353 episodes
- Ronnie James Dio joining Black Sabbath really gave the band a shot in the arm. After declining returns with Ozzy in the late 70s, Ronnie's emergence as a singer and a songwriter helped push 1980's Heaven and Hell to platinum status in the US. The band and record company were eager to recapture the magic of Heaven and Hell but founding drummer Bill Ward had to replaced by American drummer Vinnie Appice, who stayed available during the Heaven and Hell Tour just in case Bill wasn't able to play.
They loved the success of Heaven and Hell so much, it seems, that they tracked Mob Rules very similarly to H&H. They come charging out of the gate with Turn Up the Night (as opposed to Neon Knights), they go back tp doom Sabbath with the Sign of the Southern Cross (not dissimilar to Children of the Sea) and end with the epic title track (E5150, or in Latin EVIL, is really the intro to Mob Rules in our book). But it's all great Sabbath thanks to the soaring vocals of Ronnie James Dio, the groovy bass lines of Geezer Butler and some extraordinary work by The Riff-Master - Tonny Iommi. It fit perfectly with the H&H material and maybe Tony got some inspiration from the young lads in Iron Maiden as producer Martin Birch had just worked on Maiden's sophomore release Killers.
The second side might not be as strong but the urgency and spectacular groove of Falling Off the Edge of the World galloping along to Ronnie's powerful and emotional vocals make it all time great Sabbath track. Though they would put this lineup back together for Dehumanizer in 1992 and again as Heaven and Hell in the 2000s, this would prove to be their only release during their heyday. The follow up live album Live Evil showed what an incredible lineup this was and it's sad to think it ended for cliched reasons but that's rock n roll. We celebrate Mob Rules and a killer Black Sabbath lineup as it turns 45.
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap is an important part of AC/DC's catalog to their fans around the world. However, when and what you heard on the album varied from country to country. Originally released in Australia in 1976 with a cover that looked like something Angus drew with crayons after school, DDDDC featured some all time anthems like the title track and Jailbreak. But around the world not only would the cover be different but the songs and lengths of certain songs were changed based on what had already been released in different territories.
Perhaps most importantly, the US record company (ATCO) decided not to release the album as the band were unable to tour and therefore promote the album in the States. Five years later after the success of Highway to Hell, the demise of lead singer and character Bon Scott and the triumphant (and multi diamond selling) return of the band with Brian Johnson on Back in Black, AC/DC were in demand. So despite the protests of the band who didn't want it released as they had a new singer, new bass player (Cliff Burton had replaced Mark Evans) and new trajectory with that lineup, Dirty Deeds was finally released in 1981.
Bon Scott's menacing lyrics and snarling vocals are in their full glory on this record with AC/DC classics like Problem Child, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and the fan favorite Big Balls as he talks about his fancy dance parties (or is he...) Malcolm's hammering the rhythm with those big AC/DC riffs but he lays down some bluesy stuff on tracks like Ride On and There's Gonna Be Some Rockin'. Angus Young is still about 21-22 at this point so while there are flashes of brilliance that would show he'll one day be regarded as an all-time guitar legend, there are some spots where he's still trying to catch up with his big brother.
With 7 million in US sales, the record execs got what they wanted but did it hamper the next Brian Johnson album, For Those About To Rock We Salute You? It may have been a bit confusing at the time and the imported version is different than the one we grew up on but there's a lot of fun to be had on Dirty Deeds.
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices - Thank you all for all the love we received via email and socials on our 300th! We are as grateful as ever for your support and humbled by your enthusiasm for our rock n roll conversations and interviews. We have more up our sleeves so please stay tuned - now back to #301....
Abacab was released in fall of 1981 after the debut of Phil Collins' first solo album, Face Value, which had gone mulit-platinum thanks to radio staples like In the Air Tonight and I Missed Again. Collins sang more personal songs and utilized players from different genres including The Phenix Horns from Earth, Wind & Fire to get a poppier sound. When Genesis reconvened at The Farm, their Surrey estate with their own studio converted from an old barn, they had already begun to evolve from their proggy past. Their 1980 effort Duke showed that they were leaning towards shorter and more radio friendly songs like Turn It On Again. Abacab is the next step in that direction.
