Decibel Geek Podcast

Decibel Geek is a weekly podcast that features discussion of all things Hard Rock & Heavy Metal from the 1960's through today. The show is hosted by Chris Czynszak & AAron Camaro, lifelong fans of the genre.


Each week, Chris & AAron discuss new releases, classic albums, and everything in between. They also interview musicians, industry insiders, and other experts on the subject. Decibel Geek is a must-listen for any fan of Hard Rock & Heavy Metal. The show is informative, entertaining, and always insightful.


Chris & Aaron and their guests are passionate about the genre, and it shows in their discussions. If you're looking for a podcast that will keep you up-to-date on the latest news and trends in Hard Rock & Heavy Metal, then Decibel Geek is the show for you.


Here are some of the things you can expect on Decibel Geek:


- Discussion of new releases, classic albums, and everything in between

- Interviews with musicians, industry insiders, and other experts on the subject

- Informative, entertaining, and insightful discussions

- A passion for the genre from the hosts and guests


If you're a fan of Hard Rock & Heavy Metal, then you need to subscribe to Decibel Geek. The show is available on all major podcast platforms. So what are you waiting for? Start listening today!

Music Commentary
Music Interviews
Music History
151
Fresh Blood July 2022 - Ep483
Great new rock and metal from Kodiak, White Raven Down, Wicked Smile, Wicked Stone, Stonetrip, Balls Gone Wild, Rivetskull, Kore Rozzik, and Sisters Doll. Do it up!
67 min
152
New Noize Weekly 06.23.22 - Ep482
We're discussing news stories on Motley Crue, Poison, Kingdom Come, Ugly Kid Joe, Foo Fighters, ACCEPT, Alice Cooper, and much more!
55 min
153
The Best & Worst of Poison - Ep481
This week we're taking a deep dive into the discography of one of rock's most polarizing bands as we discuss The Best & Worst of Poison! In this episode we take a spin through the whole Poison catalog and pick out our favorite and least favorite tracks. Did we get it right? Are we way off in our assessment? You tell us in the comments as well as YOUR picks for this episode.
116 min
154
Torpedo Dudes 4 All (Creatures Fest Review) - E...
In this episode, Aaron shares his thoughts and memories on Creatures Fest from the atmosphere to the vendors, to the guests and, especially, the performances. Ace Frehley and Peter Criss reunited on stage for one of the nights, Bruce Kulick headlined the closing ceremonies but it was Vinnie Vincent's performance that seemed to grab the most attention; for a variety of reasons. What were our thoughts? You'll have to listen to find out. You'll get the on-the-ground review from Aaron and Chris gives his take from the peanut gallery (ie. Youtube videos).
93 min
155
New Noize Weekly - Week of 06.07.22
Talking rock news stories on Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Yngwie Malmsteen, Dio, Queensryche, and much more!
41 min
156
On Assignment - New England (1979) Ep478
This week we return to the classroom as they go On Assignment for the 1979 self-titled release by New England. This time our teacher is Dennis Talbott from the Ages of Rock podcast. If you don't know, Ages of Rock is a fantastic music discussion show that you should check out. Dennis has plenty of reasons why he assigned us this record. He bought it as a new release and has since purchased over 20 copies! Say what?! Would we feel the same enthusiasm for this album as Dennis? You'll have to listen and find out! We give each song an A-F grade as well. New England featured band leader guitarist/vocalist John Fannon, drummer Hirsh Gardner, bassist Gary Shea and keyboardist Jimmy Waldo. The group was best known for the song "Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya", which received heavy radio exposure on Album-oriented rock (AOR) stations and reached the US Top 40 in 1979. "Hello, Hello, Hello" also received some airplay. The quartet formed in the Boston area and was discovered by manager Bill Aucoin, who also managed Kiss. Paul Stanley helped produce the debut album along with producer Mike "Clay" Stone, best known for his work with Queen and Asia. Guitarist and vocalist John Fannon was the leader of the band. The group had a live stint supporting Kiss, but New England slid between the cracks of other Aucoin projects. The group's success stalled when their label Infinity Records was absorbed by its parent company, MCA Records. Gardner, Waldo, and Shea would go on to work with a then-unknown Vincent Cusano on a project dubbed Warrior before disbanding due to Cusano being brought into the KISS fold to replace guitarist Ace Frehley. Waldo and Shea would then go on to help form Alcatrazz. We hope you enjoy our On Assignment episode discussing New England and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
75 min
157
New Noize Weekly - Week of 05.25.22 - Ep477
