Classic Metal Show

Let’s be real—the music industry is currently a joke. While the mainstream media is busy polishing the turds of industry plants, we’re out here dealing with the raw, unfiltered, and sometimes agonizing truth of the “metal life.” This week, we deep-dive into the absolute fraud that is modern DIY production. Our long-time “friend” Randy Trask dropped off his new record, Buffonia 2026. But he didn’t...

Is rock and roll officially so easy a toddler can do it, or has the “professional” bar dropped so low that we can’t tell the difference between a superstar and a pre-schooler? In this highlight, we witness 4-year-old Alex Lidster—a kid who likely hasn’t mastered the art of not coloring on the walls—absolutely put the modern rock establishment to shame with an AC/DC cover. EDDIE MONEY’S THE SOUND O...

The High-Altitude Circus and Steam-Powered Salvation This week on CMS, we’re looking at the absolute degradation of modern society through the lens of a middle seat on a Spirit Airlines flight. Chris is ready to drive three days to Austin just to avoid the DMV and the “Real ID” surveillance state, while Neeley is gearing up to chase the “Big Boy”—a 6,000-horsepower relic of a time when things actu...

The industry is a joke and the history of metal is being rewritten by suits. From the absolute snub of KK Downing in the Judas Priest doc to the “museum” version of Pantera, we are witnessing the total degradation of the legendary band. Plus, the “Bloodbath” of modern DIY production—if the music has no substance, why are we pretending it’s art? The version you’re seeing here is the “sanitized” edi...

Let’s talk about the absolute fraud that is the modern “personality” business. We spent years listening to Shadoe Steele—real name Dale Mikolaczyk—as he dominated the airwaves in the Wyoming Valley. The guy was a staple, the “voice” of Saturday night, and the man behind the traffic reports as Rusty Fender. But behind the snappy radio voice and the persona that thousands of fans latched onto was a...

We’ve seen some car-crash interviews in our time, but this “Madpod” review of Tommy Chong is a masterclass in professional incompetence. Look, we all love Up In Smoke, but at what point do we stop giving Chong a pass just because he’s a legendary stoner? In this segment, we tear down a “professional” interview that sounds like it was conducted by a defective AI from 2004. GET TOMMY CHONG’S BOOK TH...

There is nothing more painful in the world of rock journalism than watching a prepared “professional” interview a legend using nothing but a list of facts they scraped off the internet five minutes prior. In this archival deep dive, we revisit the infamous Madpod interview with guitar legend Pat Travers . It is a masterclass in how not to talk to an artist. While Travers is a gentleman, trying to...

Is there anything more painful than a local “legend” trying to rewrite history with the confidence of a man who just found Wikipedia for the first time? In this segment, we dig into the bizarre world of Shadoe Steele and his absolute obsession with a band called Cinch . Steele—billed as a “musicologist”—claims that Cinch was a Billboard powerhouse that only missed the #1 spot because of a “lack of...

Rock and roll was supposed to be the ultimate middle finger to the establishment, but as we see in this session, the “establishment” is exactly where the smart money ends up. We dive into the bizarre, polarized fates of Peter Green and Jami Gertz . On one hand, you have Peter Green—the soul of Fleetwood Mac—who was so haunted by the concept of “filthy lucre” that he literally tried to give it all...

You’re watching to last week’s news—our VIPs already finished this episode commercial-free weeks ago. Stop waiting in line and get instant access to every show, advance interviews, and exclusive bonus content for just $4.99 at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com . Kurdt Vanderhoof chose to place Metal Church on hiatus, bringing a pause to the band’s long-running journey. After some time away, he r...

The rock and roll “brand” is officially cannibalizing the rock and roll “band.” We deep-dive into the upcoming 2026 Bon Jovi comeback, and let’s be real: without Richie Sambora, it’s a high-priced tribute act for soccer moms. We compare the 1985 “hungry” era to the current lifeless, clinical output and the results are depressing. Jon’s ego has turned the stage into a “mimicry” zone where hired gun...

We’ve been off the YouTube teat for five years for a reason, but the fans keep begging for the full episodes. Well, you got it—sort of. We’re putting a “cleaned up” version on YouTube for a premium price just to pay for the AI it takes to bleep out the truth. But let’s be real: if you’re watching the edited version, you’re getting a lobotomized show. STEPHEN PEARCY’S A VIEW TO A THRILL ON VINYL? Y...

