Grab a Stack of Rock / LeBrain Train

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Appreciating John Williams with Robert Daniels

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

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Episode

Episode 158: Appreciating John Williams with Robert Daniels

It is time.  At long last, this episode is finally happening!  And what a monumental task it is.

John Towner Williams:  27 Grammy Awards, 5 Academy Awards, 7 BAFTA Awards, 3 Emmy Awards and 4 Golden Globe Awards.   Also an honorary Knighthood.  Everyone with access to media has heard John Williams’ music at some point in their lives, on TV, the movies or radio.  How do we tackle this man’s career in just an hour?

Answer:  We call up Rob Daniels from Visions In Sound!

A lifelong fan who has examined the music of Williams on his show for over 25 years, Rob is the man when it comes to film scores.  Tonight we’ll look at our CD collections (and a cassette), and appreciate the best of the very best:  John Williams!

 

Click above for the link to our streams.

Friday August 28 at 7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Where Is Eddie? Book Review

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Where Is Eddie? Book Review

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode

Did you ever have a Where’s Waldo book when you were growing up?  Or, perhaps you knew a niece or nephew who enjoyed finding the bespectacled Waldo on a joyfully printed page full of activity?  Here at Grab A Stack of Rock, we are no strangers to these illustrated search books.   Now you can get an Iron Maiden version:  Where Is Eddie? by Fantoons.

Featuring artwork interpreted from several key Iron Maiden albums and singles, your task is to find Eddie in each.  There are also numerous “easter eggs” to find on each page, with Maiden references deep and obscure.  Can you even find the band members?  It’s not that hard, but it sure is fun.

As Harrison continues his hiatus, this episode comes courtesy of Mike with Harrison’s understudy.  We hope you enjoy this little bonus episode!  When Harrison returns, the next episode will be #35  Legacy of the Beast.  Until then, have a look (not too spoiler-y) at this art book that goes from the 1980 debut up to The Book of Souls.  Up the Irons and see you again soon on 50 Years of Iron Maiden!

 

Episode available now, click image above!

 

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

 

🅻🅸🆅🅴 In Defense of Hair Metal with Dan Chartrand and Ashley Geisler

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

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Episode

Episode 157: In Defense of Hair Metal with Dan Chartrand and Ashley Geisler

Does any genre of music endure as much derision and mockery as hair metal?

For this episode we have Dan Chartrand, something of an expert on the genre, and Ashley Geisler gathered together to discuss and defend!

We’re going to look at it from multiple angles:  Influence, Image, Musicianship, Lyrics, and much more.  We won’t be backing down as Mike asks the hard questions about sexism and debauchery.

Once again, former Helix drummer Archie Gamble has brought commentary on three drummers that are important in their own ways to the hair metal scene.  Archie brings great insight and recognition.

As always we will have examples from our extensive collections to show you!  Don’t miss this one, live!

 

Friday August 121 at 7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

Tim’s Vinyl Confessions Ep. 851: TVC Succumbs to Angine de Poitrine

Today on TVC, Tim Durling finally gives in to the alien force that is Angine de Poitrine! Joining him is superfan Mike Ladano, and music archivist Robert Lawson who recently saw AdP in concert. Yow!

What is it about Angine de Poitrine?  At 333 years old (each), they have come to Earth to show us “Music 2”, the natural successor to “Music”.  Many have decried the gimmick:  whacky costumes, microtonal bass and guitar, loops and alien “vocals”.  Is that enough to make someone play the album on repeat at work?  Watch the episode and find out.

What we discovered is that all three of us have different levels of appreciation for Angine de Poitrine, but that there is something special and unique about this band.  It goes beyond the quirks.  Something about this bizarre music is catchy and contagious.  It scratches an itch you didn’t know you had.  Robert speaks of a concert vibe that he’d never witnessed before.  Even Rufus agrees!

I for one welcome our new alien overlords.

Later today on TVC!

 

🅻🅸🆅🅴 On Record: The April Wine Album Review with Tim Durling

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

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Episode

Episode 156: The April Wine Album Review with Tim Durling

Hot on the heels of his Fleetwood Mac and Night Ranger books, Tim is back!   This time it’s with an April Wine Album Review, and it’s a good one.  Durling tends to focus on artists that don’t already have books available.  If you’ve ever wanted to get into April Wine, this is the book and this is the show!

Unlike last time with Fleetwood Mac, Mike will be hosting while Harrison has the day off.  Cohosting, if schedules align, will be book contributor D’Arcy Briggs.

We also have, for the third week in a row, former Helix drummer Archie Gamble with a clip.  This time he’s going to tell us about Jerry Mercer’s legendary drum solo.

