At long last, it is time for house renovations! We are receiving new windows and doors, as Phase One of this long awaited project. It begins today, July 28 2025.
In preparation for this project, I have dug up and rediscovered some cool treasures. We will be taking a look at more of them at a later time, but for this video, I decided to take advantage of the calm before the storm. Before the dust starts a-flyin’, let’s have a quick look at some fun re-discovered items in the Grab A Stack collection.
Please join Tim Durling and myself for this deep dive into Night Ranger’s fabulous 2014 album, High Road. This is a really special CD to me, with some great tracks including the title song, “I’m Coming Home” and “Don’t Live Here Anymore. Jack Blade, Brad Gillis, Kelly Keagy, Joel Hoekstra and Eric Levy really made a special album with this, and a pinnacle of the reunion era if you asked me.
Tim is doing this series of deep dives to celebrate his new book, Sing Me Away: The Night Ranger Album Review. You can get it on your local Amazon and check out an analysis of every Night Ranger album from a panel of experts. Including me!
Check out this episode of Tim’s Vinyl Confessions, which will premiere later today.
For the love of the Ozzman, friends gathered together to mourn and celebrate the unique talents and charms of one John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne.
Peter Kerr stated, if you walked up to an average person and asked them to name one icon of heavy metal, they’re likely to answer “Ozzy Osbourne”. As a founding member of Black Sabbath, whose 1970 debut is generally credited for creating “heavy metal”, Ozzy was on the ground floor as the voice and face of the founding fathers. Ozzy deserves far more credit than we could shower on him in just 80 minutes.
Joining me was Peter Kerr from Rock Daydream Nation, his fellow countryman Ash Geisler, and Jake (Not From State Farm) in his live debut on Grab A Stack of Rock. Each of us brought parts of our collections and stories of the ways in which Ozzy impacted our lives. We also had a special video clip from Uncle Meat, on Ozzy’s effect on his life trajectory.
Each of us had some stacks of Ozzy rock to show. Ash had some cool radio broadcast stuff and some interesting early CD pressings of Sabbath classics, not to mention a rare early Sabbath single in a picture sleeve. Peter and Jake brought their Diary/Blizzard box sets, and some favourite records. Mike provided Japanese imports, box sets, bonus tracks, and stories of discovery.
Peter came to us with some perspective from Bob Daisley, who he interviewed on Rock Daydream Nation. Ozzy’s vocal prowess in the early days was emphasized, and we also addressed that final concert that everyone is still talking about.
We ended the show with Uncle Meat’s performance of “Fairies Wear Boots”, with his old band Heavy Cutting.
On a sad note, we also paid tribute to a cast member of the Grab A Stack Gang that we lost this week. Yes, we didn’t just lose Ozzy, Hulk Hogan, Malcolm Jamal Warner, and Chuck Mangione. We also lost the beloved, fan favourite Gimley the Cat. I said a few words for Gimley, who was always by Rob Daniels’ side on his every appearance. I am sorry for your loss Rob.
Thank you for joining us on this very special episode of Grab A Stack of Rock. Next week: back to 50 Years of Iron Maiden.
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
With special guests Peter Kerr, Ash Geisler and Jake NFSF
Episode 110: Memories of Ozz
We had no plan for this. Tonight’s episode was supposed to be a regular, old-fashioned Grab A Stack of Rock, where we grab a bunch of albums and talk about them at random. Unfortunately the Metal gods had another plan, and they called upon Ozzy Osbourne to join them in Rock Heaven. And so our plans were upturned.
Peter Kerr and Ash Geisler remain on the guestlist to talk about Ozzy Osbourne. Favourite memories, favourite albums, favourite songs. Things that mean something to us. Ways in which Ozzy touched our lives. Peter has interviewed Bob Daisley and John Sinclair, and has that perspective to add. Unfortunately Harrison Kopp the Mad Metal Man felt unqualified to join, so in his stead will be Jake (Not From State Farm) for a special appearance.
I will never forget my Grandma buying me an Ozzy tape as a gift. I don’t think she picked it herself, given the cover art. I will always smile when I think of road tripping with my friend Peter, to the sound of the early Black Sabbath stuff. Specifically, “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” from the recently acquired Ozzy Osbourne Years box set. Or, my dad discovering Ozzy in the 2000s when he made his mainstream TV debut.
Jake, Ash and Peter will bring their own stories to the fore. Join us tonight as we salute the original Madman of Metal, on Grab A Stack of Rock.
Friday July 25 at 7:00 PM EST, 8 PM Atlantic. Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.
We knew we’d get trolls for The X Factor era of Iron Maiden. There are lots of Blaze haters out there. I just didn’t expect the exact type of troll we got in “Proper 90s”, a person who has met Iron Maiden. This, therefore, makes him an expert.
Proper 90s left three comments during the premiere of The X Factor:
“I think you guys have lost the programme.“
I replied “Thanks”, as I often do to nonconstructive feedback.
“How about listen to ‘Live After Death‘ and take it from there.”
I informed him that we did Live After Death months ago, and he was now watching Episode 18.
“Have any of you actually met anyone from the band? I have. This entire thing is BS.“
We have no idea what we got so wrong. At that point of the show we were discussing our lyrical interpretation of the themes on the album. I am guessing he took objection to that.
50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode:
Fear of the Cassette? The Coolest Iron Maiden Cassette You’ve Ever Seen!
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode
Lamentably, sometimes we acquire an Iron Maiden goodie well after the episode for that album airs. In this case, the aforementioned goodie was acquired because of a specific episode.
In episode 15, Fear of the Dark, I showed Harrison an image of the 1992 Canadian cassette edition, which to our eyes, featured a superior front cover design. Wanting one for himself, Harrison went shopping on Discogs for cassettes.
What he got wasn’t just Fear of the Dark. He got more. Alot more. But enough of our yackin’! Go check out the episode, which is live now on YouTube as an Iron Maiden bonus this week.
We all knew this day would come. We just didn’t know it would be today.
Only a couple weeks after his final concert, Ozzy has joined his bandmates in Rock and Roll Heaven.
I really don’t have the words. You’d think I’d be prepared for this. I was not. The biggest loss in metal, ever?
I’ll think of more to say later.
Rest in Peace, Ozzy.
I played Bark At the Moon and No Rest for the Wicked on the weekend. MY albums. MY Ozzy.
Ozzy – that guy who I thought was “crazy”! He looked scary to a 12 year old.
Then I saw a picture of him in a cowboy hat. “He doesn’t look so scary.”
He wasn’t.
Ozzy wasn’t the prince of darkness. He was the clown prince of metal, and I think he loved it that way. Joking, pulling faces, making people laugh just as hard as he made them rock. Ozzy was my companion during the awkward teenage misfit years. Ozzy was cool without being cool. He was simply Ozzy. There was only one. He couldn’t be replaced in Black Sabbath. Any time they tried, they embarked on a new journey, because you cannot replace Ozzy Osbourne.
Ozzy had a knack for a melody, and impeccable taste in guitar players. From Randy Rhoads to Jake E. Lee to Zakk Wylde, he made them famous.
Ozzy’s real talent was as a facilitator of talent. He brought together drummers, bassists and guitarists. He formed bands that we still talk about today, from the original Blizzard of Ozz to the Wylde/Butler/Castillo lineup that is my personal favourite. His knack for bringing people together, both in bands and in audiences was unparalleled.
There will NEVER be another Ozzy. Only pretenders to the throne.
RECORD STORE TALES #1200: Birthdays, Castles and Cornfields
My goal when making drone videos is never to invade privacy, only to make cool videos of the things around me. Ever since 2022, Jen and I have been driving past this cool “castle” in the middle of nowhere. We have stopped to take pictures because it is such a whimsical looking place. I have long wanted to do a drone video of the castle we once called Deke’s Palace.
I woke up around 5:30 AM on my birthday. I chatted with friends and enjoyed a birthday steak for breakfast. I thought about driving somewhere to make a drone video. Around 8:00 I decided to wake up Jen and make a run into town. I packed up my Potensic drone and made our way up to the castle. We waited for three cars to pass, and then I was airborne. I saw no vehicles for the entire flight, but I did soar close enough to the castle to see its ramparts, battlements, and three turrets. I also hovered over a winding river, and zoomed low over a cornfield.
