The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast

We welcome our friend and Pantheon Podcasts brother Jason from All Things Blues & Southern Rock to First Concert Memories 16 to talk about the first night he saw The Black Crowes in 1999. We all share our individual first Crowes experiences - Action saw them a month after Jason did in 1999 and Mac B. caught them in 1995 opening for the Dead - and delve into what makes the band so great live.

In 1999, The Black Crowes had signed with Sony and were touring on By Your Side (released January 12, 1999). Produced by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, all guitar parts were played by Rich Robinson but the live band picked up Audley Freed on guitar and Sven Pipien on bass. And according to Jason, they made a hell of a lot of noise!

Hear from Jason why seeing this band live for the first time prompted him to go see them more than 20x and how it still fuels his passion to co-host All Things Blues & Southern Rock. The tumultuous Robinson Brothers can deliver live and it's fun to hear insight from a big fan at this time in the band's career. The Wolf was slow to warm to the Crowes as he felt that they were anointed by the industry without asking his opinion. But seeing them live made him a believer as it has for millions around the world. Thanks Jason - check out All Things Blues & Souther Rock Podcast!

Check out Jason at https://allthingsbluesandsouthernrock.com/

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 at The Wolf love hard rock, heavy metal, prog rock, classic rock and 80s MTV. While Bryan Adams may match a couple of those categories, we can't say that he was one of our very favorites. Because we were bombarded with him from 1983-86 on US radio and MTV and because girls seemed to like him (maybe his music too), he just didn't do it for us. However, his 5th album released in 1984, Reckless, boasts hit after hit like Heaven, Summer of '69, Run To You, Somebody, and It's Only Love. So as it turns 40 on November 5, we thought it would be a good idea to bring in friend to the show and Canadian rock guru Chris from My Rock N Roll Heaven to give us his perspective.

1984 not only saw the release of Reckless but the launch of Canadian MTV-type station Much Music which not only played videos but had to play a certain percentage of Canadian artists. That helped propel the album to become the first diamond selling album (1,000,000 in sales for Canada) in Canada by a Canadian artist. Aided in the songwriting by Jim Vallance and backed up on guitar by long time collaborator Keith Scott, Bryan had huge success in his home country, in the US and around the globe. The videos all had a theme and featured the same actor (Lysette Anthony) which helped create an image for Adams in the US. We go track x track and enlist Chris's Canadian perspective to see why this album was so popular and how it stands the test of time.

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've reviewed a couple of rock movies that had a limited theatrical run - Rush - Cinema Strangiato was episode 42 while The Wolf lived in England and Dio - Dreamers Never Die was covered on ep 98 while he was living in Amsterdam. And while we had wanted to do a double episode on Tom Petty's Wildflowers at 30 with the later released double disc alongside the newly unearthed Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Beach Party film, we felt that episode would be too long an in-depth. So because the recently "found" Cameron Crowe movie which captures the boys in 1983 around the release of the Long After Dark record was having a limited showing, we thought we'd concentrate on that.

And we're so glad we did! When we reviewed Long After Dark on episode 64, we found that we loved it and that it was often overlooked and overshadowed by bigger selling albums with more radio hits. However, the melodies and heartfelt lyrics on that album are part of the larger philosophy of Tom and the band and this movie helped expose that. Though it aired once on MTV, the channel decided it wasn't a good fit for their programming at the time so for years it was unavailable. The limited release on October 17 & 20 gave fans the chance to see it for the first time and included 19 extra minutes with Cameron Crowe, Adria Petty (Tom's daughter) some insight from Jimmy Iovine and showed the band not only killing it onstage but filming the You Got Lucky video (which Tom & Cameron called a film). To hear earnest and honest remarks from Tom was so refreshing and made us realize how much we miss him. The live clips not only show a tight band and band leader who wants to create the best show he possibly can but some amazing guitars from Tom and Mike Campbell.

It was a rare glimpse with Tom at his home and talking to Cameron Crowe about why and how he makes music. The scene where Tom said he's the same guy at home as on the stage was so brilliant - he was never putting on an act, he was authentic and that's why his music will stand the test of time. Hopefully they release this on DVD/Streaming so more people can enjoy it but if you missed it, here's our take!

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

In 1974, The Rolling Stones were once again searching for their identity. After hugely successful tours in 1972 and 1973 thanks to the overwhelming critical and commercial success of 1972's Exile on Main Street, the band were mired in problems of their own making. Mick Jagger was bothered by wife (and now mother of his child Jade) Bianca trying to tame him from his lothario lifestyle. Keith Richards was diving deeper into his heroin addiction. Mick Taylor was becoming disillusioned with his role in the band as he was contributing and writing songs but never given credit (or royalties). 1973's Goats Head Soup is a fan favorite but was derided by critics for not being as good as Exile.

