which Helix released plenty of great unrepresented albums and singles.  Notably missing from this period:  Standalone download singles “Brother From A Different Mother” and “Not My Circus, Not My Clowns” which should have been included as bonus tracks.  As of 2025, there is no physical release with those two songs.  Helix 50 easily could have been a double!

One final mis-print:  “The Kids Are All Shakin’ Unplugged (2025 Unplugged)”.  Not only is it actually the 2010 version, but “Unplugged” is printed twice.  Not quite a misprint, but it is weird that guest players Lee Aaron and Kim Mitchell are not credited on the back cover.  (A booklet with credits would fix this issue.)

The classy cover art, with the Helix 50 logo and sparks, is perfect to represent this golden anniversary.  The track listing offers less value to the fans who have been here for 50 years.  The band is limited by what versions of what songs they have access to, and vinyl is limited by run time, but the CD has room for at least five more songs.  Had the full length of the disc been utilized, a more well-rounded representation of the last 50 years of Helix could have been realized.  Ultimately, Helix 50 will please most casual fans who don’t have any Helix on vinyl (which is stunningly gorgeous in black and gold), but leaves a taste of disappointment for those of us who have been here the whole time.

3/5 stars

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 29: A Matter of Life and Death with Uncle Meat

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 29: A Matter of Life and Death

With special guest Uncle Meat

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK episode 137

“I love work. I can sit and watch it for hours.” – Nicko McBrain

Our longest episode of the entire series, A Matter of Life and Death is a special album in the Maiden arsenal.  Bringing back one of Maiden’s most popular lyrical topics, the album largely focused on warfare, with a sideline into religion and social commentary.  There might even be an original fictional tale or two here, sprinkled in with the cold historical reality.  A Matter of Life and Death is a high water mark, we will argue, and hope you’ll listen to what we have to say.

Original Grab A Stack of Rock alumnus Uncle Meat returns for an album that he picked, because he was fortunate enough to see this tour.  That will become important later on.  Along with Mike and Harrison, each of the 10 new songs are broken down musicially and lyrically, with historical and personal context added for colour.  An album laden with highlights, we take our time to appreciate the minor details.

We’re only just getting started:  This album has a whopping 11 assorted bonus tracks and B-sides to discuss, plus a vital bonus DVD.  The extra tracks come from many formats:  A magazine CD tribute album to Deep Purple’s Machine Head, a DVD single, several CD singles, a 7″ and 10″ vinyl, just to get all the tracks.  There is also an additional promo CD single to mention, and an exclusive live track that you can’t get anymore because it was a download-only.  Bummer.

When we’re done all that, and have discussed the included documentary DVD in detail, we move on to the tour(s).  And oh, what they did nearly tore fandom apart.  As illustrated on Mike’s bootleg CD, Revenge Is Living In The Past, Maiden played all 10 album tracks in sequence before getting to a smattering of classic hits (including of course “Fear of the Dark”).  Uncle Meat was there when it went down in Toronto, and not knowing what we was in for, he describes his immediate impressions.  As a group, we tackle the tour’s historic importance, and the fallout that came next.  The next time around, Maiden had cut the 10 songs down to just five, and added more classics back into the set.

This 1 hour 38 minute episode includes the last musical B-sides or bonus tracks we’ll get from Maiden, save one RSD picture disc we’ll discuss later on.  The bonus tracks are a wonderful, confounding collection to complete.  We hope you enjoy the level of detail we went into for this episode.  We felt the album deserved nothing less.

 

Friday February 13 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T., 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube.

 

 

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

 

VIDEO: Francis Buchholz (Scorpions) Tribute (1954-2026) by Cretin Classics

My good buddy Davey Cretin from Noo Yawk has done a wonderful tribute video to the late Francis Buchholz, long time bassist for the legendary Scorpions. There was a lot of info here that I did not know about Francis, such as his post-Scorpions output. Davey also relays his experience of seeing Francis live twice with Scorpions, including the 1988 Monsters of Rock festival.

I was pleased to have provided some info for Davey from my collection of MEAT Magazines from the 90s.

Check it out and rest in peace Francis Buchholz.

#1233: Mötley Imposter – Inside Scoop!

A sequel to Record Store Tales #978:  Mötley Imposter

RECORD STORE TALES #1233: Mötley Imposter – Inside Scoop!

On December 12, 2025 5:54 pm, I received the email that could shake the very foundations of Motley Crue.

I jest, of course.  I debated whether to post this or not, but ultimately decided to release it to the public.  I have removed the sender’s name for privacy, but I have not edited their text in any way.

This follows up an article I wrote in 2022 called “Mötley Imposter”.  It is the story of Matthew Trippe,who claimed to have replaced Nikki Sixx in Motley Crue at one point in the mid-80s.  Though it follows that story, the email I received is about four different bass players, not Trippe!

According to Trippe’s tale, he was hired to “be” the new Nikki, but was fired when the “real” Nikki returned to the band.  The year was 1988 and Trippe (reported in some articles as Matthew Von Trippe, getting his middle name John wrong) was featured in an issue of Kerrang.  Matthew’s claim was that the real Sixx had a dibilitating car accident in 1982, and so a lookalike (Trippe) was hired to play bass and write music with the band, with no one in the audience being any the wiser. Trippe had tattoos similar to Nikki, and dyed his hair black.  The real Nikki Sixx was having his own issues, but being replaced in the Crue was not one of them.  Kerrang broke the story in March of ’88, with lawsuits a-flyin’.  Trippe wanted compensation for what he claimed were two or three years in Motley Crue.

The lawsuits went nowhere because there was only ever one real Nikki Sixx, but the story has gone on to have a life of its own.  Trippe did go down in history as the subject of a Motley Crue song called “Say Yeah”, which is better than he probably deserved.  We covered the story on YouTube with Canadian author Brent Jensen, but that was not the last I heard about Matthew John Trippe.

The unedited email I received is below.  Apparently the real Nikki Sixx died in 1981 and was replaced by four other bassists in succession.  The current Nikki started in 1987.   Dig in below…and try not to think too hard!

hello Mike, im emailing you in regards about NIKKI SIXX, The Sixx in Motley Crue today since 1987 -present is not the original Nikki Sixx, the original sixx was Killed in a barfight in 1981, in los angeles , He was replaced by a guy named Pat Searle or sears, who isnt a good bass player but a poser. then Pat had a car accident in 1983 after the US Festival , he was replaced by other understudies which was 3 others , the first 2 of them was from Blackie Lawless previous bands SISTER AND CIRCUS CIRCUS, One is a guitar player named Randy Schatz & A bass player named Joey Palermo , they both have been friends with motley crue since the early days and the other guy is from Vince Neils former band rock candy ,he was the bass player whos tall and skinny and looks like a rock star before the 80s glam look..the guy from Rock Candy definitely was in motley crue as nikki sixx i have photos to prove it.. I dont know his name and his name isnt Joe Marks because Joe Marks has been accounted for in recent years.. the others are ghosts.the bass player from vinces former band rock candy is on google images ..he married Brandy Brandt,see his pictures without make up .,hes also in the Don”t go away mad video” hes the Sixx with the pony tail walking with tommy and mick. im not trying to dog nikki sixx or expose there secrets but the truth must come out sometime..matthew trippe was not in motley crue..he was an obsessed fan with mental issues who kind of stalked the band on tour during those days.,he did get some things right about this present nikki sixx has blue eyes not green..ive seen nikki sixx with green eyes and black or brown eyes in color pictures and it was not nikki sixx. i hope this information helps..None really cares about this information anyway..but is just food for thought. i also have pictures of these guys before motley and during motley . They all got let go becuase the Sixx we see today got stated back in the band in the late early or late 90s to play live because he sucked at playing bass and couldnt keep his time. i hope this helps..and the all probably signed NDAs too. im sure they didnt make alot of money playing that role of nikki sixx..

 

As for Trippe, who died in 2014, he never came clean about his ruse.  He did go down in history as the subject of a Motley Crue song called “Say Yeah”, which is better than he probably deserved!

Grab A Stack of Rock theme video – Updated with Harper, Oscar Award, Robert Lawson & Darcyska

Music & vocals by Tee Bone, remix and guitar solo by Tim Durling.  Writting by M Ladano, J Ladano, T Erickson

Not including myself, 53 people have been on Grab A Stack of Rock to date since its debut on October 28 2022.

Cool things still to come.  More interviews lined up in 2026, and 50 Years of Iron Maiden rolls on.  We have two NEW series that we have started recruiting guests for, and many more surprises lined up.   Because the song is now over two minutes long, we are using it as our outro video instead of intro.  It will debut on the February 20 episode of Grab A Stack of Rock – Top 20 Queensryche songs!

Stick around!

 

  1. Blaze Bayley
  2. Harrison Kopp
  3. Mike Ladano
  4. Eric “Uncle Meat” Litwiller
  5. Aaron KMA
  6. Tim Durling
  7. Rob Daniels
  8. John T Snow
  9. Marco D’Auria
  10. Grant Arthur
  11. Brian Richards
  12. MarriedandHeels
  13. Kevin Simister
  14. Dr. Kathryn
  15. Jen Ladano
  16. Grace Scheele
  17. Jex Russell
  18. Spencer “Spenny” Rice
  19. Nurse Kat
  20. Peter Kerr
  21. John Clauser
  22. Erik Woods
  23. Jason Drury
  24. Pierre-Luc Allard
  25. Len Labelle
  26. Reed Little
  27. Metal Roger
  28. John the Music Nut
  29. Mike Slayen
  30. Pete Jones
  31. Todd Evans
  32. James Kalyn
  33. Angie Moon
  34. Ryan Gavalier
  35. Chris Preston
  36. Dan Chartrand
  37. Glen “Archie” Gamble
  38. bicyclelegs
  39. Davey Cretin
  40. Melissa Nee
  41. Sidney Cini A
  42. shley Geisler
  43. Martin Popoff
  44. Bert Blotto
  45. F Lee Harvey Blotto
  46. Bowtie Blotto
  47. Broadway Blotto
  48. Jake Not From State Farm
  49. Bob Cesca (Camp Chaos)
  50. Lana Teramae
  51. Robert Lawson
  52. Harper (with Oscar)
  53. D’Arcy Briggs
  54. and (briefly) Max the Axe

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Reissued Singles with New B-Sides 2002-2005

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Reissued Singles with New B-Sides 2002-2005

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode

This 22 minute bonus episode finally wraps up some of the loose ends that we skipped over in prior instalments.  We wanted to group these special singles into one episode.

In 2002, Maiden reissued “Run to the Hills” to support a special fundraising gig for the Clive Burr MS Trust Fund.  The first CD single included songs from Beast Over Hammersmith, also released in 2002 on Eddie’s Archive.  This single also supported the forthcoming Rock In Rio album.  A second CD included two tracks from Reading 1982.  Both singles included Camp Chaos videos later released on Visions of the Beast.  “Total Eclipse” is a previously unreleased live version.

In 2005, to support The Early Years DVD, Maiden reissued “The Number of the Beast” on CD and vinyl.  There were new B-sides here as well, from the Clive Burr support gig at Brixton ’02.   The single also included a Camp Chaos video, and a live video from Brixton.

Finally in 2005, supporting Death on the Road, “The Trooper” was reissued on multiple formats.  A highly coveted download-only version of “The Trooper” from Iceland in 2005 remains one of Maiden’s most highly sought rarities, simply because it had no physical release and is no longer for sale on their website.  The singles on various formats included a slew of early tracks from the Eddie Rips Up The World Tour.  Once again the CD version included videos, but no Camp Chaos this time.

Harrison and Mike will go through all the versions of all the singles, in detail tonight.  That wraps up all the loose ends before we get into the next studio album, A Matter of Life and Death.  Don’t miss this special, crucial part of Maiden history.

Friday February 6 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T., 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube.

 

 

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

 

Dr. Kathryn Ladano accepts Distinguished Alumni Service Award from Conrad Grebel University

Dr. Kathryn received this award on Wednesday February 4 in front of a crowd of students who were spellbound by her speech.  This will be interesting to anyone who is curious about music, improvisation, and education.  Did you know that Dr. Kathryn struggled to find a school who were willing to support her musical instrument of choice, the bass clarinet?  Snobby classical musicians felt the bass clarinet, invented in the 1800s, was too “new” an instrument.  Bach never wrote for bass clarinet, for example.  Hear about the struggle and the tenacity that it takes to follow your musical dreams in a world that doesn’t like to accept new things.  This is a fascinating talk.  Please enjoy.

Off The Charts: Our Musical Tribute to Catherine O’Hara

It was with great sadness last week that we learned of the passing of Canadian icon Catherine O’Hara.  From first seeing her on SCTV as Lola Heatherton and many more great characters, through to Home Alone, Beetlejuice, all of the Christopher Guest films, and Schitt’s Creek, Catherine was part of our lives through every stage.

Please join Dan Chartrand and myself, on OfftheCharts, for our musical tribute to this Canadian treasure.  She will be terribly missed by fans and friends alike.

 

 

REVIEW/VIDEO: Rick Hughes – Redemption (Japanese CD) with Dan @OfftheCharts

Please join Dan from OfftheCharts and I for this review and unboxing!

RICK HUGHES – Redemption (2025 Deko/Rubicon Japanese import)

Rick Hughes of Sword fame is back with some of his most personal music to date.  In short:  it rocks!

Highlights:

  • “Dead End Road”
  • “The Real Me”
  • “Will of the Gun”
  • “Someday”

The Who cover “The Real Me” features Ozzy’s Speak of the Devil band!  Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Whitesnake), Tommy Aldridge (Whitesnake) and Brad Gillis (Night Ranger).  This smashing version destroys other cover versions you know.  Meanwhile, “Someday” is not really a cover of an Aldo Nova song.  It is a Rick song he has reclaimed as his own.

There are more guests such as Lee Aaron and Robby Krieger (the Doors), and not one weak song in the batch of rockers, ballads, and soulful swingers.

Check out the video below, where Rick explains the origins of “Someday” while we take a good look at the Japanese CD and compare to the domestic vinyl.

4/5 stars

🅻🅸🆅🅴: Collecting Quirks of the Music Nerds with Tim Durling

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man

Special 🅻🅸🆅🅴 Episode featuring guest Tim Durling

Episode 136: Collecting Quirks of the Music Nerds

On tonight’s special episode of Grab A Stack of Rock, we welcome back special guest Tim Durling, for a controversial topic:  collecting!  Every collector has different “needs” and goals.  For example, Harrison and I seek a physical copy of every officially released song, and versions of songs, by the bands we collect.  Tim has different goals in mind.  On deck for tonight’s discussion:

  • Controvery! Tim doesn’t open vinyl!
  • Tim and Mike have formats they can’t play!
  • What we buy, what we don’t and why?
  • CD/DVD/Bluray combo packages – where do we file them?
  • KISS Solo Albums – What order?
  • Box Sets – how do we file those?
  • Filing “Alice” under “A”?
  • Filing side projects under main bands?
  • Why Mike didn’t like having two copies of any one thing.
  • What is “complete” to us?
  • Do we collect air?  And why not?
  • Why Mike will not share files.
  • Mad About Purchases.
  • At what point do I decide I’m “done” collection any band?

This is sure to be a wild discussion.  Don’t miss it tonight!

Friday January 30 at  7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter.