In the final piece of my short run of Irish-themed episodes, I speak to Fergal Holmes, also known as "H", owner of DME Promotions. Fergal has been promoting metal and rock gigs in Ireland since 1999 and takes me from his early beginnings putting on gigs for the love of it, right though the development of a successful and profitable business. This is a story of hard work, loyalty, and earning respect of your peers, and the lessons learned along the way. 

On this episode, I speak to speak to John Bonham, singer in Irish metal bands Old Season and Celtic Legacy, as well as Iron Maiden tribute band - Iorn Maiden. Hear about receiving Skype singing lessons from Tony Harnell of TNT, auditions while having bronchitis, participation in talent show "The Voice", in both Ireland and the UK (and the inner-workings of such shows), and replacing singers in two established Irish metal bands.  John is an engaging and entertaining guest with many stories to tell, from multiple decades spent in the music industry in Ireland!

On this episode of Feckin' Metal I speak to Máirtín "Fart" Mac Cormaic, a heavy metal aficionado, former record store co-owner, record label owner, serial festival-goer, and friend to many in the heavy metal community at home and abroad. We talk about early introductions to metal, the Irish scene in the 1990s, travelling to festivals, giving up drinking, music collecting, encounters with Iron Maiden, and a whole lot more! Fart has been there, done that, and bought hundreds of t-shirts!

On the 37th anniversary of his death, Mick Wall and I celebrate the life of legendary Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott. Mick knew Phil back in the 1970s and 1980s, and draws from his extensive catalogue of first-hand stories, as we discuss the greatest Irish rock star of them all.

Previously released on Mick's podcast "Mick Wall", here is the chat I had with Mick about all things Maiden, featuring bonus content of our chats before and after the official recording!

This episode, recorded in August 2022, but never released, is a conversation between my friend Kevin and I, discussing the eventful day that we travelled by train from Dublin to Belfast to see Iron Maiden in June 2022, and a review of the concert itself. Plenty of stories and shenanigans in this one, and you'll definitely recognise some of the people who pop up!

In this lost episode from the Virtual XI series, I go back in time to April 2022 and excavate an episode that evaded the editing process. In it, Andrew DuBroy and I dissect the missing link of our never-ending Virtual XI story "Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger". Also included is a confessional from me, hoping to adequately explain my lengthy absence from your "New Episodes" list. Enjoy!

On this episode, I speak to Andrew and Chris from Nor'easter, a band based in Eastern Connecticut. A band that recorded an album in 1989, and disappeared off the face off the earth. These songs have never been heard, until now! Chris and Andrew talk me through the early days of the Nor'easter, and how they have never played an indoor show. We discuss their influences such as Ozzy, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, and Judas Priest, and their early 4 and and 8-track recordings, that were finally restored in 2022. Are they hard rock, metal, or prog? And what does the future hold? Listen to find out!

On this episode of Feckin' Metal, I speak to all three members of Armstrong Gun, who have recently self-released their self-titled debut album. You can hear all about how that came together, along with the meaning of the word "Scraggard", how Aretha Franklin is linked to the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal, and future plans for the band for the next 200,000 years! This was a very enjoyable and informative chat with an up and coming metal band whom I predict good things for in the future.

In the final part of my pentalogy (it's a thing, I looked it up), with Andrew DuBroy, we tackle the Spanish language, British and Argentinian history, an epic Iron Maiden album-closer, but mostly, our own sobriety. This is, of course, the final track on Virtual XI - Como Estais Amigos.

Let us know what you think, on Twitter @feckinmetalcast