The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast

As long time listeners of the show know, The Wolf and Action Jackson were and remain huge fans of The Police. When they were 10, Synchronicity and Every Breath You Take ruled the albums and singles charts while being broadcast hourly on MTV. We'd thought we'd found the rock band we'd grow up with. However, lead singer and songwriter Sting had other plans. He'd grown tired to the infighting with Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland and wanted to take his songwriting and good looks solo.

Dream of the Blue Turtles was Sting's first solo album making its debut June 17, 1985 and offered a more mature and jazzy approach to his songwriting. Enlisting the help of veterans like Darryl Jones (bass), Omar Hakim (drums), Kenny Kirkland (keys) and Branford Marsalis (horns), Sting created a more dynamic soundscape than he could have in The Police and took a big step towards being recognized as one of the premier songwriters of his generation. The first single, Feel Free To Set Them Free, set a groove and took advantage of new video technology for use on MTV. He revisited his ska/reggae roots on Love Is The Seventh Wave and offered a prayer of hope in the worry of the Cold War with Russians. However, Fortress Around Your Heart may be the best song he's ever written and it closes the album with style and substance.

We may have wanted The Police to go on forever but Sting proved he could do so much more and this album went 3x platinum in the US with huge success around the world.

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Listeners of our show know of our love for Led Zeppelin and their iconic lead singer, Robert Plant. Already this year we've devoted 2 shows to Physical Graffiti as it turned 50, a show on The Firm's debut album featuring Jimmy Page and one on the documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin which is now available on streaming services. And though we've reviewed several classic Zeppelin albums, we've also gone track x track on Unledded, Robert's reunion with Jimmy Page in 1994, and his first two solo efforts. Based on the strength of Pictures at 11 and The Principle of Moments and the fact that Robert was working with the same bandmates, we thought it only right that we review his 3rd solo effort, Shaken N Stirred.

However, Shaken N Stirred found Robert yearning for a more modern and synthesized sound which is not only different from his first two solo albums but not in the wheelhouse of his talented bandmates. In an effort to sound more like Talking Heads, Robert embraced the latest technology and styles of the day. The result is not only a departure from his signature sound but a miss in making a record that would sound good in 1985, nevermind 40 years later.

While Little By Little was a hit in the US (#1 Mainstream Rock), the rest of the record is a mish mash of sounds that don't necessarily make listenable songs. The listening public in the US revolted against the 2nd single Too Loud and rock fans in Chicago demanded that they "Get that sh*t off the air!" While we admire artists for going in new directions and not wanting to be stuck by what the public deems as "their sound", this album didn't win Robert any new fans and alienated many that he already had.

With that in mind, we did our best to pick out what we did like and tried to understand what Robert was attempting to do. Amidst the backdrop of his marriage ending and his unsure footing in the music world post Led Zeppelin, this one stands out in his catalog as one maybe he wishes he could do over (or at least we wish he would). Robert would continue to reinvent himself throughout his career with some amazing results. But as this misstep turns 40, we dive into what went wrong.

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While Dire Straits were a solid band that had radio hits since their first album was released in 1978, there was nothing to portend the outrageous fortune they would find in 1985 with Brothers in Arms. Their previous album, Love Over Gold, failed to go platinum in the US or produce any big radio hits. Twisting By The Pool from their 1983 EP was catchy but also kitschy and made some wonder if they were trying to parody the oldies instead of creating an homage. While the live album Alchemy was fantastic, it was not a huge seller. Lead singer, lead guitarist and songwriter Mark Knopfler had success in the studio with Steely Dan and Bob Dylan, produced some great movie soundtracks and wrote songs for others like Private Dancer for Tina Turner. But he hadn't made a Dire Straits album that captured the public's imagination. Until they made Brothers In Arms in 1985....

Mark brought in a young keyboard player named Guy Fletcher to give his songs more texture and eventually brought in legendary session drummer Omar Hakim to lay down all the drum parts. The result was an album that hit #1 around the world selling more than 4.5 million in the UK, 9 million in the US and 30 million around the world. The single Money For Nothing topped the charts around the world and featured Sting singing the famous line I Want My MTV. Of course at the time MTV played videos by artists who wrote music and played instruments and between Sting's catchphrase and the cutting edge (at the time) computer animation, it went into heavy rotation and would be heralded as one of the greatest videos for years.

But the sound was so crisp on this album it was used to sell CD players in stores and was the first record to sell more on CD than on LP, thanks in large part to recording on digital tape and Knopfler's never ending search for quality sound. Songs like Your Latest Trick and Why Worry may be mellow but you can hear every note. Walk Of Life was fun, upbeat track that featured 2 different videos for the US and UK markets. And while the second side of the album might not have featured the big hits as the first side, Knopfler's lyrics take on more serious notions like war, life and death. the final and title track brought up visions of pain from the Falklands War that had affected so many in the UK and Argentina and is seen as a respectful tribute to those who fought (and often played at military funerals0.

