Episodes

292: EP 228: Rob Halford Interview

Cobras & Fire welcomes the Metal God, Rob Halford from Judas Priest to the show. Rob discusses his new book “Confess”, his love of cat t-shirts and online shopping, weather patterns, reliving some of the darker times of his past writing the book and even some John Lennon talk.

Confess: The Autobiography

The legendary frontman of Judas Priest, one of the most successful heavy metal bands of all time, celebrates five decades of heavy metal in this tell-all memoir.

Most priests hear confessions. This one is making his.

Rob Halford, front man of global iconic metal band Judas Priest, is a true “Metal God.” Raised in Britain’s hard-working, heavy industrial heartland, he and his music were forged in the Black Country. Confess, his full autobiography, is an unforgettable rock ‘n’ roll story-a journey from a Walsall council estate to musical fame via alcoholism, addiction, police cells, ill-fated sexual trysts, and bleak personal tragedy, through to rehab, coming out, redemption . . . and finding love.

Now, he is telling his gospel truth.

Told with Halford’s trademark self-deprecating, deadpan Black Country humor, Confess is the story of an extraordinary five decades in the music industry. It is also the tale of unlikely encounters with everybody from Superman to Andy Warhol, Madonna, Jack Nicholson, and the Queen. More than anything else, it’s a celebration of the fire and power of heavy metal.

Rob Halford has decided to Confess. Because it’s good for the soul.

http://www.judaspriest.com/
https://premierecollectibles.com/confess
https://www.instagram.com/robhalfordlegacy/

About Judas Priest (Wiki)

Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in West Bromwich in 1969. They have sold over 50 million copies of their albums, and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in the latter half of the 1970s, the band had struggled with indifferent record production and a lack of major commercial success until 1980, when they rose to commercial success with the album British Steel.

The band’s membership has seen much turnover, including a revolving cast of drummers in the 1970s and the departure of singer Rob Halford in 1992. The American singer Tim “Ripper” Owens replaced Halford in 1996 and recorded two albums with Judas Priest, before Halford returned to the band in 2003. The current line-up consists of Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill and drummer Scott Travis. The band’s best-selling album is 1982’s Screaming for Vengeance, with their most commercially successful line-up featuring Hill, Halford, Tipton, guitarist K. K. Downing, and drummer Dave Holland. Tipton and Hill are the only two members of the band to appear on every album.

Halford’s operatic vocal style and the twin guitar sound of Downing and Tipton have been a major influence on heavy metal bands. Judas Priest’s image of leather, spikes, and other taboo articles of clothing were widely influential during the glam metal era of the 1980s. The Guardian referred to British Steel as the record that defines heavy metal. Despite a decline in exposure during the mid 1990s, the band has once again seen a resurgence, including worldwide tours, being inaugural inductees into the VH1 Rock Honors in 2006, receiving a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2010, and having their songs featured in video games such as Guitar Hero and the Rock Band series. Judas Priest was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020 class,[1] but did not get in.

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291: Interview With David de Sola Alice In Chains Author

David de Sola, author of “Alice In Chains-The Untold Story” joins Bakko to discuss the lead up to the band recording their debut record Facelift through the subsequent tour. Look for Part Two of this interview when we get to next Alice In Chains record on this list, “Dirt”.

David de Sola is a journalist with experience working at CNN, 60 Minutes, and Reuters whose work has also been published in The Atlantic, The Huffington Post and other print and online publications. He has degrees from Tufts University, the University of Southern California, and Georgetown University. He lives in Los Angeles.

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290: Whatever, Nevermind No. 14: Alice In Chains – Facelift w/Chris Czynszak

Coming in at number 14 on Rolling Stone’s Greatest Grunge Albums is Facelift from Alice In Chains. Guest hosting this episode is Decibel Geek co-host Chris Czynszak.

Facelift is the debut studio album by the American rock band Alice in Chains, released by Columbia Records on August 21, 1990. The tracks “We Die Young”, “Man in the Box”, “Sea of Sorrow” and “Bleed the Freak” were released as singles.

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EP 226: Jean-Paul Gaster Interview

LC interviews Clutch drummer Jean-Paul Gaster. Subjects discussed: – Record Store Days Exclusives: Obelisk Vinyl Box Set, Weathermaker Series – COVID and touring – Minotaurs – Doom Saloon live streams + plans for next one – Songwriting + How Set Lists are picked – Wookies – Spotify, music industry – Mandolins – Next Clutch Album…

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289: Jean-Paul Gaster of Clutch Interview

