Episodes

Alan Freed: Rock's Original Hype Man

Alan Freed was rock's first evangilist. A disc jockey who promoted music but lost his career in the payola scandal.

Down In The Hole With Alice In Chains MTV Unplugged

Alice in Chains walked onto the MTV Unplugged stage in 1996 battered, brilliant, and barely holding together. The result was unforgettable. 

Ace In the Hole: KISS's Secret Weapon

Ace Frehley’s raw, distinctive guitar playing helped define KISS—and influenced generations of players who followed. 

How Dr. Dre Reshaped Hip Hop Three Times

From N.W.A. to G-Funk to Eminem and 50 Cent, Dr. Dre didn't just make hits—he repeatedly changed the direction of hip-hop. 

Hang Ten With The History of Surf Music

Reverb, rapid guitars and teenage rebellion. How surf music captured a moment—and influenced rock long after the wave crashed. 

Jerry Garcia: Reluctant Captain of the Long Strange Trip

The complicated story of Jerry Garcia: reluctant leader, musical dreamer and the beating heart of the Grateful Dead. 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Got It Right This Year

We love complaining about the Rock Hall. But with the Class of 2026, they actually went and got it right. 

I Wanna Rock!
Twisted Sister

Twisted Sister was a hard-working bar band who finally made it big. Then Dee Snider took on the PMRC. 

Whip It Good!
New Wave Music

Punk energy, pop hooks, synthesizers and plenty of weirdness. How New Wave gave rock a quirky, futuristic makeover. 

The Music
Of 1976

From Hotel California and Stevie Wonder to disco and punk, we revisit the music of America’s bicentennial year. 

Rockin' Reinventions:
Killer Covers (Vol 2)

More killer covers that prove a great song can sometimes become even better when somebody else gets their hands on it. 

Rockin' Reinventions:
Killer Covers (Vol 1)

From faithful renditions to total reinventions, we explore great covers that gave someone else’s music a whole new life. 

Christmas Songs That Don't Mention Christmas

Snow, sleigh bells and winter wonderlands—but no Santa or manger. How did these songs become Christmas classics anyway 

Bruce Springsteen &
Electric Nebraska

Springsteen recorded Nebraska alone—but first tried those songs with the E Street Band. Forty years later, we finally heard the results. 

High Notes:
Songs About Weed

From jazz to Snoop Dogg and legalization, we follow America’s changing relationship with weed through the music it inspired. 

One Hit Wonders
of the 1990s

A Gen X trip through the ’90s one-hit wonders you forgot you loved—and a few you probably hoped to forget. 

A Magical Mystery Tour
Of Abbey Road Studios

Beatles, Pink Floyd, movie scores and recording breakthroughs. Step into the studio that helped change how music gets made. 

Rebels With A Cause:
Good People In Music

Forget the scandals. We celebrate artists like Dolly Parton, Alice Cooper and others who use fame and fortune to do some good. 

Sun Records and the Beginning of Rock and Roll

Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Rocket 88. How a tiny Memphis studio helped ignite the rock and roll revolution. 

Prison Bound:
Artists Who Did Hard Time

Living up to our name, we look at musicians who landed behind bars, the crimes they committed and the music they made. 

Does Yacht
Rock Suck?

Smooth grooves, soft rock and sunset cocktails—or musical hell? We tackle the question nobody else was brave enough to ask. 

Hair Metal Meltdown: Bands Killed By Grunge

When grunge exploded, hair metal imploded. We revisit the bands that disappeared when Seattle changed rock almost overnight. 

It Takes Two:
Great Duets

Two voices, one song. We revisit some of music’s greatest duets, crossovers and collaborations—and what made them work. 

The FBI's Greatest Hits: Musicians Under Surveilance

From John Lennon to N.W.A., we explore the strange and serious stories of musicians who attracted the attention of the FBI. 

Running With the Devil:
Van Halen

We celebrate 100 episodes with ECW’s Blue Meanie and a deep dive into the music, mayhem and changing faces of Van Halen. 

Low-End Legends:
Bass Players

They may stand outside the spotlight, but they make the music move. A celebration of some of music’s greatest bass players. 

From Grace To Glory: A Tribute to John McCusker

A personal tribute to Ryan’s dad, John McCusker, told through the music he loved and the memories he left behind. 

The Many Lineups of Lollazalooza

From punk-rock farewell tour to massive destination festival, we trace the many lives, lineups and transformations of Lollapalooza. 

CBGB:
Punk's Grimy Cathederal

Ramones, Blondie, Patti Smith and Talking Heads. Inside the filthy Bowery club that became ground zero for American punk. 

The Music
of 1995

Alternative still ruled, rock filled the charts and we were right in the middle of it. A trip in the magical music memory machine to 1995. 

The Music and Legacy
Of Michael Jackson

The talent, influence, videos, controversies and allegations. We take an unflinching look at the complicated legacy of the King of Pop. 

Our Favorite
TV Themes

From Cheers and Friends to The Sopranos, we celebrate the TV themes that became almost as iconic as the shows themselves. 

Having A Blue Christmas
with the Blues

Forget the cheerful carols. We dig into blues songs about heartbreak, hard times and the decidedly less-merry side of Christmas. 

A Close Look at
Sympathy for the Devil

Lyrics, controversy and the dark side of humanity. We take a deep dive into one of the Rolling Stones’ most provocative songs. 

Selling the Drama: How Live Crashed and Burned

Live went from high-school pals to ’90s rock stars—then came breakups, fading relevance and a bizarre Ponzi scheme. 

Pearl Jam's Influence
on Rock and Roll

How Pearl Jam outlasted their grunge peers, evolved over three decades and fought Ticketmaster while staying true to their roots. 

Sharon Osbourne Almost Ruined Ozzy's First Two Albums

Ozzy’s first two solo albums are classics. The lawsuits, firings and controversial re-recordings behind them are another story entirely. 

The Greatest Bands from
TV and Movies

From Spinal Tap to Dr. Teeth and the Blues Brothers, we celebrate fictional bands that blurred the line between make-believe and real music. 

Artists United
Against Apartheid

Springsteen, Run-DMC, Miles Davis and dozens more joined forces for Sun City, using music to take a stand against South African apartheid. 

When They Tried to
Assassinate Bob Marley

Gunmen tried to kill Bob Marley days before a concert meant to calm Jamaica’s political violence. He took the stage anyway. 

The Huge Sound of
Arena Rock

Journey, Boston, Foreigner and more. We explore the huge sound, massive shows—and “corporate rock” criticism—of arena rock. 

The Rocket Man & Piano Man: Elton John & Billy Joel

The Piano Man versus the Rocket Man. Two legendary singer-songwriters, two distinctive styles and more than 450 million albums sold. 

The Moscow Music
Peace Festival

Hair metal invaded Moscow in 1989, bringing Western rock excess behind the Iron Curtain during the final days of the Cold War. 

The Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection

Cyndi Lauper, wrestler albums, entrance music and plenty of weirdness. We revisit the collision of rock and professional wrestling. 

How Chess Records Shaped the Blues and Rock & Roll

Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Etta James and more. How Chicago’s Chess Records helped electrify the blues and shape rock and roll. 

Lights, Camera, Music!
Awesome Soundtracks

From Purple Rain to Pulp Fiction, we celebrate the movie soundtracks and songs that became as memorable as the films themselves. 

The Music
of 1994

Grunge, alternative, punk and hip-hop collided in a landmark year that gave our generation some of its defining music. 

Jim Morrison:
Brilliant or Buffoon?

Poet, mystic, sex symbol, and alcoholic. Was the Doors’ Jim Morrison a brilliant visionary—or rock’s most overrated buffoon? 

Hot Rod Radio!
Songs About Cars

Rock and roll and cars have always belonged together. We hit the open road for a ride through music about automobiles. 

A Classy, Classic
Christmas

Take a nostalgic sleigh ride through the classic Christmas songs of the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s that still define the holidays. 

What Are Bruce Springsteen's
5 Best Albums?

More than 20 albums and 50 years of music. We make the case for the five greatest records of Springsteen’s legendary career. 

A Look Back at
We Are The World

Dozens of superstars, one legendary recording session and millions raised for famine relief. The story and impact of We Are the World. 

Gnarly One Hit Wonders
of the 1980

The ’80s gave us plenty of unforgettable one-hit wonders—and a few songs we probably would have been better off forgetting. 

Scandalous!
A History of Music Scandals

Crime, controversy, scams, shocking deaths and outrageous behavior. We dig into some of the biggest scandals in music history. 

When Celebrities Sing:
Celebrities Who Make Music

Actors and celebrities have been making records for decades. Some are surprisingly good. Others should have stayed buried. 

That Song Stinks!
The Electric Chair Episode

Welcome back to music hell. We condemn another batch of terrible and downright embarrassing songs to the Electric Chair. 

Does Disco
Suck?

From underground clubs to worldwide phenomenon to Disco Demolition Night, we ask: does disco suck? 

An Anthology of Beatles Outtakes and Rarities

Demos, outtakes, rarities and even new Beatles songs. We take a magical mystery tour through The Beatles Anthology. 

Women Who
Rock

From trailblazers to modern stars, we celebrate women who smashed barriers and proved rock isn't just for dudes. 

The History and Legends
of Jazz

Armstrong, Davis, and more. We explore the artists, sounds and improvisation that made jazz America’s great musical art form. 

When Hair Metal Saved
Rock and Roll

Big hair, bigger riffs and unapologetic fun. We make the case that hair metal deserves more respect than it usually gets. 

The Smooth Sounds
of Doo Wop

Street-corner harmonies, teenage romance and timeless songs. How doo wop entertained millions while breaking down racial barriers. 

Does Kid Rock
Suck?

Rapper, rocker, country singer—or musical used-car salesman? We put Kid Rock on trial and ask if he actually sucks. 

John Williams: The Greatst Music Composer of All Time

Star Wars. Jaws. Indiana Jones. Jurassic Park. We celebrate the man whose unforgettable scores became the soundtrack to American cinema. 

Why Judgment Night
was Groundbreaking

Rock met hip-hop track by track on Judgment Night, showing just how powerful the combination could be. 

The 2023 Rock Hall of Fame Nominees

We size up the Rock Hall’s Class of 2023 nominees: who belongs, who gets in and who is still inexplicably missing. 

Honoring
Chris Cornell

Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Audioslave and beyond. We celebrate Chris Cornell’s extraordinary voice, musical range and legacy. 

The Music
of 1993

Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Wu-Tang, Snoop, Smashing Pumpkins and more. We revisit the albums and songs that made 1993 unforgettable.

Live Aid:
When Music Fought Famine

Two stadiums, dozens of superstars and a worldwide audience. How Live Aid turned rock into a global fundraising phenomenon.

The Weird World of
Les Claypool

Primus is only the beginning. We explore the bass wizardry, strange humor and wonderfully weird musical universe of Les Claypool. 

A Prisoners of Rock and Roll Christmas Party

Sinatra, Elvis, Darlene Love…and Lemmy? We throw a musical Christmas party with some of our favorite festive songs and artists. 

The History of
Heavy Metal

From Sabbath to Slayer and beyond, we crank the amps and trace the loud, heavy and surprisingly diverse history of metal.

Is Rock
Dead?

Hip-hop and country dominate the charts while rock’s biggest stars keep getting older. Does rock and roll still matter?

Rock and Jock!
Music & Sports

From “Thunderstruck” to “Seven Nation Army,” we celebrate the songs that get stadiums rocking and sports fans on their feet.

Happy Birthday to Us!
A Look Back at 2 Years

For our 50th episode, we fire up the Musical Wayback Machine and revisit our favorite moments from two years of the show.

Listen Up Y'All,
It's The Beastie Boys

From hardcore punks to hip-hop pioneers, the Beastie Boys never stopped evolving, experimenting or doing things their own way.

The Songs Led Zepplin
Ripped Off

Led Zeppelin made some of rock’s greatest music—but how much was actually theirs? We investigate the songs behind their biggest hits.

God Saved the Queen:
The Sex Pistols

One album, two chaotic years and a whole lot of anarchy. How the Sex Pistols became punk rock icons almost overnight.

Woodstock: Peace, Mud, and Music

Half a million people, legendary performances, drugs, rain and lots of mud. We revisit the music and cultural impact of Woodstock.

The Greatest Drummers of All Time

From Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich to Bonzo, Ringo and Questlove, we celebrate the drummers who kept music moving.

Truckin' With
The Grateful Dead

The music, drugs, bootlegs, Deadheads and endless touring. We explore the enduring legacy of the Grateful Dead.

Back to the Beach: The Songs of Summer

Grab a cold drink and a beach chair. We crank up the songs that sound best with sunshine, sand and summer.

Rock the Mic With the Golden Age of Hip Hop

Run-DMC, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, N.W.A. and more. We revisit the artists who took hip-hop from the streets to the mainstream.

Rock Around The Clock: Music of the '50s

Elvis, Chuck Berry, and more. How early rock exploded across America—and faced tragedy, scandal and more along the way.

Hold Those Lighters High: Power Ballads

Big hair, loud guitars and sensitive bad boys. Grab your mixtape as we count down our favorite monster power ballads.

"Dear Loser": The History of Sub Pop Records

Before grunge conquered the world, Sub Pop helped launch Nirvana, Soundgarden and Seattle’s scene—with attitude to spare.

The Hottest Band in the World: KISS!

Makeup, explosions, blood, soaring guitars and mountains of merchandise. We celebrate the wonderfully over-the-top world of KISS.

Return of the King:
The Elvis Comeback Special

Leather, raw energy and one legendary TV performance. How the Elvis Comeback Special reminded everyone why he was the King.

Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame Snubs

Great artists keep getting left outside the Rock Hall. We make the case for ten acts we think deserve their shot.

The Faces of
David Bowie

Ziggy Stardust, Major Tom, the Thin White Duke and more. We explore Bowie’s constantly changing music and identity.

Does Rush
Suck?

Rush are progressive-rock legends. We don't particularly like them. So we put our biases aside and ask: are we missing something?

Revisiting the
Music of 1992

Grunge, alternative, industrial, metal and hip-hop collided in a year packed with landmark albums and artists reshaping popular music.

The Day the Music Died: "American Pie"

What exactly was Don McLean singing about? We put “American Pie” under the microscope and explore its history and symbolism

Bad Christmas
Music

Kenny G, Mariah Carey, Dominic the Donkey and more. We toss some truly terrible Christmas music straight onto the Yule log.

Behind The Wall
With Pink Floyd

Isolation, madness and one of rock’s greatest concept albums. We go behind The Wall and explore the story Pink Floyd created.

The Resurrection of
Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash thought his best days were behind him. Then Rick Rubin introduced the Man in Black to a new generation.

The Life and Times of Bob Marley

Musician, activist, humanitarian and icon. We explore Bob Marley’s music, remarkable life and enduring message of freedom and hope.

Motown's Secret Weapon:
The Funk Brothers

You know the Motown hits. Meet the largely unknown studio musicians who played on more of them than almost anyone realizes.

The Brilliance of MTV Unplugged

Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Clapton, Alice in Chains and more. We revisit the performances that made MTV Unplugged essential viewing.

Exiled with
The Rolling Stones

Tax exile, a French villa, heroin and rock and roll. The wild story behind the Rolling Stones masterpiece Exile on Main St.

Guitar Picks:
Top 6 Guitar Players

Hendrix? Slash? Santana? B.B. King? We each pick our six favorite guitarists and make the case for who belongs on top.

Rock and Roll Debate: London Calling vs. The Ramones

The Clash versus the Ramones. We put two landmark punk albums head-to-head and argue over which one deserves the crown.

Live from McCusker's Tavern: The Road Trip Episode

Windows down, volume up. We build the ultimate playlist of songs for hitting the highway and taking a great road trip.

The Crossroads to
the Blues

From Southern plantations and juke joints to electrified Chicago, we trace the blues and its enormous influence on modern music.

Songs We Hate:
The Electric Chair Episode

An entire episode of musical punishment. We join our listeners in sentencing some truly terrible songs to the Electric Chair.

Jukebox Heroes:
The Ultimate Jukebox Playlist

Cold beer, good friends and great music. We build the ultimate playlist of songs that belong on every barroom jukebox.

I Want
My MTV!

Music videos, Headbangers Ball, Yo! MTV Raps and more. We revisit the glory days when MTV actually meant Music Television.

The Monterey Pop Festival:
One Groovy Weekend

Hendrix, Joplin, Otis, and The Who became American sensations during three unforgettable days at the Monterey Pop Festival.

No More Mr. Nice Guy:
The History of Shock Rock

Blood, costumes, horror and outrageous stage shows. We explore shock rock from Alice Cooper and KISS to GWAR and Rob Zombie.

Trashing and Moshing With Heavy Metal's Big 4

Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. We crank up the Big Four bands that took American thrash metal to another level.

The Kings of Cool:
Frank Sinatra and The Rat Pack

Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and company made music, movies and Vegas history while defining an entire era of cool.

U2: The Road to
The Joshua Tree

We trace U2’s evolution from Dublin upstarts to global superstars before diving into the landmark album that changed everything.

What the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Got Wrong

We break down the Rock Hall’s 2021 nominees, cast our ballots and discuss the artists who were still being overlooked.

The Hairband
Countdown

Big hair, bigger hooks and spectacular excess. We raise our cigarette lighters and count down our favorite hair bands of all time.

Bruce Springsteen: Songs of Hopes and Dreams

From the Jersey Shore to worldwide stardom, we explore Springsteen’s music and legendary concerts.

Mowhawks & Safety Pins:
The History of Punk

From garage rock to the Ramones, Sex Pistols and Clash, we trace punk’s loud, angry and gloriously rebellious history.

1991: The Greatest Year in Music HIstory

Nirvana, Pearl Jam, U2, Metallica and more. We make the case that 1991 was one of music’s greatest—and strangest—years.

New Year's Even Special: Good Riddance 2020

We say good riddance to a truly bizarre year with some music from 2020 and songs made for ringing in the New Year.

Merry Christmas Mother@#s%ers!!!

Pour some eggnog and crank the stereo. We celebrate our first Christmas together with some of our favorite holiday music.

Rock and Roll Debate: The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones

The Fab Four versus rock’s original bad boys. We wade into the eternal debate over the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Sun Records:
Where Rock and Roll Was Born

Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and more. We visit the tiny Memphis studio where Sam Phillips helped ignite rock and roll.

Amazing
Music Soundtracks

Great movies need great music. We revisit our favorite soundtracks and songs forever connected to the big screen.

The Top 6 American Rock and Roll Bands

We each choose our six greatest American rock bands and defend our picks in what became one of our earliest epic debates.

Does Motley Crue Belong in the Hall of Fame?

or our very first episode, we dive into Mötley Crüe’s music, mayhem and legacy—and make their case for the Rock Hall.