Van Halen is one of the most legendary rock acts in history. With 2 diamond selling records (Van Halen, 1984) the band was popular enough to withstand switching out a charismatic lead singer in the mid-eighties and go on to have even bigger success on the charts (all 4 Sammy Hagar led Van Halen albums went to #1 in the US). After For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge spawned several big hits, a huge tour and a killer live album, fans were anxious to see what the boys would come up with next. However, after the influence of grunge (blech) had taken hold of the industry and the band did it's best to move forward through adversity (the death of their manager and Eddie's struggle with alcohol and his attempt at sobriety among other things) things were not all well in the Van Halen camp. And it bleeds into their 10th album and final with Sammy Hagar (and for the most part Michael Anthony) Balance.

From the offputting cover, the heavy themed lyrics and one quarter of the tracks being instrumentals, this album is not very popular with the diehards. Having a big international hit with Can't Stop Lovin' You was big for the band but was perceived as a bit soft to the hard rock fans and passe even to big fans of the Sammy years. Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do) is Sammy's take on Kurt Cobain taking his own life and is heavier than most Van Halen fare. While there are some standouts like Aftershock and moments of greatness that harken back to the heyday of Van Halen, it feels more like a band trying to come to grips with themselves in a post-grunge, sober Eddie Van Halen world. At the time, we had moved on from Van Halen and figured if we really wanted to check it out one day, it would be there. As it turns 30 on January 24, 2025, we thought it would be a good time to take the opportunity to explore Balance, see if the reservations we had on the album 3 decades ago were justified and if there are any songs we're sorry we missed out on. How do feel about it having listened to it? You'll have to listen to find out.

Check out our new website: Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Visit our sponsor RareVinyl.com and use the code UGLY to save 10%!

Twitter

Threads

Instagram

YouTube

LInkTree

www.pantheonpodcasts.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

February 14, 1975 saw the release of the second album by Canadian power trio Rush, Fly By Night. But it was the debut of Neil Peart with the band - a well read and empathetic man who would go on to be hailed as one of the greatest rock drummers of all time. Not only would his attention to detail but his relentless challenging of himself pushed Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson to continue to grow. Neil also took over as the lyricist for the band mixing in pieces from the many books that kept him fascinated. From Ayn Rand to JRR Tolkien, Neil injects his literary phrases into hard driving and otherworldly riffs that are signature to Rush.

Songs like Anthem and Fly By Night are as rock solid 50 years later as the day they were released and Neil's lyrics of wanderlust and yearning for a unique life continue to offer hope. By-Tor and the Snow Dog saw Rush starting to grapple with the more progressive rock they admired coming from Yes and is the start of the concepts that would drive them to greatness on 2112 and Hemispheres. Though Alex Lifeson's guitar is fierce throughout the rockers, he also breaks out nylon for Making Memories, Rivendell and In The End - we even get to hear a little slide from Lerxst! The final 3 tracks may not be the most memorable in the catalog but it shows the boys were still willing to experiment, never to be pigeon-holed.

For Rush fans, this is a classic.

Check out our new website: Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Visit our sponsor RareVinyl.com and use the code UGLY to save 10%!

Twitter

Threads

Instagram

YouTube

LInkTree

www.pantheonpodcasts.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We kick off 2025 with First Concert Memories 18, the monthly sidecast from the hosts of The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast where we welcome a guest to talk about the first time they saw a particular band and how that night changed their life. This month, we welcome our fellow Pantheon Podcast host Leah Jones as she relives the fateful night in May of 2019 when she saw The Struts for the first time and how that show spawned a love affair with the band and their music.

Hear Lead recount listening to the first 2 albums by The Struts back and forth, then realizing that she had to see them live. Despite a long drive and an early wake up call the next day, our intrepid Leah drove the many hours to catch the boys live at an afternoon radio show prior to the concert that evening. During that short performance, she captured them doing a song acoustically which may have never happened since and that only got her more psyched for the show. Leah tells us about that night, about the many subsequent roadtrips she's made to see her favorite band live and how it eventually led to her hosting The Struts Life as one of our Pantheon Podcast sisters.

Keep going to see live music - it's the only way to KEEP ROCK ALIVE!!!

Check out The Struts Life with Leah Jones

Check out our new website: Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Visit our sponsor RareVinyl.com and use the code UGLY to save 10%!

Twitter

Threads

Instagram

YouTube

LInkTree

www.pantheonpodcasts.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the first of our two year in review episodes focused on the albums we reviewed and authors & podcasters we hosted on the show, Part 2 drills down on the live concerts we talked about and the 15 artists & legends we had the good fortune to interview on UAWIL in 2024.

We knew that when The Wolf left Europe for the American midwest, there would be fewer opportunities to see live shows by the bands we love. But we made the most of it with some killer concerts including taking a disappointed 9 year old to see Journey (He's not the leads singer of Journey!?!), taking Action Jackson to his first Steve Hackett show, laughing and singing along with Colin Hay and finally seeing Wolfgang Van Halen live.

But the real story is around the amazing performers we welcomed in 2024, almost doubling the number we hosted in 2023 and tripling the number of Rock N Roll Hall of Famers. We welcomed Steve Hackett (Genesis) for the 2nd time as well as his fellow Hall of Famers Guy Fletcher (Dire Straits) and the legendary Steve Howe (Yes, Asia). We also spoke with members of or worked with bands we loved growing up like Simple Minds, Vixen and Eric Clapton. We also spoke with some new generation rockers like Kiran Roy (October Drift) and Scott Holiday (Rival Sons) as in order to keep rock alive, we need new bands to fly the flag.

The Wolf & Action Jackson are grateful to all our many listeners all over the globe, to our sponsor RareVinyl.com, to our friends at Pantheon Podcasts and to each other for putting together the best year we've ever had!! Happy Holidays to all and all the best for a safe, peaceful and rockin 2025!

Check out our new website: Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Visit our sponsor RareVinyl.com and use the code UGLY to save 10%!

Twitter

Threads

Instagram

YouTube

LInkTree

www.pantheonpodcasts.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's hard to believe 2024 is coming to an end and that The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast is now in its 5th year of broadcasting our love for rock music into the world!! 2024 was an amazing year for the show which boasts the most episodes we've ever done in a year (64) and an amazing array of album reviews, concert reviews, and extraordinary guests. As we have in the past, we've broken it down into 2 shows - Part 1 is about all the albums we've reviewed and all the authors and podcasters who came on our show. Part 2 (out next week) looks back on the live concerts & movies we discussed and the 15 artists & legends we welcomed on the show.

We tend to cover albums near a major anniversary (25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, etc) with the newest celebrating its 20th (American Idiot by Green Day) and several turning 55 (Abbey Road by The Beatles, Blind Faith debut, In The Court Of The Crimson King). We may review a double diamond selling classic one week and cult favorite that maybe scratched its way to gold status. But we reflect on all of them and then make our personal Top 5 lists of the albums we reviewed that we liked best.

We also welcomed authors who've written some amazing books like Mark Blake and Mick Wall to share some stories along with podcasters who share our passion and knowledge for rock music. Our monthly First Concert Memories series gives people the chance to share special nights in their rock n roll journey that made them fans! Like Markus "The Darkus" Goldman of WMMR and The Imbalanced History of Rock Podcast sharing his experience with U2 Live at Red Rocks in 1983. Or Brian Colburn of My Weekly Mixtape talking about seeing Blues Traveler in NYC just months after 9/11 and finding the crowd was ready for some healing and good times.

It was an amazing year on The Wolf and this is just Part 1!!

Check out our new website: Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Visit our sponsor RareVinyl.com and use the code UGLY to save 10%!

Twitter

Threads

Instagram

YouTube

LInkTree

www.pantheonpodcasts.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just before Iron Maiden played their final concert of The Days of Future Past Tour in Sao Paolo, Brazil on December 7, 2024. it was announced that longtime drummer Nicko McBrain would be retiring from the road after 42 years with the band. Soon after the conclusion of the tour, it was announced that Simon Dawson, who has working with Steve Harris in British Lion for the last decade, would be taking his place on the road. However, manager Rod Smallwood has said that Nicko would still be around and would be available to play on any future recording Maiden may endeavor to record.

We thought this would be an excellent opportunity to reflect on the career Nicko has forged before and during his stint with Iron Maiden and reflect on what a character he truly is. When we learned that Nicko had suffered a stroke several months before rehearsals began for the Days of Future Past Tour, we speculated that his time in the band would be short. We want to celebrate all the amazing work over the decades and his contributions to Maiden but we'll also contemplate what the band will sound like without their long-time drummer and how Simon Dawson will fit on the upcoming Run For Your Lives Tour in 2025 and beyond. Plus The Wolf shares his story of meeting Nicko at a golf tournament and relive some funny moments throughout his career.