We're back to talk current rock news with the weekly edition of New Noize as we close out May of 2022! There's lots to get to so let's get going! A less-than-credible source has stated that Motley Crue are doing rehearsals with Vince Neil's son in case dear old dad isn't up to the task of the upcoming Stadium Tour. Is this a nothingburger or could there be something to it? We share our thoughts. The tongue-meister himself, Gene Simmons, recently made waves at a KISS soundcheck in Hartford, CT as he donned a bath robe (with nothing under it) in front of fans that paid to be in attendance. Chris made a simple joke post on Facebook for laughs and all hell broke loose. We address the God of Slumber as well as some choice comments from the post on social media. Mental health came to the forefront in a couple of recent stories including the recent death of Black Dhalia Murder's Trevor Strnad as well as an out-of-character moment onstage between Metallica's James Hetfield and his band mates. We talk about both stories as well as share our thoughts on mental health struggles. Def Leppard's Joe Elliott recently made headlines calling their upcoming 'Diamond Star Halos' album "career defining" as well as comparing it to some pretty legendary releases by other groups. A few songs have been released so far. We each share our thoughts on what's been released as well as our expectations for the new album. Other stories covered this week include KK Downing getting the green light for the upcoming Judas Priest Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame induction, Spinal Tap finally doing a sequel, and the online original music competition show by Hit Parader called 'No Cover.' We hope you enjoy New Noize Weekly and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download  
59 min
158
Radio Sucks May 2022 - Ep476
We're back to blast your ears with some rock and metal goodness as we present the Radio Sucks Radio Show for May of 2022! We've got a great lineup of songs by amazing bands for you this week. Chris has got great tracks from Cleanbreak, Bastardane, Lost Circus, Shameless (featuring Bruce Kulick), and Torpedohead. Aaron's serving up great music from Enuff Z'nuff, Supersuckers, Fuzz, Orchid, and Gunfire 76. Be sure to listen, follow, and buy music from these great artists. And, please, share this episode and review us on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser, or Facebook and we'll read it on the show! We hope you enjoy Radio Sucks May 2022 and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
79 min
159
Eric Dover Reflects on Slash's Snakepit 'It's F...
This week Eric Dover joins us to discuss Slash's Snakepit's 1995 release 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere.' In 1995, Guns N' Roses were one of the biggest bands in the world; yet one of the most divided. Ongoing tensions between the members of the band would lead to constant delays in new material and the future of the band in limbo. Not one to sit around, Slash was moved to create new material on his own. With the go-ahead from label heads at Geffen Records, Slash started assembling a lineup of players and got right to work. Bringing in fellow Guns members Matt Sorum, Gilby Clarke, and Dizzy Reed as well as the bass talents of Alice in Chains member Mike Inez, he quickly got several songs written and demoed musically. With additional songwriting contributions from Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan, the album is loaded with Guns n' Roses attitude and sound; albeit without Axl Rose on vocals. With lots of great music ready to go, Slash needed a singer. After auditioning over 40 others, the job went to former Jellyfish member Eric Dover. It was an unlikely hiring considering Eric was a backing vocalist with Jellyfish. But, after an impassioned audition and showing he had the songwriting chops to hang with him, Slash offered him the job. The resulting album 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere' is a lean, mean slab of bluesy rock n' roll featuring blistering vocals and Slash's identifiable guitar tone and solos. Eric Dover shares his memories of his time with Slash's Snakepit for this special Albums Unleashed episode; from his audition to the songwriting and recording process to the tour for the album. There's a lot of great stories in this chat that give you a behind the scenes look at what Eric went through during this time. We think you'll enjoy this one for sure. Eric has done a lot more in his career and we hope you'll check out his other projects including Sextus and more recently The Lickerish Quartet. We hope you enjoy our talk with Eric Dover about his time with Slash's Snakepit and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download  
78 min
160
New Noize May 2022 - Ep474