Think you know the real story behind the new Corrosion of Conformity record? Think again. Chris Akin digs into the raw, unfiltered reality of Good God, Baad Man with the legendary Woody Weatherman. From the tragic loss of Reed Mullin to the “amicable” exit of Mike Dean, this isn’t your standard PR-polished interview—it’s a deep dive into the guts of a band that refuses to play by the mainstream ru...

The nostalgia circuit is a graveyard of egos, and the latest Monsters of Rock Cruise just proved it. While fans are paying five figures to relive their youth, guys like Sebastian Bach are busy reminding us why we shouldn’t meet our heroes. WE’VE GOT BACH’S CHILD WITHIN THE MAN HERE: https://amzn.to/41S913H In this episode, we peel back the curtain on the “Bach vs. Rachelle” bloodbath that erupted...

Skid Row is still a mess—and this time it’s not rumor, it’s firsthand chaos. From backstage blowups to public silence, the cracks are getting louder. And yeah… the part you actually want to hear? Not here. 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 VIPs already saw this play...

The Classic Metal Show dives deep into the turbulent history of W.A.S.P., specifically focusing on former guitarist Chris Holmes. Following recent interviews, the guys discuss Holmes’ claims of being “bullied” and “held down” by frontman Blackie Lawless. From signing contracts without a lawyer to the infamous “pool scene,” we analyze if Holmes was truly a victim of a “Blackie Dictatorship” or just...

There is a point in every metal fan’s life where they have to stop lying to themselves. We’ve all been there: standing in a crowd, paying triple digits for a ticket, waiting for that iconic high note to hit, only to be met with a series of rhythmic grunts and wheezes that sound more like a lawnmower dying than a rock god. This week, we take a flamethrower to the sacred cows of the Sunset Strip. We...

Is Sammy Hagar a creative visionary, or just the luckiest guy in rock and roll history? We just reviewed a classic interview between Shadoe Steele and the “Red Rocker,” and the level of self-delusion is staggering. Sammy spent half the time trying to convince the audience that his tequila empire is a “handmade” mom-and-pop operation while simultaneously bragging about being the #2 distributor in A...

Is rock n’ roll dead, or is it just wearing a dead man’s hair? This week, Neeley details a trip to the edge of the Wisconsin border to see Enuff Z’Nuff, and what he found was a scene that perfectly encapsulates the “shambles” of modern legacy acts. Between playing a stage the size of a postage stamp in a Libertyville sports bar and the bizarre realization that Chip Z’Nuff might actually be wearing...

You’re listening to last week’s news—our VIPs already finished this episode commercial-free seven days ago. Stop waiting in line and get instant access to every show, advance interviews, and exclusive bonus content for just $4.99 at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com . DESCRIPTIONNeeley heads out to the middle of nowhere to catch Enuff Z’nuff, and what he finds at the bar is even weirder than the...

If you are watching this here, you are already behind! Join our VIPs at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com and get all our episodes released early and commercial free! Black Sabbath legend Vinnie Appice isn’t holding back on the reality of the Ronnie James Dio era. From the “illegal” nature of the band’s name to the sterile, “tame” recording sessions that nearly derailed their final studio master...

You’re listening to last week’s news—our VIPs already finished this episode commercial-free seven days ago. Stop waiting in line and get instant access to every show, advance interviews, and exclusive bonus content for just $4.99 at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com . Nazareth founding member Pete Agnew doesn’t pull punches when discussing the state of the music industry and the upcoming “Titans...

LOVE CHRIS AKIN PRESENTS? If you’re a die-hard fan of the raw, uncensored interviews we bring you, there’s no better way to support the show than by joining our EXCLUSIVE INNER CIRCLE! By becoming a member, you’ll get: * Early Access: Watch or listen to our newest episodes before anyone else. * Exclusive Content: Dive into members-only interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and deep-dive discussio...

We’ve all seen it: the slow, agonizing transition from rock god to social media liability. This week, we dive headfirst into the fallout from the Monsters of Rock Cruise, where Ted Poley (Danger Danger) decided to go nuclear on Sebastian Bach . In a Facebook rant that felt more like a “scorned fan” Yelp review than a peer-to-peer disagreement, Poley claimed Bach was a “washed-up drunk” who nearly...

The legendary Carmine Appice isn’t just a drummer; he’s the architect of the heavy rock sound. In this raw session, Carmine pulls back the curtain on the industry’s biggest scam and explains why he flat-out refuses to support the streaming giants that are bleeding artists dry. From recording a masterpiece in his backyard studio to the “secret” process behind the new Temple of Blues 2 album, this i...