Decibel Geek Podcast

Here at the Decibel Geek podcast we like to make a point to keep the show at around an hour. There's no mysterious reason for this. We don't want to overload you in one episode and an hour seems to be a good median length of enjoyment.

With that said, it can be a challenge for us in picking songs for an episode and a number of fantastic songs get purposely left on the drawing board due to their length. So, this week, we proudly give you The EPIC Episode!

This week's show features all songs that are 6 minutes and longer in length from a nice variety of artists running the gamut from the roots of NWOBHM to mid-80's thrash to a controversial guitar legend that speaks best through his guitar.

We start things off with our Geek of the Week. This week it's Tim James who left us an awesome voicemail on our hotline all the way from Australia! You can be eligible for Geek of the Week by joining the Facebook fan page or calling the voicemail hotline at (540) DBGeek-1.

Mother Love Bone's what-might-have-been legend seems to grow more as the years move on and Chris' choice of the mashup of 'Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns' from their 1989 Shine EP is a prime example of the emotional relevence of the late Andrew Wood.

For a fantastic view into Andrew's story, check out our friends at Legendary Rock Interviews' chat with his brother Kevin of the band Malkfunkshun. Good insight into a very troubled soul.

Aaron's first song choice clocks in at over 7 minutes long and comes from the Grammy-nominated album Persistence of Time. Anthrax's 'Keep it in the Family' is a an 80's tour-de-force of thrash metal from a band most deserving of their spot in The Big 4.

Anthrax has new material out in 2013 with the release of their new Anthems EP featuring covers of some great classic rock tunes. Look for a full review here on the site in the near future.

Returning from the first break is Chris' choice of a song that legendary rock writer Martin Popoff listed at #17 on his Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Time.

'Victim of Changes' from Judas Priest's sophomore Sad Wings of Destiny album features some of Rob Halfords most impressive vocals and truly fits the 'Epic' theme of this week.

With all of the change taking place in the early 90's as grunge began to swallow up the hair-metal genre, a group of crazies from Texas released their Cowboys from Hell album; signifying the arrival of groove-metal to the national scene. Pantera's 'Cemetary Gates' is, essentially, a pissed-off power ballad.

With a wide vocal range, vocalist Phil Anselmo spars with guitarist Dimebag Darrell towards the end of the song. This is the longest song in Pantera's catalog and Darrell's solo is considered an iconic piece of lead playing.

If there's one band that knows a lot about epic songs, it's Rush. Although 2112 is certainly near the top of the heap when it comes to epic songs, Chris decides to give a spin to something more recent with his pick of 'Seven Cities of Gold' from 2012's Clockwork Angels album.

Clocking in and over 7 minutes, the track features a thick guitar/bass mix, strong vocals from Geddy Lee, and the inevitable amazing drumming from Neil Peart. This song is helping to get Chris prepped for his upcoming experience seeing Rush in Nashville on May 1st.

Closing out the show a pick that is person to Aaron Camaro. His choice of 'Fred Bear' from Ted Nugent's 1995 Spirit of the Wild album brings back memories of growing up in the northern woods of Wisconsin.

While Ted Nugent is a very polarizing person when it comes to politics, this track proves that it's hard to argue with the amazing musicianship that he's churned out for over 40 years in the music industry.

We really enjoyed getting the chance to share some longer, "epic", songs with you this week and hope that you found something new to enjoy. If you did.....

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Mother Love Bone

Anthrax 

Judas Priest

Pantera

Rush

Ted Nugent

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This week's episode was a long time coming as it's the result of a suggestion by one of our faithful listeners over a year ago. 

Dissecting and discussing the non Ozzy/Dio era of Black Sabbath was no easy task for Aaron and Chris as, quite honestly, it's a grouping of albums and songs that mostly went overlooked by them during their younger years. 

Joining them to discuss this lost period for the forefathers of heavy metal is Rob Kern from the From Out of Nowhere podcast. Rob is a self-proclaimed fanboy of the 1983 Born Again album and has strong feelings (positive and negative) about all of the material released after it by Tony Iommi & co.

Going in chronological order, we begin with the aforementioned Born Again album from 1983. The only Black Sabbath album to feature former Deep Purple single Ian Gillan, this album was widely panned by critics but has become a cult favorite over the years. Opinions differ drastically among the hosts as they share facts about the controversial album cover, the over-the-top vocals from Gillan, and how the tour for the album factored into a major plot point for This is Spinal Tap. Rob's choice track from this album is Zero the Hero; a popular one among many fans of this album.

1986 saw Tony Iommi itching to go solo but the material he was crafting was forced to bear the Sabbath moniker due to pressures from Warner Brothers Records. Billed as Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi, Seventh Star sported a much more commercial sound as well as new vocalist Glenn Hughes. 

The only track that partially broke through the public consciousness was 'No Stranger to Love' due to it's appearance on MTV. Rob's choice of album opener 'In for the Kill' is the closest thing that old-school Sabbath fans could sink their teeth in.