We're back with a whole bunch more rock and metal news with New Noize May 2022! We're covering a ton of stuff this week and giving our unfiltered takes so strap in. Autograph bassist Randy Rand recently passed away. The sad news came in around the time of this recording. We give our thoughts on Autograph the loss of Randy. As requested in the episode, let us know of some recommended Autograph tracks. Metallica's James Hetfield is, reportedly, still fuming over the album covers for 'Load' and 'Reload.' Why? We get into the reasons in this episode as well as share our take on this era of Metallica. Jason Newsted recently spilled the beans on his potential involvement in a Van Halen-related project. This news was confirmed by guitarist Joe Satriani who was also asked to contribute. As strange as this story is, it appears that something was in the works. We share our thoughts on this strange story as well as cover David Lee Roth's recent statement on the situation. Other stories covered this week include the passing of Cynthia Plaster Caster, Matt Sorum's recent comments on the breakup of Guns n' Roses, John 5 revisiting a tense on-stage moment with Marilyn Manson, Machine Gun Kelly, Dave Mustaine relieving himself in an odd location, Queensryche lawsuits, Judas Priest albums news, and more! We hope you enjoy New Noize May 2022 and SHARE with a friend! Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
59 min
161
Fresh Blood April 2022 - Ep473
We're back this week to bring you some killer new rock with Fresh Blood April 2022! If you know of anyone stating that "rock is dead," be sure to clue them into this episode and prove them wrong! Chris' picks this week include killer selections from great newer artists like Lydia's Castle, Living Wreckage, Crash Midnight, Fortune Child, and Battering Ram. Aaron's awesome picks include cuts from Skills, Space Panther, Electric Black, The Bom Squad, and Flickertail. We have no doubt that you'll find something you love with our picks this week. Be sure to check out the bands, purchase their music (or merch), give their pages a "like" and share this episode to turn others onto them! The future of rock is IN YOUR HANDS!!! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
65 min
162
Ask Us Anything - Ep472
You've got questions and we've got the answers this week as we present Ask Us Anything! We put out a call on the Decibel Geek social media channels and many of you responded. We take on a variety of questions from a whole spectrum of topics; music and otherwise. Some of the topics covered include our thoughts on bands playing without original members, our day jobs, how we met each other, ROCKNPOD updates, past podcasting feuds, producers we love, album rankings, future plans, foods we love, and tons more. We thank all of you that submitted questions and did our best to answer honestly. We think you'll get to know us a bit better after hearing this. It was fun to do. We hope you enjoy Ask Us Anything and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
128 min
163
New Noize April 2022 - Ep471
We're back this week with all the rock news that's fit to spit with New Noize April 2022! It's been a heavy past couple weeks in the rock world with sad stories including the untimely death or Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins and the reverberations felt worldwide from it. We share our thoughts on Taylor and some of the reactions to it including that of Ted Nugent. Skid Row announced their newest singer recently with the hiring of former H.E.A.T. front man Erik Gronwall. The band released a brand new single 'The Gang's All Here' featuring Gronwall's vocals. We share our thoughts on the hiring of Gronwall, the firing of Z.P. Theart, and what we think the future holds for Skid Row. Bon Jovi recently kicked off their latest tour and the press is definitely not going wild for it. A recent brutal review from their St. Paul show led us to find some audio of the tour kickoff show in Omaha the night before. You won't believe your ears. Even worse, you won't believe the crowd reaction to it. Additionally, Chris Jereicho recently admitted that Fozzy does make use of backing tracks for their live performances and claims that "everybody does." Between these two stories, it's clear that there's some not-so-great things on the horizon for the rock world and Chris makes his feelings known on the subject while pulling no punches. Other stories touched on this week include Vivian Campbell reflecting on his bad deal with Ronnie James Dio, Tom Keifer publicly commenting on his late band mate Jeff Labar's passing, Spike getting sacked from The Quireboys, and Ugly Kid Joe announcing a new tour; spoiler alert, the US is once again not included. We hope you enjoy New Noize April 2022 and SHARE with a friend! Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
69 min
164
Radio Sucks Radio Show March 2022 - Ep470