It’s the Sign of the Gypsy Queen, you don’t have to check All Over Town.  You can buy the book at your local Amazon.  You too can be a Roller, or a Hard Rock Kid, Tonite!  Check out the show as we quiz Mr. Durling on all things April Wine.

 

Friday August 14 at 7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

VIDEO: CRETIN CLASSICS: 2005’s Best Songs (Top Twelve)

I was honoured to be invited onto Cretin Classics, for my debut on Davey Cretin’s excellent channel.  I was joined by Davey, bicyclelegs, and John Alapick (formerly: the Music Nut).

Before we watch, I would like to address a former Grab A Stack of Rock cast member who accused me of making posts like this in order to “boast” about being on bigger channels.

While I am very proud to be on quality shows like Cretin Classics, this isn’t a boast.  I post these shows for two reasons.  One:  to promote the show for my friends who host them.  Two:  To keep track of all my appearances.  If I don’t blog them, I will forget over time what episodes I have done.  It’s that simple.

Cretin Classics has listing been Top 12 Songs from each year, and 2005 was an interesting one for me.  It was my final year at the Record Store and filled with music I had bad memories of.  Or not?  Is that true?  Let’s go through the list and find out!

Enjoy the show!

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Top Mötley Crüe Songs from Each Album with Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation

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

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Episode featuring Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation

Episode 155: Top Mötley Crüe Songs from Each Album

Approximately one year ago, Rock Daydream Nation did an epic episode on our favourite, and least favourite, Motley Crue song from every studio album.  Today, with “Hair Metal” all the rave again in 2026, Mike decided to revisit Motley Crue on Grab A Stack of Rock.  Again with Peter Kerr in tow, we’re going to go through our top songs from each studio album!  With a couple bonuses:

  1. Mike will be picking a completely different set of songs from the albums.
  2. Archie Gamble is back this week with his opinions on Tommy Lee and Randy Castillo, two of Motley’s best known drummers!
  3. Mike will also have his favourite song from all the B-sides, EPs and bonus tracks available!  He will also have his physical product ready to show for most of it!

This episode is for Ash.  Take care buddy!

 

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

 

 

 

Top 3 Albums – 1974 – Slogan’s Rock & Metal Extravaganza

I was honoured once again to be asked to join Slogan’s Rock and Metal Extravaganza for a show on one of my favourite years in rock: 1974.  The task was simple:  Just pick three albums and one favourite track from each.  Simple doesn’t always mean easy, but I did pick my three.  Check out the show featuring Sidney, Logan, and guests Alex Winter, Rand Kelly and William Toth.

My #1 pick was Hotter Than Hell by KISS and I spent some time discussing it.  If you’d like to just see that discussion about Hotter Than Hell, you can check out the clip below too.

Slogan’s do a long show with lots of guests which is one reason I don’t do them often as I get older.  Even in this episode I had to leave abruptly at the end.  They do a good show, with plenty of intelligent and passionate guests, and this is an episode I was proud to participate in.  Thanks guys!

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Top Female Rockers with Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation

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

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Episode featuring Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation

Episode 154:  Top Female Rockers with Peter Kerr from Rock Daydream Nation

Peter Kerr returns to Grab A Stack of Rock with a great topic we’ve never tackled before!  Who are our top female rockers?  The field is wide open with singers, guitarists, bassists, drummers and entire bands!  New bands, old bands, it doesn’t matter as long as they rock!

Viewers are familiar with certain artists Mike has featured on his channel, such as Lita Ford and Lee Aaron, but tonight he’ll prove his tastes are diverse even within the rock realm.  As for Peter?  Always expect surprises from the Rock Daydream Nation main man.  We will also have a guest list from author Michael LeFevre, the 80s Metal Man, who has been featuring female rockers on his blog, and some special clips from former Helix drummer Archie Gamble!  This show is packed!

We will be live tonight.  Be sure to join us and interact with the comments.  Looking forward to it!

Friday July 31 at  7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

 

 

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: McFarlane & NECA Eddies

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: McFarlane & NECA Eddies

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode

This episode is dedicated to Mike’s childhood best friend, Bob Schipper, who got him into Iron Maiden back in 1984.  Today is Bob’s birthday.  Happy birthday Bob!

Welcome back to 50 Years of Iron Maiden.  It has been two months to the day since our last episode.  Alas, Harrison is ill, but he did find a way to participate in this bonus episode while we await his return!

In this special episode, Mike takes a look at what we’re calling his “Large Eddie” collection of Iron Maiden figures!  While the collection itself is modest, the figures are not!  From the McFarlane and NECA lines, we take a close look at all the details of these highly collectible figures.  All still sealed to this day, and some are over 20 years old, which makes them officially “vintage”.  Others are more recent, but still highly desired by collectors.

Check out the details, accessories, packaging and Maiden references in this slick figure collection.

 

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist: