AEROSMITH AEROSMITH AEROSMITH

Join Bob and show regulars Roadrunner A&R head Monte Conner and author Martin Popoff for a fast-paced race around the work of Aerosmith. Deliberation, disputation, and debataration occur as the three cover the American hard rock veterans' entire back catalog and do some psychic reading on the band's future.

There are five ways for you to get your regular consumption of metal awesome:

1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.
4. Check our Skull Sessions podcast feed.
5. You can listen to all of our episodes straight from the stream at www.RoadrunnerRecords.com

IT'S THE METAL STATE OF THE UNION!

Hope everyone enjoys the new Skull Sessions logo designed by Mike D. of Killswitch Engage. Let us know what you think in comments.

--

It's the metal state of the union as Chris Akin (co-host of The Classic Metal Show), Darryl Keck (author of the new book Metal Generation) and Bob Nalbandian duke it out over the realities of contemporary metal.

The three hit upon myriad topics including the variety present in today's metal, calssic bands still riding high atop multi-million grossing tours, the possible return of 80s metal to the scene, and a plethora of more metal greatness.

The Classic Metal Show can be heard on Saturday nights at www.theclassicmetalshow.com and is at the top of internet metal radio today.

For more information on Keck's Metal Generation (High Volume Press), hit up his web site at www.highvolumepress.com. You won't be disappointed.

There are five ways for you to get your regular consumption of metal awesome:

1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.
4. Check our Skull Sessions podcast feed.
5. You can listen to all of our episodes straight from the stream at www.RoadrunnerRecords.com

FRESHMAN YEAR METAL: CLASSES START NOW

We've got a great episode for you this week, but first a couple of housekeeping items.

First, don't forget you can listen to all of our episodes at RoadrunnerRecords.com.

Second, there are now four ways for you to get your regular consumption of metal awesome:

1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.
4. Check our Skull Sessions podcast feed.

Metal 101 class is in session! Prepare to get schooled with sharp points and huge riffs as Skull Sessions Episode #7 runs you through a crash course in brain surgery (i.e. the recording industry). Host Bob Nalbandian is joined by Robert Bolger, director of the upcoming documentary film "Behind the Suit and Tie" and David Ellefson, current bassist for F5, Temple Of Brutality, Iron Steel and formerly of Megadeth. The three have a profound, in-depth discussion regarding the current state of the recording industry. From analysis of the future of the business as it pertains to the artist, the record label, and the fan to the pros and cons of downloadable music, you'll be impaled with an education you can't forget.

DAVID ELLEFSON

David Ellefson is currently out on the road with F5 as a part of the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp along with Extreme and King's X and preparing for the release of the upcoming F5 record entitled The Reckoning due out on August 19, 2008. Contact: www.DavidEllefson.com

ROBERT BOLGER

Robert Bolger is currently shopping for distribution for his upcoming documentary film that takes you inside the metal music industry entitled Behind the Suit and Tie. Contact: www.Behindthesuitandtie.com

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING: THE THIN LIZZY EXPERIENCE

Don't forget to leave us ratings on iTunes!

This is it. The Legend of the Black Rose. The Whiskey in the Jar. The definitive discussion on Irish hard rock kings, Thin Lizzy. Join Bob Nalbandian, Metal Blade Records CEO and Founder Brian Slagel, and rock music journalist-connoisseur Jon Sutherland for an extraordinary discussion around one of the greatest hard rock bands ever. This 90-minute conversation ranges across the band's entire history. You'd be a fool to miss it.

As always there are three ways to access this podcast!
1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.

BRIAN SLAGEL

As a music-starved kid, Brian Slagel got sick of watching the local metal scene being ignored by the major labels. Working days at legendary metal emporium Oz Records and nights putting together one of the first metal fanzines, The New Heavy Metal Revue, Slagel asks some distributor friends if they'd be interested in circulating a compilation of unsigned bands if he put it together. The distributors said yes and Metal Blade Records was born. Putting in long 17 hour days between Oz and Metal Blade, Slagel pieced together the bands that would grace the label's first release: The New Heavy Metal Revue presents Metal Massacre. The first pressing featured the first recordings of Ratt, Steeler, Malice, Bitch and Metallica, featuring the very first rendition of "Hit The Lights." Slagel founded Metal Blade Records in 1983 and released albums by Warlord, Bitch, Armored Saint and Slayer.Today, Metal Blade remains one of the top independent heavy metal record labels and is home to such metal titans as Cannibal Corpse, As I Lay Dying, Lizzy Borden, Fates Warning, and GWAR.

JON SUTHERLAND

Jon Sutherland: rocker, journalist, storyteller, coach, author, and more...
Accomplishments: He's run over 176,000 miles (Holy Shit!), attended thousands of concerts, written hundreds of published articles and interviews as well as three books and is currently working on a rock and roll memoir from a fan's viewpoint.

ROB HALFORD IS OUR KING AND WE ARE HIS PEOPLE

Please don't forget to leave us ratings on iTunes!

As always there are three ways to access this podcast!
1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.

Get down on your knees and repent if you please! Get ready for the great JUDAS PRIEST Debate! This episode originally appeared on the Shockwaves/HardRadio podcast but we're re-posting it for all you metal heads that didn't have the chance to listen to it the first time around. Host Bob Nalbandian is joined by Monte Conner (Roadrunner Records NY head of A&R) and author Martin Popoff to discuss and debate Judas Priest's extensive career as they examine the band's entire catalog. This was the very episode that originally spawned the Skull Sessions series. This exclusive 3-way conversation was recorded several months ago and originally tied in with the release of Martin's Judas Priest: Heavy Metal Painkillers book (ECW Press).

GOD LISTENS TO SLAYER!

There are three ways to access this podcast!
1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.

SLAYER! The Early Years: On this second episode of the Shockwaves Skull Sessions, host Bob Nalbandian is joined by author/journalist Joel McIver and Doug Goodman. Joel is the author of the brand new book The Bloody Reign Of Slayer (Omnibus Press 2008) and Doug Goodman was Slayer's original tour manager from Show No Mercy/Hell Awaits era. Doug and Nalbandian share some classic stories about SLAYER from their very early years that are revealed for the first time in Joel's new book including the band's first club shows in Orange County as well as some great road stories told by Doug! This is a must listen for any fan of SLAYYERRR!!!

JOEL MCIVER:

Joel McIver is an author, journalist, book and magazine editor and album compiler. He's written 11 books and lives for Bay Area thrash, Swedish death metal and British grindcore but isn't just a drooling headbanger, taking in hip-hop, jazz, downtempo, classical and funk along the way. He writes or has written for music mags such as Record Collector, Metal Hammer, Total Guitar, Kerrang!, Classic Rock, Bass Guitar and Future Music. He writes about films for DVD Review magazine and is an occasional talking head on music TV, as well as appearing on radio from time to time.

Books By Joel McIver:
The Bloody Reign Of Slayer (Omnibus, 2008)
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Omnibus, 2006)
Sex Pistols: The Making OF THe Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle (MQ Publications, 2006)
The Making Of The Red Hot Chili Peppers's Blood Sugar Sex Magic (MQ Publications, 2005)
No One Knows: The Qeens Of The Stone Age Story Omnibus, 2005)
Extreme Metal II (Omnibus, 2005)
Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica (Omnibus, 2004)
Nu-Metal: THe Next Generation Of Rock And Punk (Omnibus, 2002)
Slipknot: Unmasked (Omnibus, 2001)
Extreme Metal (Omnibus, 2000)

DOUG GOODMAN:

Doug Goodman tours the world with whoever will pay him as a tour manager and a tour accountant. His first tour was in 1984 in Tom Araya's Camaro, and 3000 shows later, it's still among his favorites. Doug has toured with band's as diverse as Ben Folds Five, Cannibal Corpse, Jewel, Steve Earle, Beck, Smashing Pumpkins and Green Day; but none were, or are, as heavy as Slayer. When he's not on the road he and his wife, Michele, can be found watching a baseball game at Dodger Stadium.

 

IT'S THE METAL STATE OF THE UNION!

Hope everyone enjoys the new Skull Sessions logo designed by Mike D. of Killswitch Engage. Let us know what you think in comments.

--

It's the metal state of the union as Chris Akin (co-host of The Classic Metal Show), Darryl Keck (author of the new book Metal Generation) and Bob Nalbandian duke it out over the realities of contemporary metal.

The three hit upon myriad topics including the variety present in today's metal, calssic bands still riding high atop multi-million grossing tours, the possible return of 80s metal to the scene, and a plethora of more metal greatness.

The Classic Metal Show can be heard on Saturday nights at www.theclassicmetalshow.com and is at the top of internet metal radio today.

For more information on Keck's Metal Generation (High Volume Press), hit up his web site at www.highvolumepress.com. You won't be disappointed.

There are five ways for you to get your regular consumption of metal awesome:

1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.
4. Check our Skull Sessions podcast feed.
5. You can listen to all of our episodes straight from the stream at www.RoadrunnerRecords.com

FROM METAL FAN TO ROCK GODDESS

I remember the very first day I met Michelle. I believe it was the summer of 1982; I was in my late teens working behind the counter at a Carls Jr. restaurant in Huntington Beach, CA and in walks my friend Pat Crane with a small group of metal heads (or "rockers" as they were called back then). Amongst them was this incredibly sexy young girl sporting red spandex pants, black boots and a denim vest jacket with a giant Judas Priest logo on the back. My eyes popped out the back of my head! "Whoa! Judas Priest!" I exclaimed. You have to remember Judas Priest were still fairly underground at this time in Orange County and for a girl, let alone a smoking-hot 14-year-old girl, to be wearing a denim vest with a Judas Priest iron-on patch was unheard of in my home town. Pat kindly makes the introduction, "this is Michelle, she recently moved to HB from Detroit."

From that moment on we started hanging out, checking out all the great metal bands that were performing the Orange County clubs at the time. I had the fortunate pleasure of taking Michelle to her very first metal shows. We went to the Woodstock in Anaheim and The Concert Factory in Costa Mesa to see then unsigned local metal icons Slayer, Armored Saint and Malice. I remember driving to the Country Club in Reseda with Michelle to catch Raven and Metallica on the Kill ‘Em All For One tour. We had an absolute blast together at these shows. Michelle was one of the truest metal fans I had ever met; she totally lived for the music and loved nothing more than to support the then-local bands that were paying their hard-earned dues. It's hard to believe that was 25 years ago although it seems as if it was only yesterday.

Michelle and I had very similar tastes in metal music, which was very rare. Michelle loved the attitude and ferociousness of what was soon to be coined as "thrash" metal. But moreover Michelle had this incredible sense of melody and was just as huge a fan of melodic metal bands as she was the thrash bands which, back then, was a barrier most metal fans and/or musicians wouldn't dare cross. I remember making Michelle several mix tapes of some of may favorite underground metal bands at the time, from NWOBHM greats like Motorhead, Maiden, Raven, Saxon, Tygers, Girlschool, Samson, and Diamond Head to Canadian bands Exciter and Anvil as well as the latest underground Euro-metal bands from Germany, Holland, France and Sweden. Demos and independent recordings from Accept, Mercyful Fate, Trust, Warning, Bodine, Killer, Picture, Silver Mountain...in fact I remember one band I included on a mix tape that Michelle particularly loved, which surprised me seeing that it was the most melodic band out of the bunch. It was from a virtually unknown Swedish rock band at the time called Europe. And who would have thought several years later Michelle would marry Europe guitarist John Norum? But that was just like Michelle, if she liked something, she went for it!

I remember once after taking Michelle to a Malice show I introduced her to guitarist Jay Reynolds. A couple weeks later Michelle had bought a guitar and was taking guitar lessons from Jay. Again, that was so Michelle; she was the most driven person I had ever met. As the metal scene started to grow in Orange County, a small group of us local metal fans and aspiring musicians would often meet up at local nightclubs, a record store signing or a concert at the Long Beach Arena. Wherever there was metal, we were out in full-force and Michelle was always right there with us! Another member of the local metal crew was a young aspiring drummer from Long Beach named Gene Hoglan. In fact, I believe I was there when Michelle first met with Gene; they were both14 or 15 at the time and both had dreams of someday starting their own metal band. A few weeks after that meeting Michelle calls me on the phone, super excited she tells me that she and Gene are forming a band called War God...and from there it all began.

I remember how thrilled Michelle was to finally have her very own metal outfit. Michelle's parents, Bob and Marilyn, were so supportive of her music career. At that time I thought it was standard for all parents to hate heavy metal music and what it stood for. But this was definitely not the case here, Michelle's parents not only encouraged and supported Michelle's career decision but they also rented a giant home studio warehouse in Torrance where Michelle and her band were able to rehearse. Unfortunately, War God split-up soon after Gene got the call to join Dark Angel, the then up and coming speed metal outfit who were hot on the heels of Slayer (who had just signed with Metal Blade Records). Michelle was determined to succeed in music, no matter where it would take her. She immediately caught wind of the burgeoning thrash metal scene up in the Bay Area and within weeks made the trek up to San Francisco and was instantly embraced by the Bay Area Bangers.

Michelle moved back to Los Angeles a couple years later and formed the all-female hard rock band Phantom Blue in the late ‘80s. And it didn't take long before the band signed a deal with Shrapnel Records. I remember how excited Michelle was to be working with Marty Friedman, who produced the band's debut record. Not long after that release Phantom Blue signed to Geffen. That was the time I started at Roadrunner Records (when they opened their first LA office) and I had the pleasure to work with Phantom Blue as they were still licensed to Roadrunner in Europe. These were again great times I shared with Michelle. It was so gratifying for me to witness Michelle blossom from this young, spirited metal fan into a bona fide Rock Goddess. But the fame or success never went to Michelle's head. She was so grounded and she never took anything for granted. Michelle lived for rock n roll and Phantom Blue certainly lead the rock n roll lifestyle, in fact, it's safe to say they lived up to that standard more than most the dude bands in Los Angeles.

Even after Michelle's break-up with Phantom Blue and her subsequent move to Stockholm, we never lost touch. One of the things I admired so much about Michelle was the fact that she was determined to do exactly what she wanted to do. She never gave into the music industry and refused to be a victim of this cold-hearted business. Michelle was determined to succeed, but it would be on her terms. After settling in Sweden, Michelle formed her new band Meldrum and called me to say she was setting up showcases in Los Angeles. She sounded more thrilled than ever about her new band and I was so excited to witness their first shows in Los Angeles. The shows were incredible and it was so great to see Michelle back in full force! I remember after seeing her onstage at the Dragonfly club in LA saying to myself "here is the next guitar hero!" Michelle's playing had improved immensely and she was now right up there with the guitarists she had worshipped as a kid. The whole band stayed at my small apartment in North Hollywood those few days they were in LA and even though I had just met her new band members; Moa, Frida, and Fredrik, it was like hanging out with old friends. Michelle and I reminisced about old times as we all got drunk and talked about metal into the wee hours of the morning...it was just like the old days!

Over the years that followed, I had the pleasure of hanging out with the band every time they hit the states and even went on the road with them to Vegas. They toured here several times with Black Label Society and I had never seen a virtually then unknown opening band win the crowd over like Meldrum did. And nothing puts a band more to the test than to play in front of a horde of BLS fans! It was awe-inspiring for me to witness a jam-packed crowd with their fists in the air chanting the lyrics along with Moa. And what was so astonishing was the fact that the band hadn't yet released their record here in the US, yet everyone in the venue seemed to know their songs!

In September of 2006 I met up again with Michelle backstage at the Gigantour show at Glen Helen, just outside Los Angeles. I remember telling her I had just met up with Gene Hoglan, who was also hanging out backstage. Michelle was so happy as she hadn't seen Gene in years. The three of us got together and laughed and joked all night in between bands. I instantly sensed the magic between Michelle and Gene so I wasn't surprised in the least when Michelle soon after informed me that she and Gene were going to reunite (for the first time since War God) for the recording of the forthcoming Meldrum record, Blowin' Up The Machine.

I last met up with Michelle this past January at the NAMM show in Anaheim, CA. That Saturday night at the Hilton bar Michelle, Gene and I once again reunited and got absolutely shit-faced drunk! It was one of the greatest nights ever. And it was the last time I would ever spend with my dearest friend and oldest pal, my confidant, my creative force, my inspiration. You will be terribly missed Michelle. You were one-of-a-kind. So incredibly talented, so thoughtful and considerate, so uplifting and motivating, and so damn fun to be around.

I will always treasure the fond memories we had together. My heart goes out to your Mom, Bob, and your 3-year-old son Jake. You will always be in my heart, Michelle. I will miss you forever.

Bob Nalbandian

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING: THE THIN LIZZY EXPERIENCE

Don't forget to leave us ratings on iTunes!

This is it. The Legend of the Black Rose. The Whiskey in the Jar. The definitive discussion on Irish hard rock kings, Thin Lizzy. Join Bob Nalbandian, Metal Blade Records CEO and Founder Brian Slagel, and rock music journalist-connoisseur Jon Sutherland for an extraordinary discussion around one of the greatest hard rock bands ever. This 90-minute conversation ranges across the band's entire history. You'd be a fool to miss it.

As always there are three ways to access this podcast!
1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.

BRIAN SLAGEL

As a music-starved kid, Brian Slagel got sick of watching the local metal scene being ignored by the major labels. Working days at legendary metal emporium Oz Records and nights putting together one of the first metal fanzines, The New Heavy Metal Revue, Slagel asks some distributor friends if they'd be interested in circulating a compilation of unsigned bands if he put it together. The distributors said yes and Metal Blade Records was born. Putting in long 17 hour days between Oz and Metal Blade, Slagel pieced together the bands that would grace the label's first release: The New Heavy Metal Revue presents Metal Massacre. The first pressing featured the first recordings of Ratt, Steeler, Malice, Bitch and Metallica, featuring the very first rendition of "Hit The Lights." Slagel founded Metal Blade Records in 1983 and released albums by Warlord, Bitch, Armored Saint and Slayer.Today, Metal Blade remains one of the top independent heavy metal record labels and is home to such metal titans as Cannibal Corpse, As I Lay Dying, Lizzy Borden, Fates Warning, and GWAR.

JON SUTHERLAND

Jon Sutherland: rocker, journalist, storyteller, coach, author, and more...
Accomplishments: He's run over 176,000 miles (Holy Shit!), attended thousands of concerts, written hundreds of published articles and interviews as well as three books and is currently working on a rock and roll memoir from a fan's viewpoint.

ROB HALFORD IS OUR KING AND WE ARE HIS PEOPLE

Please don't forget to leave us ratings on iTunes!

As always there are three ways to access this podcast!
1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.

Get down on your knees and repent if you please! Get ready for the great JUDAS PRIEST Debate! This episode originally appeared on the Shockwaves/HardRadio podcast but we're re-posting it for all you metal heads that didn't have the chance to listen to it the first time around. Host Bob Nalbandian is joined by Monte Conner (Roadrunner Records NY head of A&R) and author Martin Popoff to discuss and debate Judas Priest's extensive career as they examine the band's entire catalog. This was the very episode that originally spawned the Skull Sessions series. This exclusive 3-way conversation was recorded several months ago and originally tied in with the release of Martin's Judas Priest: Heavy Metal Painkillers book (ECW Press).

THE STARS AT NIGHT ARE BIG AND BRIGHT

There are three ways to access this podcast!
1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.

Texas takes a stand against musical garbage as Skull Sessions host Bob Nalbandian sits down with Dug Pinnick of King's X and Monty Colvin of Galactic Cowboys/Crunchy. The three spoke in May 2008 about the Texas metal scene and you'll hear some great stories from the days when Pantera were playing The Lone Star State. Dug and Monty also clue you in about their current projects.

Don't forget to leave us reviews at iTunes and in comments below!

KISS ME I'M IN WICKED LESTER

There are three ways to access this podcast!
1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.

The Great KISS Debate. On episode 3 of the Shockwaves Skull Sessions host Bob Nalbandian is joined once again by head of A&R at Roadrunner Records, Monte Conner and new 3rd party guest and guitarist extraordinaire, Marty Friedman. The three discuss the extensive career of this revolutionary rock band and examine the band's entire musical catalog. This exclusive 3-way conversation was recorded in May 2008.

MARTY FRIEDMAN:
Marty Friedman began his musical career with the underground Hawaii based band Vixen, later reforming and renaming the band Hawaii. Soon after Marty joined forces with Jason Becker to form the unrivaled dual guitar unit Cacophony. After Cacophony and the release of his debut solo record "Dragon's Kiss," Marty joined MEGADETH in 1990 as the new lead guitarist. Racking up sales of over 10 million records with Megadeth, Friedman continued to record solo records, often embarking on adventurous musical forays far removed from his work with Megadeth, including an album with Golden Globe winner Kitaro.

Marty has since left the legendary Megadeth to pursue new musical goals and has succeeded tremendously. Friedman's many accomplishments make him currently the only musician to be a fixture in the top class of the Japanese domestic as well as international music scene.

His music performance on national TV with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra,and charting high with his own music and with Japan's top artists, has spurred Friedman into new celebrity territory.

Now residing in Tokyo, Friedman has become a television celebrity appearing as a regular on 5 major networks, he can be seen on mainstream hit TV programs almost every day in Japan.

Marty is currently in the studio writing and recording the theme song to the upcoming movie, "Twilight Syndrome". This coupled with two more new songs will be released as a single in fall '08.Marty will also appear with Gene Simmons in the upcoming Japanese motion picture, Detroit Metal City. They have a live performance scene together along with Jeremy Colson on drums. The movie is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2008.

Marty also recently wrote a book entitled Ii-Jyan J-Pop! (Awesome J-Pop!) which is currently #38 in the overall sales ranking at amazon.jp.

Marty`s latest album, Future Addict was released in Japan by Avex on March 12!

