Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my family, friends, and fans out there. 2024 has been a fantastic year for the podcast, and 2025 is going to be even bigger and better. Are you ready?

Please welcome to the podcast all the way from Vladivostok Russia, Queen Marie. We had to postpone the podcast prior to this recording as she was proposed to by her boyfriend. Congrats to you both. Queen Marie is the manager in MKW Pro Wrestling in China. She manages the heels in MKW. 

She moved to Harbin China to be a professional dancer and choreographer. Mariia moved to Shanghai and started her export business and will move to Dubai to grow her business.

Instagram - @memariia_7575 Wechat - MariiaKharitonova

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#queenmariia #queenmarie #mariiakharitonova #tellcraigyourstory #adriangomez #mkwprowrestling #bigsam #thestable #vladivostokrussia #shanghaichina #harbinchina #firefighter #vladimirputin #moscow #italy #wwe #aew #prowrestling 

Episode 163 - Please welcome to the podcast Finnish Artist, Model, and Author Jenna Rauten. Now residing in Shanghai, China, Jenna  has been painting for over ten years now, and her paintings have been sold worldwide. Her artwork has been featured in numerous exhibitions. Her recent exhibition, "Celebrate Life," received rave reviews. Jenna has recently finished writing her first fantasy novel, which will be published next year. Jenna has been a fashion model in Finland and has done fashion shows in Shanghai.

www.jennarauten.com Instagram @jennarauten Wechat @CallMeYenna

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#jennarauten #callmeyenna #tellcraigyourstory #artist #painter #author #dungeonsanddragons #finland #shanghaichina #australia #fantasynovel #fashionmodel #apocalyptica #muse #nothingelsematters

Running Down a Dream

Jenny

Reality's A Bitch

Roadie

Covered in Covid

Summer Breeze

18

All Apologies

I Wanna Be Sedated

Lady Maybe

Heavy metal band Chimera Cult join me on the podcast. After 2 years, the band will release their 2nd album Feral Well, on the 25th December. Tell Craig Your Story has the exclusive early release of 2 tracks from the new album. At the start of the podcast you heard "Feral Well" and at the end of the podcast you heard "Bore Through The Womb". In my opinion, Chimera Cult are one of the best foreign heavy metal bands in Shanghai. Mixed and Mastered by drummer Mark Kough

The full track listing- 1) Daddy's Home 2) Feral Well 3) Bore Through The Womb 4) Malevolent Chromosomes 5) The End Of Culture. 

Chimera Cult: Jason (Sishen) -Vocals, Trey- Guitar, Mark- Drums, Lloyd- Bass Guitar.

The band talks about why its taken so long for album release? The drummer mixing? Guitars and drums used on the album? Touring North America, Europe and South East Asia.

Please give us your feedback on the new tracks? www.chimeracult.com Instagram @chimeracult666

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#chimeracult #heavymetal #tellcraigyourstory #sishen #trey #mark #llloyd #shanghaichina #canada #usa #southeastasia #europe #feralwell #daddyshome #borethroughthewomb #malevolentchromosomes #theendofculture #december25th #exclusive #albumrelease #fenrir #inferno #cosmicworm

Finally, after 12 years of waiting (cancelled tour in 2019), Metallica announced last month that they will tour Australia and New Zealand next November 2025, in support of their 72 Seasons album.  The sold out tour will take in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland NZ. Who better to get on the podcast than our resident Metallica guru Jason Aird. Jason has just come back from a tour of Mexico City and we break down the Australian tour. Will this be the last time Metallica play in Australia? Why only one show in each city? Why no full stage setup? Why only 15 songs in the set?

We finish off by talking about the best Metallica shows we have seen. Jason- Sydney 1989, Newcastle 1998, 30th Anniversary shows 2011, S&M 1999 S&M2 2022, Orion Festival 2012/2013, Jonny Zazula Tribute Show 2022.

Craig- Newcastle 1998, 30th Anniversary Show 2011, Glendale 2008, Yankee Stadium Big 4 2011, Melbourne 2004.

What's your favourite Metallica show you have been to?

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#metallica #australiantour #tellcraigyourstory #jasonaird #mexicocity #jameshetfield #larsulrich #kirkhammett #robtrujillo #72seasons #newzealand #S&M #big4 #heavymetal #onenightonly #M72worldtour #norepeat #yankeestadium #metclub #metclublegacy #fifthmember

Episode 160 - Its an absolute honour to welcome to the podcast, Lead Vocalist of the Switzerland Electro Pop band Stevans, Yvan Franel. I was lucky enough to meet the band and see their live performance in Shanghai. Stevans have just finished a 2 week tour of China and including the Montreux Jazz Festival. The podcast was recorded the day after the release of the new single "You," which you heard at the start of the podcast, we also heard "P.L.A.Y.I.N.G".

Stevans released their first E.P in 2005 and have released 4 album to date. The band have toured around the world and supported Coldplay, Deep Purple and Snow Patrol. Stevans- Yvan Franel- (vocals, piano, guitar), Yann Secrest (Guitar, backing vocals). Instagram @stevansoffical @yvan_franel

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#stevans #stevansband #yvanfranel #tellcraigyourstory #playing #you #shanghaichina #genevaswitzerland #coldplay #thekillers #deeppurple #yannsecrest #zeelapord #electropop #popband #lefthandedguitar

Part 2 - Episode 159- As we all know, Metallica fans are predominately males. But today we will talk to 3 of the most passionate and hardcore female fans in the Metallica fan club. Dedicating their life to travelling all over the world. Please welcome- Katy Virgil, Camila Guerrero and Vee Kovach. Katy lives in Chicago USA, mother of 3, along with her husband follow the band all around the US and Europe. Camila lives in Adelaide, South Australia, who I consider the top 2 or 3 most hardcore Metallica fans I know. She has travelled around the world seeing the band 150 times, and I see her at the front of the line every show. Vee lives in Texas USA, and is the longest Metallica fan on the show, who follows the band around the US/ Canada and will tour Australia next year.

Here we talk about preparing the night before and the day of the show, where to stand with the current stage setup, Camila talks about the Detroit mosh pit, is it safe for females to go on the rail, a marriage proposal in the Madrid mosh pit, getting covid at the 40th Anniversary shows, setlists and the sound on the last tour. @kathrynlvirgil @camilarsz @veekovach @metallica

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#metallica #metclub #fifthmember #metclublegacy #dallaschapter #katyvirgil #camilaguerrero #veekovach #femalemembers #hardcore #dedicated #antartica #jameshetfield #larsulrich #kirkhammett #robtrujillo #jasonnewsted #cliffburton #marriageproposal #northamericantour # #metallicafamily #female #meetandgreet #moshpit #showday #40thanniversaryshows #covid 

Part 1 - Episode 158- As we all know, Metallica fans are predominately males. But today we will talk to 3 of the most passionate and hardcore female fans in the Metallica fan club. Dedicating their life to travelling all over the world. Please welcome- Katy Virgil, Camila Guerrero and Vee Kovach. Katy lives in Chicago USA, mother of 3, along with her husband follow the band all around the US and Europe. Camila lives in Adelaide, South Australia, who I consider the top 2 or 3 most hardcore Metallica fans I know. She has travelled around the world seeing Metallica play over 150 times, and I see her at the front of the line at every show. Vee lives in Texas USA, and is the longest Metallica fan on the show, who follows the band around the US/ Canada and will tour Australia next year.

Here we talk about the highs and lows of being a hardcore Metallica female fan. Camila talks about seeing Metallica play in Antarctica, the Metallica fan club lottery system for Meet and Greets, going to Metallica shows pregnant, Fear Festival, touring with Metallica travelling buddies, the financial burden of touring and jealous fans. @kathrynlvirgil @camilarsz @veekovach @metallica

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@tellcraigyourstory

#metallica #metclub #fifthmember #metclublegacy #localchapter #katyvirgil #camilaguerrero #veekovach #femalemembers #hardcore #dedicated #antartica #jameshetfield #larsulrich #kirkhammett #robtrujillo #jasonnewsted #cliffburton #pregnant #northamericantour #europiantour #metallicafamily #female #meetandgreet #fearfestival #orionfestival 

Episode 157- Small Paul AKA 小 保罗 (Paul Copeland) joins me in the studio. Born in England now residing in Shanghai, he is a man of many talents. He has won many awards over his career as a Creative Director at the Mill and Writer. Paul was also a DJ for 20 years and has also been a comedian. 

During the Covid lockdown, Paul decided to dress up and take photos of famous people. This collection of pictures has turned into a published book and his work can be seen at his Exhibition "Self Bore Traits" at Found Gallery Shanghai. The book and photos are now available. Paul has recently been involved in the 48 hour Film Project and speaks at the PechaKucha night.

Paul talks about his exhibition, working with Johnny Rotten of The Sex Pistol and meeting Oasis in New York.

Wechat @small_paul Instagram @smallsmallpaul

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#paulcopeland #smallpaul #tellcraigyourstory #xiaobaoluo #selfboretraits #pechakucha #england #creativedirector #writer #dj #comedian #davidbowie #48hourfilmproject #newyork #johnnyrotten #sexpistols #cottonnappies #monalisa #oasis #shanghaichina 

Part 2 - Finally, I got to do a podcast with award winning Comedian Ian Badenhorst. Born in South Africa, now residing in Shanghai China. Ian was a DJ and working with one of the biggest Chinese Entertainment company, but becoming a Stand Up Comedian was his passion with stories and jokes about living in China as a foreigner and having a Chinese wife. He has performed with International Comedians Tom Green and Jackie Fabulous. 

Ian has carved his name in the Shanghai comedy scene and has become the first Foreign Entertainer to get a full time Comedian Visa. In September, he won Comedian Of The Year at the "That's Shanghai" Awards night. Ian is a regular at the popular Spicy Comedy and is currently doing his "My Life In China" show to rave reviews. @ianbadenhorst www.ianbadenhorst.net

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#ianbadenhorst #spicycomedy #thatsshanghai #tellcraigyourstory #southafrica #mylifeinchina #shanghaichina #standupcomedian #comedy #bestcomedian #tomgreen #jackiefabulous #joewong #benfrank #deweyparker #maplezuo #lilyma #dawnwong #frankie #msgcomedy #hanq #norahyang #greenday #nofx #theramones #kiss #dj