Following the recording of Seventh Star, a crazy amount of personnel issues crept up with band members playing musical chairs and issues on tour forcing Hughes out of the band and a short stint with future Badlands singer Ray Gillen. Enter Tony Martin.

Tony Martin brought his full-throated voice to Black Sabbath for 1987's The Eternal Idol. Your hosts share some interesting stories about Gillen's exit, Eric Singer's short tenure, and a strange story about the making of the album cover. 

While not a retro-sounding tune, Aaron's choice of 'Glory Ride' is definitely one of the brighter spots on an otherwise forgotten album.

Black Sabbath closed out the 1980's with Headless Cross. The album has been praised by Iommi; no small feat considering his dismissal of most material from these years. 

When we solicited suggestions of some of our listeners favorite material from this era, the title track from this album came up quite often; necessitating a quick spin of the song. 

The 1990's began on a strange note for Black Sabbath as they released the pseudo-concept album TYR. 

Featuring a number of songs relating to Norse mythology, the album has been bashed by many critics and largely ignored by fans. Chris makes a case for some redeeming qualities on the album as he spins the track 'Valhalla' featuring a huge guitar riff. 

1994's Cross Purposes featured some stronger songwriting for the band; some would say from a guitar legend. It's been rumored that the track 'Evil Eye' was originally written by Eddie Van Halen but his appearance was scrapped due to record company politics and re-recorded by Iommi. It remains to be cleared up. 

One thing that is clear is the strength of Aaron's choice of 'Cardinal Sin' as a track to show off the album's highlights.

We finish things off with 1995's Forbidden album. Produced by Ernie C. and featuring an appearance by rapper Ice-T on 'The Illusion of Power,' Forbidden is an album released at a strange time for a veteran band that had been through a lot. 

Some lively discussion of this album includes Rob's take on how comical the album cover appears; especially if you substitute flowers for a scythe. 

These Black Sabbath albums will never sit comfortably alongside Paranoid, Sabotage, or Mob Rules; but that doesn't mean they should be ignored. We hope that we shed a little light on what the band went through during these lean years when the vast majority of the music-buying public ignored them. If you dug some of what you heard on this week's show.....

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After a heavy week of Dropping Names, we thought it would be a good idea to reflect on the past this week. Obviously, podcasting did not exist in the 1970's so please allow us to be silly this week as Decibel Geek presents Radio Revisited 1975!

What would the Decibel Geek podcast have sounded like if it were a radio show in 1975? We take you to an alternate universe this week and give you a sample of what it would have sounded like had Aaron & Chris been decked out in bell bottoms & platform shoes while spinning deep cuts from great classic rock and early metal bands from the eight-track era.

Starting things off on this rebroadcast from WDBG is a Aaron's choice of a track from an upcoming Australian band with an energetic guitarist and charismatic front man. AC/DC asks 'Can I Sit Next to You Girl?' from their T.N.T. album.

Up next is Chris' choice of Thin Lizzy covering (and improving) a great Bob Seger track in 'Rosalie from their awesome new album entitled Fighting.

This has been a big year for Alice Cooper as he steps into a solo career with Welcome to My Nightmare. Produced by Bob Ezrin and featuring new upstart guitarist Dick Wagner, Aaron's choice of album-close 'Escape' is a welcome addition to the airwaves.

We head into the first break with 'Anything for My Baby' from the band that's trying to steal Alice's shock rock throne; KISS. This track off their 'Dressed to Kill' album shows that there's more to this group of face-painted monsters than a flashy stage show.

Coming back to 2013 for a moment, we get a visit from friend of the show & co-host of the Dropping the Needle and Three Sides of the Coin shows, Mitch Lafon who is heading up an amazing crowd-funded benefit project designed to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of KISS. 'A World  With Heroes' features awesome cover songs spanning KISS' entire history performed by loads of Decibel Geek-approved artists. This project promises to be one (if not) the best KISS tribute album of all-time but it won't happen without your help! This is funded purely by your pledge and the money will go towards helping a cancer care hospice that has been a blessing for many families going through a very difficult time. Click HERE to see the artist roster and find out how you can help.

We come back from the break with a heavy track by Ozzy Osbourne and his partners in Black Sabbath as they break out 'Hole in the Sky' from the awesome new album Sabotage. It's impossible to imagine this band without Ozzy. We're betting that doesn't change.

One of the hottest trios going today is ZZ Top from Texas. Chris' choice of 'Nasty Dogs & Funky Kings' from their Fandango! album shows you just why. 

We return from our second break with another great band emerging from the deep south. Lynyrd Skynyrd have blasted their way out of Florida and are quickly gaining a foothold in the worldwide rock arena. Aaron's choice of 'On the Hunt' from their new Nuthin' Fancy album is a prime example of the swagger with which these southern rockers carry themselves.

A band from overseas that is being sorely ignored in today's rock radio is the Welsh band Budgie. Their new album Bandolier from MCA Records is chock full of thick riffs and catchy melody lines. Chris shows off the album with the cut 'I Ain't No Mountain.'

Aaron finishes his picks off with a heartfelt dedication to an ex-girlfriend that left a mark on his heart as he spins 'Miss Misery' off the recently-released Nazareth album, Hair of the Dog. A truly anti-romantic number.

Closing out the show is Chris' pick from the first solo-album from former Amboy Dukes' guitarist Ted Nugent. An artist that prefers to let the music do the talking, 'Stormtrooping' providing a boot-stomping ending to this week's show.

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AC/DC

Thin Lizzy

Alice Cooper

KISS

Black Sabbath

ZZ Top

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Budgie

Nazareth

Ted Nugent

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This week the Decibel Geek Podcast is here to kick ass and take names! Or is that drop names? Anyways there are many rock songs that have names in the title. Now I know that "Mandy" from Barry Manilow was the first thing to come to mind but that song fortunately didn't make Chris and AAron's playlist this time around. Instead they have chosen ten "Decibel Geek" approved tracks that are dropping names all over the place.

Up first the godfathers of metal, Black Sabbath kick off the show with "Johnny Blade" from the 1978 Never Say Die album. This was the last studio album with Ozzy and an album that Ozzy would later refer to as "the worst piece of work I have ever been involved in". I am sure the heavy drug and alcohol abuse might have been part of the problem.

Up next we have the band Johnny Rocket from Little Rock, Arkansas. AAron found this CD in a bin at Goodwill, and with a song entitled "Kiss, Clash and Johnny Cash" it certainly made this week's show. Three name drops in one song and gets our first KISS reference of the show!

From Chicago, Illinois the band Bad City pull out another Kiss reference with "Call Paul Stanley" from their 2010 debut album Welcome to the Wasteland. Paul Stanley actually endorsed the band, calling their album "an absolute knockout and the best album I've heard in ages. A killer, cohesive album of great rock and bombastic production that has been sorely missing. Every track is a winner and Bad City raises the bar out of most band's reach. It's really that good".

After starting off the show with Black Sabbath, we turn the tables and feature the Supersuckers (the self proclaimed greatest band in the world) and their song "OZZY" from their 1995 release, The Sacrilicious Sounds of the Supersuckers. Mixing a blend punk, grunge, country and rock these guys have recorded with Willie Nelson and opened for Motorhead and the Ramones.

1991 was the year that  Florida based band Saigon Kick released their debut album. This was the year that grunge was starting to get it's foothold and you can hear some of that sound creeping in to many of the bands of the time. Saigon Kick were one of those bands that seemed to straddle the rock/grunge fence and can be heard on the track "Suzy".

L.A. sleaze rockers Faster Pussycat get in on the action with "Mr. Lovedog" from 1992's Whipped album. Written as a eulogy for Andrew Wood, best known as lead singer of Mother Love Bone who had died of a heroin overdose in 1990. In retrospect, MLB's "Apple" album most likely would have been the first great Seattle Rock album of the 90's, and very likely that Andrew Wood would have been a bigger star that Kurt Cobain, and extremely likely none of us would have ever heard of Eddie Vedder.

The Bulletboys released their second album Freakshow in 1991. On that album was a killer funky cover of a Tom Waits song, "Hang On St. Christopher". The song made it to #22 on the US mainstream rock charts.

"Charlotte the Harlot" comes from the 1980 self titled debut album from Iron Maiden.

Written by Dave Murray and is said to be based on a true story. The Charlotte character would reoccur over the years in 3 more Maiden Tunes (22 Acacia Avenue, Hooks In You & From Here to Eternity), known to Maidenheads as the Charlotte Saga.Written by Dave Murray and is said to be based on a true story. The Charlotte character would reoccur over the years in 3 more Maiden Tunes (22 Acacia Avenue, Hooks In You & From Here to Eternity), known to Maidenheads as the Charlotte Saga.

After dropping the name of a Saint, Aerosmith are up next with a biblical name drop in the song "Adam's Apple". Off the 1975, Toys in the Attic album this track was written solely by Steven Tyler and produced by Jack Douglas.

Closing out all this name dropping is southern rock band Drive By Truckers and their song "Ronnie & Neil" From the 2001 album Southern Rock Opera, Ronnie and Neil is a song about the musical feud between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young. "Rock stars today ain't half as real. Speaking their minds on how they feel. Let them guitars blast for Ronnie & Neil".

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Black Sabbath

Johnny Rocket

Bad City

The Supersuckers

Saigon Kick

Faster Pussycat

Bulletboys

Aerosmith

Drive By Truckers

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That's right everyone it's time for another "Radio Sucks" episode of the Decibel Geek Podcast because as you know, radio sucks. So once again Chris and AAron put on the DJ hats and spin some great music that you probably will not hear on your radio dial. So just sit back, relax, open your ears real wide and say "give it to me straight Decibel Geek Podcast. I can take it!"

Chris' pick of Heaven's Basement performing "I Am Electric" is a testament to how important you, the listener, are to this show as a suggestion from listener Devin Fox impressed us so much that it took the place of one of our previously picked songs. This is a great, energetic track from their debut album Filthy Empire that starts the show off right. Dig it!

Up next is "Tomorrow Never Comes" from Saints of the Underground, the heavy metal super-group featuring members of Ratt, Warrant, Alice Cooper. From the 2008 release "Love the Sin, Hate the Sinner" this would be Jani Lane's last full length album release, he passed away on August 11th, 2011.

Bruce Kulick released his BK3 album in 2010 and he utilized some "friends" as guest vocalists throughout the album. "Ain't Gonna Die" is one of those tracks that featured the vocal stylings of Gene Simmons. A great little rocker that you won't hear on your local radio station.

Nu Metal band turned straight ahead rockers, Papa Roach are "Still Swinging" from their 2012 The Connection album. This may seem like an unorthodox pick for the Decibel Geek podcast but we think you'll agree that this group has definitely matured their sound since their earlier days.

In 1993 Kerrang Magazine voted Earth vs. The Wildhearts, the debut album from The Wildhearts as the number #1 album of the year. A band with quite an interesting and unpredictable history, Chris and AAron spin "TV Tan" from their debut album.

Also in 1993 producer Tom Werman (Motley Crue, Cheap Trick, Poison, Nugent, LA Guns, etc.) was at the helm for Pariah's To Mock a Killingbird" album. An amazing album featuring the tune "Love To Turn You On" but the band was dropped by Geffen records.

Swiss band Shakra formed in the late 90's and have released 11 albums including 2013's Powerplay album. Turned on to the Decibel Geek Podcast from the Talking Metal podcast, "Back On Track" is the title track from their 2011 album on AFM Records

Up next is 100 Watt Opera - "Servant" from their self titled 2005 album. This is a band that AAron recently discovered right in his backyard of Nashville. Veterans of the Nashville club circuit, 100 Watt Opera are an impressive group of Music City rockers that deserve your attention.

Closing out the show this week, you wanted the best, you got the best! The hottest band in the world.....KISS! If your hungry and you need a meal you can always call for a little "Room Service" from their 1975 Dressed to Kill album.

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Heaven's Basement

Loudmouth

Saints Of The Underground 

Bruce Kulick

Papa Roach

The Wildhearts 

Pariah

Shakra

100 Watt Opera

KISS 

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2013 marks the 40th year of existence for Hottest Band in the Land. So, it makes perfect sense for us to use episode 73 (as in, 1973) as a chance to time travel to numerous destinations that played a part in the overall history of KISS.

Joining on this global KISS trek is author Chris Epting. Chris is the perfect guest for this conversation as he's written a number of travel-related books on different eras of pop culture as well as his recently-released e-book, 'All I Need to Know I Learned from KISS: Life Lessons from the Hottest Band in the Land.' This book is filled with stories of how being a KISS fan shaped Chris' life and affects him even today. If you are a hardcore KISS fan, this book is definitely for you as it will certainly elicit some familiar emotions.

1. 10 E. 23rd Street - The Loft

The birthplace of KISS. This location is the spot where Paul, Gene, & Peter first auditioned Ace Frehley and the band took shape. The location is now next door to a comic book store that has an inventory that includes KISS comic books. Go figure.

2. 108 116 W. 43rd St. - Hotel Diplomat

The location that allowed KISS to secure management as Bill Aucoin, Sean Delaney, & Eddie Kramer all witnessed this hungry, young band that wore lots of makeup and electrified the audience in this downtrodden ballroom. A great history of the Hotel Diplomat can be found HERE.

3. 47-03 Queens Blvd. - Coventry

Site of some of the earliest KISS shows before they became a touring act. Coventry changed their name from 'Popcorn' just as KISS began their run playing the location. Footage of one of their Coventry performances is on the KISSOLOGY series of DVDs. A fantastic in-depth history can be found HERE

4. 4 Pennsylvania Plaza - Madison Square Garden

The site where KISS' dream was realized. During the band's earliest years, while performing at dive bars all over the country to sparse crowds, the band would psyche themselves up by imagining that that night's venue was "the Garden." This is also the site of this week's guest Chris Epting's first concert in 1977.

5. Starwood Ampitheatre - July 21, 1990

The site of Chris Czynszak's first KISS concert, Starwood is no longer in existence but it provided a venue for many KISS tours during the 90's and early 2000's.

6. 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI - Veterans Memorial Coliseum

The site of Aaron Camaro's first KISS concert on the Revenge tour in 1992 on December 2, 1992.

7. 106 E. 86th Street - Park Avenue United Methodist Church

The front door of this church in Manhattan was the inspiration for the door used on the Music from the Elder album cover.

