The CMS Network’s Substack Podcast

Let’s not pretend the music industry makes any sense anymore. Usually, guys in bands the size of Def Leppard don’t talk to anyone outside of rolling stone, corporate radio, or major television networks. They live behind a wall of publicists and management teams whose entire job is to keep things sterile.

But somehow, things took a completely different turn this week.

Chris Akin ended up on a call with Phil Collen to talk about his side project, Manraze. If you’re a casual fan, you probably didn’t even know this project existed. But for real music fans, it raises a lot of questions about how these legacy artists view their own massive hits versus the music they make when nobody is forcing them into a stadium.

Something about the way this came together feels completely different from the standard corporate press junket. Chris didn’t just ask the same three questions everyone else has been asking for forty years. He actually pushed for a real answer on what it feels like to write a song like “Pour Some Sugar On Me”—a track that transcends rock music and became an absolute cultural permanent fixture.

But as good as the interview was, it sparked a much darker, much more cynical conversation between the hosts about what happens the second you put content like this out on the modern internet.

The Toxic Reality Of Modern Fans

A lot of fans aren’t sure what to make of the host’s attitude lately, but let’s be entirely honest. The second you achieve something cool in the modern landscape, the internet comment sections show up to ruin it.

The hosts didn’t hold back on the absolute state of social media platforms, specifically targetting the “white knights” who feel the need to defend multi-millionaire rock stars from hypothetical insults. There’s a bizarre entitlement with modern music fans where every opinion that isn’t blind praise is treated like an act of aggression.

It’s reached a point where creators are openly admitting they don’t even want to interact with the people listening. It makes you wonder—if the fans are this toxic, and the platforms reward the worst behavior, how much longer do we actually have before the real, unfiltered conversations disappear completely?

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The gatekeepers of rock history are making decisions that don’t make any sense, and legacy artists are scrambling to handle the fallout. From the messy politics behind who gets into the Rock Hall to veteran musicians dropping “reimagined” tracks nobody asked for, the line between honoring the past and exploiting it is completely blurred.

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

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Let’s face it—we’ve spent the better part of the last two decades on this show laughing at the stupid things Dave Mustaine says. He’s usually the poster child for shooting off his mouth before engaging his brain. But hell has officially frozen over, because Mustaine just dropped a truth bomb that every single multi-millionaire rock star needs tattooed on their forehead: Stop telling your fans how to vote. Voting used to be sacred and private. Now, you’ve got self-righteous millionaires like Bruce Springsteen or tone-deaf turncoats like Kid Rock using their platforms to alienate half their audience. If you step up to a microphone and tell half of the people who bought a ticket that they’re pieces of trash for their political beliefs, you aren’t a righteous activist—you’re a corporate hack destroying your own legacy. Mustaine, an independent who actually writes songs about politics, realizes his job is to entertain, not to pastor a political flock.

Meanwhile, on the flip side of the sanity coin, we have Scott Ian and Anthrax. They just dropped a new single, and right on cue, Scott is doing press rounds complaining that Donald Trump “doesn’t care about the kids.” It’s pathetic. Anthrax has always been the luckiest band in the Big Four—consistently outclassed in songwriting by Overkill and Exodus, but kept on life support by historical branding. Now they’re playing the celebrity activist card to get clicks for a music video that looks like it was filmed inside an asylum’s laundry room. It’s safe, corporate-approved rebellion, and it treats the audience like idiots.

The version you’re seeing here is the ‘sanitized’ edit. To hear the full, unfiltered, and legally dangerous deep dive—including the stuff that gets us banned elsewhere—join the Inner Circle at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com. Become a VIP and get the substance the mainstream won’t touch.

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Let’s be real: the “modern rock” industry is a sanitized, corporate circle-jerk where talent goes to die unless you’ve got a massive pile of cash to buy your way onto a tour. Curtis Don Vito from SNEW joined us, and what started as a standard interview quickly turned into a cold, hard look at the financial rot killing real rock n’ roll.

Snew’s WHAT’S IT TO YA is seemingly out of print, but Amazon has a copy here: https://amzn.to/4n8x2gJ

SNEW is the quintessential “shit-kicker” band. They recorded with the legendary Ken Scott—the man who worked on The Beatles’ White Album and Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust. They’ve got the substance, the pedigree, and the balls. Yet, even with that resume, Curtis lays out the grim reality of “Buy-On” culture. You want to open for a legend? It’ll cost you $55,000 per show. It’s not about the music; it’s about who can afford the ransom.

We also dive into the “Spotify Debate” and the absolute joke of digital royalties. When your record is on torrent sites for free on day one, and Spotify pays you a tenth of a cent while the labels gobble up the rest, how is a real band supposed to survive? This is the conversation the mainstream “fan-boy” press is too terrified to have because they’re all on the take.

“The version you’re seeing here is the ‘sanitized’ edit. To hear the full, unfiltered, and legally dangerous deep dive—including the stuff that gets us banned elsewhere—join the Inner Circle at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com. Become a VIP and get the substance the mainstream won’t touch.”

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 CLASSIC METAL SHOW has been exposing the soft underbelly of mainstream rock radio for decades, and this highlight is a total bloodbath. Watch as a CMS fan penetrates the legendary Rockline to ask Heaven and Hell a better question than host Bob Coburn ever could. Stop listening to the corporate puppets and get the real story with us.

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* The CMS hosts dissect the “official” Ryan Harman and why mainstream radio is basically a snooze fest.

* A fan actually asks a technical, relevant question to Heaven and Hell, putting professional DJs to shame.

* The total evisceration of Bob Coburn. Is he a legend or just a 30-year hack?

* The infamous “Hi Don” Tammy clip: Proof that the rock world is filled with beautiful, beautiful trainwrecks.

* Why being “high” is the only logical explanation for some of these callers (and maybe the hosts).

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Is mainstream radio nothing more than a sanctuary for “radio hacks” and recovering cops? This week, Chris takes a text from “The Rocket” and decides to light a match and toss it into the studio. Was it a friendly visit, or did the CMS just expose how soft terrestrial radio has truly become? You have to hear how this “civil” crossover turns into a total slaughter of the mainstream status quo. This episode originally aired in 2008.

GET MEGADETH’S MEGADETH ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/4qXJ8du

- Chris Invades 104.7 The Rocket

- Meet the “Recovering Alcoholic Cop” DJ

- The “Classic Metal Show” Nerd Twins

- Chris Learns To Be A “Radio Hack”

- Hanging Up On The “Loyal F*ckies”

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🤘 THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW: Unfiltered. Unapologetic. Since 1996, THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW has caused global chaos. Neeley and Chris deliver the best “shock jock” radio today—a scorched-earth look at pop culture, sex, and the 80s Hard Rock we live for.

THE LINEUP: We dive deep into the legends: Motley Crue, Metallica, Judas Priest, Poison, Metal Church, Dokken, Lynch Mob, Journey, Ratt, and our favorite target, Eddie Trunk.

🔗 GET THE REAL SHOW AT: 👉 www.theclassicmetalshow.com

TO ALL OUR LOYAL FCKIES: You know the deal. If you aren’t a pssy, subscribe for the highlights and head to the site for the raw truth. HAIL & KILL! F*CK YOU, PAL! HANDJOB! 🖕

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This episode originally aired on 11/7/09.

Most “tributes” in the radio industry are filled with fake tears and sanitized memories, but Neeley and Chris just stumbled upon a “memorial” so cringeworthy it defies logic. Who was Brian “Bad Ass” Boone, and why is a certain segment of the 80s hair metal world acting like the King of Rock has fallen? Is the mainstream media—and these delusional internet stations—lying to you about who actually matters in this business? We’re diving into a tribute show that features bagpipes, Bible verses, and a whole lot of “who the hell is this guy?” You won’t believe the “Rockstars Glued” connection that has Neeley losing his mind. Is this a heartfelt goodbye, or the most embarrassing open loop in radio history?

* 0:41 - Who is Brian “Bad Ass” Boone?

* 1:48 - The “Smoking Toons” Religious Revival

* 3:33 - Neeley Dissects The Cringe Tribute

* 5:14 - “Jamie of Rockstars Glued” & The Fake Last Names

* 7:02 - The “Potter’s Field” Burn

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Rumble: https://www.rumble.com/c/cms YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@classicmetalshow Locals: https://classicmetalshow.locals.comX: https://www.x.com/cmsrocks

🤘 THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW: Unfiltered. Unapologetic. Since 1996, THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW has caused global chaos. Neeley and Chris deliver the best “shock jock” radio today—a scorched-earth look at pop culture, sex, and the 80s Hard Rock we live for.

THE LINEUP: We dive deep into the legends: Motley Crue, Metallica, Judas Priest, Poison, Metal Church, Dokken, Lynch Mob, Journey, Ratt, and our favorite target, Eddie Trunk.

⚠️ CENSORSHIP ALERT: YouTube can’t handle our full intensity. This channel is for CLIPS ONLY. For the full, 6-hour uncensored experience, you MUST go to our home base.

🔗 GET THE REAL SHOW AT: 👉 www.theclassicmetalshow.com

TO ALL OUR LOYAL FCKIES: You know the deal. If you aren’t a pssy, subscribe for the highlights and head to the site for the raw truth. HAIL & KILL! F*CK YOU, PAL! HANDJOB! 🖕

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

Why is a rock star hitting the road to tell stories instead of shredding? Chris chats with Grammy winner David Ellefson about his upcoming South American BASSTORY tour, the deep reasons behind his storyteller shows, and his time at the BACK TO THE BEGINNING concert. It’s a look behind the bass!

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NOTE: Everything said here, and on every episode of all of our shows, are 100% the opinions of the hosts. Nothing is stated as fact. Do your own research to see if their opinions are true or not.

#DavidEllefson, #BASSTORY, #Megadeth, #MetalInterview, #ChrisAkinPresents, #GrammyWinner, #StorytellerTour, #SouthAmericaTour, #MetalBassist, #BackToTheBeginning

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If your world went pitch black tomorrow, would you stop moving, or would you start listening closer? We all talk a big game about “resilience,” but Wayne Stokely is living it on a global stage with a pair of drumsticks and zero vision. Most people treat their worst day like a finish line, but what if that day never actually ended? Chris and Seth sit down to find out how you find the rhythm when you can’t see the floor beneath your feet—and why your “excuses” just ran out of road.

#ChrisAkin #SethWilliams #LimpingOutOfTheFire #BurnSurvivor #Amputee #DiabetesAwareness #Survival #Resilience #OvercomingAdversity

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Why did one of the most influential guitarists in rock history spend decades running away from the very songs that made him a star? Was Sammy Hagar’s solo success actually the final nail in the coffin for Montrose’s legacy as a “classic rock staple”? Keith St. John joins Chris Akin to pull back the curtain on the creative differences, the “business moves” that defied logic, and what it really feels like to step into the vocal shoes of a legend. The real reason this band isn’t played every 30 minutes on the radio might not be what you think.

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- Why Montrose isn’t as big as Van Halen

- Ronnie Montrose vs. Sammy Hagar: The creative fallout

- Did Sammy Hagar “hijack” the Montrose fan base?

- 1999: The turning point for the “Retro” movement

- Playing note-for-note: The obsession with Ronnie’s tone

- The Van Morrison & Edgar Winter connection

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🎙️ ABOUT CHRIS AKIN PRESENTS... Hard Rock. Heavy Metal. No Filter. 🤘 Join legendary journalist Chris Akin daily for the most honest rants in the industry. From exclusive interviews with rock’s biggest icons to the “real talk” on cord-cutting, movies, and pop culture, Chris Akin Presents… is the home for fans who hate the mainstream script.

📺 WHAT WE COVER:

Heavyweight Interviews: Unfiltered chats with Hard Rock & Metal’s elite.

Pop Culture Rants: The truth about Movies, TV, and the streaming wars.

Cord Cutting: Navigating the modern media mess without getting ripped off.

Music News: The stories the labels don’t want you to focus on.

#ChrisAkin #HardRock #HeavyMetal #PopCulture #CordCutting #TheClassicMetalShow #MusicInterviews #Uncensored #RonnieMontrose #SammyHagar #KeithStJohn

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