The CMS Network’s Substack Podcast

JJ French is back on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame warpath — and once again, he’s calling out the Hall for keeping Twisted Sister on the outside looking in.

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But before anybody starts demanding an induction, **maybe it’s time to actually look at the numbers.**

The guys go straight at Twisted Sister’s career: the massive 1984 breakthrough, the records that followed, the sales that came crashing back down, and the uncomfortable question of whether the band built a deep enough catalog and legacy to justify a place in the Rock Hall.

Was Twisted Sister a genuine force that deserves recognition — or did **“Stay Hungry,” “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” and “I Wanna Rock”** create a legacy far bigger than the rest of the band’s career?

And just how seriously should anyone take these Hall of Fame demands when the argument seems to get louder than the actual résumé?

**Is Twisted Sister really Rock Hall material — or is JJ French fighting for a legacy that the numbers don’t support?**

Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

All comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Quiet Riot has a new voice — **but is John Torra walking into one of the toughest jobs in rock?**

The guys dig into young vocalist John Torra becoming the latest in a long, increasingly crowded line of singers to step behind the microphone for Quiet Riot. What does it actually take for a new vocalist to make an established band’s legacy work without simply becoming another guy wearing someone else’s jersey?

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And that opens the door to a much bigger problem facing rock: legacy acts continuing to push forward with ever-changing lineups, familiar band names being stretched long after the original members are gone, and tribute-style replacements trying to recreate something that fans originally fell in love with decades ago.

Meanwhile, modern record labels seem completely clueless about how to launch young rock artists in the first place. Why are hyped-up new records struggling to make an impact on the streaming charts while established names keep getting recycled?

**Is the future of rock about discovering the NEXT John Torra — or desperately trying to keep yesterday’s names alive?**

Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

All comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Metal isn’t dead — **but holy shit, the price of being a classic rock fan might be!**

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The guys tear into the absolutely insane economics of modern concertgoing, including one VIP package so ridiculously expensive that you could damn near buy a decent used car for the same money. And somehow, that’s only the beginning.

Then things get even more bizarre: a chaotic tribute to a legendary frontman, 95-year-old sci-fi icons attempting to tackle heavy metal classics, and the uncomfortable reality of watching the heroes you grew up with get older right in front of you.

So what the hell happened to rock concerts? Did the music industry completely lose its mind — or have fans simply become willing to pay whatever it takes to stay close to their heroes?

The answers might piss you off.

Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

All comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

The guys are back to break down a chaotic week of live shows, wild backstage encounters, and the relentless speed of time passing by. From road stories with Dokken, Lita Ford, and Lynch Mob to surprising run-ins with faces from two decades ago, nothing is off-limits. Plus, a dive into binge-worthy TV series, classic mob movies, and an unfiltered rant about why people are completely losing their minds over AI tech.

GET THE DOKKEN BOX SET ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/46Hn8LD

Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

All comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Quiet Riot just hired a 23-year-old singer. Judas Priest is giving Sad Wings Of Destiny another 50th-anniversary treatment. And Jay Jay French is still asking why Twisted Sister can’t get the Rock Hall’s respect.

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What do these stories have in common?

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Maybe the future of classic metal isn’t what we think it is.

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Tonight on THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW, Neeley and Chris dig into the bands, the business, the nostalgia and the questions nobody wants to ask.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

We’ve covered some bizarre stories over the years, but this headline completely breaks the scale. It’s a fast descent into absolute media madness, and honestly, the deeper you look into the details, the less sense the whole thing makes.

If you’re watching this here, you’re already late.The full episode, exclusive third segment, and early interviews are already on Locals:https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

💰 REVENUE BLOCK

Casual fans skip this. Real fans don’t.

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Before the internet ruined everything, high school had a completely different economy. Chris opens up the vault to share how a 15-year-old kid in the mid-180s managed to run a highly lucrative, neighborhood-level operation right under his parents’ noses. From pre-rolling joints in a hidden pool box to dodging store detectives as a KMart shoplifting decoy, this isn’t a lecture—it’s a gritty, unfiltered look at how the street-level hustle actually worked when nobody was watching.

If you’re watching this here, you’re looking at the scraps. The full, uncensored episode, the exclusive third segment, and early access interviews live on Locals:

https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Vinnie Vincent has launched an auction featuring KISS memorabilia, stage-used guitars, handwritten lyrics, contracts, clothing, publishing rights and more. Some of the asking prices—including a $50,000 belt and $200,000 music copyrights—have become major talking points. We break down the most surprising items and prices from the collection.

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Vinnie Vincent is putting decades of KISS and Vinnie Vincent Invasion history on the auction block—and some of the prices are turning heads.

From stage-used guitars and handwritten lyrics to clothing, contracts, passports and even music copyrights, the collection includes some truly unique pieces of rock history.

Would you pay $50,000 for a belt or $90,000 for a guitar?

Check out the full breakdown and decide for yourself. 🤘💰

#VinnieVincent #KISS #ClassicMetal #MetalNews #RockMemorabilia #HardRock #ClassicMetalShow #RockHistory #Auction #GuitarCollector

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

Something about this conversation between Chris Akin and guest host Jim Bartek hits a nerve.

What started as a discussion about Geoff Tate’s comments quickly turned into a much bigger question about legacy, performance, and what fans are willing to overlook.

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Some fans think people are being too harsh.

Others think the criticism is long overdue.

If you’re watching this here, you’re already late.

The full episode, exclusive third segment, and early interviews are already on Locals:

https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

The public clip barely scratches the surface.

What do YOU think?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe

For decades, fans believed they knew the story behind Whitesnake’s massive 1987 album.

Now John Sykes is challenging that version of history.

From claims about songwriting credit to accusations involving David Coverdale’s recording sessions, this interview has reopened one of hard rock’s longest-running disputes.

RARE VINYL OF THE WHITESNAKE 1987 ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION: https://amzn.to/3SBfJte

If you’re watching this here, you’re already late.

The full episode, exclusive third segment, and early interviews are already on Locals:

https://classicmetalshow.locals.com

Some fans believe Sykes finally said what needed to be said.

Others think this is nothing more than old bitterness resurfacing.

The real discussion happened on Locals.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe