Dan Chartrand

#1231: 20 Years Ago, I Left the Dream “Record Store” Job (With Dan @OffTheCharts)

Expanding and retelling Record Store Tales Part 320: The Last Day

RECORD STORE TALES #1231: 20 Years Ago, I Left the Dream “Record Store” Job 

I woke up on Wednesday, January 4 2006 knowing it was the last time I’d be opening that Godforsaken record store.  The job I once loved so much that I’d show up an hour early to review new stock had become my nemesis.  It was like a chain, pulling me down every single day.  I looked forward to the end so badly.  The day truly flew by.

It started with the management putting out a statement that, after 12 years at the store, I was leaving.  Shocked messages flooded my inbox.  I was considered an original, a “lifer”.   Many people thought I’d never leave.  Those truly close to me knew the time was coming, but when the announcement was made, the shockwaves rippled through cyberspace.  That warmed me up a little bit on that cold winter day.

The boss took me out to lunch.  East Side Mario’s, if I recall.  Memories of this are of a good final talk, but it also reminds me that I never truly felt comfortable around him.  Never felt like I could be myself.  He talked of parenthood and what that was like, and I just felt tense even as I tried to relax.

It wasn’t a memorable day otherwise.  I have no journals from that day about customers throwing pencils at my head, or throwing other varieties of hissy fits.  I handed in my key, walked out the front door at 5:00 PM, and I was a private citizen once again.  No more discount.  And they lost all the power they held over me.

I was given a giant “goodbye card”, which I kept.  There are sentiments inside that I found surprisingly angering today.  Comments about “cheese metal” and unflattering nicknames.  Good intentions, but proof that very few people that I worked with for years truly knew me.

But you can see for yourself.  For this special 20 year look back, I made a video.  Please join Dan Chartrand and myself for this look back at that fateful final day, 20 years ago.

 

 

Off The Charts: Least Favourite KISS Songs Per Album

It started with Joey Suto, and our awesome list of Top KISS Songs from every album!  Then Peter Kerr suggested worst KISS songs, and I ran with it, and wrote a controversial list.  Dan Chartrand picked up the ball, and decided to make a video on the subject.  You’ve read my list, but now you can watch an entertaining video list from Dan and Sidney from Slogan’s Rock and Metal as well.

No surprises here – my list is unchanged.  I did however have quite a few questions and comments as to “why” I made my list the way I did.  These are finally addressed in this video.

Slick and fast, we raced through the KISS studio albums in an hour.  A great viewing.  Don’t miss this one.

What’s coming up on Grab A Stack of Rock? And why is Dan wearing his lifeguard hat?

A quick conversation between Mike and Dan…what’s up with the hat??

 

My Music Corner: Monday Night Metal & Ghost Stories 10/27/2025

John Clauser is back with his Monday Night Metal chat!   Tonight we will be telling ghost stories!  Halloween is near and spooky season is upon us!  All of us will take turns telling some fun stories that are not too dark.  Just right for your hot chocolate by the screen tonight.

Joining Johnny this episode:

  • Dan Chartrand from Off the Charts
  • Sidney Cini from Slogan’s Rock and Metal Extravaganza
  • Jake Not from State Farm
  • Metal Roger

Enjoy this episode!

Monday Oct 27, 6:00 PM EST at the link below.

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Spinal Tap II: The End Continues with Uncle Meat and Dan Chartrand

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

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Episode

Episode 122: The End Continues with Uncle Meat and Dan Chartrand

In September of 2024, Marco D’Auria, Dan Chartrand, and Uncle Meat joined us to celebrate 40 years of This Is Spinal Tap.  This comprehensive and loving analysis needed a followup episode once the sequel, The End Continues, had come out.  Now it has, and we have all seen it.  Dan and the Meat are back tonight to discuss the sequel, and the sequel soundtrack!  Tonight we’re gonna rock ya tonight!

Though we have not had 40 years to study up like we did last time, we have done our homework and will be addressing the below topics and more:

  • What were your hopes and fears going into this movie?
  • Where and when did you see it?
  • The new drummer – our impressions.
  • Favourite scene.
  • Favourite cameo / callback.
  • Soundtrack thoughts:  New songs, old songs, and CD vs the movie.
  • The big question:  Did it live up to the Spinal Tap legacy?

Please join us live tonight in the comments.  There will be blood to let!

Friday October 24 at 7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

REDEMPTION: Interview with RICK HUGHES – Sword, Saints & Sinners and Solo!