UP THE IRONS!!!

Check out our new website: Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Visit our sponsor RareVinyl.com and use the code UGLY to save 10%!

Twitter

Threads

Instagram

YouTube

LInkTree

www.pantheonpodcasts.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The old adage is that you have your whole life to write your first album and then a few months to write your second. And while some bands may come out of the gate with a HUGE, classic, multi platinum debut album, there is no guarantee that the next will live up to the first one. Sometimes a band will take a big step forward but sometimes the "Sophomore Slump" takes effect and exposes that the band wasn't that great to begin with. And some do very well and are incredibly popular despite the fact that they really aren't that good and don't stand the test of time.

The Wolf and Action Jackson have endeavored to come up with 5 2nd albums they love and 3 2nd albums they hate. Now the boys aren't telling you these are the 5 best or 3 worst 2nd albums of all time - these are the 2nd albums that we love and hate, respectively. Some of our loves are cult albums that barely made it to gold and some of our hates are among the biggest selling albums of all time. We think both lists will get you talking and hopefully even make you laugh at points. And for those who say well if you hate it just don't listen, for the most part we would have loved to not listen but they've been forced down our throats for decades.

Would Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Metallica or The Police make your favorites? What about Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis, KISS or The Cult? All have made our lists but you'll have to listen to learn whether they fall on the Love or Hate side of the ledger.

Check out our new website: Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Visit our sponsor RareVinyl.com and use the code UGLY to save 10%!

Twitter

Threads

Instagram

YouTube

LInkTree

www.pantheonpodcasts.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christian Swain co-founded Pantheon Podcasts because he's a lifelong fan of rock music and wanted to do everything in his power to help keep rock music alive and well. As that's exactly why we started our main show, The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast, and why we joined Pantheon in 2022. As a musician himself, Christian has always been drawn to the power of a live rock show - the power of which is unrivaled in the artistic world.

Christian grew up in LA, getting into punk rock and Kick Out The Jams by the MC5 was an anthem to him growing up and helped guide him in his life and career. After Christian had the chance to interview founding member Wayne Kramer on his show, The Rock N Roll Archeologist, he then had the opportunity to finally see his idol live in San Francisco. But what also made the opportunity so cool is that Kramer was touring in 2018 with an all-star band dubbed the MC50 to celebrate 50 years of the MC5. So Kim Thayill (Soundgarden), Billy Gould (Faith No More) and others toured with Wayne to honor their catalog. And the show was so live that Christian couldn't help but get caught up in the mosh pit and celebrate like a teenager. He shares his story of that night with us here.

However, Christian is also the CEO of Pantheon Media and Pantheon is raising money to help grow the world's #1 music podcast company. He gives listeners a breakdown of how they can support their favorite podcasts and invest in Pantheon with minimal money down. It's an exciting opportunity for music fans, you can learn more here: https://www.startengine.com/offering/pantheonmedia

Check out our new website: Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Visit our sponsor RareVinyl.com and use the code UGLY to save 10%!

Twitter

Threads

Instagram

YouTube

LInkTree

www.pantheonpodcasts.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fleetwood Mac have to be about the most interesting rock band in the history of the genre. Born out of 60s blues with the legendary John Mayall, transformed into the ultimate California Cool blockbuster band of the 70s, evolving into pop & MTV stars in the 80s and then reclaiming their thrones in the late 90s and 2000s, the tale of this band is worth telling. That's why we invited seasoned rock writer Mark Blake on to discuss his fabulous new book Dreams - The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac. Mark not only details all the lineup changes and different chart successes of the band but also takes us backstage to witness all the many relationships and broken hearts within the band.

Not just written as a narrative, the book has small, easy to digest sections about the different incarnations of the band and the stories behind the songs and albums. He offers bios of every person who ever played in the Mac, even those that were there a short time or had a small influence on their sound. And of course, Mark details the intrigue of the personal relationships and hookups of the band which are unique in the world of rock n roll. He shines some light on some things we knew a little bit about and shows that the bonds and commitment to the band are so deep that no matter who gets kicked out or is broken hearted, the band continues on. A great read and perfect companion for listening to the amazing catalog of Fleetwood Mac as you can learn the history while enjoying the music. Available on Amazon and any quality book store.

Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Visit our sponsor RareVinyl.com and use the code UGLY to save 10%!

Twitter

Threads

Instagram

YouTube

LInkTree

www.pantheonpodcasts.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices