The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast

The Wolf and Action Jackson thirst for knowledge about rock n roll. The bands, the musicians, the albums, the songs, the studios, the history - we want to know it all!! But no one knows everything, we all have blind spots. So as a way to further our own knowledge and understanding of rock music, we've developed a new, somewhat regular segment we call On First Listen. Here we take an album that we've never listened to and give it our usual track x track evaluation. Everyone has albums that they've always been curious about or have seen on Top 50 lists or had a friend swear is the best kept secret on the planet but for whatever reason, you've never heard it. We kick off this new series with 1973's Brain Salad Surgery by Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Our heroes were late to the prog landscape and when they first got into music via MTV in the 1980s, Genesis and Yes were pop bands, not prog rock giants. The boys didn't really come to appreciate progressive rock until later in life. However, Carl Palmer (the Palmer in Emerson, Lake & Palmer) they had familiarity with through his work in Asia and he was a guest on UAWIL #80. But the The Wolf & Action had never listened to the album Carl called his favorite in ELP, Brain Salad Surgery. They were familiar with the cover by HR Giger (Alien) but didn't see the hidden pictures from the original work of art. Nor did they know the meaning of Brain Salad Surgery (we get into it). And though they knew their song that started, "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends" they had no idea what the name of the song was (Karn Evil 9 First Impression Part 2 doesn't exactly roll off the tongue). Despite all that it is considered one of the true prog masterpieces of all time.

So the boys set out to explore what Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Carl Palmer were up to in 1973. Will it become an instant favorite? Or will it be something they appreciate but never listen to again? You'll have to listen to find out what they think about ELP's 1973 classic.

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On the third edition of our monthly sidecast, First Concert Memories, we welcome back good friend to the show Neil Poole from the glorious Def Lep Pod. Neil's passion and knowledge for all things Def Leppard made him an easy choice to give us the lowdown on the first time he ever saw his favorite band on the Adrenalize Tour in 1992 in Birmingham, England. The Wolf & Action Jackson saw the band for the first time just months later on the same tour in Orlando with a slightly adjusted setlist but the show was amazing.

Neil has told us for years that it's tough being a Def Leppard fan in the UK as they are not as beloved as they are in the US. We relive the night he took a 2+ hour bus ride with his older brother from Liverpool to Birmingham to witness his beloved Leppards live. This was the second tour performed by the boys in the round but the first time they performed in the round in the UK (according to Neil) as arenas in the 1980s weren't necessarily equipped to handle all the gear Def Leppard requires to put on their extraordinary show. From guitar solos, levitating drum kits, crowd sing-alongs and a killer setlist this was Def Leppard at the height of their power in the UK and Neil shares his memories from this special moment in his life.

Visit Neil on Twitter (X) and listen to Def Lep Pod wherever you get your podcasts!

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October 25, 1988 saw the release of Traveling Wilburys Volume 1, the debut of a supergroup that no one saw coming. Born out of an idea that George Harrison and Jeff Lynne shared as they worked on his hit album Cloud Nine, they decided they'd like to make music with friends and people they admired. Jeff wanted to work with Roy Orbison and George wanted to work with Bob Dylan. After enlisting the help of new buddy Tom Petty, they set about putting together the most high-powered supergroup of all-time. They all took turns writing, singing lead and playing guitar and the results were strong - more than 3 million in US sales and a grammy nomination for album of the year.

The harmonies between all their voices are something to behold and while some songs give most everyone a chance to sing lead (Handle With Care, End of the Line) others are showcases for their individual styles like like Roy Orbison on Not Alone Anymore and Tweeter and the Monkey Man for Bob Dylan. You can really sense the joy coming from George Harrison as he had been jaded with the music industry and was happy to be part of something special again. Roy was completely chuffed to be back on top of the charts (#3 US, #16 UK, #1 Canada, #1 Australia) but unfortunately he would pass away mere weeks after the album was released. This collaboration helped revive the careers of all these legends and they would continue to work together on each others projects immediately after this. It may not be our typical musical style but as this record turns 35, it was fun to reflect and take a listen to what true rock legends can accomplish by working together and having a bit of fun.