You can't tell the story of MTV, the 1980s or Dire Straits without this album and we dug in for an in-depth conversation about its impact at the time and how it sound today. Plus, we have a little audio from Guy Fletcher talking about Dolby Atmos mixes for the upcoming 40th anniversary edition which will include a concert from the Live in 85 tour. This was a big one and we treat it accordingly.

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By 1980, Pete Townshend was 34 or 35, regarded as a true legend of rock music and a revered songwriter. He was one of the true pied pipers of rock n roll. The only problem was, there was no such thing as a middle-aged rock star. In 1978, the death of Keith Moon hit him hard and put in the question the future of The Who. Punk music was railing against old bands like The Who and while Pete was with them in spirit, he realized that they may have had a point. Meanwhile, Pete was battling alcohol and heroin addictions while his marriage to his first wife was on the rocks. He was looking for spiritual fulfillment and yearning for peace of mind. But out of all that came Empty Glass, a marvelous album with vivid melodies, personal lyrics and Pete Townshend's heart on his sleeve.

He dedicated the album to his wife, Karen, and some of the songs could be in her voice. Pete takes on the personality of different people to get his points of view across with lyrics that can be ambiguous but deeply personal. The opening track Rough Boys is seen by some as a coming out for Townshend but it's a rockin' way to kick off a record. The alltime great Let My Love Open The Door is an instant pick me up that outsold the platinum (in the US) Empty Glass several times over and remains a favorite for movie soundtracks aimed at the children of the 1980s. But songs like I Am An Animal and I Moved showcase Pete's softer side before the ranting Jools and Jim aimed at authors who dismissed Keith Moon's death as inevitable and even warranted.

Keep On Working shows Pete trying to channel The Kinks and A Little Is Enough may have been a minor hit but Townshend regards it as one of the best songs he's ever written. The title track is a man desperate for his soul to be saved, an empty vessel looking for someone to fulfill him. Would he ever find that peace? Would any of us? It's a strong record with incredible melodies with killer musicians like Simon Phillips, Tony Levin and Pete himself arranging the songs into beautiful classics. This was a fun one to do and if you don't know the album, we think you're gonna like it.

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We all have vivid memories of our first rock concerts. You know the ones - when you're young, full of anticipation with no knowledge or understanding of the assault on your senses that a great rock show brings. These are the moments we capture on First Concert Memories and for episode 21, we have none other than Brian Slagel. Yes metalheads, THE Brian Slagel who founded Metal Blade Records more than 40 years ago. The first man to put a Metallica song on a commercially available tape. That's how we know Brian. But on this episode, he's taking us back to when he was a 16 year old KISS fan, hoping to get to see his heroes live for the first time.

Thankfully, his neighbor Carl Graves (a performer and musician in his own right who would tour with Oingo Boingo in the 80s & 90s) told Brian's mother that he'd take him to the show and make sure he got home safe. So Brian saw his first ever concert - KISS on the Alive! Tour on February 24, 1976. A teenage Brian was blown away by the pyro, the fire and blood spitting demon, the loudness of the Marshall stacks and the spectacle that a KISS concert in 1976 offered.

Brian also tells us about getting to know the original members of KISS on a personal basis, which band he's seen over 300x and his killer new podcast - The 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal. It's a fantastic time with a metal legend!!

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By 1980, Judas Priest were ready to take on all the world! Fresh off their classic live album Unleashed In The East, Priest were ready to conquer America and the world with a more pop sound. Priest hit the charts with songs like Living After Midnight and Breaking The Law and offered new anthems to the teenage set with United and Metal Gods. But they stayed true to their heavy metal roots with songs like Rapid Fire and Steeler.

Rob Halford shows off his chops and range on songs like The Rage as Ian Hill offers up a fun and memorable bass line. While we don't see much of the dueling solos between KK Downing and Glenn Tipton as would come to be familiar with on most of their 80s and latter day albums, they each show off their individual styles here while doing what's best for the songs. And the addition of Dave Holland on the drums solidified the classic 80s Priest lineup that would help them conquer the US and the world.

They also forayed into making videos with the help of Julien Temple, much to the delight of Beavis & Butthead. This album helped propel Judas Priest and heavy metal onto a bigger stage and laid the foundation for the band's success in the 1980s and beyond.

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As long-time followers of our show are aware, The Wolf and Action Jackson are HUGE Led Zeppelin fans. When it was announced several years back that there would be a Led Zep documentary coming, we were psyched and knew that we'd not only have to go see it on the big screen but do a review on UAWIL. However, we we didn't know that director Bernard MacMahon had not only unearthed and cleaned up video of a performance by the band in Bath from 1969, but he also uncovered a never-before-heard audio interview of John Bonham. Thanks to that interview, he was able to get reflections from all four members of Led Zeppelin on their journey to becoming the biggest band in the world.

Instead of being a complete career retrospective, this film focused on the back stories of each member - how they grew up, when they became fascinated with rock music, which artists turned them on and how they found their way into the music business. Most fans know that Jimmy Page was on tv with his skiffle group as a kid before becoming a premier session guitarist in London. But did you know that John Paul Jones learned so much from his father, pianist John Baldwin, and was a choirmaster at age 14? Did you know Robert Plant would try many different types of groups, hairstyles and scenes before he ever became a Golden God? Learning how Jimmy Page put the first record together so he would have leverage with record companies to not only get better royalties but to not be forced into releasing singles is just one amazing insight into how Led Zeppelin became the juggernaut, especially in the US, that would define their legacy.

Action went to great lengths to see this movie and offer his perspective so give us a listen and see this film in the theaters while you can - the video and sound is amazing!!

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It's possible that Aerosmith is the greatest American rock band of all time. And in our opinion, their best album was 1975's Toys In The Attic which is still their biggest selling original record with over 9 million sold in the US. As it turns 50 we decided to dive deep into what makes this album so great and why it endures to this day as a hard rock classic. Yes, it has singles that were popular in their day and are still staples on classic rock radio in Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way. But the title track is a killer way to start a rockin album and is an Aerosmith signature. You See Me Cryin' allows the Bad Boys from Boston to show their tender side (and incorporate strings), Round And Round shows a harder Aerosmith, and Big Ten Inch Record shows off the tongue-in-cheek lyrics that have made the band famous (though that one is a cover, it's classic Steven Tyler).

The boys had been touring hard and were really firing on all cylinders. The previous year's Get Your Wings had been well received and had a killer cover of Train Kept A Rollin which was one of their live staples. But what made this album different from the previous two is that when they went to the Record Plant in New York City to record Toys, they didn't have any songs ready. They'd honed the songs from the previous albums live before heading into record them but this time they started from scratch with a few ideas they'd been noodling on. Joe Perry came up with the riff to Walk This Way on stage in Hawaii. Tom Hamilton had the Sweet Emotion bits for years before he worked with Steven Tyler to mold them into an all time classic. Brad Whitford got a co-write on Round And Round and Joe Perry really established himself as one of the killer guitar slingers of his generation. As it turns 50, we celebrate Aerosmith's greatest album - Toys In The Attic!

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Bad Company hit the scene in 1974 in a big way. Signed to Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label and managed by Peter Grant, the supergroup composed of Paul Rodgers (Free), Mick Ralphs (Mott the Hoople), Boz Burrell (King Crimson) and Simon Kirke (Free) had a huge success with their self-titled debut which would go on to sell 5 million in the US. Many bands struggle to follow up a big debut with an equally good second effort but Bad Company weren't rookies and had made over a dozen albums individually. The question was how would the songwriting partnership of Ralphs and Rodgers develop and would any of them as individuals emerge as the lead songwriter.

While not many will tell you Straight Shooter is as good or better than the debut, it is a solid rock record. Chart hits Feel Like Makin' Love and Good Lovin' Gone Bad got them all over the airwaves and Rodgers Shooting Star would go onto become a classic rock radio staple. They even showed their tender side with Simon Kirke's Weep No More (accompanied by strings) and Anna. Heavy riffs from Deal With The Preacher and the innuendo of Wild Fire Woman help round the album into an album that showed Bad Company had staying power and could deliver the goods. Released March 28, 1975, it would go on to sell 3 million in the US.

Do you think Bad Company deserves to be in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame? We do!!!

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For The Wolf and Action Jackson, The Who in 1989 were coming back one last time to perform - something they hadn't done since the early 80s and had sworn off. The classic 60s artists were back in a big way and The Who were touring the US doing 40 songs a night from their brilliant catalog, from their solo albums and with a focus on their rock opera Tommy to start the show. That tour eluded our fearless hosts but not Farmer John, host of the Vinyl Relics podcast - a new member of Pantheon.

John and his buddies were the same age as Action and The Wolf when they ventured to Toronto in June of 1989 with tickets to see what would surely be the most mindblowing thing in their young lives. But they were teenagers who lived 2 hours away in London - where would they stay? With a working idea of walking the streets of Toronto all night, one of the moms secured a hotel room at the Holiday Inn via Jennifer. However, once Jennifer learned their were 6 unsupervised teenagers and not 2, she took their room keys and started a day of hijynx that can only happen to teenagers. John weaves a story of anticipation for the show, fear in being hunted down by Jennifer, uncertainty of how to get to the show, and the triumph of overcoming the odds to find himself in the 4th row after buying nosebleeds.

It's the kind of fun tales we aim to preserve on First Concert Memories, the monthly sidecast from your friends at The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast. Coming of age in the era of classic rock and hanging with your best friends along the way is where the most vivid memories are made - we're just dusting them off!

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