Apparently the Stones were going to a half live, half covers album that eventually gave way to more interesting original materlal (Ain't Too Proud To Beg still made the album and was the 2nd single). Disenchanted with married life, being hounded by press and law enforcement helped create It's Only Rock N Roll - an ode to their lives as huge stars in the public eye. The title track is a classic both for the name and the story of Mick wondering what is enough for the fans and press. They come strong with killer Keith riffs (If You Can't Rock Me, Dance Little Sister), dirty roadhouse rockers (Short And Curlies) and forays into reggae, country, gospel and soul with the usual R&B sensibilities that make the Stones the Stones.

Of course, we were a bit put off that there is no Keith song on the album (the last time that would happen) but you know he had something to do with Fingerprint File, a song about running from the FBI and all manner of police. With Nicky Hopkins and Billy Preston lending their talents on the keys, Ronnie Wood and David Bowie making brief appearances and the boys experimenting a bit, this ends up being a fun Stones record to explore. It might not be chock full of radio hits but get to see the Stones going down paths they don't always go with surprising delight. Not the best or worst of the Mick Taylor era and one we're glad we researched and heard.

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've developed our On First Listen series to give us a chance to explore albums that we didn't know but had heard about for years. Maybe a friend recommended it, perhaps it was popular at a time in our lives when it slipped past us or maybe we'd seen in on all-time lists. King Crimson's debut fit into the third category as many progressive rock fans hold In The Court Of The Crimson King in very high regard. And with many talented line-ups over the years including Greg Lake on bass & vocals, Ian McDonald on keys and many other things, and Robert Fripp on guitar on this album (with future versions featuring John Wetton, Boz Burrell, Bill Bruford, Tony Levin, Adrian Belew, Mel Collins and many, many more) we figured we'd give it a go.

However, while the musicianship is off the charts and they experiment with many keys, times and toys (the new mellotron was driving much of their experimental sound), sometimes it's not terribly listenable. 21st Century Schitzoid Man is abrupt and in your face as a protest to the Vietnam War but isn't a toe tapper. The wistful I Listen To The Wind is 180 degree turn as a lovely ballad but is more than 6 minutes long. And Epitaph, Moonchild (nothing like the Iron Maiden song) and The Court Of The Crimson King though they have moments of beauty and style fail to land in the fun zone. While many will appreciate the music for it's complexity and degree of difficulty, it's not an album you put on in the background of a party. Perhaps our blues based rock brains aren't mature enough to understand but we find 70s era Yes and Genesis far easier to digest and enjoy.

Note: We recorded this a year before releasing it as we planned for it to be our first On First Listen but scheduling necessities caused us to leave it on the shelf. We mention that it's 54th anniversary is coming up but as we release this it's the 55th anniversary of original release. And it was before we interviewed director Toby Amies about his fabulous documentary King Crimson: In The Court Of The Crimson King for episode 158.

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

By 1989, Ace Frehley had been out of KISS for 7 years and during that time he'd maintained a debaucherous lifestyle including car accidents and very little in the way of new music. Finally Eddie Trunk helped get him signed to Megaforce and got him working. Frehley's Comet released 2 albums in 1987 & !988 (Frehley's Comet, Second Sighting) trying to reestablish himself on the rock circuit. And while 1989's Trouble Walkin' was a solid offering for the time it was released, looking back it's easy to see why it didn't crack the top 100 in the US.

Though Ace and Richie Scarlet put together some catchy, heavy riffs with some signature Ace guitar licks, Ace's vocal need help. Left alone they're too bare unless they have the sing-a-long chorus behind him. Shot Full of Rock Five Card Stud and the title track are great straight ahead rockers...until the vocals kick in. As usual, Ace's lyrics are somewhere between silly and bad. But we're Ace fans darnit! So we like hearing what he does. Fractured III connects the record to his 1978 solo and first Frehley's Comet album with a solid instrumental. But lyrics on songs like Back To School, 2 Young 2 Die and Five Card Stud illustrate why KISS had to reign him in on those records.

And the mystery is why did Ace cover Hide Your Heart, a song written by Paul Stanley, Desmond Child & Holly Knight, which was originally sung by Bonnie Tyler and that KISS would feature on their album Hot In The Shade? It's a head scratcher but maybe Ace was ready to show his old bandmates that he can still rock, even with their tracks. But as college students, we loved this one and wanted to celebrate Ace as Trouble Walkin' turns 35!

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

All of us have dreamed of going backstage after a killer concert to hangout with our favorite hard rock heroes. For more than 40 years, that's been Mick Wall's job. While writing for Kerrang!, Classic Rock, any number of newspapers and magazines around the world or working on one of his more than two dozen books, Mick Wall has met them all and seen it all. By 1988, you might say that Mick was a bit jaded - been there, done that, got the (free) t-shirt.

