Videos

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 9: Powerslave with bicyclelegs talks music

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 9:  Powerslave

With bicyclelegs talks music

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #97

‘Twas a cool day in both Australia and Canada when three of us braved the scorching desert sands of Powerslave!  Joined by the legendary bicyclegs, Harrison and I took a deep dive into all eight tracks and all four B-sides.  Each time, our guest has picked a personal favourite album and bicyclelegs’ passion for Powerslave is obvious.  Join us for some deep insight into the songs, the lyrics and subject matter, the musicianship and of course the artwork!

As for physical product, we’ll see the vinyl and the new zoetrope vinyl too.  There are some special Reaction figures by Super 7 relevant to the album, and some singles too.

Taking the wheel at the end, Harrison will tell us of the tour, the setlists, and the songs that were played and how frequently.  Harrison is a musical tour encyclopedia, and this is always a highlight of the show.

Don’t miss this awesome episode, and be sure to like and subscribe if you haven’t already.

Friday April 4 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

Past episodes:

The Contrarians Live: Greetings from New York

From the mind of Martin:  Album covers with that “New York” vibe.  Picturing the city, or just putting out that New York vibe.  One of my picks went so far off the beaten track, you won’t believe it.  Off by about 2000 years.  Any guesses?

Tune in tonight!

THE CONTRARIANS – Greetings from New York – Wednesday April 2 –  7:00 PM EST

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Nicknamed Album Covers
  2. Minimalist cover art
  3. Brown album covers
  4. Yellow album covers
  5. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  6. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  7. This Album Cover is Hell!
  8. Toys & Games
  9. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  10. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  11. They Swapped Covers!
  12. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  13. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  14. It’s A Piece of Art!
  15. Compilation Kaos!
  16. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  17. Amped Up!
  18. Packaging Fails
  19. Where’s the Band?
  20. Slippery When Wet

 

 

April 1: A Jackass Prank List Show with Chris Thuss [Re-Blog]

I don’t really do prank posts anymore, so instead let’s look back upon April 1 2022, the infamous “Prank Show” on my old show, the LeBrain Train.  The episode was a tad long, as back in the pandemic days we were trying to entertain people who were stuck at home.  It didn’t do well for views, so hopefully someone will check it out today.

This aired on a Friday night, and it was an evening of hilarity, pranks and Jackass appreciation!  Thank you to long time pal Chris Thuss for joining!  For lists, we did our Top Five Jackass Pranks, from the movies and TV shows.

This episode had three main segments:

  1. Stories and reminiscing pranks (Chris is an expert).
  2. The original 2020 prank calls made to the LeBrain Train, which confused the shit out of everyone!
  3. The Jackass lists and appreciation!

As an added bonus, we received prank calls live on the show from some naughty viewer!  And we even had a special drop-in from a certain Meat Man.

 

 

RE-RUN: Steph Honde – An Artist You Should Know!

No show tonight, as Harrison and I are busy working on 50 Years of Iron Maiden!  So, instead, we bring this 2020 interview with former Paul Di’Anno guitarist Steph Honde. It originally aired on my old show the LeBrain Train.  This newly edited interview with the friendly French fireball will run tonight at 7:00 PM EST at the usual places.  My writeup is below.

Steph Honde is a talented singer/guitarist from France who has performed with Paul Di’Anno, Sun Road, Chris Holmes, Hollywood Monsters, Jim Crean, Now or Never, and as a solo artist. In this wide-spanning interview, we discuss his favourite Canadian artists such as Max Webster, Wireless, VoiVod, Rock Candy, and Roch Voisine. We even touch on Celine Dion. We talk about his friendship with Paul Di’Anno, playing live with no rehearsal, and speeding up the songs. Steph talks about the rock scene in France, and going it alone without a label. Steph is a fan as much as musician too, so he gushes over Marillion, touring with DeepPurple, his signed Deep Purple 7″, and a private performance by a favourite musician. We talk about John Sykes, and other influences. Of course, we also had to talk about his epic cover of “Supper’s Ready” on his Ashes of Empire album. Steph’s defiance is refreshing. If he’s going to play without a label, then he’s going to play “Supper’s Ready”, because he wants to. Steph also did an acoustic cover of Deep Purple’s “Sail Away”, which he did to be different. Finally, we ask him what it’s like to open for AC/DC in front of 80,000 people.

This interview was conducted early in the pandemic, so of course that dominates part of the conversation. It’s weird to look back on with 2025 eyes.

Many of those old LeBrain Train shows were too long and could use some refreshing.  This one never got enough views back in 2020.  Let’s expose Steph Honde to a new audience!  You won’t regret giving him a listen.

Streaming Live at 7:00 PM EST on Friday March 28, on Youtube and Facebook.

VIDEO: Harrison Unboxes Some Metal CDs! (Ode to Jake Not From State Farm)

Readers may not be familiar with Jake Not From State Farm, so let me introduce you.  If you tune in to John Clauser’s channel My Music Corner, he’s done several great videos with Jake.  Additionally, Jake will be joining us later this year for some albums on 50 Years of Iron Maiden.  It turns out that both Jake and Harrison love Blaze Bayley.  And so, they became friends.

Jake had a batch of duplicate CDs that he donated to Harrison’s collection, two of which I want!  That damn Harrison keeps ending up with more and more CDs that I want for myself.

Joining us for this unboxing episode is the man who introduced us to Jake in the first place, Mr. Johnny Clauser.  Mostly, we let Harrison do the unboxing, and lots of show and tell.  Enjoy this short episode.

The Contrarians Live: Slippery When Wet

My 20th Contrarians Wednesday Live Stream is upon us!

This was a fun one to do:  Album cover featuring boats and/or bodies of water.  I think Tim came up with this topic, because I accused him of using it as an excuse to show off more Kansas!  My list will include a local legend, and some big metal stars.  Canadian content guaranteed!

THE CONTRARIANS – Slippery When Wet – Wednesday March 26 –  7:00 PM EST

My Contrarians appearances to date:

  1. Nicknamed Album Covers
  2. Minimalist cover art
  3. Brown album covers
  4. Yellow album covers
  5. Albums with Fire and Explosions
  6. Spaceships! Aliens! Robots!
  7. This Album Cover is Hell!
  8. Toys & Games
  9. Dreaming in Stereo:  Beds & Sleep on album covers
  10. Favourite Bands…WORST Album Covers
  11. They Swapped Covers!
  12. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  13. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  14. It’s A Piece of Art!
  15. Compilation Kaos!
  16. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  17. Amped Up!
  18. Packaging Fails
  19. Where’s the Band?

 

 

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Maiden Grail Acquired

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: Maiden Grail Acquired

 

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode

Back in 2013, T-Rev and I hit up the Hamilton record show, where I first encountered Iron Maiden’s Live!! + One EP.  I held it in my hands.  I didn’t know what I was holding, and I put it back, assuming I had all the tracks already.  I did not.  It was $100.

A few weeks ago, John Clauser from My Music Corner was heading to a record store in Birmingham Alabama.  I asked, on a lark, if he would mind picking me up a Live!! +One and he said “sure”!  He packed it with care and send it to Canada.  A Holy Grail item for sure, I was thrilled to get it.  Now you can watch me open the record as all three of us (John, Harrison and I) take a solid look at the record.  There are different versions available of varying authenticity, so let’s take a good look at this record.

Would you have bought it?  Let us know in the comments.

Past episodes:

Please “like” and subscribe, and help us keep going this year with 50 Years of Iron Maiden, on Grab A Stack of Rock!

Monday March 24 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

Blotto! The Unboxing [VIDEO]

Hey, remember that time we interviewed Blotto on Grab A Stack of Rock?  Me too!  It was awesome!  Since that time, I’ve been allowed to have my own Blotto name, and the guys have kept in touch by email.  Not just a great band, but great guys too.

Guitarist Bowtie Blotto recent reached out to me and offered to send me a Blotto movie tag, as seen in our interview.  Yes, the Blotto movie will be out April 12 2025.  And true to his word, Bowtie sent me a tag – and a lot more.

Interviewing Blotto turned out to be one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in this little musical hobby that I enjoy.  Amazingly, the experience just keeps getting richer.  I’m proud to be Kitchener Blotto!  Enjoy this video that I recorded with Harrison the Mad Metal Man.  It is spontaneous and 100% real.  We are both Metalheads, and this video is just another example of why Blotto rule.

 

 

MIX TAPE! Iron Maiden, KISS, Def Leppard and MORE! (You won’t believe your eyes!) on Grab A Stack of Rock

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 96:  Mix Tape I

 

Recorded while I had Covid!  This special “Mix Tape” episode of Grab A Stack of Rock is a potpourri of metal:  there is something for everyone!  In particular, if you have been following us for Iron Maiden and KISS content, this episode is for you!

Topics:

  • Iron Maiden ReAction figures including the rare Maiden Japan #50yearsofironmaiden
  • A unique guitar carving from Kerras Jeffrey (RIP) from Prince Edward Island
  • Darth Vader cameo
  • KISS BstAxn 5″ action figures in box
  • KISS 24k Gold CD for Destroyer bought in 1998 at Carry On Books in Waterloo
  • Tee Bone Erickson’s poetic take on the Northern Lights
  • The best of “Ask Harrison” by Tee Bone
  • Soundtrack from the Video Historia (Def Leppard) with Tim’s Vinyl Confessions – an incredible LIVE coincidence from the LeBrain Train days

The Author Reads:

  • A chapter of Unspooled: An Adventure in 8-Tracks
  • The Rules: The First 10 Years of Iron Maiden
  • Record Store Tales Part 7: A Sh*tty Story

Video premieres at 7:00 PM Eastern.

Friday March 21 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube.

 

The Contrarians Live: Where’s The Band?

Last week I felt like I needed a break.  I wasn’t feeling well and I dropped out of the episode.  Then Jamie had a fire in his basement and I decided to come back.  So, I’m back again this week too.

Courtesy of Martin Popoff, this week features album art with only partial band lineups!  My list is dominated by a certain “band” from New Jersey that often features only one band member on their covers.  Not my most interesting list this week, but I’m present ready to complain about this band that I used to love.  Let’s see what the other guys bring this week!

THE CONTRARIANS – Where Is Everyone? – Wednesday March 19 –  7:00 PM EST

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!
  11. Great Album Covers From Bands We Despise
  12. Top 10 NWOBHM Covers
  13. It’s A Piece of Art!
  14. Compilation Kaos!
  15. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hipgnosis!
  16. Amped Up!
  17. Packaging Fails