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To hardcore fans of Yes, 1983's 90125 was a big departure from their progressive rock sound of the 1970s. But for the MTV generation, it was our first introduction to Yes and the immense talent within the band. Driven by new member Trevor Rabin as the guitarist, sometime lead vocalist & dominant songwriter and former lead singer Trevor Horn as producer, Yes went in a more commercial and pop direction. Anchored by the return of singer Jon Anderson, stalwart Chris Squire on bass, long time drummer Alan White and returning member Tony Kaye on keyboards, they sold more than 3 million copies in the US and were all over MTV thanks to Owner of a Lonely Heart.

But what did the progressive rock Yes fans think about 90125? Was it too far a departure from their prog rock roots? Was the guitar too heavy compared to the picking of Steve Howe? UK fans didn't embrace this album like the US fans did and now Yes, led by Steve Howe who was in supergroup Asia during the recording of 90125, don't play songs from this record. Owner of a Lonely Heart hit #1 in the US but ony #28 in the UK and the rest of the videos were seen more in the US than England. We go track by track, review all the videos and talk about the politics and lineup changes that are very much a part of the legacy of Yes as 90125 turns 40 November 11, 2023.

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As 10 years olds in 1983, Genesis self-titled album was our introduction to the band with singles & MTV videos like Mama, That's All & Illegal Alien. We had no awareness of the band as prog superstars in the 1970s with Peter Gabriel & Steve Hackett and would only learn of that incarnation later in life. Phil Collins solo career was also on a huge upward swing after the release of Face Value (1980) and Hello I Must Be Going (1982). When Phil, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks reconvened Genesis the band was gaining momentum from all sides and since they decided for the first time to credit all music to everyone equally, they felt the eponymous title made sense for a record they collaborated on together with fewer self-penned ideas coming in.

But where does it stand in their legacy? They've eschewed the lengthy prog songs they wrote in the 70s for shorter, more pop friendly melodies. While Phil Collins singing and drumming were both strong on this album, are all these songs discernible from what he was doing in his solo career? Were they trading success for the ubiquity that would follow with Collins next solo release No Jacket Required (25 million sold) and their 1986 record Invisible Touch (over 15 million sold)? And what were they thinking with Illegal Alien? Would the adult contemporary/middle-of-the-roadness of this album define their sound and the image of Phil as a solo artist? We dive into all that as Genesis (1983) turns 40 on October 3.

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The Yardbirds have an unparalleled legacy in the hallowed halls of rock n roll as they were one of the original British Invasion groups that brought the blues to the forefront of the rock scene in the 60s. The Wolf & Action Jackson became enamoured with them as teens in the 80s as the 60s had a big cultural renaissance and new CD box sets like Eric Clapton's Crossroads (which we cover in-depth on UAWIL 33 & 34). While the band is best known for their 3 famous guitarists - Clapton, Jeff Beck & Jimmy Page - the entire band deserves credit as top notch musicians and performers and Paul Samwell-Smith, Chris Dreja, Keith Relf and Jim McCarty are all members of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame with their lead guitar members.

We are so proud to welcome Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds to talk about his single Breath of the Wind which is available for digital download on September 15. Jim wrote the song for his late wife, Lizzie, and goes on to tell us about working mediums to help him see the end of life differently. We talk about playing with his band, how his lovely voice is a better fit for acoustic music than the raucous sounds he made with The Yardbirds, how he still enjoys playing live and some choice stories from the 1960s. It's a dream come true for 2 teenage rock fans who geeked out on The Yardbirds when they met 30+ years ago to interview this true gentleman and genuine rock legend.

Visit JimMcCarty.com & buy Breath of the Wind wherever you purchase digital music

Visit DemonMusicGroup.co.uk to learn more @demonmusicgroup

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On the 2nd episode of our monthly sidecast, First Concert Memories, we welcome Van Halen superfan Greg Renoff to talk about the night he saw Van Halen on the 1984 Tour. This night would change Greg's life as he would go on to literally write the book on Van Halen with Van Halen Rising and his latest Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life in Music. You can hear Greg's enthusiasm and encyclopedic knowledge of Van Halen throughout our chat as we do our best to work the standard 20 questions we ask of every guest on FCM.

