The Imbalanced History of Rock and Roll

You may know Marty Friedman from Cacophony and Megadeth especially, and maybe also from his Shrapnel Records solo days. These days, life is in Japan for Marty, musically, and personally. This is a great talk about it all. Get the details on his Live Drama 2025 Tour by clicking here, so you can go see the man and his band perform his latest release, and a lot more, on this tour. We discuss it in th...

In true Imbalanced History style, Markus and Ray covered the early days of Pink Floyd first, and then interviewed Nick Mason, before dedicating multiple episodes to The Wall! It's not like they don't know about the important middle period of Floyd history! They lived it! Slide into the Dark Side/Wish You Were Here/Animals period, with discussions of road testing their material between recordings,...

50 years... You might think, "Holy shit!" (Especially if you were in school at that time.) This episode may help you to overcome those shockwaves as the reality that 1975 was fifty years ago settles in... The Imbalanced Ones offer their perspectives on the music, the times, and the way things have changed. Feel free to add your own memories in the comments section of Spotify, or email us: imbalanc...

From the original release on 9/11/2023: "Not one, but two sets of brothers formed a band in Ohio! That should have been the world's first warning that the plot to de-evolve EVERYTHING was hatching right there in Akron. In the pocket with Punk, era-wise, but markedly different from, well...everybody else, their mission required shunning norms! That was likely the case long before they donned their...

Each year we seem to honor and remember more and more of our departing heroes. In music, and the arts we lost a lot for sure, but our losses beyond that cover all areas of our lives. Just today we learned that former U.S. President Jimmy Carter passed at 100. In 2024, icons of the 1950s and 1960s were exiting the planet in record numbers. It's a trend that we, sadly, predicted. So this year, the I...

Here's the copy from last year's release: "Markus and Ray have done this before, but somehow it always comes out different! The Imbalanced Boys have covered 5 Fave Rock n’ Roll Christmas songs, as well as 5 Fave Heavy Metal Xmas songs, (and a couple other related passes) a few times in their nearly 5 years as a podcast! Nothing beats listening to nouveau holiday favorites, mixed with classics, at...

When the Imbalanced Brothers dig in on a subject, they're no longer as surprised as often as they used to be. In this episode about The Cars, they find out more about some member's roots, discover a few associations, and delve into this wildly popular band's music. Their adventure provides some unexpected discoveries! Strap in, and get ready for a fun ride! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

In our misspent youth, almost everyone had a copy of Led Zeppelin II in their collection. And later? They also had the CD, right? Is that just us? This week we delve into why Led Zeppelin's second record was such a game changer! We feel that the case is made here. As often happens this discussions sparks a bigger album argument inspired by a RRHOF all-time list! We all have our "entry story" when...

Yes, next year it will be 45 years... We can't tell the story any better than this annual repeat episode about one of our favorites, John Lennon: "John meant the world, to most people, and definitely to all of us. His music, his message, and his fun way of spreading it, attracted so many to him. One wicked soul saw things differently than most. He took John's life on 12/8/80... Forgiveness is a vi...

The roasting of the bird! The sharing of the bounty! A tradition that goes back to the earliest days of America. The Imbalanced Boys get into that, but mainly they discuss the modern day addition of Arlo Guthrie's "Alice Restaurant" to the holiday musical fare! Earle Bailey of Sirius-XM stops by to offer historical perspective to the discussion. He shares a couple surprises! Other forms of the ori...

Markus and Ray welcome Jon Wiederhorn back to discuss his latest co-writing project, Dreaming Japanese, the story of Marty Friedman of Megadeth and so much more! We discuss Marty's life, told amazingly in the book, and his bold career moves, as well as his long-time associations! Now, a J-Pop icon, his role in Megadeth was pretty key as well. Jon informs on Marty's first person telling of his life...

Originally released as Episode #134 on 9/6/2021, The FBI vs. Jim Morrison is one of the best episodes of the podcast from the early days! The guys were researching for a Doors episode when Markus unearthed Jim's FBI file! The episode is being re-released today on 11/11/2024, 55 years after the day of that insane Continental flight from L.A. to Phoenix! The FBI's extensive file on Jim and The Doors...

Markus and Ray tell the tale of a foundation stone of Motown, Diana Ross & The Supremes! From their formation as The Primettes, and through the decades as The Supremes, they not only ran multiple strings of #1 hits, but influenced music and style for women of the 1960s, and beyond! The Imbalanced Boys discuss their rise, and the solo split for Diana, and her amazing solo career. So hop in the Imba...

To find out what that cryptic Chuck Billy mention refers to, and how Ministry & The Munsters work it out together, among other things...just listen to this episode! Shareable for Hollow Weenie fun via Spotify! Just when you think you've wrung every bit of relevance and fun out of an annual podcast idea...BAM! Hollow Weenie Roast 3: The Final Hallowing! Happy Halloween from your hairy, scary Imbala...

Ray and John Toney go back to their earlier radio salad daze in Pennsylvania, when John was also known to take a wicked turn on the stand up bass! He and his wife Suzan relocated to Nashville a few years back! This week he comes to visit and fill us in on some history of the Ryman & the Grand Ole Opry! Here's an easy link to the Ryman's schedule! Plan a visit to The Ryman, and take a tour with JT,...

This is a re-release of our original episode #311 on 9/4/23: Connecting with David Cousins of The Strawbs for this episode was a different experience for both of the Imbalanced Brothers. Ray was a fan of the band from the 1970s, when Markus was still a younger kid! So they each approached this interview, and the new album, differently. The result is a very exciting take on a classic band making th...

From their early Sub Pop eps, to a Metal Grammy nom on their SST debut album, and their major label move to A&M Records, Soundgarden cut their own path. Markus and Ray have different, yet similar tales to tell about how they discovered, and fell in love with, one of their favorite bands. Whether a long-time fan or just discovering the band, enjoy this ride through the decades! Learn more about you...

Hey! Hey! They're The Monkees, but until recently there's been very little discussion about the Rock Hall in Cleveland dusting off a shelf for Davy, Mickey, Mike and Peter! Author Scott Shea comes by to visit with Markus and Ray to discuss the story, follow-up on previous news, and get us updated on The Monkees case. Then, all three take turns making their case for The Monkees enshrinement! Want t...

John Donnelly...come on down!!! John sent one of those emails we always talk about, and this week, we present one of his ideas! It's an episode of 5 Favorites, all about the all-time power trios, with John giving us his picks, too! Power, indicating strong, powerful sound, and Trio, denoting three members, and of course, The Vegas Line! The Imbalanced Boys, and their guest, go Round Robin style to...

The one and only Tony Levin, with a new album (Bringing It Down To The Bass), and the all-star Beats Tour on his front burner, stops by to talk about both, and many other things. Both Markus and Ray instantly felt at ease and conversational with Tony. That led to some good discussion of things present and past! Look for Tony on the Beat Tour with Adrian Belew, Steve Vai and Danny Carey! Thanks to...

The Isley Brothers: epitomizing family in the music business, and purveyors of Funk & Soul filled with Rock & Roll! A decades-long, groove filling, heart beating, literal hit machine! Markus and Ray explore their history and, of course their music, in this long overdue episode of the podcast! The losses, sparking change, and adaptability! Hear how they intersected with Jimi Hendrix! It's all insid...

Back in May 2024, in Episode #351, Doro/Tyketto drummer Johnny Dee, our old friend from his Philly days, made the Conshohocken-Frankfurt Connection. During that chat he confided that he, as a listener to the podcast, had questions. This week, he's back with those queries, and more, apparently. This has never happened on this podcast before, so it's exciting to hear what happens! Yo, Johnny! Yer up...

Born of psychedelia (when "it" was still good) and the S.F. scene of the mid-1960s, the Imbalanced Boys dig into the formation and early ways of this R&RHOF (class of 1996) band this week! 2400 Fulton Street, their mansion's address, was Golden Gate Park-adjacent, and a short walk to the Grateful Dead's house "in the Haight." In the early daze of the scene, things were "still coming together." Lat...

For the focus of this week's episode, see the attached guitar meme from @SongStoriesRewind which casts a wide net, and sparks the discussion of axes and their masters. Paul Hammond knows both ends of that stick! His long history as a founding member of the top-shelf Led Zeppelin tribute, Get The Led Out is part of the discussion (see Jimmy Page double-neck!), as is his love and knowledge of guitar...

Lawyer by day, Rock n' Roll author by night, this week the Imbalanced Boys are Talkin' Elvis with James Cosby! Hit his website for more info on Jim and his books, and buy here! The journey this week takes us to Tupelo and Memphis, and the move towards Rock & Roll for the man who would be The King! The roles of radio and the recording studios in Memphis' fertile scene are part of the discussion. Th...