8. 400 Linden Street, Cadillac, MI - Cadillac High School

The site of the infamous KISS invasion of Cadillac! What a lot of us would give to time travel back!

9. 124 Broadway, Amityville, NY - The Daisy

The site of KISS' foray into the makeup characters we know and love today. It's rumored that their first show at the venue, which was sparsely attended, featured the band covering 'Go Now' by The Moody Blues.

10. 126 E. 14th Street, NYC - Academy of Music/The Palladium

A very KISStoric site as it was the venue that hosted the band's "coming out" party to a shocked group of industry onlookers as the band upstaged headliners Iggy Pop and Blue Oyster Cult. This venue was also the site of Eric Carr's debut performance with KISS in 1980.

11. 6230 Sunset, Hollywood - Aquarius Theatre 

Site of tv taping for ABC's In Concert hosted by Dick Clark in 1974.  KISS' earliest television appearance.

12. 1032 N. Sycamore Avenue, LA, CA - The Record Plant

Site of recording for parts of Paul Stanley (1978 solo album), Killers, and Creatures of the Night. 'Nuff said.

13. 1616 Butler Avenue, LA, CA - The Village Recorder

Site of recording for Hotter than Hell & parts of Paul Stanley (1978 solo album).

14. 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia, CA - Magic Mountain

Now owned by Six Flags Corp, Magic Mountain was the shooting location of the infamous KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park television movie from 1978. Loved and hated by the fan base, the park still features the Colossus roller coaster that is featured prominently in the film.

15. 5th & Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA - KYW-TV Studios

Site of KISS' appearance on the Mike Douglas show. Filmed in the basement studio, the show featured a bizarre interview panel with Gene Simmons on stage with comedian Robert Kline and comedienne Totie Fields who skewered the demon in front of a national audience.

16. 30 Rockefeller Plaza, NBC Productions Studios, New York, NY - The Tomorrow Show

While '30 Rock' is well known for a whole host of famous television moments, none is more important to KISS fans than what took place on Halloween night in 1979 as Ace Frehley stole the show much to Gene & Paul's horror and Peter's delight.

17. 237 West 54th Street, NY,NY - Bell Sound Studios

The home recording studio of Bell Records with a history dating back to Buddy Holly, the band used this studio to record their self-titled debut album in 1974.

18. 52 W. 8th Street, NY,NY - Electric Lady Studios

The house that Hendrix built has been the home to many important moments in KISStory including the Wicked Lester recordings, first album demos, Dressed to Kill, Peter Criss (1978 solo album), Dynasty, and Asylum to name a few.

19. 105 2nd Avenue, NY, NY - Filmore East

The site of KISS' debut to the press in a special concert presented in January of 1974.

20. 2-3 Kitanomarukōen, Chiyoda, Tokyo - Budokan

A very pivotal location in KISS' history as the band broke attendance records in the 70's previously held by the Beatles and has hosted the band in each decade since to much fanfare. Japan's love of KISS is timeless.

21. Morumbai Stadium, Sao Paulo, Brazil

The site of KISS last show in makeup (at the time). While the band had hit a major low point in popularity in America, the fans in South America were only too happy to fill mammoth soccer stadiums and show the band that they 'love it loud.'

22. 2000 E. Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA - Anaheim Stadium

Site of KISS' first-ever stadium show in 1976, this appearance seemed to help mark KISS' transition from popular group to superstars.

23. West 46th Avenue & 12th Avenue, Pier 86 - USS Intrepid

Location of the official announcement of KISS' reformation in 1996. The event was emceed by Conan O'Brien and attended by fans and press from all over the world.

24. 665 West Jefferson Blvd, LA, CA - Shrine Auditorium

Location of KISS' first appearance in makeup with the original band at the 1996 Grammy Awards. The band only showed up to present an award with Tupac Shakur and didn't tip their hand regarding a reunion. But the writing was clearly on the wall.

25. 460 West 54th Street, NY, NY -Sony Studios

Site of KISS' appearance on MTV Unplugged, the night ended on a high note with Peter Criss and Ace Frehley joining the band for a few songs and encores and sparking the reunion that would take shape shortly after.

26. Brooklyn Bridge NY, NY

Site of KISS' appearance on the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards, KISS originally chose Ellis Island for their appearance but couldn't secure proper permits in time. Instead, they put on a blistering performance in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge that has gone down as one of the musical highlights from the reunion of the original band.

27. 314 Hermitage Avenue, Nashville, TN - Muther's Music Emporium 

An 800 seat facility in Nashville in the early 1970's that hosted a number of lesser-known acts working their way up the ladder that included Ted Nugent, Bruce Springsteen, and a face-painted group known as KISS on their first tour. Die hard KISS fans will recognize the venue name due to a handful of photos of Ace Frehley donning their logo on a t-shirt in the 70's.