A brand new official Japanese fan page is open now to commemorate the release of Future Addict. Check it out at: www.martyfan.com.

GOD LISTENS TO SLAYER!

There are three ways to access this podcast!
1. Subscribe at iTunes.
2. Click the download button at the top right of the Skull Sessions page.
3. Stream the episode from the music player in the middle of the Skull Sessions page.

SLAYER! The Early Years: On this second episode of the Shockwaves Skull Sessions, host Bob Nalbandian is joined by author/journalist Joel McIver and Doug Goodman. Joel is the author of the brand new book The Bloody Reign Of Slayer (Omnibus Press 2008) and Doug Goodman was Slayer's original tour manager from Show No Mercy/Hell Awaits era. Doug and Nalbandian share some classic stories about SLAYER from their very early years that are revealed for the first time in Joel's new book including the band's first club shows in Orange County as well as some great road stories told by Doug! This is a must listen for any fan of SLAYYERRR!!!

JOEL MCIVER:

Joel McIver is an author, journalist, book and magazine editor and album compiler. He's written 11 books and lives for Bay Area thrash, Swedish death metal and British grindcore but isn't just a drooling headbanger, taking in hip-hop, jazz, downtempo, classical and funk along the way. He writes or has written for music mags such as Record Collector, Metal Hammer, Total Guitar, Kerrang!, Classic Rock, Bass Guitar and Future Music. He writes about films for DVD Review magazine and is an occasional talking head on music TV, as well as appearing on radio from time to time.

Books By Joel McIver:
The Bloody Reign Of Slayer (Omnibus, 2008)
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Omnibus, 2006)
Sex Pistols: The Making OF THe Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle (MQ Publications, 2006)
The Making Of The Red Hot Chili Peppers's Blood Sugar Sex Magic (MQ Publications, 2005)
No One Knows: The Qeens Of The Stone Age Story Omnibus, 2005)
Extreme Metal II (Omnibus, 2005)
Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica (Omnibus, 2004)
Nu-Metal: THe Next Generation Of Rock And Punk (Omnibus, 2002)
Slipknot: Unmasked (Omnibus, 2001)
Extreme Metal (Omnibus, 2000)

DOUG GOODMAN:

Doug Goodman tours the world with whoever will pay him as a tour manager and a tour accountant. His first tour was in 1984 in Tom Araya's Camaro, and 3000 shows later, it's still among his favorites. Doug has toured with band's as diverse as Ben Folds Five, Cannibal Corpse, Jewel, Steve Earle, Beck, Smashing Pumpkins and Green Day; but none were, or are, as heavy as Slayer. When he's not on the road he and his wife, Michele, can be found watching a baseball game at Dodger Stadium.

 

EPISODE #1: DEEP PURPLE

SUBSCRIBE NOW; or download and stream to the right.

The Great DEEP PURPLE Debate. On this debut Shockwaves Skull Session podcast episode host Bob Nalbandian is joined by head of A&R at Roadrunner Records, Monte Conner and heavy metal book author/journalist Martin Popoff to discuss and debate on legendary British rock band DEEP PURPLE's extensive career as they examine the band's 40 year plus career and discuss and debate the band's entire musical catalog. This exclusive 3-way conversation was recorded in May 2008.

MARTIN POPOFF
Martin with Joe Bouchard from BOC and Jim Gustafson from Poobah.

Martin Popoff hails from Toronto, Canada and is one of the most respected heavy metal journalists/authors on the planet. His writings can be found in Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles Magazine and online on BW&BK.com and HardRadio.com.

Martin has written several books on heavy metal throughout the last 15 years, including the following titles:

Riff Kills Man! 25 Years Of Recorded Hard Rock & Heavy Metal (1993)
The Collector's Guide To Heavy Metal (1997)
Goldmine Heavy Metal Record Price Guide (2000)
Heavy Metal: 20th Century Rock And Roll (2000)
Southern Rock Review (2001)
The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs Of All Time (2003)
The Collector's Guide To Heavy Metal - Volume 1: The Seventies (2003)
The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums Of All Time (2004)
Blue Oyster Cult: Secrets Revealed (2004)
Contents Under Pressure: 30 Year of Rush At Home & Away (2004)
The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal Singles (2005)
UFO: Shoot Out The Lights (2005)
Rainbow: English Castle Magic (2005)
The Collector's Guide To Heavy Metal - Volume 2: The Eighties (2005)
Dio: Light Beyond The Black
Black Sabbath: Doom Let Loose
Run For Cover: The Art Of Derek Riggs (2006)
Ye Olde Metal: T1968 to 1972
The Collector's Guide To Heavy Metal - Volume 3: The Nineties (2007)
Ye Olde Metal: 1973 to 1975 (2007)
Judas Priest: heavy Metal Painkillers (2007)
Ye Olde Metal: 1976 (2008)
Ye Olde Metal: 1977 (Q2 2008)
All Access: The Art And History Of The Backstage Pass (Q2 2008)

martinp@inforamp.net
www.martinpopoff.com

MONTE CONNER

Monte Conner is the Senior VP A&R of Roadrunner Records and considers himself to be an expert on all forms of rock, hard rock and metal music from the 60's up to the present. He has been at Roadrunner since December 1987. Some of his key signings over the years have been: Slipknot, Sepultura, Type O Negative, Machine Head, Stone Sour, Trivium, Fear Factory, Coal Chamber, Soulfly, Life Of Agony, Biohazard, Obituary, Deicide, Suffocation, DevilDriver and Chimaira.

FROM METAL FAN TO ROCK GODDESS

I remember the very first day I met Michelle. I believe it was the summer of 1982; I was in my late teens working behind the counter at a Carls Jr. restaurant in Huntington Beach, CA and in walks my friend Pat Crane with a small group of metal heads (or "rockers" as they were called back then). Amongst them was this incredibly sexy young girl sporting red spandex pants, black boots and a denim vest jacket with a giant Judas Priest logo on the back. My eyes popped out the back of my head! "Whoa! Judas Priest!" I exclaimed. You have to remember Judas Priest were still fairly underground at this time in Orange County and for a girl, let alone a smoking-hot 14-year-old girl, to be wearing a denim vest with a Judas Priest iron-on patch was unheard of in my home town. Pat kindly makes the introduction, "this is Michelle, she recently moved to HB from Detroit."

From that moment on we started hanging out, checking out all the great metal bands that were performing the Orange County clubs at the time. I had the fortunate pleasure of taking Michelle to her very first metal shows. We went to the Woodstock in Anaheim and The Concert Factory in Costa Mesa to see then unsigned local metal icons Slayer, Armored Saint and Malice. I remember driving to the Country Club in Reseda with Michelle to catch Raven and Metallica on the Kill ‘Em All For One tour. We had an absolute blast together at these shows. Michelle was one of the truest metal fans I had ever met; she totally lived for the music and loved nothing more than to support the then-local bands that were paying their hard-earned dues. It's hard to believe that was 25 years ago although it seems as if it was only yesterday.

Michelle and I had very similar tastes in metal music, which was very rare. Michelle loved the attitude and ferociousness of what was soon to be coined as "thrash" metal. But moreover Michelle had this incredible sense of melody and was just as huge a fan of melodic metal bands as she was the thrash bands which, back then, was a barrier most metal fans and/or musicians wouldn't dare cross. I remember making Michelle several mix tapes of some of may favorite underground metal bands at the time, from NWOBHM greats like Motorhead, Maiden, Raven, Saxon, Tygers, Girlschool, Samson, and Diamond Head to Canadian bands Exciter and Anvil as well as the latest underground Euro-metal bands from Germany, Holland, France and Sweden. Demos and independent recordings from Accept, Mercyful Fate, Trust, Warning, Bodine, Killer, Picture, Silver Mountain...in fact I remember one band I included on a mix tape that Michelle particularly loved, which surprised me seeing that it was the most melodic band out of the bunch. It was from a virtually unknown Swedish rock band at the time called Europe. And who would have thought several years later Michelle would marry Europe guitarist John Norum? But that was just like Michelle, if she liked something, she went for it!

I remember once after taking Michelle to a Malice show I introduced her to guitarist Jay Reynolds. A couple weeks later Michelle had bought a guitar and was taking guitar lessons from Jay. Again, that was so Michelle; she was the most driven person I had ever met. As the metal scene started to grow in Orange County, a small group of us local metal fans and aspiring musicians would often meet up at local nightclubs, a record store signing or a concert at the Long Beach Arena. Wherever there was metal, we were out in full-force and Michelle was always right there with us! Another member of the local metal crew was a young aspiring drummer from Long Beach named Gene Hoglan. In fact, I believe I was there when Michelle first met with Gene; they were both14 or 15 at the time and both had dreams of someday starting their own metal band. A few weeks after that meeting Michelle calls me on the phone, super excited she tells me that she and Gene are forming a band called War God...and from there it all began.

