No Sleep Til Sudbury With Brent Jensen

As mentioned in earlier episodes, some significant musical events took place in the year 1981. One of those events was the formation of Metallica. The band went on to achieve all kinds of ridiculous levels of success, but when I held their first album in my hands while I decided whether or not to buy it in 1983, I could have never, ever imagined. This week it's my pleasure to talk in detail about the beginnings of Metallica, a band that I absolutely worshipped as a kid - the reason why drummer Lars Ulrich's parents brought him to California from Denmark, the awkward first meeting between he and guitarist James Hetfield, the firing of Dave Mustaine, and everything else that happened in Metallica's earliest days. Don't miss it.          

This week it was my privilege to host Spoons bassist Sandy Horne on the show. I've been a fan since the early 80s, and it was great to chat with Sandy about Spoons stuff old and new, including the band's contribution to COVID-19 front line worker relief effort Back to the Basement, a virtual concert put on by abductedbythe80s.com Saturday June 13 (hence the advance airing of the episode).   In addition to details on her participation in this project, Sandy and I also chat about how Spoons was formed through she and co-founder Gord Deppe being seated beside each other in high school band, the unusual origin of the 'doot-doot-doot' chorus of "Romantic Traffic", and how a 15-year-old Rob Preuss found himself surrounded by naked women backstage at one of the band's early gigs. The way she came up with her NSTS songs is awesome too.    Horne's playlist:  Judy Garland - Somewhere Over The Rainbow The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreaming Hair Soundtrack - The Age of Aquarius Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven

Men's Health and Metal Hammer writer Joe Daly joins me from Southern California this week on No Sleep Til Sudbury, and it's great to catch up - Joe was originally scheduled to appear on one of the very first introductory episodes of NSTS back in April 2017. It's been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait. Joe and I chat about the recording of The Doors first record, KISS and disco, Slayer's career trajectory and the spider bite from which guitarist Jeff Hanneman contracted a flesh eating disease, and much more.       

The Lazys singer Leon Harrison is my guest on NSTS this week, and he interviews the same way he performs - without reservation. Transplanted from Australia, The Lazys is one of Canada's hottest rock acts. Leon and I talk about the reasons behind the band's move to Canada, why it's important to recognize a band's entire catalogue beyond the hits, social media influencers, the genius of Coldplay, his online mentoring program Bandwagon, the importance behind the message in Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb", and so much more. Harrison's playlist: Silverchair - Emotion Sickness AC/DC - Shoot To Thrill Coldplay - O Rage Against The Machine - Bullet in the Head    Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb

This week it's my pleasure to welcome my pal, ex-Spoons and Honeymoon Suite keys player Rob Preuss back to the show. Rob called in from his home in Queens, NY with a playlist that has a special meaning to him. As always, Rob brings impressive insights and great stories to the conversation, including his interaction with Ted Templeman during the recording of Honeymoon Suite's Racing After Midnight album, the time when Doobie Brothers' Michael McDonald hummed melody ideas into his ear, and how having less can be so much more.    

Lots of musical things happened in 1981. One of those things was Rush's release of their most popular record, Moving Pictures. Just a few years before that, they were almost dropped from their record label. This week on NSTS we look at the leadup to the Moving Pictures album, how it came together. and all of the amazing intricacies that went into it - including the physical impacts Tom Sawyer's drum tracks had on Neil Peart, who the people are on the album cover, and what the triple entendre (not just double) cover artwork really means and who was behind it.  

So much great stuff happened at the beginning of the 80s that I just had to continue going through it this week on NSTS. In 1981 MTV changed the musical landscape forever, Blondie helped to bring rap into the mainstream spotlight with Rapture, and Ozzy bit the heads off of two doves in a meeting with record executives, kicking off a long list of misdeeds that would include biting the head off of a bat, snorting ants, urinating on the Alamo, and so much more. And it's all right here on this week's show, check it out.         

John, Bon, and Bonzo: we lost three rock icons in the year 1980. Former Beatle John Lennon, AC/DC singer Bon Scott, and Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham all departed in the same year.  This week on NSTS we continue our look at 1980, focusing on these three figures - shedding light on a new theory of how Scott may have really died, the bizarre backstory of Lennon killer Mark David Chapman, and why Bonzo's headmaster said he would either be a garbage man or a millionaire.   

The 80s marked a time when music and commerce would become indelibly intertwined - record companies did away with old artist development models in favour of capitalizing on a growing new talent pool. And with MTV now providing a visual aspect to accompany a song, music would rely on image like never before. This week on NSTS we look at the bigger, brighter, and money-driven music of the 1980s, starting right at the beginning - in 1980. The creation and impact of the Sony Walkman, who The Rolling Stones song Angie was really about, the tragic death of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, and much more. Don't miss it.        

