Classic Metal Show

Geoff Tate’s new Queensrÿche lineup is turning heads, but maybe not for the reasons he hoped. When a lead guitarist admits he’s never even spoken to the frontman of the band he just joined, it raises some serious questions about what a “band” even means anymore. Is this a legitimate musical project, or just a corporate hiring hall? If you’re watching this here, you’re already late. The full episod...

We’ve officially hit rock bottom in the music business when quoting a mainstream comedy show gets you run off the internet by your own damn fans. Country star Zach Bryan decided to completely wipe his digital footprint—deactivating his X and Instagram accounts—all because a fan filmed an awkward interaction and went running to TikTok to cry about it. Here is the “substance” of the crime: Bryan was...

The rock and roll mythos loves to sell you on the concept of brotherhood—the idea that a band is a gang against the world, bound by blood, sweat, and cheap beer. But the moment the spotlights fade and the revenue streams dry up, that myth collapses into the cold, calculated reality of a corporate board meeting. Look no further than Andrew Freeman getting systematically frozen out of Last In Line....

For 40 years, Rachel Bolan has been the backbone and the songwriter of Skid Row. But while the world waits to see who the next “permanent” voice of the band will be, Bolan finally stopped playing the waiting game. GREAT PRICE HERE ON BOLAN’S GARGOYLE OF THE GARDEN STATE RELEASE! GET IT NOW BEFORE THE PRICE CHANGES! https://amzn.to/4cDyL8L Gargoyle of the Garden State isn’t some polished corporate...

Is there anything more pathetic in rock and roll than a 50-plus-year-old “rebel” playing house for the cameras? We just sat through an interview with Nikki Sixx’s latest “model” girlfriend, Courtney Bingham, and it is the definition of a bloodbath for anyone who values rock authenticity. Sixx has spent his entire career trading in one “celebrity” face for another, treating his love life like a bra...

Let’s be entirely honest about what the legacy touring circuit has become: a highly efficient, note-perfect illusion designed to separate aging rock fans from their hard-earned cash. We recently looked at the touring machine behind some of classic metal’s biggest legacy vocalists, and the reality is both technically impressive and artistically hollow. Take the current solo iterations of classic co...

The 80s hairband scene didn’t die because the music got bad; it died because it became a soulless corporate product , and the “news” we see today is just a continuation of that fraud. We took a deep dive into the latest “updates” from the hair metal world, and it’s a total bloodbath of substance vs. filler. From Bret Michaels pushing back his autobiography—likely to squeeze in more “nutty stories”...

Let’s be entirely honest about what the legacy touring circuit has become: a highly efficient, note-perfect illusion designed to separate aging rock fans from their hard-earned cash. We recently looked at the touring machine behind some of classic metal’s biggest legacy vocalists, and the reality is both technically impressive and artistically hollow. Take the current solo iterations of classic co...

An authentic look at the media landscape reveals that creators must constantly fight for survival against algorithmic strangulation. When you watch an artist like Dave Landau bouncing from the untamed Wild West of Anthony Cumia’s network over to the high-stakes ecosystem of Steven Crowder, and finally landing back at The Blaze with his new show, STU AND DAVE DO AMERICA (airing Monday through Thurs...

In a world where every guy with a phone and a YouTube channel suddenly thinks he’s a rock legend, Armored Saint just delivered a brutal reminder of what REAL longevity looks like. On this episode, John Bush breaks down the blue-collar mentality that has kept Armored Saint alive, respected, and thriving for more than 40 years—without chasing trends, begging for clicks, or turning themselves into so...

A weight loss program. A church empire. A cult built on obedience, vanity, money, and control. And somehow… people STILL defend it. HBO’s “The Way Down” exposed one of the strangest religious scams ever built — and the deeper this story gets, the uglier it becomes. If you’re watching this here, you’re already behind. The full episode, exclusive 3rd segment, and early interviews are on Locals: http...

They built careers on sex, drugs, outrage, chaos, and destruction… Now suddenly everybody wants to pretend they were offended the entire time. - Ric Flair. - KISS. - Howard Stern. - Bill Clinton. - Dave Chappelle. Different industries. Same hypocrisy. If you’re watching this here, you’re already behind. The full episode, exclusive 3rd segment, and early interviews are on Locals: https://classicmet...

Chris Akin sits down with bassist and driving force Roger Nilsson of The Quill for a raw, no-bullshit conversation about their upcoming album Master of the Skies (out May 8th). Fresh off another strong release, the band deliberately crafted something different this time — a true listening experience with flow, dynamics, softer acoustic moments, and darker vibes that still scream classic Quill. Rog...

Nobody remembers how dangerous early internet broadcasting actually was. No backup systems. No stable internet. No safety net. Just chaos, duct tape solutions, exploding tempers, and somehow keeping the show alive. If you’re watching this here, you’re already behind. The full episode, exclusive 3rd segment, and early interviews are on Locals: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com This episode spiral...

Let’s be real: the mainstream media wants to talk about Lisa Bonet as some “bohemian icon.” On the CMS, we call a spade a spade. We look at the trajectory—from the peak of cinematic intensity in Angel Heart to being “ruined” by Lenny Kravitz and ending up in a John Cusack flick. Bonet was the voice of a generation that thought they were too big for their own britches. She skipped away from The Cos...

Chris Akin finally explains the terrifying reality behind his disappearance from CMS. COVID. Pneumonia. Oxygen. Hospitalization. Near death. And the part nobody wants to say out loud? It completely changed the conversation. If you’re watching this here, you’re already behind. The full episode, exclusive 3rd segment, and early interviews are on Locals: https://classicmetalshow.locals.com Chris deta...

Is the rock and roll dream officially dead, or just being sold to the highest bidder in the adult industry? Wild Eye Releasing is dropping Tight , a “mockumentary” featuring adult film stars like Monica Mayhem and Tuesday Cross attempting to transition into an all-girl rock band. Let’s be real: this isn’t about the music. It’s a marketing gimmick fueled by the same industry that commodifies everyt...

Chris Akin finally explains the terrifying reality behind his disappearance from CMS.COVID. Pneumonia. Oxygen. Hospitalization. Near death. And here’s the part nobody wants to say out loud… it changed everything. Then the episode completely spirals. What starts as a normal CMS catch-up turns into a full-blown time capsule from the early days of internet broadcasting — before streaming was easy, be...

The biggest problem with Operation: Mindcrime 3 isn’t the production. It isn’t the guitars. It’s the brutal realization that some classics should NEVER be revisited. GET GEOFF TATE: OPERATION MINDCRIME III - https://amzn.to/4dt7pTp Geoff Tate tried to revive one of the greatest concept albums ever made… and exposed exactly why the original lineup mattered. The full episode, exclusive 3rd segment,...

Chris Akin sits down with Geoff Tate for a raw, no-BS conversation about Operation Mindcrime X (dropping May 3rd), the evolution of the story, why the new single “Power” sounds nothing like 1988, and how he’s still living the rock ‘n’ roll dream while balancing family life. From painting audio pictures to the never-ending tour, this is pure CMS-TV gold for every Queensrÿche, Mindcrime, and Geoff T...

The “justice” system is a total fraud, and this week on CMS, we’re proving it. We’ve got teachers, mayors, and nurses all caught in the same web of bad decisions and even worse excuses. When did “educator” become a synonym for “predator”? From the 27-year-old substitute in Texas with the “Picasso face” to the Louisiana mayor who literally ordered Plan B on DoorDash after a hookup, the industry of...

Jesse James Dupree is a friend of the show, but friendship doesn’t buy you a pass when you decide to desecrate the altar of Run-DMC. We sat down to listen to Jackyl’s cover of “It’s Tricky,” and what we found was a cringe-inducing attempt to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of “Walk This Way.” It’s not just bad; it’s “chainsaw-revving-in-a-silent-library” misplaced. DON’T TAKE OUR WORD FO...

Let’s be real: the “Founding Member” doesn’t mean a damn thing to the suits anymore. We just sat through the absolute train wreck of a Judas Priest documentary discussion, and it’s clear—the industry wants the brand, but they hate the history. Excluding KK Downing and Ripper Owens isn’t just a snub; it’s a rewrite of history that treats a decade of the band’s life like a mistake. And don’t even ge...

Let’s talk about the absolute state of 80s legends trying to navigate the modern streaming era. Loudness—Japan’s greatest heavy metal export—just dropped Eve of Dawn, and while the riffs are still sharp, the “gang vocals” have hit a hilarious, unintentional snag. GET LOUDNESS’ EVE TO DAWN HERE: https://amzn.to/4uu66KO We took a deep dive into the track “Hang Tough,” and I’m telling you, once you h...

Paul McCoy is the voice you know from one of the biggest songs in history, but the industry did everything in its power to make sure you only knew him for that. After a brush with death and 25 years in the trenches, the 12 Stones frontman is finally setting the record straight. Why did a Grammy win feel like a curse? How did a label dispute turn him into a “villain” in the eyes of Evanescence fans...