I remember how thrilled Michelle was to finally have her very own metal outfit. Michelle's parents, Bob and Marilyn, were so supportive of her music career. At that time I thought it was standard for all parents to hate heavy metal music and what it stood for. But this was definitely not the case here, Michelle's parents not only encouraged and supported Michelle's career decision but they also rented a giant home studio warehouse in Torrance where Michelle and her band were able to rehearse. Unfortunately, War God split-up soon after Gene got the call to join Dark Angel, the then up and coming speed metal outfit who were hot on the heels of Slayer (who had just signed with Metal Blade Records). Michelle was determined to succeed in music, no matter where it would take her. She immediately caught wind of the burgeoning thrash metal scene up in the Bay Area and within weeks made the trek up to San Francisco and was instantly embraced by the Bay Area Bangers.

Michelle moved back to Los Angeles a couple years later and formed the all-female hard rock band Phantom Blue in the late ‘80s. And it didn't take long before the band signed a deal with Shrapnel Records. I remember how excited Michelle was to be working with Marty Friedman, who produced the band's debut record. Not long after that release Phantom Blue signed to Geffen. That was the time I started at Roadrunner Records (when they opened their first LA office) and I had the pleasure to work with Phantom Blue as they were still licensed to Roadrunner in Europe. These were again great times I shared with Michelle. It was so gratifying for me to witness Michelle blossom from this young, spirited metal fan into a bona fide Rock Goddess. But the fame or success never went to Michelle's head. She was so grounded and she never took anything for granted. Michelle lived for rock n roll and Phantom Blue certainly lead the rock n roll lifestyle, in fact, it's safe to say they lived up to that standard more than most the dude bands in Los Angeles.

Even after Michelle's break-up with Phantom Blue and her subsequent move to Stockholm, we never lost touch. One of the things I admired so much about Michelle was the fact that she was determined to do exactly what she wanted to do. She never gave into the music industry and refused to be a victim of this cold-hearted business. Michelle was determined to succeed, but it would be on her terms. After settling in Sweden, Michelle formed her new band Meldrum and called me to say she was setting up showcases in Los Angeles. She sounded more thrilled than ever about her new band and I was so excited to witness their first shows in Los Angeles. The shows were incredible and it was so great to see Michelle back in full force! I remember after seeing her onstage at the Dragonfly club in LA saying to myself "here is the next guitar hero!" Michelle's playing had improved immensely and she was now right up there with the guitarists she had worshipped as a kid. The whole band stayed at my small apartment in North Hollywood those few days they were in LA and even though I had just met her new band members; Moa, Frida, and Fredrik, it was like hanging out with old friends. Michelle and I reminisced about old times as we all got drunk and talked about metal into the wee hours of the morning...it was just like the old days!

Over the years that followed, I had the pleasure of hanging out with the band every time they hit the states and even went on the road with them to Vegas. They toured here several times with Black Label Society and I had never seen a virtually then unknown opening band win the crowd over like Meldrum did. And nothing puts a band more to the test than to play in front of a horde of BLS fans! It was awe-inspiring for me to witness a jam-packed crowd with their fists in the air chanting the lyrics along with Moa. And what was so astonishing was the fact that the band hadn't yet released their record here in the US, yet everyone in the venue seemed to know their songs!

In September of 2006 I met up again with Michelle backstage at the Gigantour show at Glen Helen, just outside Los Angeles. I remember telling her I had just met up with Gene Hoglan, who was also hanging out backstage. Michelle was so happy as she hadn't seen Gene in years. The three of us got together and laughed and joked all night in between bands. I instantly sensed the magic between Michelle and Gene so I wasn't surprised in the least when Michelle soon after informed me that she and Gene were going to reunite (for the first time since War God) for the recording of the forthcoming Meldrum record, Blowin' Up The Machine.

I last met up with Michelle this past January at the NAMM show in Anaheim, CA. That Saturday night at the Hilton bar Michelle, Gene and I once again reunited and got absolutely shit-faced drunk! It was one of the greatest nights ever. And it was the last time I would ever spend with my dearest friend and oldest pal, my confidant, my creative force, my inspiration. You will be terribly missed Michelle. You were one-of-a-kind. So incredibly talented, so thoughtful and considerate, so uplifting and motivating, and so damn fun to be around.

I will always treasure the fond memories we had together. My heart goes out to your Mom, Bob, and your 3-year-old son Jake. You will always be in my heart, Michelle. I will miss you forever.

Bob Nalbandian

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