Grab a Stack of Rock / LeBrain Train

The Contrarians Live: Great Album Covers from Bands We Despise

We’re back!  We had a couple weeks off for Christmas and New Year’s, but we’re back LIVE tonight to talk about some more album covers.

Today’s challenge comes again from the mind of Martin Popoff.  Pick 10 great album covers from bands we despise.  This was challenging in two respects.  First, do we really want to say we “despise” a band?  That’s a strong word, so we had to choose carefully.  Just because I don’t listen to a band doesn’t mean I despise them.  Second, I hate to say it, but many bands I hate have terrible covers.   It was hard finding 10 good ones.  But I did, so tune in tonight for some Contrarians fun with Martin, Grant, Peter, Jamie and myself.

This will be a controversial one.  It is already.  One of the covers I said was too crappy to include, was picked by Jamie.  (At least we both despise the same band.)  So we’ll see!

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Minimalist cover art
  2. Brown album covers
  3. Yellow album covers
  4. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  5. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  6. This Album Cover is Hell!
  7. Toys & Games
  8. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  9. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  10. They Swapped Covers!

Watch live and comment!  Martin always tries to address the comment section.

THE CONTRARIANS – Great Album Covers from Bands We Despise – Wed. January 8 – 7:00 PM EST

Lost Videos & Shorts – A Grab A Stack of Rock Special Friday Presentation!

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 84:  Lost Videos & Shorts – A Grab A Stack of Rock Special Friday Presentation!

While not a live episode, this special presentation was put together by yours truly, with me as your host through these forgotten and lost videos from years gone by.  I have been making videos for 36 years now, and this collection of mini-episodes run from 2013 to the present day.  These videos were made primarily for this blog, but also for other channels, my old show the LeBrain Train, and Grab A Stack of Rock.  Some of these individual clips would require lots of determined scrolling and searching to find otherwise, so I thought it would be nice to take a viewing of some favourites of mine, and add in some that are now new and exclusive.  It is certainly amusing to watch my look change, from bearded to clean and back to bearded and clean again.

New, previously unseen, and “lost” topics covered in this special episode:  Rare rock and metal CDs sent from friends, rare books and rock magazines, rock band branded playing cards, a discussion on iTunes, video reviews of rare CDs, a updated check-in at the HMV/Toys R Us store, my collection of M.E.A.T Magazines, and the very first video I made in 1989.  But that’s not all – stick around for Easter eggs.

I hope you can check it out tonight for this very special episode of Grab A Stack of Rock, assembled with care for your enjoyment.

Friday January 3 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

 

NEXT WEEK:

Grab A Stack of New Tunes! Ending 2024 in style with guests new and old

Harrison and I would like to thank our new guests Ashley Geisler, Melissa Nee, and Sidney from Slogan’s Rock & Metal Extravaganza, as well as returning guests Johnny Clauser and Todd Evans, for a rollicking good time on New Year’s Eve.

The concept was simple.  Each of us took turns going round, showing off an item we got recently over the holidays.

Sidney had a massive haul of Rock Candy CDs, and used metal bargains from The Beat Goes On.  He had a strong showing of Budgie remasters, and a diverse collection of bands.  Melissa had some cool Iron Maiden stuff, while Ash is collecting bootlegs and had several to show us.  Johnny Clauser brought some recent purchases, and Todd Evans scored well in the Neal Morse department.  As for Harrison and I, he had a cool Trust tin and something call ONXRT.  I decided to unveil my Van Halen For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge deluxe edition, with a short discussion.

We also started the show with the traditional Ask Harrison featuring Jex Russell.

It’s very possible the winner of the year 2024 was Judas Priest with the recent Rocka Rolla reissue.  Have a watch and see.

Because we did the live show mid-week this time, Friday’s show is a pre-recorded special episode.  Don’t miss it January 3!

New Year’s Eve Drop-In Show on Grab A Stack of Rock

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 83:  New Year’s Eve Drop-In Show

It has been a while since I’ve attempted a show like this, but it’s time to do something random and chaotic to end the year with a party.

  • Disclaimer #1:  I never make it to midnight.
  • Disclaimer #2:  I have no idea what will actually happen tonight.

Harrison and I need a break like this to blow off steam.  We’ve both been active on other channels, plus we have been preparing our massive Iron Maiden project for 2025.  We are ready to launch it in January.  But first, let’s have a party.