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KISS

Get Chris Epting's new E-book 'All I Need to Know I Learned from KISS'!

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Ahhh yes, Valentines Day is here and love is in the air. This week Chris and AAron take us on board the tunnel of love as the Decibel Geek podcast serves up one "for the ladies." Now, before you all go running for  the doors, I will assure you that you will not hear any Barbara Streisand, no Celine Dion, and definitely no Luther Vandross.

These love songs are all Decibel Geek approved. So grab your sweetheart, open a bottle of wine, unwrap that new box of chocolates and remember "clothing is optional". Personally I can't think of a better way than to spend Cupid's special day with Chris and Aaron, your signifigant other and the Decibel Geek Podcast.

Who better to get this love fest started than former Motley Crue vocalist, John Corabi. John recently released his new acoustic album and up first on the show is the beautiful "If I Had A Dime." This track was co-written by none-other than friend of the Decibel Geek podcast D.A. Karkos.

Aaron takes us on a journey back to the early 90's with a power ballad tailor-made for the 80's with Tuff's I Hate Kissing You Goodbye from their What Goes Around Comes Around album. 

One thing we've definitely come to notice on the Decibel Geek podcast is that there's a very big world out there with lots of great music. One band that is sadly under-appreciated in the States is Thunder. We try to bring a little spotlight their way with a spin of 'Love Walked In' on this romantic day.

Speaking of under-appreciated bands, Stateside Chicago natives Enuff Z'nuff are one of the unsung greats of the late 80's and early 90's rock scene. Unfairly lumped in with many generic "hair" bands, Donnie Vie and company have a long career of great melodic rock songwriting and Aaron's choice of How am I Supposed to Write a Love Song? is a prime example of their talent. 

While Poison took the world by storm in the mid 1980's after making the westward trek from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, the band the helped give them their blueprint was not nearly acknowledged for their contribution. KIX's brief window of fame culminated with Chris' choice of one of the most well-structured power ballads of the 80's with Don't Close Your Eyes from the Blow My Fuse album.

When Jizzy Pearl isn't blacked out in the redroom or writing one of his best selling books you might be surprised to know he can also lay down a pretty nice love song - "How'd I Get So Lonely"

While Chris and Aaron don't typically spin anything that has a southern tinge to it, it doesn't mean that there isn't a bevy of great music from that region. While we typically solely focus on hard rock and heavy metal, this week seems like an appropriate time to introduce you to The Bluefields. Consisting of Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites), Warner Hodges (Jason & the Scorcers), and Joe Blanton (Royal Court of China), The Bluefields are the outgrowth of a group of well-experienced and supremely talented now-Nashville residents. Their 2012 album Pure has caused many in the rock and roll world to sit up and take notice. Thanks to listener Tim Harrigian for turning us on to this great band that is right in our back yard. You'll be hearing more from this group in the future!

Certainly one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs to come from sleaze rockers LA Guns as they keep the love going with "The Ballad" from the oh so sensitive Waking the Dead album. It was a tough choice between this track and Hellraiser's Ball.

The road is a lonely place for many a rock and roll band. With all those long after show parties, scantilly clad groupies and thousands of worshipping fans it must make you wish you were home. "Coming Home" from the Long Cold Winter Album has Tom and the boys in Cinderella capturing those lonely moments on the road.

For you fellas that stuck it out through all of the mushy stuff we played for your better-halves today, we end the show with something just for you with Steel Panther's heartwarming rendition of Community Property from their Feel the Steel album. Thanks for hanging in there!

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John Corabi

Tuff

Thunder

Enuff Z'nuff

Kix

Jizzy Pearl

The Bluefields

LA Guns

Cinderella

Steel Panther

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After taking a 2 week long look at 1986, we're taking a detour back to Bizarro World with our third installment of Bizarro Covers.

What are Bizarro Covers, you ask? Basically, these are songs that were not originally considered hard rock/metal (mostly) and are being covered by, you guessed it, hard rock and metal bands. There's no shortage of strange cover songs out there and we're happy to share, what we think, are some of the best. 

We start things off with Yngwie Malmsteen's take on an ABBA disco classic. Of course, Yngwie shows complete restraint; letting the song breathe and allow lots of open space to take in the lyrics.....NOT. Either way, it's an interesting approach to this sugary pop number.

Next up is a case of Germany covering Australia as power metal veterans Sinner cover the Midnight Oil 80's classic Beds Are Burning.

We keep the German theme going with power/speed metal legends Blind Guardian's 1996 cover of the 1954 Chordettes sugary Mr. Sandman. Not quite as snuggly as the original.

Keeping with the old-school vibe, Aaron pulls out The Misfits covering the 1960 Drifters hit This Magic Moment for their Project 1950 album. Jerry Only in fine form on this one.

We break new ground coming out of the first break with a cover of a Lady Gaga track! Before you hit the 'unsubscribe' button, give us a chance to expose you to a great performance of Bad Romance by Halestorm.

Being the KISS nerds that we are, we couldn't help but pull out a great version of 1977's Plaster Caster from the Love Gun album performed by grunge forerunners The Lemonheads.

We really go deep into Bizarro World with the next track being a cover of A-ha's 1985 hit Take on Me from Italian progressive power metal band Vision Divine. You get extra cool points if you've heard this track before.

In keeping with strange cover versions, Aaron's choice of Mindless Self Indulgence's cover of Rush's Tom Sawyer will have you looking at the song in a whole new way.

Paul Stanley really created a monster (no pun intended) when he penned a song titled Hide Your Heart in the late 1980's. Originally a rejected song from the Crazy Nights album, Stanley put the song on the open market and it was snapped up by a number of different artists including Bonnie Tyler, Molly Hatchet, and Ace Frehley with Frehley's version being the only one that could compete with KISS' release of the song for their 1989 Hot in the Shade album. We take a serious listen to Ace's version of the song from his Trouble Walkin' solo release. 

Closing out the show is a Doro Pesch cover of Procol Harum's 1967 timeless classic A Whiter Shade of Pale. A definitely more rocked-up version of this Summer of Love number.

We hope you've enjoyed this visit to Bizarro World! If you did......

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Yngwie Malmsteen

Sinner

Blind Guardian

Misfits

Halestorm

The Lemonheads

Vision Divine

Mindless Self Indulgence

Ace Frehley

Doro Pesch

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Continuing our journey through 1986, Chris and Aaron jump right into their spandex pants and get things rolling. Chris gets the shredding started with his first pick, Vinnie Vincent Invasion's "Do You Wanna Make Love?"

Not just one former Kiss guitarist was busy in 1986. The same year Vinnie Vincent invaded, Mark St. John also released new music with White Tiger. The self titled debut album also featured Mike Norton (Mark's brother) on bass and David Donato on lead vocals. Aaron's pick from the album is "Runaway".

Keeping in line with the Kiss Guitar Tri-fecta, next up is a band produced by Gene Simmons and featuring future Kiss guitarist Tommy Thayer. Black n Blue release Nasty Nasty and the title track is chosen as the third pick of the show.

Always room for Motorhead "Built for Speed" from 86's Orgasmatron album is Aaron's next pick. Although with such a heavy, awesome album it was tough to choose just one.

Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet album released in 1986 would go on to be the best selling album of 1987. The hits from this album are still played every hour on mainstream radio so Chris chooses to spin "Social Disease" one of the few songs from this album not normally heard on the radio.

Aaron's pick, "Face the Day" comes from Great White's second album Shot In The Dark. This album was an independent release and was the catalyst to them signing with Capital Records.

The mighty Iron Maiden released Somewhere In Time in 1986 and Chris chooses "Sea of Madness". Up the Irons!!

Aaron's up next with "Slip of the Lip" from Sunset strip rockers Ratt. Ratt's Dancing Undercover album was their third release and although it didn't fare as well in sales as their previous release it did reach #26 on the US charts.

1986 was a banner year for thrash metal and of course Aaron chooses to assault our ears with some Slayer. Reign in Blood, some say the prototypical thrash metal album and Aaron spins "Raining Blood"

After the onslaught of pure evil, Chris gets melodic and a little spiritually uplifting with Styper.  "Calling On You" from the To Hell With The Devil album is about as far from Slayer as you can possibly get but goes to show how diverse metal can be.

Right back into the thrash scene, Megadeth released Peace Sells But Who's Buying in 1986 as  Dave Mustaine continued his personal war with Metallica. "Wake Up Dead" is Chris's choice from this metal masterpiece.

Blackie and the boys in WASP release Inside The Electric Circus. The last album to feature Steve Riley on drums as he would leave to join LA Guns. Aaron chooses "The Rock Rolls On" for your dining and dancing pleasure.

One of Canada's greatest exports the Killer Dwarfs are busy in 1986 releasing Stand Tall and going on the road with Iron Maiden. "Believe In Me" is Chris's next choice as we start to wind down this incredible year of music.

One band that definitely embraced past influences and created a sound that would help mold the alternative movement of the 90's was Bad Brains. In 1986 they released I Against I, their 3rd studio album. Chris' choice of Secret 77 is a marriage between early 80's punk-meets-reggae and what would become the genre of grunge a few short years later.

Aaron's last pick of the night is Tesla's "EZ Come, EZ Go" from 1986's Mechanical Resonance album. A dirty, gritty no-nonsense rock band, Tesla seemed far removed from much of the spandex and hairspray of the day.

And with that, 1986 is in the Decibel Geek books!

Vinnie Vincent Invasion

White Tiger

Black n Blue

Motorhead

Bon Jovi

Great White

Iron Maiden

Ratt

Slayer

Stryper

Megadeth

WASP

Killer Dwarfs

Tesla

Bad Brains

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We return this week to fire up the flux capacitor and go back in time. After a quick hop, skip, and jump last time with the 2000 Year in Review parts 1 and 2 we go all the way back to a time filled with hairspray, neon, and keyboards....lots and lots of keyboards; 1986!

1986 saw the continued solo success of Ozzy Osbourne with the release of his Ultimate Sin album. Featuring the excellent fretwork of guitarist Jake E. Lee and a more melodic sound, the album would go on to sell over 2 million copies. Aaron's choice from the album is a smart one.

In 1986, the hard rock world celebrated Valentine's Day with the release of The Big Prize by Canadian rockers Honeymoon Suite. Chris' choice of a hit track from the album that was subsequently featured on Miami Vice is full of attitude.

Aaron goes back to the Violent Femmes well with a track from their 3rd album, 'The Blind Leading the Naked' that addresses their concerns of the nation's first lady of the time. Short, but entertaining.

We head into the first break of the show with Chris' pick of a non-disposable track from Metallica's legendary Master of Puppets album. Hailed by many as the greatest metal album of all-time, it still holds up very well to this day. You don't need a time machine with this album; it's still as vital today as it was in 1986.

We come back from the break with a track from a a band that was mired in drama. 5150 was Van Halen's first public musical outing since the departure of David Lee Roth. With a much slicker, commercialized sound, 5150 featured the vocal stylings of already-established solo artist Sammy Hagar. The public immediately took to the radio-friendlier sound of Van Halen and the album peaked at #1. Chris' choice of a track from this album has a personal connection to his childhood and memories of watching hours and hours of music videos on MTV.

Judas Priest adopted also adopted a slicker sound in 1986 with the release of Turbo. Featuring less bone-crunching guitar riffs and more melodic vocals, Turbo received lukewarm reviews from Priest die-hards. Aaron's song choice from Turbo sums up the newly-intended direction of Judas Priest nicely.

With KISS not producing an album in 1986, Gene Simmons was on to other business ventures. One of those ventures included producing other bands. One of those bands was Keel. Fronted by namesake, Ron Keel, The Final Frontier was released on April 30th, 1986 and included the single Because the Night written by Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen. Aaron's song choice from the album demonstrates that Keel was definitely overlooked in the tidal wave of mid-80's hard rock bands.

One band in 1986 that was certainly not overlooked was Poison. Hailing from the gutters of Hollywood, Poison worked their way up the ranks of the Susnet Strip; garnering attention from record companies. 1986's debut album Look What the Cat Dragged In was an exercise in what has become known as sleeze-rock 

We come back from break #2 with a track from AC/DC that was not only from their Who Made Who album but was also featured on the motion picture soundtrack for the Stephen King-directed film Maximum Overdrive. 

One of the most famous concert videos of all time was shot in 1986 as Queen performed in front of 72,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in what would go on to also become the Live at Wembley '86 double live album. The tour was in support of their A Kind of Magic album that was released that year and Chris' song choice was also included in the Top Gun knockoff Iron Eagle.

While a lot of hard rock bands were exploding off the Sunset Strip in the early to mid 80's, Cinderella was launching their career from the east coast in Philadelphia. Fronted by the gritty-voiced Tom Keifer along with guitarist Jeff Labar, bassist Eric Brittingham, and drummer Fred Coury; Cinderella had a much more blues-based sound than their "hair" metal counterparts. Aaron's choice from the 1986 release Night Songs is a prime example of that sound.

2012 saw a lot of drama in the Queensryche camp but thankfully, that wasn't the story back in 1986. Chris' selection of a track from their Rage for Order album is a look back to a much happier and productive time for the Seattle-born band.

The Japanese metal band Loudness released their sixth studio album, Lightning Strikes, in 1986. Already a household name in Japan, this album helped bring the band more exposure in the American marketplace. With a slicker sound more akin to the glam rock that was dominating the charts at the time, Lightning Strikes received favorable reviews from critics while losing a bit of their hardcore fan base at the same time. Chris' choice from the album has some blazing guitar work.

The band that kicked off the Sunset Strip explosion a few years before was on there way out of fashion by 1986. Quiet Riot released QRIII to a disinterested public. Featuring no Slade cover songs, QRIII peaked at #31 on the Billboard charts and failed to reach Gold certification; quite a plunge from their multi-platinum status just a few years earlier. Chris' choice from the album shows that the public may have missed out on a solid album.

We close things out with the other side of the Van Halen split with Aaron's choice of a great track from David Lee Roth's amazing Eat 'Em & Smile album. Diamond Dave is in his full glory with an all-star band consisting of bassist Billy Sheehan, guitarist Steve Vai, and drummer Craig Bissonnette. What more could you ask for? 

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King Diamond

Ozzy Osbourne

Honeymoon Suite

Violent Femmes

Metallica

Van Halen

Judas Priest

Keel

Poison

AC/DC

Queen 

Cinderella

Queensryche

Loudness

Quiet Riot

David Lee Roth

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