We're bringing you a great batch of ear candy for you this week with the Radio Sucks Radio Show March 2022! If you're new to Decibel Geek, the premise is simple; radio continues to spin the same 50 songs over and over again while newer artists and new material by our favorite bands regularly get ignored. That's not the case here! We've got 10 great tunes to band your head to this week. You'll get great tracks from young bands including Whiskey Grin, Bloody Heels, On Top, and Junkyard Dive. Also, a fresh new rock track from Eightball and new tracks from great artists such as Kane Roberts, Santa Cruz, Million $ Reload, and John Corabi. We close things out with a spin on classic KISS' sound with a track from Klassik '78 from their new 'Phantoms' album. It's an hour-plus of great music and talk so join us for Radio Sucks Radio Show March 2022! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
73 min
165
On Assignment: Marvelous 3 Ready Sex Go Ep469
This week we debut a new theme with On Assignment for the Marvelous 3 album 'Ready Sex Go.' Here's how it works. Each time, we seek out a fellow podcaster that we respect to assign us an album to review. We give the album several spins, in our own time, and then reconvene with our guest and grade the album on a A-F scale; going track by track through the album. For this inaugural edition of On Assignment, we're joined by Jay Scott of The Hook Rocks podcast. As a fellow Pantheon network member, Jay's show has steadily climbed in popularity and regularly produces great episodes for the musically obsessed as well as fantastic interviews. We asked Jay to assign us an album that he loves and he chose the third, and final, Marvelous 3 album 'Ready Sex Go.' Released in 2000, the album completely flew under the radar of most rock fans despite getting modest airplay with the single 'Sugarbuzz.' In this episode everyone shares their memories of Marvelous 3, how they discovered the music, and their links to Butch Walker's solo material and Southgang. We, then, go through all the tracks from 'Ready Sex Go' and give our thoughts as well as our letter grades. This album is loaded from front to back with power pop rock greatness. The hooks, the melodies, the production, the playing and more are highlighted. If you haven't checked out Marvelous 3, Southgang, or Butch Walker's solo material, we highly recommend you do so. So, what do YOU think? Did we pass the assignment? What letter grades would you give these songs? Let us know in the comments. We hope you enjoy On Assignment: Marvelous 3 Ready Sex Go and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
93 min
166
The Best & Worst of 70's Cheap Trick - Ep468
This week we welcome good friend, podcaster, and author Brian J. Kramp to discuss The Best & Worst of 70's Cheap Trick! In addition to his hosting duties of the awesome Rock and/or Roll Podcast, Brian's got an awesome new book coming out this Summer based on the early days of Cheap Trick! This Band Has No Past tells the story of a bar band from the Midwest—the best and weirdest bar band in the Midwest—and how these four baby boomers, having been lucky enough to avoid the Vietnam draft, doggedly pursued a most unlikely career in rock’n’roll and made it on their own terms. It traces every gnarly limb of the family tree of bands that culminated in Cheap Trick, then details how this unlikely foursome paid their dues—with interest—night after night, slogging it out everywhere from high schools to bars to bowling alleys to fans’ back yards, before signing to Epic Records and releasing two brilliant albums six months apart. Drawing on more than eighty original interviews, This Band Has No Past is packed full of new insights and information that fans of the band will devour. How was the Cheap Trick logo created? How did the checkerboard pattern come to be associated with the band? When did Rick Nielsen start wearing a ballcap 24/7? Who caught their mom and dad rolling on the couch? Read on and find out. The book is set for release June 21, 2022 and we can't wait to get it! In this episode, the guys each share their favorite and least favorite songs from Cheap Trick's 70's output. This episode covers the self-titled debut, In Color, Heaven Tonight, and Dream Police as well as the landmark Cheap Trick at Budokan release. There are some definite differences in taste among the guys in this episode and it makes for an interesting discussion. What are your Best & Worst of 70's Cheap Trick picks? Let us know in the comments below! Be sure to pre-order your copy of This Band Has No Past by Brian J. Kramp at https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1911036874/creativepubco-20 Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
73 min
167
Album Anticipation 2022 - Ep467
