Grab a Stack of Rock / LeBrain Train

Def Leppard CD Rarities with @RockTheseTweets and @2Loud2OldMusic

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 68: Def Leppard CD Rarities with @RockTheseTweets and @2Loud2OldMusic

This has been a meeting long in the making.  For years, I have admired the music collection of Chris from MyRockAndRollHeaven on Twitter.  In particular, Chris is a Def Leppard collector, and I believe his collection is one of the best in the world.

Finally the stars have aligned, and we have Chris tonight on Grab A Stack of Rock.  Since his collection is so massive, we decided to narrow it down to rare Def Leppard on CD.  Singles, Japanese imports, EPs and more will be shown tonight.  Joining us as co-host will be fellow fan and collector John Snow from 2Loud2OldMusic!  He is currently in the midst of a Def Leppard review series, so this lines up perfect.

What will we see tonight?  The rarest of the rare Leppard on CD.  Don’t miss it.

 

Friday August 23 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

Rock Daydream Nation: The Best Australian Rock Songs of the 1980s? Featuring Harrison Kopp (VIDEO)

The Mad Metal Man has spread his wings!  I am proud to present below, Harrison’s first appearance on a show that isn’t our own!

Harrison wanted to do an Australia-centric topic with Peter Kerr for some time.  Peter has been wanting to put together an all-Australia panel.  This week on Rock Daydream Nation, that’s exactly what we got!  With Peter Wicks, and Bicyclelegs himself.

It was enjoyable for me to hear about familiar Australian bands, and those I’d never heard of before.  Harrison stirred the pot with some questions and comments, like a good lad!  (Do the Bee Gees count as an Australian band?)  Really proud of the “resident contrarian” Mad Metal Man.  Check out the show!

Tim’s Vinyl Confessions: Ep. 551: Deep Purple (=1 review) [VIDEO]

Deep Purple albums take time to absorb, especially in the current “Ezrin era”.  The records are not lazy with simple songs (puns intended)!  Tim and I attempted to break down the new album =1, track by track.  We tended to agree on a lot of the songs.

What’s with the artwork?  Is Simon a new Blackmore?  What the heck is Ian Gillan singing about?  Find out in this excellent episode of Tim’s Vinyl Confessions, out today.

My written review of the album will follow tomorrow morning, with the deluxe edition live discs getting the written review treatment in the coming weeks.

VIDEO: Unboxing Music and Lego from Perth, Australia!

They don’t call Harrison the Mad Metal Man for nothin’.  It must be because he keeps sending me all these amazing parcels!

  1. Unboxing from Harrison – Feb 2023
  2. Unboxing from Harrison – Feb 2024

And now, Harrison has sent me a third parcel, with heavy metal, soundtracks, Lego and more.

Harrison has acquired some “upgrades” to some albums it seems, and has passed his original copies on to me.  These are bands I have never checked out before, so let’s see if Harrison can win me over.  There were also some cool soundtrack-y CDs for Robert Daniels (Visions In Sound) and, of course, some Lego.  The saga of the Marvel Lego blindboxes continues!

Of note:  I popped some bubble wrap for ya.

Please check out the video, like and subscribe!

Was 1984 the best year ever for rock music? Peter Kerr, Mike Ladano & viewers list off some great tunes

Peter Kerr was back with a vengeance, and some great songs!  Representing Rock Daydream Nation, Peter listed off a whole lot of great songs from the year 1984, ranging from rock to metal to pop rock.  He also listed the greatest movies he saw from that year, with a handful of video games and TV shows.  I couldn’t resist mentioning a toyline/cartoon/comic book that transformed our young lives that year.

We had awesome guest lists from the Mad Metal Man (who is sick and could not attend) and Uncle Meat.  In the comments, Pete Jones, Henry Wright, Johnny Metal, Ash Geisler, and others listed off some great tunes.  Ash had about 30!  I tried to put all the comments on the screen.

There were some albums and artists to kept coming up over and over again.  Whitesnake, Metallica, Mercyful Fate, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and many more were well represented on this show.

This was a wonderful hour-plus and I hope you enjoy watching it on Youtube if you missed it live!

Top 10 Rock Songs from the year 1984! With Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation on Grab A Stack of Rock

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 67: Top 10 Rock Songs from the year 1984 with Peter Kerr

We are back!  Following three weeks of chilling at the cottage, Grab A Stack of Rock returns with a roar, and a familiar face!

Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation suggested this topic for his return to the show.  1984 was the year I got into rock music.  That coincided with MuchMusic’s premier in Canada.  All of a sudden, there were all these videos!  Kiss, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Helix…and I was there with my VCR, recording everything.  For me personally, this will be a list of nostalgia…but not entirely.  After all, it was Peter who got me into Prince in 2023.  It was Tim Durling and John the Music Nut who got me buying Y&T albums recently.  It remains to be see what will make my final list, because 1984 was a completely epic year for rock music.

Peter Kerr was last on the show back in May when we unboxed the new Arkells album.  An album on which they covered “Dancing in the Dark” by Springsteen…a song released in 1984.  (It’s like poetry; it rhymes!)  Who knows what will be picked?

If you join the show from the start, you will also catch some unboxings.  Don’t miss this show, live, as we always respond to your comments!

Friday August 16 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

Tim’s Vinyl Confessions: Ep. 548: Mr. Big (Ten review) [VIDEO]

Today on Tim’s Vinyl Confessions, we deep dive into the new (final?) Mr. Big album called Ten.  Shockingly, it’s their tenth studio album.  I know, right?  It’s also a few firsts:  the first album with no songwriting from bassist Billy Sheehan, and debut Mr. Big album for new drummer Nick D’Virgilio.  It has been eight long years since their last album, Defying Gravity, which wasn’t bad at all.  Did they top it?  Did they go out on a good note?

My written review will go up tomorrow.

FAITH NO MORE: A Career Retrospective on Grant’s Rock Warehaus [VIDEO]

One of my favourite bands, going back 34 years this summer, is Faith No More. The San Fransisco band hit it back in the summer of 1990 with “Epic”, but they had been plying the rock waters for years before, including a brief stint with Courtney Love on lead vocals. It was the acquisition in 1988 of Mr. Bungle singer Mike Patton (replacing Chuck Mosely) that was the final ingredient needed to push them over the top. Even though they are undoubtedly one of the weirdest rock bands to hit the Top Ten, they pre-dated the grunge era with their funky bass, rapped lyrics, and soaring choruses.

Grant Arthur and I covered the whole shebang, including a triumphant return with the reunion album Sol Invictus.  What is it?  It’s a damn great episode of Grant’s Rock Warehaus.  Give it a watch below!

A Friday Hang with Johnny Metal & Mike Ladano – Classical Music, Quiet Riot, Lego Jazz, Movie Props and more!

Thank you to John Clauser of My Music Corner for joining me for an impromptu Friday afternoon!  I wanted to finish showing off my birthday hauls, because there was some cool stuff still to be seen.  Possibly the coolest of them was a Star Trek:  Strange New Worlds plaque made by the propmaster on that show and purchased directly from him.  I also received a replica lamp from the Star Wars series Andor, and a Tchaikovsky CD.  This led to an informative back-and-forth about classical music in the comments, led by Pete Jones.

John Clauser brought with him some personal stories and rare copies of his own music.  One is an album that he played some guitar on, one is an album of his own making, and another is a live DVD recorded at a coffee house!  He also has a demo tape of his early W.A.S.P.-influenced solo music.

Quiet Riot was an artist that John spotlighted, with a bonus Randy Rhoads bootleg.  He also brought a double live Accept — a prelude to his next big deep dive series on My Music Corner!

The final thing I had to show off was my Lego Jazz quartet, which ironically, Aaron received for his birthday a few days ago.

Thanks to everyone for the lively comments.  This is why I love going live.  See you next time!

Surprise Friday Stream – Johnny Metal & Cool Music

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 66:  Surprise Friday Stream with John Clauser

SURPRISE!  John Clauser from My Music Corner and I will be live at 3:00 PM this afternoon.  That’s just three hours from this posting!

John & felt like being social this Friday, so come one and all and join the conversation.  I have some new things to show off, including birthday gifts and cottage treasures.  John will have some cool stuff to show as well.  Perhaps we’ll even discuss his Twisted Sister series and what is to come next at My Music Corner.

Join us today at 3:00 for a classic cottage afternoon show.  These are always a blast.  Welcome to the cottage John!

Friday July 26 at 3:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 4:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!