The Wolf & Action Jackson anxiously awaited this episode as though they did eventually see Van Halen on the For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge Tour together in 1991, what really turned them onto Van Halen as impressionable youths was seeing the boys on MTV in 1984. Jump, Panama and Hot For Teacher were in heavy rotation on MTV that summer and the world had caught Van Halen fever. But we were too young to understand that you could see a band you saw on MTV on tour and had no idea how to go about getting to a concert (we were 10). However, a young Greg Renoff scored a ticket and got his mom to drop him off in the family truckster so he could witness Van Halen at the peak of their power on what is considered by most to be the best tour they ever did.

A fun chat with one of the world's foremost experts on Van Halen, Greg Renoff!

Visit Greg on Twitter (X) and order an autographed Ted Templeman book!

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Now this debate could stir some controversy...

Just like sports teams, bands pickup new members to replace folks who don't fit in musically, quit, develop substance issues, don't jibe socially or even die. Eventually, most bands replace members at some point in their careers. But which are the best free agent pickups of all time? Which non-original members made the biggest contribution to a band in terms of developing their sound, their success, and their legacy? The Wolf & Action Jackson each choose their ten best rock band additions of all time and why.

Now we had to put in the parameter that the band had to release at least one album without free agent pick. Many bands had members that didn't work out before they put out a record that would find a replacement that made the lineup successful. For each pick we discuss that musician, the member they replaced, the first album they appeared on and that free agent's legacy in the band. And what would the band's legacy be without this person?

Is Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden the best free agent vocalist? What about Ronnie James Dio, Brian Johnson, Sammy Hagar or Steve Perry? What about guitarists like Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones, Phil Collen of Def Leppard or Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden? Which of these changed the fortunes of legendary bands forever? Listen and then let us know your Top 10 Rock Free Agents!

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1978 was an interesting time for music. Bigger 70s acts like Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath & Deep Purple were breaking up or having issues. Punk was the hottest thing in the music industry. New wave was on the horizon as was the real game changer in 1981, MTV. Bands that would forge their way to superstardom in the 80s via MTV released their debuts in 1978 - Van Halen, Dire Straits, The Cars and The Police. WIth a young songwriting genius on the bass in Sting, a sturdy veteran of the road & the studio in Andy Summers and an intellectual drumsmith in Stewart Copeland, they were too good to be just another punk band. So they blended reggae, punk, and rock with relatable lyrics and built the foundation on which their sound would grow and take them to immense success.

The subjects of the 10 songs on Outlandos D'Amour vary from prostitution (Roxanne), suicide (Can't Stand Losing You), fame (Peanuts) and even a blow-up sex doll (Be My Girl - Sally). And yet it all comes together as a fresh sound that is still identifiable to The Police. These three make a lot of noise but it's mostly upbeat, jump up and down fun, especially on the crescendo building (and The Wolf's personal favorite) So Lonely. The album went platinum in the US & UK (and Canada, France, Australia, etc) and gave The Police the foothold they needed to eventually become the biggest band in the world in 1983 with Synchronicity.

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Titans of Metal and true global road warriors Metallica have greenlighted a new podcast from their camp that will provide weekly updates on the band - The Metallica Report. Hosted by Steffan Chirazi, who has worked with & around the band for decades, the writer/editor of So What! and Renee Richardson, a legend of San Francisco rock radio and the Director of Philanthropy at the All Within My Hands Foundation, these two bring you behind the scenes of the biggest band in the World! Not only will you hear from the crew, the band, and fans but you can submit your questions and Metallica stories to the show so Renne & Steffan can get you the answers.

We welcome Renee and Steffan to the Pantheon Podcast family and hear in their words why their relationship with Metallica is so special, the amazing people they work with and the lives they touch through AWMH. Hear about views from the Snakepit of the M72 World Tour (and check out UAWIL 127 & 128 from Amsterdam on Nights 1 & 2 of the tour) and make sure to get your movie tickets for the global simulcast to 2,500 screens across the globe on August 18 & 20.

You really got a sense of the Metallica Family that these two speak about that exists between the band, the fans and everyone who works hard to keep this band on top. This is a must listen show for Metallica fans - subscribe, download & tell em The Wolf sent ya!

Visit Metallica.com to learn more about The Metallica Report

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