Classic Metal Show

Epizode

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  Can Don Dokken Survive This Stage Feedback Meltdown? (2016 Archive) 16.09.2026 39min

  What happens when a veteran rock frontman loses his cool over bad audio monitor mix issues on stage? Don Dokken found out the hard way after unleashing a viral rant on his own venue crowd. Neeley and Chris Akin dive straight into the brutal fallout from a disastrous Michigan concert where bad sound and outrageous remarks sent half the audience heading for the exit.You Can’t Live Without Dokken’s The Elektra Albums 1983-1987 [5 LP Boxset] - https://amzn.to/4xXFjbLGet the unfiltered backstage truth about what the band members actually said, hear live fan caller reactions from people who were in the venue, and find out if Don Dokken went too far this time.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  BURTON C. BELL: Did Fear Factory's Obsolete See the Future Coming? 16.09.2026 27min

  Nearly 30 years later, Fear Factory’s Obsolete isn’t sounding quite as fictional as it once did.GREAT DEAL OF FEAR FACTORY’S OBSOLETE ON SPECIAL EDITION VINYL: https://amzn.to/4xnBYliOn this episode of CHRIS AKIN PRESENTS..., Burton C. Bell takes a deep dive into the story behind Obsolete and the completely different way he’s now bringing that story to an audience.Burton explains “Obsolete by Word of Mouth,” his intimate performance built around the original material he wrote for the album, including his handwritten and typed manuscripts, the stories behind the songs, and a theatrical reading of the Obsolete narrative.And here’s where things get weird.Ideas that sounded like futuristic science fiction when Obsolete was released can now hit a lot closer to home. Burton talks about his fascination with apocalyptic science fiction, how writers often use imagined futures to reflect the world they’re actually living in, and why revisiting his own material today has produced some pretty startling reactions from audiences.He also goes back to the making of Obsolete and tells the story of how Fear Factory’s version of Gary Numan’s “Cars” came together — including Numan flying to Vancouver to record his vocals, knocking them out in one take, and then hanging out with Burton for an unlikely trip to the movies to see Dark City.But Burton isn’t simply cashing in on another anniversary by playing the album live.Instead, he’s created an intentionally small and personal experience limited to roughly 50 people, where the audience becomes part of the performance and the story is delivered without the distance of a massive concert.So after almost three decades, the question is pretty damn obvious:Was Obsolete really ahead of its time?Watch and decide for yourself.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Is Journey Already Looking For Its Next Singer? 16.09.2026 59min

  John Corabi has finally opened up about what happened with The Dead Daisies — and his explanation has us wondering if walking away was really the only option.JOHN CORABI’S NEW DAY HERE ON VINYL: https://amzn.to/4yh2EoyCorabi says he was told the band was taking a year off, only to see plans change around the Live at Stone Dead release and the timing of his solo album. Did the Dead Daisies move the goalposts, or did Corabi simply decide he’d had enough?And then there’s Journey. A Steve Perry look-alike and sound-alike named Hugo Valentin suddenly appeared onstage in Japan to sing “Faithfully.” Was it just a guest appearance, or could Journey be giving fans a preview of what’s next?Two huge rock stories, two very different situations, and plenty for us to argue about.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Could Chris Finally Escape The House? 15.09.2026 59min

  Chris has apparently reached the point where the work-home-work-home routine is starting to drive him fucking crazy.So what’s the solution? Get the hell out of the house.GET ALL THE BEST CMS MERCH HERE: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/The guys get into getting back to live music, the shows Chris wants to see, and why HammerFall is finally getting another live appearance after all these years. But the conversation also takes a more personal turn as they talk about losing friends, serious health scares, and the uncomfortable realization that you can get way too comfortable doing absolutely nothing.And naturally, it doesn’t stay serious for long. TVs, smartphones, sleeping with talk radio, true crime, and plenty of completely unnecessary CMS oversharing all make their way into the conversation.Maybe getting out of the house really is the cure.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Is Paul Stanley Right About the KISS Sound? (2016 Archive) 14.09.2026 40min

  KISS, Paul Stanley, vinyl, studio monitors, Dolby Atmos and Spotify royalties — yeah, this one goes all over the damn place.GET KISS ROCKS VEGAS ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/3VcGbe2The discussion starts with the long-delayed KISS Rocks Vegas Blu-ray/DVD release and its Dolby Atmos presentation before taking a hard left into Paul Stanley’s incredibly detailed thoughts about studio equipment, JBL 4311s, Yamaha NS-10s and Electric Lady Studios.Then comes the vinyl argument: is that famous “warmth” really better, or are you giving up some of the high-end detail in the process?And finally, the conversation gets much more interesting when Stanley’s criticism of streaming and the money artists actually receive from services like Spotify comes into play.It’s KISS, audio nerd territory and the music industry’s streaming mess — with the usual CMS attitude attached.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  CMS LIVE 9/5/26: Why Did The Scorpions Cancel Their Las Vegas Residency? 14.09.2026 3h 38min

  The Scorpions were supposed to tear up Las Vegas—but now the residency is canceled. So what the hell happened? Meanwhile, David Lee Roth is back in full-on DLR mode, Zakk Wylde has some thoughts about the death of the traditional album, and John Corabi explains why he walked away from The Dead Daisies. But is Corabi telling the whole story, or just polishing the exit?GET SCORPIONS BOX OF SCORPIONS BOX SET HERE: https://amzn.to/4gVR23jAdd in the usual unfiltered opinions, questionable logic, and absolutely no shortage of metal insanity, and this episode goes places fast.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Did Dylan Avery Really Change How We See 9/11? 11.09.2026 35min

  What happens when a low-budget documentary suddenly becomes one of the most talked-about films on the internet?GET THE TRIGGER BY DAVID ICKE: https://amzn.to/4ioHdNODylan Avery became the face of Loose Change, a documentary that exploded into the public conversation and turned its young filmmaker into one of the most recognizable names associated with the 9/11 conspiracy-documentary phenomenon.This interview is a flashback to Avery discussing the film, the reaction it generated, and what it was like to find yourself at the center of a conversation that went far beyond filmmaking.If you remember Loose Change, this is a serious trip down the rabbit hole. If you don’t, it’s a fascinating look at how an independent film became an internet-era cultural lightning rod.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Could Brian Stuart Fox's 9/11 Claims Change Your Mind? (2008 Archive) 11.09.2026 58min

  From working with Doors producer Paul Rothschild in the 1980s to signing with Warner Bros. as part of The Power Trio From Hell and eventually moving forward with Brian Fox and Load, Fox has spent decades in the music business. Now he’s taking a very different approach with Load The Jet Rocket, releasing it exclusively through Chem Trail Records and taking aim at the major digital music platforms he believes take too much from artists.If you’re ready to question the official story, David Icke’s The Trigger: The Lie That Changed the World is one book you’ll want to have on your shelf. https://amzn.to/46fy82DThen the conversation takes a serious left turn.Fox openly discusses his belief that 9/11 was an inside job, laying out the physical and scientific anomalies he believes raise questions about the official explanation. Chris Akin and Neeley dig into those claims, and a caller jumps into the discussion with questions about the phone calls reportedly made from the hijacked aircraft.Fox also unloads on government institutions, the Federal Reserve, political leadership and what he sees as media control — while insisting that his response is ultimately about peace, positivity and using music to get his message out.It’s music, politics, conspiracy theories and one seriously unconventional conversation.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Why Did VH1 Call This Show “That Metal Show”? (2015 Archive) 11.09.2026 46min

  Eddie Trunk sits down with The Classic Metal Show to talk about the music he loves, how That Metal Show actually came together, and why the title of one of rock television’s most recognizable programs was basically the opposite of what he wanted.The golden era of heavy metal. 🤘 Grab the essential Black Sabbath Albums Collection (1970–1972) featuring four iconic masterworks: https://amzn.to/4xVoVJ0Trunk explains why he originally wanted a title that could cover both hard rock and metal, how VH1’s research pushed the word “metal” into the name, and how the show’s format evolved into a roundtable built around interviews, comedy and plenty of unscripted conversation.He also talks Black Sabbath, including his longtime love of the Ronnie James Dio era, the massive changes at VH1 Classic, and why his departure from the network had much more to do with a sweeping channel restructure than anything personal.And then there’s UFO. Trunk makes the case for why their music still holds up decades later — with even major modern rock musicians pointing to the band as a major influence.Experience the chaos. Get Plush’s Mass Hysteria now before it sells out: https://amzn.to/4dzf2IzThere’s plenty here for anyone who grew up on hard rock, heavy metal and the television that actually treated the music like it mattered.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  What the Hell Is Going On With Sebastian Bach and David Lee Roth? 11.09.2026 56min