This week we talk about all the music we're looking forward to in the New Year with Album Anticipation 2022! There was a ton of great music released in 2021. You can hear all about that including our picks in our Best of 2021 episode. 2022 promises to be another great year for rock and metal music. In this episode, we discuss some of the great stuff already released this year including new material from Tony Martin, Steve Vai, and others. Additionally, we discuss confirmed new releases from Guns N' Roses, Slash, Scorpions, Ty Tabor, Night Demon, GWAR, Hardcore Superstar, and many more. Other albums that are seemingly planned for release without a definite issue date are discussed. Some of the artists covered include Megadeth, Ozzy Osbourne, Clutch, Dokken, Overkill, Queensryche, and many more. The year in music for 2022 looks bright and we're here to cover it all for you. We hope you enjoy Album Anticipation 2022 and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download
66 min
168
Chris & Aaron Do Florida - Ep466
This week the guys recount a roller-coaster of a weekend in the sunshine state as Chris & Aaron Do Florida! One of the more memorable guests from Decibel Geek history was Dick Wagner. The original career-spanning interview with Dick as well as his appearance for an Albums Unleashed episode on Alice Cooper's Dada album were listener favorites and it led to a friendship between the guys which was cut short due to Dick Wagner's untimely passing a few years ago. Dick's partner Susan Michelson also became a friend through that experience. Susan would go on to found the Dick Wagner Remember the Child Fund; a music therapy program that provides musical instruction and instruments to sick and disabled children. That's what led to last week's events in Florida. The Dick Wagner Remember the Child Fund recently added Woodstock co-founder and music industry legend Artie Kornfeld to it's board. Artie will be working with the charity in many ways in the near future. Chris & Aaron were selected by the charity to be the interviewers for an upcoming film project featuring Artie. The guys met up with Artie at Dogmanic Studios in Pompano Beach, FL for several hours of discussion of his amazing career with a hyper-focus on Woodstock and it's societal impact. The interview was a definite highlight of Chris & Aaron's trip to Florida but not the only thing that happened. In this episode, the guys give a day-by-day account of the trip. There are many ups and downs throughout this loose discussion. From too much alcohol on too little sleep to rental car adventures to meeting some special friends while in town to flight issues to having one of those friends come in and save the day; there's a lot to discuss. We hope you enjoy Chris & Aaron Do Florida and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Chris & Aaron would like to give special thanks to Susan Michelson, Deborah Peak, Artie Kornfeld, Ralph Viera, Charlie & Daniella Hill, videographer Albert Aronov, and Christian and the team at Dogmanic Studios for the hospitality. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
57 min
169
DBG Classic - Alice Cooper Dada - Albums Unleas...
With Chris & Aaron out of town for an interview, this week we look back on a DBG Classic as we revisit Albums Unleashed - Alice Cooper's Dada with guest Dick Wagner. Chris and Aaron are currently working with the Dick Wagner Remember the Child Fund this week; conducting an interview with a legend of the music industry for a future project with the charity. In honor of the charity, they thought it best to republish this classic interview with Dick Wagner in his honor. Original notes below: Released in 1983, DaDa was, for all intents and purposes, dead on arrival due to being the final album in Cooper's contract with Warner Brothers as well as the out-of-the-box style of songs. Part art-rock, part esoteric/theatrical concept, DaDa's synthesizer-infused production combined with a healthy amount of humor crossed with dark subject matter left 1983 audiences confused; and they weren't the only ones. The early 80's were a self-professed "blackout" period for Alice Cooper with the rocker going as far as saying that he barely even remembers the songwriting process or production of this album. Cooper's lack of recollection has led many die-hard Cooper fans to create their own theories as to the concept behind DaDa. Guitarist/composer Dick Wagner, a longtime collaborator of Alice's, was the principal songwriter on this album and was kind enough, while in Nashville in May of 2014, to sit down with Aaron and Chris to discuss the entire album track by track and memory by memory. In this discussion, Wagner shares his memories of the difficulties that led to getting Alice to come to ESP Studios in Buttonville Ontario from his Pheonix home to join he and producer Bob Ezrin in the making of DaDa. Alice's alcohol abuse hit record highs during this period and Dick shares his recollections of their songwriting and recording process that led to the songs on the album. From the creepy title track's intro that features producer Ezrin aping a psychiatrist talking to Cooper as DaDa's featured character over a bed of strange reverberating sounds and the voice of a child calling out for its father to the