When I received an offer to interview Rick Hughes of the band Sword, about his forthcoming new album called Redemption, I immediately contacted my buddy Dan Chartrand from OffTheCharts to do it with me.  Turns out, he received the same offer, so we joined forces.  This is good, because Rick’s new album is bilingual, and so is Dan!  We recorded the interview on Thursday October 9, and it will debut Monday October 13 (Thanksgiving Day) on Dan’s channel.

Hey Dan…I get the next one, OK?

With Rick, we broke down the many guests on his new album including Robby Krieger, Tommy Aldridge, Rudy Sarzo, Brad Gillis, Sean Kelly and Jacob Deraps.  (Great stories from Rick here!)

We also talked about the new songs, including an amazing soft rocker called “The Will of the Gun” and the bangin’ “Ca va Brasser”.  Rick also finds redemption with one of his old songs finally recorded by the guy who wrote it:  “Someday”.  A different version of this song was a hit for Aldo Nova in 1991, co-written by Jon Bon Jovi.  Great stories here!

Of course we had to talk about Sword, so there are a couple stories there about Sword opening for Motorhead and Metallica in the 1980s.

Do not miss this incredible interview with Rick Hughes, one of the most positive rock stars on the planet.

 

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Harrison’s Box Sets and Mike’s Whitesnake

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

Episode 119: Harrison’s Box Sets and Mike’s Whitesnake

Time for a Maiden break this week, as Harrison and Mike have their ears full of live Maiden preparing for the next two shows!  In the meantime, Harrison has acquired a good sized collection of box sets, while Mike is only one Whitesnake box away from completing his collection of Coverdale’s boxed compilations.  Not much else to say except we will dive deep on some cool collections tonight!

“Ere’s a box set for ya!”

This is possibly the last cottage show of the season, and an indoor one this time due to the early sunset.  Join us tonight live for this special look at some expensive beauties.

 

 

Friday October 3 at 7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

 

 

My Music Corner: Monday Night Metal 9/29/2025

‘Twas my honour to be back on My Music Corner with Johnny Clauser on Monday night!  Well, to be fair, I invited myself, but it was a free for all, so that’s allowed!

Joining Johnny this episode:

  • Dan Chartrand from Off the Charts
  • Sidney Cini from Slogan’s Rock and Metal Extraganza
  • Jake Not from State Farm
  • Ashley Geisler from Ash’s Concerts and Video Showroom

Johnny asked us all of a series of questions including:

  • How did we discover this online music community?
  • What does the community mean to you?
  • What music death hit you the hardest?
  • What was the last concert that blew you away?

Enjoy this episode!

🅻🅸🆅🅴 Music & Mental Health 3 with Dan Chartrand @offthecharts

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

Episode 116: Music & Mental Health 3 with Dan Chartrand

The third part of our Mental Health trilogy will be a live show, Friday night as usual, but what will we do differently this time?

Special guest Dan Chartrand will be with Mike as we discuss the challenges of overcoming Seasonal Affective Disorder, and childhood bullying.  Even if it happened 40 years ago, bullies can still have an affect on your behaviour today.  If you ever feel overly defensive, for example, that could relate to old bullies that you thought you have long forgotten.  We will dive deep.

With fall upon us, we’ll also tackle Seasonal Affective Disorder and techniques to deal with it.  This is a ghost that has haunted Mike for many years and though it is an annual struggle, Mike will share what he has learned.

As always, we’ll bring it all back to music too.  Mike will share his favourite music that he plays to feel good when things get him down.  Don’t miss this live episode as we’ll be taking your questions and comments.

Be kind to yourself.  See you tonight.

 

Friday September 12 at 7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

 

Off The Charts: So You Wanna Be A Rock Star?

Scream for us, YouTube!  Dan Chartrand and I have reunited for this fun episode about nostalgia and dreams.  So you wanna be a rock star?  We’ll tell you what not to do!

In this incredibly fun episode, Dan will tell you about his rock star ambitions which eventually resulted in three CDs by Dead Culture Society.  He’ll also tell you about “turning down” the bass player job in Quiet Riot, and pissing off Rudy Sarzo to an extreme degree.  (Never make fun of the way Rudy licks his fingers when playing bass.)

I dug up some things from my teen years, dreaming of being a rock star.  I found the original script for my remake of the “Nothing But A Good Time” music video, and some postcards from my partner in crime Bob Schipper.  We talk air bands, buying our first guitars, and the art of swinging them over our shoulders.  Learning to play?  Not important!  Getting the stage moves right was what we focused on.

Please join us for this incredibly fun and occasionally hilarious trip down memory lane, and give Dan a like and subscribe!  We will be back!