LC interviews Clutch drummer Jean-Paul Gaster.Subjects discussed: – Record Store Days Exclusives: Obelisk Vinyl Box Set, Weathermaker Series- COVID and touring- Minotaurs- Doom Saloon live streams + plans for next one- Songwriting + How Set Lists are picked- Wookies- Spotify, music industry- Mandolins- Next Clutch AlbumMusic snippets featured:DC Sound AttackWillie NelsonX-Ray VisionIn Walks BarbarellaMore LC Clutch Worship:Concert Review 2018 – Boulder: www.decibelgeek.com/clutch-concert-review-2018/Concert Review 2016 – Denver: www.decibelgeek.com/clutch-concert-review-2016/ABOUT JEAN-PAUL GASTER (Wiki)Jean-Paul Gaster learned to play drums by playing along to 1960s and 1970s heavy rock bands like Jimi Hendrix, Cream, ZZ Top and Black Sabbath. Washington D.C’s Go-go music and in particular drummers such as Ju Ju House, Brandon Finley and Ricky Wellman were early influences as well. He is one of many students who studied with legendary Washington D.C drummer and educator Walter Salb. Some favorite drummers of Gaster are jazz drummers Elvin Jones and Jack DeJohnette, Bad Brains drummer Earl Hudson and New Orleans drummer Johnny Vidacovich.ClutchJean-Paul, Neil Fallon, Dan Maines and Tim Sult formed Clutch in 1991. After releasing the Pitchfork 7″ the band embarked on its first U.S tour in the summer of 1992. Since then the band has released 12 studio albums and toured extensively through North America, Europe, UK and Australia. The band continues to be an important fixture on today’s hard rock scene.

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288: EP 227: Michael Sweet Interview (Stryper)

Michael Sweet of Stryper returns to the show to talk about their latest release Even The Devil Believes, Cardi B, staying busy when you can’t tour, the recent remarks from the CEO of Spotify and more. Always fun when Michael joins the show.

Iconic rock band Stryper returns with their 13th studio album, “Even the Devil Believes” (Frontiers Music Srl) — Available today, September 4th, wherever music is sold. Filled with the band’s signature riffs, harmony-laden melodies and positive themes, the 11-track project is Stryper’s first studio album with Perry Richardson (Firehouse) on bass and background vocals. Fans can purchase the album on CD, Vinyl, or Digital or stream it on their preferred service here: https://orcd.co/stryper

“It’s a tough world out there but we’ve somehow been able to rise above and deliver our best one yet,” says vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet. “We’re very blessed to still be bringing a little ‘church’ to the metal world 36 years later. I can’t wait for you all to hear our new album.”

With over 10 Million albums sold worldwide, Stryper is renowned for its distinctive brand of “heavenly metal” and extraordinary crossover success. The group ascended to prominence in the 1980s with Billboard Top 40 hits like “Calling on You,” “Honestly,” and “Always There for You,” and has maintained a global fanbase ever since. Stryper is the first band to ever have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously with their hits “Free” and “Honestly.”

Stryper is comprised of original members Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Robert Sweet (drums), and Oz Fox (guitar), plus the addition of seasoned bassist Perry Richardson.

“Even the Devil Believes” was produced by Michael Sweet.

For more information, visit www.stryper.com.

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EP 226: Michael Sweet Interview (Stryper)

Michael Sweet Interview 2020: Michael Sweet of Stryper returns to the show to talk about their latest release Even The Devil Believes, Cardi B, staying busy when you can’t tour, the recent remarks from the CEO of Spotify and more. Always fun when Michael joins the show. Iconic rock band Stryper returns with their 13th…

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287: Whatever, Nevermind No. 15: L7 – Bricks Are Heavy w/Josh Toomey

Coming in at number 15 on Rolling Stones Greatest Grunge Albums list is the L7 1992 major label debut, Bricks Are Heavy. Co-hosted this week, from the Talk Toomey Podcast, host Josh Toomey.

Bricks Are Heavy is the third studio album by American rock band L7, released on April 14, 1992 by Slash Records. The album peaked at number 160 on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Heatseekers Albums chart.

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286: EP 225: RVs, Toilet Paper & Chris Holmes

In this episode of Cobras & Fire, LC rents an RV, Bakko pitches a movie. Chris Holmes gets his own documentary. They talk some vinyl and pay tribute to Frankie Banali. The music:

W.A.S.P. – Mean Man
The HU – Wolf Totem
Sevendust – The Day I Tried to Live
Quiet Riot – Party All Night
Anthrax – Belly of the Beast
Quiet Riot – Metal Health

Buy music!

Vinyl Album Talk
– BobaFlex – Eloquent Demons – https://amzn.to/3lGhIre
– Local H – Pack up The Cats – https://amzn.to/3jsXX4C
– Red City Radio – Sky Tigers – https://amzn.to/2YQEdjp
– Anthrax – We’ve Come for you All / Persistence of Time – https://amzn.to/3lEoWfy

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EP 255: RVs, Toilet Paper & Chris Holmes

In this episode of Cobras & Fire, LC rents an RV, Bakko pitches a movie. Chris Holmes gets his own documentary called Mean Man. They talk some vinyl and pay tribute to Frankie Banali. RIP. The music: W.A.S.P. – Mean ManThe HU – Wolf TotemSevendust – The Day I Tried to LiveQuiet Riot – Party…

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