dark tale of self-destructive realization that is album closer 'Pass the Gun Around,' Wagner tells the story of the album's basic concept. During this in-depth discussion of 1983's DaDa, Dick Wagner reveals the inspiration for the man-in-the-attic track 'Former Lee Warmer' and how, while it has horror opera feel, it's true roots lie in a bad business realtionship with Alice's record label. A fantastic fan-created theory of the albums concept and storyline was written online in 2008 for Ultimate-Guitar.com by a user named madpaperboy89. Aaron and Chris were so intrigued by the review that they read parts of it to Dick to get his take on it. As you'll hear in the discussion, the writer was spot-on in parts. As you'll hear in this installment of Albums Unleashed, DaDa still holds a very special place in Dick Wagner's heart and it's finally earning some much-deserved attention after all these years. Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download  
66 min
170
Best of 2021 - Ep464
As we barrel into the new year, we share our favorite music in our Best of 2021 episode! The general public (over 30) tends to repeat a tired old cliche; there's no good music being released. As you'll find out in this 2-plus hour mega-episode, that's a load of hogwash! There was a massive amount of great music released in 2021! In this episode, we each showcase our Top 15 albums released last year. Narrowing down their choices was a tough call. By our estimation, there were 80+ records released last year that were in contention. There were releases from old favorites such as Alice Cooper, Helloween, Iron Maiden, ACCEPT, LA Guns, Dee Snider, The Wildhearts, Volbeat, Eclipse, and many others. Additionally, there were breakout albums from newer acts such as Dirty Honey, Jax Hollow, Resist & Bite, The L.A. Maybe, Native Sons, The Pretty Reckless, Mammoth WVH, and more. Killer combo releases featuring a combination of great artists were released including The End Machine, Sunbomb, Seven Ravens, Minefield, and many more. As you can see, we had a lot to consider. So, which artists/albums made our lists? You have to listen to find out! Do you agree with our picks? Did we get it right? Who did we overlook? What are YOUR top albums of 2021? Let us know in the comments! As always, we hope you enjoy our Best of 2021 episode and SHARE with a friend! Happy New Year to all of you Decibel Geeks! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family of shows. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download
162 min
171
Albums Unleashed - KISS Psycho Circus - Ep463
We're delivering a big KISSmas gift this week as we are joined by producer/engineer Mike Plotnikoff for Albums Unleashed - KISS Psycho Circus! This album, released in 1998, promised to be the return of the original fearsome foursome to the studio. Unfortunately, it turned out to be anything but that. Psycho Circus has become a very polarizing album among the KISS fan base. Coming off the heels of the successful Alive Worldwide reunion, anticipation was high for a reunion album. The final product, however, would include more Tommy Thayer and Kevin Valentine contributions than those of Ace Frehley or Peter Criss. Mike Plotnikoff joins us for this in-depth talk about the making of Psycho Circus. After growing up a KISS fan, it was a big deal for Mike to be involved in the project. Producer Bruce Fairbairn had been on a run of big albums from bands like Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, AC/DC, and Van Halen. His knack for a polished, big guitar sound would also be achieved on Psycho Circus. In this long-form discussion, Mike Plotnikoff talks about the making of Psycho Circus, the mood between the members in the studio, the use of outside musicians, songs that didn't make the album, and much more! We hope you enjoy Albums Unleashed - KISS Psycho Circus and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download
77 min
172
New Noize December 2021 - Ep462
We're back this week to discuss all the rock news that's fit to spit with New Noize December 2021! As we close out another year, there's quite a few interesting stories going on in the rock world and we're here to cover it for you all. We recently passed the anniversary of the loss of Dimebag Darrel. Coinciding with that, the venue where the tragic shooting happened (Alrosa Villa in Columbus Ohio) met it's fate with a wrecking ball. We discuss our memories of that tragic day as well as the impact that Dimebag had on our lives. David Lee Roth recently added more dates to his upcoming Las Vegas residency. Billed as his final shows, the addition of dates makes one wonder if this was just another ploy to sell more tickets. We give our thoughts on Diamond Dave's recent announcement. Former Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin recently launched a new single from his upcoming album and it is damn good! We talk about Tony's contributions to Black Sabbath as well as our thoughts on his upcoming album. Other topics covered this week include Steve Vai reminiscing on playing EVH songs and honoring him, Ted Nugent's strange way of delivering songs, Motley Crue selling their catalog for serious bucks, KISS possibly going on with new members, a Vinnie Vincent festival that was just announced for Nashville, KK Downing being angry, and way more! We hope you enjoy New Noize December 2021 and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download