The single version of the title track has a driving beat and modern melody provided by Tony Banks and the latest synth toys of the day, despite the nonsensical title (there is a reason, we'll get there). But true to their prog roots the album version is 7 minutes with an extended jam/exploration bit. No Reply At All featured The Phenix Horns, the first time non-band members played on a Genesis album. Those hits would eventually help push the album to double platinum in the US and 7 on the Billboard chart. But much of the rest of the album are laments about opportunities missed or relationships that changed or electronic symphonies that ebb and flow. One song may be the worst in the entire Genesis catalog.
in 1983, they would release their self titled album which was their biggest yet and then in 1986 Invisible Touch made them one of the biggest bands on the planet. Phil Collins solo career would explode through the mid-80s and was everywhere. But on Abacab they weren't there yet. They were coming in to jam together to discover the directions they could go and evolving with the times. It's an interesting phase for the band as they were on the cusp of great success.
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices First Concert Memories #38: David Lee Roth with Metal Walt of Metal Mayhem ROC
01/09/2026 | 1h 2 mins.We are happy to welcome Metal Walt from Metal Mayhen ROC to talk about one of his first concert experiences from his teenage years - seeing David Lee Roth on the Eat Em And Smile Tour in 1986. Walt, like most kids from the MTV generation, saw Dave hamming it up in Van Halen videos like Panama and Hot For Teacher. Then Dave capitalized on that fame and decided to do a solo album, complete with fun MTV videos. So when Dave and his band came to New Jersey in October of 1986, Walt had to be there.
We discuss with Walt where he fell on the David Lee Roth/Van Halen split in 1986, a few years later and now as everyone was forced to choose sides. He felt opening band Cinderella’s style and image weren’t equivalent to their musical style but that they were a good band. And he enjoyed the noodling of Billy Sheehan (bass) and Steve Vai (guitar) before DLR himself made his presence known and then the night was really On Fire!
Dave did more VH1 to 1984 cuts than Van Halen did on the 5150 Tour and seemed to have a lot of fun doing it. He confirmed that he was the showman that Walt and the rest of us had seen on MTV. He even celebrated his 32nd birthday at the end of the set (I bet he didn’t go to be that night, if you need proof listen to First Concert Memories 15 with Mick Wall who stayed up all night with him in 1988). It not only prompted Walt to see Dave 20+ times over the years solo and with the reunited Van Halen but to dress up like
Dave on his famous album cover for Halloween three weeks later.
Who would do that? The kind of rock fan we want on First Concert Memories - that’s who!!
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices- When we started the Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast in 2020, we were are still living with the near term effects of Covid. The Wolf lived just off Abbey Road in London and Action Jackson was at his family home near the Atlantic coast. To stay sane we decided to give each other homework - an album to review and then next week they'd discuss it. Because that's what they did as college roommates in the 90s with hard rock music tastes that tended to lean toward the generation before their own. Quickly we decided the best way toward continued mental fitness was to stay busy doing something we loved - talking about and sharing our love and (sometimes questionable) knowledge about rock music.
With our 300th episode, we'd like to reflect a bit and thank all the people who supported us, who gave us advice, who came on the show and most of all to those who listened. We've engaged with like-minded people around the world and have even had the chance to interview and share war stories with some of our childhood heroes. And we're proud of the work we've done, playing our own part in preserving and promoting the rock music we love.
Those two college students also once slept on a sidewalk in front of a record store in the winter to get tickets to see Rush on the Roll The Bones Tour. It's the only time our hosts ever camped out for tickets and it was until recently the only time they ever saw Rush together. So for our 300th, with the help of Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and the superhero on the drums Anika Nilles (and you too Loren Gold) are going to Chicago for night 3 of Rush's 4 night stand at the United Center.
It was a bit of a full circle moment to be in Chicago with our families to celebrate a band we thought we'd never see again. We used to be the teenagers asking the old guys when their first tour was, now we bring our kids and tell our own stories. The Rush Family is a brilliant community of good folks that had been away from each other for too long and though the concert was great, it was more of a celebration and communion for the Rush faithful.
Yes we'll actually be critical of things like sound and the setlist - this isn't a complete love-in. We have a responsibility to tell it as we saw and heard it. But given our history with the band and our milestone for the show, we treat it as something we're thankful for happening. Rush is back and it's a celebration of Neil, a celebration of the music and an amazing night we never would have dreamed of on that sidewalk 35 years ago.
Catch the witness!
Catch the wit!
Catch the spirit!
Catch the spit!
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About The Ugly American Werewolf in London Rock Podcast
The Ugly American Werewolf in London is a weekly podcast about classic rock, hard rock, progressive rock, heavy metal, early MTV, 80s music, UK vs. US chart success and all things rock! Hosted by The Wolf and Action Jackson, who interview rock legends, review classic albums and concerts of their favorite classic rock bands each week. Once a month, they welcome musicians, writers and fans to First Concert Memories to tell about one particular night where a live concert changed their life. Action & The Wolf have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge of rock music and its history - tune in to hear what they're passionate about! Proud part of Pantheon Podcasts!
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