The guys tackle a pair of letters – one about Slipknot and the other about Tom Waits – BOTH about major food brands cashing in on impersonations. SHOW...

The guys continue their deep dive into crowd crush catastrophes and examine the 1979 debacle in Ohio that still gets referenced every time things go wrong at a live music event. Learn about the history of the Who, the ongoing struggle of Cincinnati to move past this venue, and what it took to get general admission seating re-approved in the Midwest. SHOW...

The guys get into the what actually happened at the 2021 AstroWorld catastrophe and talk Travis Scott, legal maneuvering, and who is really to blame when things go bad in a big crowd.   SHOW...

Inspired by a recent chat about the commercial period of rock band Rainbow, Brian and Murdock research the career of Graham Bonnet – the mostly forgotten, unlikely frontman whose shot at being a superstar seemed to perpetually allude him while he instead helped perpetuate the careers of big bands and bigger egos. SHOW...

After a recent discussion on the history of Ronnie James Dio, dive back into episode Episode 143 and revisit the origination of the rock n roll “devil horns” hand signal and what RJD did (or maybe didn’t?) have to do with it!

A listener letter leads the guys to nerd out on the unlikely career and success of Ronnie James Dio and that band he led before another rock legend came calling.   SHOW NOTES https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_James_Dio Ronnie Dio and the Prophets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHgcFXcY_yo First Time Reaction to Rainbow’s “Stargazer” #1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiD9dzIa4J #2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVP25CPi934   Remembering when Black Sabbath spent more on cocaine while...

Brian and Murdock do a special mailbag episode answering questions about the creation of the show. Send your questions to [email protected]

The guys talk about “The Money Man” – the larger-than-life legend, backed by Bill Graham who seemed determined to kill himself with drugs in his first decade, and then relaunched his career by offering a different kind of legend a guest spot. SHOW...

The guys celebrate an episode number milestone by diving into one of the stories that first inspired the whole idea for the show – the cutthroat business practices of Mr. Stephan Jenkins, the founder and singer of a band called Third Eye Blind. This episode is brought to you in part by Louder Than Life Music Festival. Send us an episode request about one of the bands performing and you could win tickets to see them there! Email: [email protected] SHOW NOTES Suzaie by Splash:...

In a week full of celebrating rockstars and their restaurants, the guys dust off another food-related classic episode of the show (Episode 37) to talk about a notorious rumor that has long dogged one of the 70’s great vocalists.

A listener reaches out with a question about Hard Rock Cafe and the guys take it as an invitation to HUNGRILY investigate the history of rock n rollers owning eateries.   This episode is brought to you in part by Louder Than Life Music Festival. Send us an episode request about one of the bands performing and you could win tickets to see them there! Email: [email protected] And it’s #NationalRockNRollPodcast Day! YOU can celebrate by checking out some of the OTHER shows kicking ass...

The guys pop the mailbag open and make apologies, salute librarians, and geek out about Grand Funk.

The guys give it their best shot when a teenage fan of the show writes to ask them to explain why that lady from Stranger Things has had so many songs written about her. This episode is brought to you in part by Louder Than Life Music Festival. Send us an episode request about one of the bands performing and you could win tickets to see them there! Email: [email protected]   SHOW...

The guys celebrate the life and complicated legacy of the engineer with a lot of ideals – and a MASSIVE influence on what rock n roll sounds like.   SHOW NOTES: The letter: https://news.lettersofnote.com/p/nirvana

Brian breaks down the larger-than-life, unbelievable tale of the man who showed up to Sam Cooke’s funeral with Sam Cooke’s wife – Bobby Womack. There is sex. There is attempted murder. There is lots of drugging with Sly Stone. This episode is brought to you in part by Louder Than Life Music Festival. Send us an episode request about one of the bands performing and you could win tickets to see them there! Email: [email protected]     SHOW...

Brian and Murdock break down the three theories that have haunted many since the death of Sam Cooke back in December of 1964. Was it really just bad behavior gone worse? Or was Sam set up?   This episode is brought to you in part by Louder Than Life Music Festival. Send us an episode request about one of the bands performing and you could win tickets to see them there! Email: [email protected]   SHOW NOTES: Dream Boogie Peter Guralnick book:...

The guys giggle through another round of entries from listeners telling stories about their favorite music festival experiences while trying to win tickets to Louder Than Life Music Festival in September.

A listener letter sends the guys on the first of what could be many explorations into the backstories of some of the session musicians who made up the collective who would come to be known as “The Wrecking Crew.” Hear the story of the drummer who happened to be next door just in time to step into a powerful and historic musical moment.     SHOW NOTES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Palmer “I Hate My Generation” music video:...

THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT is taking over most musical talk this weekend, so the guys dug back to Episode 147 to celebrate a certain track from Ms Swift’s back catalog and see what we can all learn from her about music history.

To celebrate the life of Dickey Betts (RIP, April 18, 2024), the guys revisit an episode from last November relating the drugs, chaos, and southern rock relatability that would define the Allman Brothers Band.

A photo of a whole lot of famous rockers in one place gets the guys researching a record label that redefined the way music was listened to and sold in 1970’s America. SHOW NOTES: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-tel The photo:...

After spending recent time talking about New Kids on the Block behaving badly in their hometown’s hotel, the guys dig up and revisit Episode 17 of the show to recall one of the most epic hotel trashings in rock n roll history: Keith Moon and the Holiday Inn birthday party.   SHOW NOTES: Keith Moon with Led Zep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyM6-QibDFM Vintage Holiday Inn Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZSCjyUWPgE The Who “Can’t Explain”:...

The guys get into boy bands, big songs, and bad behavior (mixed with a little hotel history and a nod to classic literature) when a fan writes the show to ask about what really happened back in 1991 in their hometown of Louisville, KY when Jonathan, Jordan, Joey, Donnie and Danny came through for a night few would ever forget…

A listener inquiry finds Brian and Murdock calling on Lafe the Producer for help figuring out the lineage, the sex appeal and the lore that continues to encircle the name “Jeff Buckley.” What really went down on that Memphis riverside?   SHOW NOTES: Dream Brother (book) Everybody Here Wants You (BBC Doc) Tim Buckley and Mary Guibert Wedding Photo Jeff Buckley signs with Columbia https://yesterland.com/casafritos.html https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/decoding-the-shofar/ Jeff Buckley...

After consuming all the Creed/311 hotel bar antics, revisit episode 56 of the show, when the guys dug up ANOTHER hotel bar encounter involving a couple of classic rock heavy hitters.