91 min
173
Michael Wagener: The Final Word Part 2 - Ep461
This week we present part 2 of a special 2 part interview with legendary producer Michael Wagener. Upon his retirement from the music industry in 2021, Michael has graciously granted Decibel Geek his final podcast interview. When you hear the phrase 'the soundtrack of our lives,' no one can lay more claim to it than producer Michael Wagener. His work with such rock greats as Dokken, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Alice Cooper, and tons more is a testament to his talent, professionalism, personality, and direction. His continued work with upcoming artists such as Jax Hollow, Black Smoke Trigger, and more show that he never lost his desire to showcase new talent to the world. The sales of his works top over 90 million albums. He's more than earned this retirement. As you'll hear in this 2 part interview, Michael shares numerous stories and memories from his life and career. From the early influence of the Beatles to his work with Don Dokken that brought him to America to producing classics for legendary bands and his hopes and goals for the future; this is an all-encompassing chat that we're thrilled to bring you. We hope you enjoy Michael Wagener: The Final Word Part 2 and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download
79 min
174
Michael Wagener: The Final Word Part 1 - Ep460
This week we present part 1 of a special 2 part interview with legendary producer Michael Wagener. Upon his retirement from the music industry in 2021, Michael has graciously granted Decibel Geek his final podcast interview. When you hear the phrase 'the soundtrack of our lives,' no one can lay more claim to it than producer Michael Wagener. His work with such rock greats as Dokken, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Alice Cooper, and tons more is a testament to his talent, professionalism, personality, and direction. His continued work with upcoming artists such as Jax Hollow, Black Smoke Trigger, and more show that he never lost his desire to showcase new talent to the world. The sales of his works top over 90 million albums. He's more than earned this retirement. As you'll hear in this 2 part interview, Michael shares numerous stories and memories from his life and career. From the early influence of the Beatles to his work with Don Dokken that brought him to America to producing classics for legendary bands and his hopes and goals for the future; this is an all-encompassing chat that we're thrilled to bring you. *Please Note* - There is some static interference during the first 5-10 minutes of the interview portion of Part 1 but the conversation is still listenable and clears up soon after. We apologize for this technical difficulty and hope you enjoy this long form chat. We hope you enjoy Michael Wagener: The Final Word Part1 and SHARE with a friend! Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
89 min
175
The Best & Worst of 80's Judas Priest - Ep459
We're back this week to share our thoughts on the classic 80's era of heavy metal legends Judas Priest! Mark Strigl from the Talking Metal podcast joins us as we pick our favorite and least favorite song off each album from British Steel through Ram It Down. Judas Priest had built up their reputation as one of metal's godfather bands with great 70's releases such as Stained Class, Sad Wings of Destiny, and Hellbent for Leather. They'd up the ante in the 1980's with an amazing run of albums and even more success. Singer Rob Halford, guitarists Glen Tipton and KK Downing, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Dave Holland were an astounding group of musicians that would help shape hard rock and heavy metal for many future generations. We had a great time recording this episode and hope you will share YOUR Best & Worst of 80's Judas Priest in the comments below! Please listen, comment, and SHARE with a friend! Catch Mark Strigl on the Talking Metal podcast at https://art19.com/shows/talking-metal. Decibel Geek is a proud member of the Pantheon Podcasts family. Contact Us! Rate, Review, and Subscribe in iTunes Join the Facebook Fan Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Instagram E-mail Us Subscribe to our Youtube channel! Support Us! Buy a T-Shirt! Donate to the show! Stream Us! Stitcher Radio Spreaker TuneIn Become a VIP Subscriber! Click HERE for more info! Comment Below Direct Download   
61 min