But in April 1988 in Worcester, Mass while on assignment for the 200th episode of Kerrang!, Mick had the chance to not only witness David Lee Roth live but to hang with him one-on-one through the wee hours of the morning into the next afternoon. We crack up hearing stories about lobster dinners with dancing girls, Steve Vai, and large bags of....party favors. We dive into what a showman Dave was, what a party animal Dave was and what might have become of Dave had he been born in different eras.

Mick's dry wit and attention to fun details makes this one of our most fun conversations in the four years of our podcast. Was Dave in real life like he was on MTV and those famous music videos? He was all that and then some! You're gonna love this story from Mick Wall!

Join Mick Wall's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=60531281

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

For our 200th episode we wanted to bring in a guest that rock fans would be excited about but someone The Wolf and Action Jackson really admire. After hosting amazing guests on our 50th (Ryan Condal, House of the Dragon), 100th (live review of Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets after interviewing Guy Pratt and Gary Kemp on ep 96), and 150th (Steve Kilbey of The Church) we needed someone special to commemorate this milestone.

As luck would have it, legendary guitarist and member of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame Steve Howe (Yes, Asia) is releasing his latest solo album, Guitarscape, on September 27 and made himself available to us. As we tried hard not to be complete fanboys, we asked Steve to walk us through how he started building the bones of the album in 2019 thanks to a new Novatron that he'd acquired. We speak with Steve about the different textures of the album from acoustics (Spring Rhyme) to his signature hollow body electrics (Distillations, Passing Thoughts) to his brand new pedal steel (Equinox, Steel Breeze). With his son Dylan on the drums, Steve has put together a colorful palette of textures using his many talents and toys.

We also manage to work in some questions about touring with Yes in the US with Deep Purple; however, when we interviewed him the tour was yet to begin, at the time of the release of this episode the tour had concluded. It sounds like there will be more new Yes music and future tours which is wonderful to hear. And, of course, we managed to squeeze in an Asia question because as long time listeners will tell you, it all comes back to Asia. The bottomline is we think you'll love our chat with Steve Howe and encourage you to pick up Guitarscape September 27.

And thanks to everyone who's supported us through the first 200 episodes - we have much more in store so stay tuned. If you keep listening, we'll keep doing the show!

www.yesofficial.com

Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Ugly American Werewolf in London Store - Get your Wolf merch and use code 10OFF2023 to save 10%!

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

In 1984, The Replacements were gaining a reputation as fun live punk band, always delivering loud, raucous tunes with setlists full of covers and aggressive originals. They intentionally thwarted management's efforts to get them on bigger labels by sabotaging shows they knew record company reps would be attending. The Minneapolis quartet of Paul Westerberg on vocals, Bob Stinson on guitar, Tommy Stinson on bass and Chris Mars on drums carved out a loyal following and had begun to win over fans around the country thanks to opening for REM. But Westerberg's songwriting, especially his lyrics, were too strong to be for only those moshing around through a drunken haze.

With Let It Be, the band explores more personal themes (Unsatisfied, Answering Machine, Androgynous) and captured more melody than they had previously. They still had plenty of straight ahead punk songs (We're Comin' Out, Tommy Got His Tonsils Out, Gary's Got A Boner) but also tried to empathize with those who might not understand the world around them and how to relate (Sixteen Blue). Westerberg's lyrics are personal and poignant and still resonate to this day. Plus, there's a KISS cover song on the album so what's not to like? We didn't find this record until later in life but if you're unfamiliar, I think you'll like a lot of what you hear as we delve into deep topics we don't always weigh in on thanks to this punk classic.

Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Ugly American Werewolf in London Store - Get your Wolf merch and use code 10OFF2023 to save 10%!

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

U2 were on a sharp trajectory up after 1983's War and the 1984 live album Under A Blood Red Sky. With sharp guitar licks from The Edge, powerful and earnest vocals from Bono and a killer rhythm section with Larry Mullens, Jr (drums) and Adam Clayton (bass), U2 were on their way to being the next great rock band. However, the boys yearned for something more than rock stardom and big American fame through disposable pop hits. They wanted a more European sound that was cultivated by the likes of Roxy Music and Ultravox.

So much to the chagrin of Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, they employed Brian Eno (Roxy Music, David Bowie) and his engineer Daniel Lanois to help guide them on a mystical musical journey that would change their sound forever. And while they did score a big radio with with Pride (In The Name Of Love), most of the album is more ambient and often subdued. Deep cuts like Bad, A Sort of Homecoming and Indian Summer Sky may have caught the attention of fans and rock DJs, the album didn't become the game changer for which they may have been hoping. However, it set the groundwork for the next album, The Joshua Tree, which would propel them to superstar status around the globe. As it turns 40, we explore this left turn by U2 which would eventually pay enormous dividends.

Ugly American Werewolf in London Website

Ugly American Werewolf in London Store - Get your Wolf merch and use code 10OFF2023 to save 10%!

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