I always like to try to accomplish something new creatively when I can, and this counts as a brand new location. I am very happy with the resultant video.
After my flight, we went into the essential hobby store Leisure World, and I treated myself to a birthday gift.
Simply a wonderful birthday, enjoyed in the best place in the world.
For weeks we have been building to this moment. The Fear of the Dark era ends, and a new singer is required. After considering Doogie White, who went on to success with Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Iron Maiden chose Wolfbane’s Blaze Bayley as their new lead singer. While Blaze had a connection opening for Maiden, his selection was a surprise to some. A power baritone, Blaze was not an operatic singer like Bruce Dickinson. Nor was he a complex punky shouter like Paul Di’Anno. What would the new Iron Maiden sound like? We tackle that subject and much more on tonight’s epic episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden.
For the first time since No Prayer for the Dying back in the beginning of June, Harrison and I are joined by a special guest to dissect this album. You may know Jake (Not From State Farm) from his appearance with me on John Clauser’s Music Corner. Jake asked for these episodes (the pair of Blaze studio albums) because of his deep love for this era. Both Jake and Harrison come at this album from the perspective of having a special connection with the music of Blaze. Mike on the other hand is more simply an Iron Maiden fan, and provides a sense of balance. We hope.
This is the longest episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden to date! Why? Because we have so much to discuss:
14 original studio songs including three Japanese bonus tracks (B-sides elsewhere)
Two cover songs (B-sides: The Who and UFO)
The cover art by Hugh Syme (two versions)
A deep analysis of the lyrical themes
Our personal stories and connections with The X Factor
Facts and trivia
The tour and setlist
The Blaze Bayley interview tracks (B-sides) of which we have five segments to play for you
As usual you can expect us to be comprehensive, and we do not disappoint in this episode.
We hope you can make the premiere tonight where I always try to interact in the comment section! Up the irons, and into the unknown!
Friday July 18 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. Enjoy on YouTube.
* I wanna shoot myself for saying the “STATE” of Quebec instead of “PROVINCE” in this episode. UGH. What a mis-speak. So embarassing!
I was sad to learn this week that one of my earliest collaborators, Tommy Morais, passed away last year. He was only 32.
I first met Tommy when he was just 18. It was around the time of the release of the “new” KISS album Sonic Boom. I was writing a complete set of Kiss reviews on Amazon to celebrate. As it turns out, Tommy was also writing reviews for every Kiss album, and lots more that I was working on too. I jealously read his writing. He was good.
Eventually I decided to reach out to Tommy via email, and tell him how great his reviews were. We became friends. We didn’t agree on every Kiss album. Tommy liked Animalize a lot more than I did! He had the rock star hair and a glam image. Tommy was no-holds-barred when it came to the music he loved. He identified with the Kiss song “Freak”:
I’ve got streaks in my hair People point at me and stare If they ask me I say: Yeah! I’m a freak And I love the clothes I wear Let them laugh ’cause I don’t care It’s my cross, I’m proud to bear I’m a freak
Tommy was based out of New Brunswick and eventually moved to Ontario. Meanwhile, I transitioned my writing from Amazon to WordPress. Tommy was an eager reader, and was responsible for a couple Record Store Tales and several reviews. Tommy wanted more Kiss! So I wrote Part 26 and Part 27 of Record Store Tales by his request. Tommy also contributed several of his own reviews to this site! For me, Tommy wrote reviews of:
As you can see for yourself, Tommy was a wise rock fan beyond his years. Every artist he reviewed for me really peaked long before he was even born.
I never met Tommy even though he was only a short distance away, relatively speaking. We lost touch shortly after the Europe review. I was really saddened to hear of his passing.
Gone way, way too soon. Rest in peace Tommy. Here’s some Kiss for ya. I hope you’re rocking up there with Eric Carr. You were an original.
I was sad to learn this week that one of my earliest collaborators, Tommy Morais, passed away last year. He was only 32.
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