Tonight Harrison and I will be hosting some brand new guests:  Ash Geisler from Australia, plus Logan and Sidney from Slogan’s music channel.  There will be some returning guests and some random drop-ins.

If there is a theme tonight, it’s just showing off music we acquired over the holidays.  It should be a fun discussion on that front.

Bottoms up.  It’s gonna be a rock and roll party tonight…with a 52 year old host who will require a nap mid-day.

Message me if you need a link to join tonight.

Tuesday December 31 at 9:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 10:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

Tim’s Vinyl Confessions: 596: Christmas 2024 – The Gift Of Music

Wanna see what I got for Christmas in video form?  Check that out and a whole bunch of Tim’s Vinyl Confessions viewers’ gifts too.  The TVC episode below features the gift of music in the year 2024.  My segment is roughly 3:00 long.  Have a great new year everyone! Here is what Tim has to say below.

Earlier this week I had put out a request for viewers to film themselves showing off any music they got for Christmas this year, and folks did not disappoint! Thanks ‪@GoNorthDesign‬, ‪@2loud2oldmusic‬, ‪@darcyska‬, ‪@GrabAStackofRocK‬, ‪@Slogan8703‬, ‪@Thunderstruckzzz‬, ‪@rockandmetalinvasion‬ and ‪@MyMusicCorner‬ for sending in videos.

 

Rock Daydream Nation: Mötley Crüe – Best Song, Worst Song, Every Album! – with Peter Kerr, Melissa Nee, Joe B and Mike Ladano

Whether it’s a fun and easy episode, or a challenging deep dive, I always enjoy sitting in with Peter Kerr on Rock Daydream Nation. Peter has been on a roll lately with a great viral interview with former Motley Crue singer John Corabi.  Congrats Peter on that great chat!

In this episode, we break down the best song and worst song from every Motley Crue album.  Joining us were Joe B. and Melissa Nee, with whom we also tackled Theater of Pain.  They found this episode a challenge, as they were forced to listen to a lot of albums that might have been a big of a slog.  However we all did our duties!  As we go through the songs, you also get a sense of our album ranking too, though we didn’t do an official tally.  There was some consensus, a little disagreement, and overall a sense of relief to be finished this exercise!

And yes…once again, I sing on another person’s channel.  How long before I’m blacklisted for singing?  And swearing?  And quoting bad lyrics?

I also go on a massive rant regarding the Generation Swine album that makes for good TV.

Check out the show!

A Fun and Frivolous Top Five Albums of 2024 with Harrison, Tim Durling and surprise guest Uncle Meat

The best of 2024 in rock and pop was on showcase this week on Grab A Stack of Rock.  Tim Durling, Harrison Kopp and special surprise guest Uncle Meat brought their Top Fives and runners-up in this fun and action packed show.

What did you miss?  Well, shirtless Jex for one.  That one even scared off Peter Kerr, but did result in some pretty hilarious comments.

The comments section was lively, and if you want to catch Johnny Metal’s Top Five of 2024, his were in the comments section which I put on screen.  Meanwhile, there was some minimal repetition, and actually less than I expected.  Mr. Big, Deep Purple, Jon Anderson and Bruce Dickinson were among the artists who scored two hits on tonight’s lists.  There was plenty of love for other artists’ new albums such of Opeth, Paul Di’Anno, Blaze Bayley (of course) and Arkells.

We also took a look at three books that I enjoyed in 2024 – two of them by Mr. Durling!

A fun, passionate and laugh-filled 90 minutes of music appreciation awaits you below.

See you December 31 at 9:00 PM EST for a drop in New Years Eve party!

My list:

 

MR BIG – TEN

THE ARKELLS – Disco Loadout Vol 1

BRUCE DICKINSON – The Mandrake Project

JUDAS PRIEST – Invincible Shield

DEEP PURPLE – =1

 

Ranked: Top Five Albums of 2024 with Harrison and Tim Durling

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 82:  Ranked: Top Five Albums of 2024 with Harrison and Tim Durling

2024 was another fantastic year in music.  From new music from legacy bands, to great reissues and live albums, to new music by newer bands, we saw it and heard it all in 2024.