  Sebastian Bach is singing Twisted Sister songs. David Lee Roth is wearing a cowboy hat, plinking away at an acoustic guitar and telling stories that sound like they were invented after three days without sleep.GET SEBASTIAN BACH’S CHILD WITHIN THE MAN ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/4zJLUYyAnd somehow, this is all happening in the same episode.The guys take a look at the bizarre Twisted Sister/Sebastian Bach situation and ask the obvious question: what exactly are we watching here? Then things get even more unhinged when Diamond Dave’s latest internet adventures take center stage.GET DAVID LEE ROTH’S THE WARNER RECORDINGS 1985-1994 HERE: https://amzn.to/3Uh6pvIFrom questionable guitar playing to completely insane stories involving Ozzy, cowboy mythology and everything in between, this is the kind of rock ‘n’ roll nonsense you simply can’t look away from.Is it brilliant? Is it terrible? Is it both?You’ll have to decide.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Did Dokken Nearly Fall Apart On The Road? (2013 Archive) 10.09.2026 1h 5min

  A Dokken show in Las Vegas goes sideways when Mick Brown literally goes down in the middle of “The Hunter.” Then there’s Mark Boals’ ridiculous travel nightmare, a bowling alley pro shop doubling as a dressing room, and a sound system that pushes Don Dokken to the breaking point.GET DOKKEN’S THE ELEKTRA ALBUMS 1983-1987 ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/4r4VelPAnd just when you think the night couldn’t get more chaotic, Facebook gets involved.This is the kind of road story where every new detail somehow makes the previous one look normal.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Is The “Douchiest Guitarists” List Really About Guitar Playing? (2013 Archive) 10.09.2026 44min

  What makes a guitarist a “douche”? Apparently, according to one Village Voice article, looking the part and putting on a big enough show can get you there.GET ALL THE BEST CMS MERCH HERE: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/Neeley and Chris Akin take a hard look at Nate Jackson’s “The 10 Douchiest Guitarists Of All Time” and have a problem with what the list seems to value. Is image really a legitimate way to judge a guitarist, or should the conversation be about playing ability, technique and actual musical talent?That leads to a pretty entertaining debate about what separates genuine guitar skill from stage theatrics — and whether being flashy, arrogant-looking or over-the-top should have anything to do with ranking somebody’s ability as a musician.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Is Modern Dating Making Women Completely Delusional? (2016 Archive) 10.09.2026 57min

  The guys dive into one of those topics guaranteed to piss somebody off: the idea that constant attention from men can completely distort a woman’s perception of herself, her options, and her own accountability.GET ALL THE BEST CMS MERCHANDISE HERE: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/From sexual market value and aging to social-media validation, “white knights,” orbiters, and the increasingly popular tendency to call accountability “abuse,” this conversation goes straight into the uncomfortable territory most people would rather avoid.And yes, there’s a real-life speeding-ticket story that somehow makes the entire argument even crazier.Agree? Think they’re full of shit? Either way, you’re probably going to have an opinion.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Why Did the 49ers Owner Drive to a Trailer Park for $160 Sex? 10.09.2026 1h 6min

  What happens when a billionaire NFL owner decides to personally arrange a little extracurricular entertainment?GET ALL THE BEST CMS MERCHANDISE HERE: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/Apparently, you get aliases, undercover cops, a rental car, a trailer park and one of the most ridiculous celebrity arrest stories we’ve heard in a long time.The 49ers owner prostitution case has so many WTF details that it’s almost impossible to pick the dumbest one. And the deeper the guys get into it, the bigger the question becomes: How can a guy with billions of dollars make decisions this fucking stupid?That story dominates the show, but it isn’t the only thing getting ripped apart tonight. There’s plenty more music, entertainment, celebrity bullshit and classic CMS chaos along the way.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Has Vinnie Vincent’s Comeback Already Run Its Course? (2018 Archive) 09.09.2026 24min

  Vinnie Vincent was supposed to be making a comeback. So why does this whole thing look increasingly like a mess?GET THE SELF TITLED VINNIE VINCENT INVASION RELEASE ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/4r0fIfPNeeley and Chris Akin dig into the latest controversy surrounding Vincent’s planned shows, including the move from Memphis to Nashville, the strange way the venue information is being presented, the departure of Robert Fleischman, and the increasingly bizarre ticket and meet-and-greet packages.Fleischman says he walked away after receiving what he considered an insultingly low financial offer, along with concerns about organization, travel, hotel expenses and how he was being presented on the promotional material.Then there’s the question of the so-called All-Star Band, the “special guests,” and ticket packages that can run hundreds of dollars — including a $199 meet-and-greet that doesn’t even include a concert ticket.Is this a legitimate comeback struggling to get off the ground, or has the whole thing already gone off the rails?Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Did Bombay Black Finally Leave The ’80s Behind? (2008 Archive) 09.09.2026 24min

  Bombay Black was already known for wearing some ’80s metal DNA on its sleeve — but Eric Johnson says the band was ready to push somewhere heavier and more direct.GET ALL THE BEST CMS MERCH HERE: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/In this interview, Johnson talks about Psycho Magnet, the band’s third studio album and fourth overall release, and how producer Beau Hill came into the picture after discovering Bombay Black through MySpace. Hill brought studio experience, mixing guidance and mic techniques to the project while still letting the band do most of the recording in its own studio.Johnson also gets into the very different experience of playing for international audiences versus trying to build a crowd in the U.S. — and why the atmosphere at shows in places like the UK can be a completely different animal.And yes, there are upcoming shows, including Dakota Rock Fest.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Is Jaime St. James Ready to Rock Again? The Black & Blue Singer Opens Up 09.09.2026 33min

  After a long-ass absence, Jaime St. James is back for a conversation that covers everything from Black & Blue and Tommy Thayer to the brand-new Bombshell release.GET THAYER ST. JAMES’ BOMBSHELL HERE: https://www.thayerstjames.com/Jaime gets into why Thayer St. James is a completely separate project, what it was like making music with Tommy again, the long-running KISS connection, the future of Black & Blue, and why the band is perfectly happy not playing 200 shows a year.There’s also talk about Monsters of Rock, the changing 80s rock nostalgia scene, playing a 90-minute set after an 18-hour flight, and what happens when a rock singer can’t even walk through the grocery store without getting recognized.GET ALL THE BEST CMS MERCH HERE: https://classicmetalshow.creator-spring.com/And then there are the stories behind the new songs—including one that started with a lawn mower and another that took a very darkly comic turn.Jaime St. James has been around the block a few times. He hasn’t run out of things to say.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Did Paul Stanley Really Use the Same “Cold Gin” Speech for 25 Years? (2009 Archive) 08.09.2026 36min

  Paul Stanley apparently had one very important job before “Cold Gin”: figuring out how to tell an arena full of people that the next song was about alcohol.GET KISS’ ALIVE! (50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/4qWYjo4This collection tracks KISS performing the song across the years, from the brutally simple 1973 introduction through increasingly elaborate versions in the ’70s, the makeup-free years, and the 1990s reunion era. The hosts have a hell of a time comparing how much changed — and how much absolutely did not.From Largo to Tokyo, Detroit to Philadelphia, Chile to Madison Square Garden, how many different ways can one guy introduce the same damn song?Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  Is Kiss’ New Cold Gin Really Worth The Hype? (2022 Archive) 08.09.2026 52min

  Kiss has Cold Gin back in the conversation — but is this really something worth getting excited about, or is there more to the story?Neeley and Chris Akin dig into Kiss’ new Cold Gin and give it the kind of unfiltered treatment you expect from THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW.And because apparently the war on the consumer never ends, the guys also get into Frito-Lay cutting the number of chips in the bag. Same bag. Fewer chips. Because why make the bag smaller when you can just make everybody feel cheated?GET KISS’ ALIVE (50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) ON VINYL HERE: https://amzn.to/4qWYjo4Two very different stories, but both give Neeley and Chris plenty to talk about.Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe
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  We Changed Our Minds About The New Asia Album! 08.09.2026 48min

  We’re back after a week off, and apparently we managed to save up enough bullshit to fill an entire show.This one covers everything from a brutal Florida road trip and one of the strangest airport experiences imaginable to a pretty damn big shout-out from Jim Florentine. And somehow, we also ended up changing our minds about the new Asia album.GET ASIA’S NEW RELEASE INDIGO ON VINYL HERE! https://amzn.to/3UM1BhUThere’s plenty of real-life chaos in this episode, too. We get into a difficult true-crime interview, some major personal changes, and the realization that getting older apparently comes with a much lower tolerance for bullshit.Then we get into Asia’s new singer. At first, the record wasn’t exactly winning us over. But after hearing the entire album and actually talking with the guy responsible for the vocals, something changed. The opinion we had going in didn’t exactly survive the conversation.We also get into Lynch Mob, Don Dokken, George Lynch, the CMS audience, Locals, and a whole lot of the inappropriate nonsense you’ve come to expect.So what changed our minds about Asia? And what still has us pissed off?Watch commercial free and without delayed publishing by becoming a CMS VIP at https://classicmetalshow.locals.comAll comments are merely the opinions of the people speaking them, are for comical performance, and are in no way stated as factual. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cmspn.substack.com/subscribe