Legendary Blood Sweat & Tears frontman and Grammy winner David Clayton Thomas joins me from his home this week to chat about his new record Say Somethin'. We also talk about the songs that make his skin vibrate, and some of the artists on his list are actually friends and collaborators, including the great Roberta Flack. Fantastic discussion with one of the true greats.       Thomas' playlist: Ray Charles - Unchain My Heart Marvin Gaye - What's Goin On Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly Otis Redding - Sitting on the Dock of the Bay Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman  

In late 1969, The Rolling Stones gave fans a free concert in response to criticism that their concert tickets had been too expensive. They were joined by a select number of other acts at Altamont Speedway in California and the concert become a festival, fashioned after Woodstock. It would be anything but. Hells Angels acted as security, and Altamont would be remembered not for peace and love, but instead for destruction, murder, and 'the end of innocence'.  And a subsequent assassination attempt of Mick Jagger in New York.   

A lot of important things happened in 1969, and one of those things was the Woodstock music festival. This week on NSTS we take a close look at Woodstock's three days of 'peace and love' - the chaos it faced in hosting more than four hundred thousand people, the artists that showed up (along with the ones that didn't), and how it came to be known as a pivotal moment in defining a countercultural generation.     

1969 was a crazy year. Led Zeppelin scared the hell out of people with their heavy rock debut(s), and Charles Manson scared people in a much different way. And The Beatles broke up, which may have scared one or two people.   Join me as I examine the above in detail, including Zeppelin's tendencies to 'borrow' from old blues artists, Manson's bizarre relationship with Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, and the shocking way in which Beatles classic Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da was actually written.       

There have been times when I wasn't sure we would hit this milestone. But here we are, almost three years after the very first episode of No Sleep 'til Sudbury aired, at episode number 150. Wow. To celebrate, I went through the last 50 shows and put together some moments I thought represented the show at its best - insightful musical conversation, laughs, tears, and great musical performances. I regret not being able to use all of the material, as I've had so many incredible guests, conversations, and performances, but this isn't a bad rendering. Sincere thanks to all my loyal listeners around the world - this episode is for YOU. Enjoy, and stay safe!    

With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing social distancing and isolation, cancellations and schedule alterations are a must. But fear not, listeners - First 30 CEO and massive music fan Amy Davies is my guest this week.   In light of coronavirus concerns, Amy brings in a list focused on 'feelgood' music to lighten the mood and lift the spirits. We have a fun chat, and she shares stories about her embarrassing Queen lyric misinterpretation, how she hustled free drinks from Aussies, and her years living in London. We also mistakenly identify The Newlywed Game as 'The Honeymoon Game'. Perfect fare for a quarantine.     Davies' playlist: Nina Simone - Feeling Good Queen - Don't Stop Me Now Jennifer Lopez - Let's Get Loud Spirit of the West - Home for a Rest Cold Chisel - Khe San

I was happy to welcome country sensation and friend of the show Kelsi Mayne back to the Sirius XM studios this week to chat about music and perform her new single "As I Go".    Kelsi is one of the hottest young country artists in North America right now, and her video for "As I Go" is getting a lot of attention. Keep an eye on her, she's definitely on her way up.      Mayne's playlist: Free - All Right Now Tenille Towns - Jersey on the Wall Ashley McBryde - Girl Goin' Nowhere Chris Stapleton - Whiskey and You Miranda Lambert - Pushin' Time Shania Twain - You've Got A Way Allen Stone - Brown Eyed Lover

Black Crowes drummer and author of the new book, "Hard To Handle - The Life and Death of The Black Crowes", Steve Gorman calls in to the show from Nashville this week. Steve is funny, gracious, and unflinchingly honest about his time in the Black Crowes. The stories are astonishing, and he shares insights on SCTV and Kids in the Hall, what his favourite Crowes record is, where the cowbell double tap on "Wiser Time" came from, and of course, some songs that make his skin vibrate.        Gorman's playlist: Television - Marquee Moon AC/DC - Riff Raff Illiterate Light - American Boy   

Not many people can say they changed the cultural landscape of a city. This guy can. Legendary concert promoter Gary Topp is my guest this week on NSTS.  Topp and his business partner Gary Cormier would come to be known as The Garys, a concert promotion colossus that introduced Toronto to Punk and New Wave, having brought bands like The Police, MC5, Talking Heads, and The Ramones to the city for the first time. They were also responsible for the riot that was The Last Pogo, but I'll let Gary tell that story. Don't miss this.     

Former Wargasm bassist, writer, and friend of the show Bob Mayo joins me this week on NSTS to chat about more songs I've never heard.    Regular listeners will remember that Bob has told some pretty courageous personal stories on the show previously, and that he's an incredibly authentic individual. Recently he was asked to give a talk at MIT about, in his own words, how heavy metal didn't necessarily save his life, but certainly gave him one. Bob is definitely the real deal.   Mayo's playlist: Blue Oyster Cult - The Golden Age of Leather Gillan – Abbey of Thelema Immolation – Fostering the Divide Voivod – Neutrino Wishbone Ash - Lifeline    

As discussed last week on NSTS, 1991 was the year that grunge exploded. However, the scene was still very much in its infancy - hard rock and heavy metal were still the most dominant version of rock. So this week, in addition to talking about U2, Garth Brooks, and Lollapalooza, we look at the two most powerful heavy rock bands of 1991 - Guns N' Roses and Metallica. Axl Rose made history doing something no artist had ever done before with the Illusion records, and the recording of Metallica's Black Album was so intense that three of the four band members would get divorced before it was completed. Don't miss this.