What were your Top Five Albums of 2024?  Leave them in the comments, or drop them in the live chat tonight, as Harrison, Tim and I talk Top Five Albums of 2024.  I am always personally limited by what I was able to buy and what I had to miss in a given year.  For example, last year I didn’t get Blame My Ex by the Beaches in time to make my list.  This year, unfortunately Blaze Bayley didn’t make it into my inventory in time, nor did the new live Ghost.  However, they may appear on other lists.

Join Tim, Harrison and myself tonight live at 7:00 PM EST to take part in the fun.  Spirits will be high, and I may be drinking alcohol.  We’ll just have to see what happens!  Remember to let us know your own Top Five in the comments section.

Let the fun begin!

Friday December 20 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

The Contrarians Live: They Swapped Covers! – Tonight at 7:00 PM EST!

Today’s challenge comes again from the mind of Martin Popoff.  Pick two bands – and swap their album covers!  For example, Martin went with Uriah Heep and XTC.   I chose two bands that are a little more similar.  This was by far the most challenging list to date.  We could do one way swaps, or two way swaps – I chose two ways, all the way.  I like a challenge.  It seemed do-able, so I went for it.

For those keeping track, this is my tenth week in a row on the Contrarians.  The subjects thus far have been:

Tune in tonight and comment!  Martin always tries to address the comment section.

THE CONTRARIANS – They Swapped Covers! – Wed. December 18 – 7:00 PM EST

Sad Wings of Destiny for Cross Purposes

  • Fairly obvious – the wings of the angel works for Sad Wings, and the angel on Sad Wings is holding the Judas Priest cross.

Black Sabbath for Angel of Retribution

  • The haunting woman on the Sabbath cover could be our “angel of retribution”.  Meanwhile, if that Priest angel had been on an album called Black Sabbath, I sure would think my doom was at hand.  His cross gesture with his arms works with the religious connotations of the word “Sabbath”.

Never Say Die for Hell Bent For Leather

  • The pilots outfits must have leather in them.  Meanwhile, the mask/face/helmet concept on Leather evokes a Never Say Die attitude.

Jugulator for Dehumanizer

  • Two robotic characters, who cares which is which?  The robotic reaper could be a Jugulator, and the Jugulator could be a Dehumanizer.  Who knows!

Paranoid for Stained Class

  • The sword in the head sure works for Paranoid!  Meanwhile, the sword guy is abstract enough that it could go with Stained Class just as well as a chrome head.

Technical Ecstasy for Turbo

  • Look at the turbo cover and tell me that’s not some technical ecstasy.  Meanwhile, the robots on the Sabbath cover could be turbo charged in a very 1970s way.

Hero Hero for Tyr

  • The barbarian on Hero Hero can surely represent The Battle of Tyr, from the Tyr album. He’s not a Viking, but close enough for heavy metal, right?  Meanwhile the Tyr cover is astract enough to be called Hero Hero, I guess.

Heaven and Hell for Point of Entry

  • Point of Entry – the sky is heaven, and that eternal strip of printer paper surely is hell!  Meanwhile, the angels are smoking – their point of entry to bad behaviour!

Forbidden for Ram It Down

  • The reaper on the cover of Forbidden needs to ram all those ghosts back down that hole!  Meanwhile, the fist pounding the Earth just screams the word FORBIDDEN to me!

Born Again for Redeemer of Souls

  • I’m really really stretching it here.  That baby definitely needs its soul redeemed.  And that redeemer of souls…if he’s redeeming souls, doesn’t that make them Born Again?

Tim’s Vinyl Confessions Ep. 591: Sammy Hagar Deep Dive #10 (I Never Said Goodbye)

Today at 4:00 PM EST, join Tim Durling and I as we talk about Sammy Hagar’s followup to VOA:  I Never Said Goodbye, or just plain Sammy Hagar.  It all depends on when you bought it, but Tim breaks the story down for you in this episode.

We go through the album track by track, take a look at a rare B-side, and evaluate our favourites and least favourites.  A lot of this album still sounds great, some less so.  Have a watch.  Here’s what Tim had to say about this episode:

Grab A Stack of Rock is back! Mike and I talk about Sammy’s final studio album in ten years. As usual, our opinions converge and also diverge.

Purchase RED ON BLACK: The Listener’s Guide to Sammy Hagar: https://www.amazon.com/RED-BLACK-List…