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 form...
Jun 11, 2020•22 min
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...
Jun 08, 2020•22 min
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...
Jun 01, 2020•28 min
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 hav...
May 25, 2020•33 min
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 (no...
May 18, 2020•22 min
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'...
May 11, 2020•19 min
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.
May 04, 2020•22 min
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...
Apr 27, 2020•20 min
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 Reddin...
Apr 20, 2020•23 min
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 ...
Apr 14, 2020•16 min
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.
Apr 06, 2020•19 min
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....
Mar 30, 2020•23 min
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, conversation...
Mar 23, 2020•50 min
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 i...
Mar 16, 2020•27 min
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 a...
Mar 09, 2020•26 min
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 playlis...
Mar 02, 2020•30 min
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...
Feb 25, 2020•37 min
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 ...
Feb 18, 2020•35 min
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 Bla...
Feb 10, 2020•24 min
I'm pretty stoked about this week's episode, which focuses on the rise of the Grunge movement of 1991 - the stories behind how Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and other acts came to found this musical movement. The most interesting aspect of what people understood to be 'grunge' is that many of the bands thought to represent the genre, including Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, and Alice In Chains, really weren't grunge at all. So what were they really? And what was really responsible for the eradication o...
Feb 03, 2020•23 min
Guitarist and friend of the show Greg Fraser calls in to NSTS this week. He's got a brand new band called Storm Force, with a brand new record, Age of Fear - and it's been getting a lot of attention around the world since its release last week. Because he's such a great Canadian, Fraze brings in five Canuck tunes that make his skin vibrate. As always, we have some laughs and a great musical chat that includes catching Geddy Lee on an off day and Lars Ulrich's opinion of Streetheart. Fraze's play...
Jan 27, 2020•32 min
This week on No Sleep 'til Sudbury, I examine the year of 1978 through some of the most bizarre and fascinating events that shaped it musically, including Richard Branson trying to have Sex Pistols singer Johnny Rotten join Devo as their new singer after the Pistols broke up. The facts behind the untimely deaths of Sid Vicious, Keith Moon, and Chicago's Terry Kath are also discussed, as is the ill-fated KISS solo albums strategy, and the massively far-reaching influence of New Wave. Don't miss i...
Jan 21, 2020•15 min
Singer songwriter and friend of the show Suzi Kory drops by the NSTS studios this week to talk about her recent gig at the Horseshoe. Her new single "Settle of the Dust" just dropped, and you can check it out wherever you listen to music. Always a lot of fun to have Suzi on the show - she's funny, insightful, and loves to talk about music, navigating social media trolling, and the "Love Revolution". Check it out. Kory's playlist: John Lennon - Imagine Kacey Musgraves - Rainbow Lynyrd Skynyrd - S...
Jan 13, 2020•31 min
Happy New Year, everyone! To kick off 2020 I welcome a very special and unique guest to the show. Jon McMurray has been described as the man with no memory, following a severe head injury he sustained in his 20s. However, he does remember music - and it's the bridge back to his previous life. His attitude is incredibly inspiring, as is his story, which he graciously shares with us this week through the songs that helped him recover after he awoke from his coma. McMurray's playlist: David Bowie -...
Jan 07, 2020•26 min
Welcome back to the 2019 No Sleep 'til Sudbury Christmas special, featuring none other than the legendary Rik Emmett. In Part II of this year's special, Rik and I return to his home studio to chat about the controversy behind Christmas classic "Baby, It's Cold Outside", who wrote the Jeopardy theme, the back side of the beat, and so much more. And, he performs another Christmas classic. Once again, Rik approaches his favourite Christmas tunes with humour, passion, and insights that introduce a e...
Dec 16, 2019•36 min
He's back! My pal Rik Emmett has joined me once again this year on No Sleep 'til Sudbury for two special Christmas episodes of the show, live from Rik's home. I love working with Rik on this stuff, because he's so enthusiastic about it and puts in so much preparation. He killed it again this year, with more compelling perspectives, historical insights, and hilarious stories - all while playing his guitar. And this year folks, Rik performs TWO songs. Do not miss this. Emmett's playlist: James Tay...
Dec 09, 2019•56 min
Film director Sergio Navarretta and screenwriter Alessandra Piccione are the founders of SNAP Films, and they are also my guests on NSTS this week. They're here to talk about The Cuban, their new movie starring Lou Gossett, Jr., and also Arctic Dogs, a new movie they worked on with Alec Baldwin, Heidi Klum, and John Cleese. We have a great chat about their NSTS playlist, in addition to the criticality of selecting the music for The Cuban, the best places to eat in New York, Afghan culture, and m...
Dec 02, 2019•23 min
Flute! We have flute! British producer, guitarist, and Grammy & Juno winner Chris Birkett makes his return to the show, bringing with him Free Spirits collaborator and flautist Shari Tallon to talk about their new record, called 11:11. They play two songs from the record, and as always, Chris has some entertaining stories - this time around, they involve Dexy's Midnight Runners and Thomas Dolby. Check it out! Birkett's playlist: Thomas Dolby - Commercial Breakup Dexy's Midnight Runners - Gen...
Nov 26, 2019•29 min
His story began with a broken neck. Joining me this week is performance physiologist, author, speaker, and music fan Dr. Greg Wells, and he shares his incredible story of coming back from a life-altering injury to achieve extraordinary heights. The playlist he provides serves as a guiding soundtrack to this journey. Wells' playlist: The Who - Baba O'Reilly INXS - Kiss The Dirt The Tragically Hip - In View Bryan Adams - Summer of 69 Foo Fighters - Times Like These...
Nov 19, 2019•29 min
This week I host someone I used to stay up late to watch as a teenage sports fan - broadcast legend Mark Hebscher. Since his days hosting the innovative Sportsline, Mark has done a number of other things including having written a new book entitled The Greatest Athlete You've Never Heard Of. Hebsy is also a massive music fan, and we chat about all sorts of stuff - Mick Taylor, Paradigm Phantoms, being introduced to Los Lobos, why catchers paint their fingernails, and how he got to hear an early ...
Nov 12, 2019•26 min
