Rock of Aging: Dave's 80s Metal Starter Pack Pick -- SCORPIONS

Today's video is taken from "Rock of Aging Ep. 7: Your Hair Metal Starter Pack // 5 Essential 80s Metal Albums (Spandex Optional)" 

Here, I am talking about how I first discovered Scorpions and why I believe "Love at First Sting" is essential to anyone starting an 80s metal collection.

Rock of Aging Ep. 7: Your Hair Metal Starter Pack // 5 Essential 80s Metal Albums (Spandex Optional) (VIDEO)

Today's video is the seventh episode of "Rock of Aging." In this series, my co-host Erika and I are exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades. Rock of Aging is your go-to spot for 80s metal and conversation! 

This month, we are offering up our picks for "Five Essential Hair Metal Albums to Start Your Collection." We each pick five (and two runners up) and offer up our reasons for why they must be included! These picks are a place to start, that's all.

Rock of Aging Ep. 6: L.A. Guns LIVE Photos & Video 🤘🏻NEW Album Review 'Leopard Skin' (VIDEO)

Today's video is the sixth episode of "Rock of Aging." In this series, my co-host Erika and I will be exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades. It's your new, go-to spot for 80s metal news and conversation!

This month, Erika and I devote the entire episode to the legendary sleaze rockers, L.A. Guns. The band is a favorite for both of us, and we actually met each other at an L.A. Guns show a few years ago! In this episode, we talk about the entire history of the band, the newest record, and seeing the band live in 2025!

After telling our L.A. Guns "origin stories"  - we both somehow wound up on the band's tour bus in the early 90s - we review the band's newest album, Leopard Skin. Then we jump over to Barnato (a club in West Omaha) to review the concert. We have lots of great videos and photos from the "intimate" show.

If you're fan of L.A. Guns, you have chosen the right video to click on! Stay until the end for a special announcement regarding L.A. Guns' return to Omaha

Rock of Aging Ep 5: 80s Metal in 2025: Seeing Warrant, BulletBoys, Trixter, Pretty Boy Floyd LIVE 🤘🏻(VIDEO)

Today's video is the fifth episode of "Rock of Aging." In this series, my co-host Erika and I will be exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades. It's your new, go-to spot for 80s metal news and conversation!

This month, Erika and I hit road to see some classic 80s metal bands. First up, we hit the "Spirit of 1989" tour which featured Trixter, Enuff Z'nuff, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Christian Shields. Less than a week later, we caught the "Let The Good Times Rock" tour featuring Warrant and Bulletboys. A good time was had by all. 

In this video we attempt to discover:

Can BulletBoys lead singer, Marq Torien, still fit into the same pants he wore in 1988?

Which lead guitarist hit on Erika at the Spirit of 1989 tour?

What were you doing the first time you heard "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Warrant? 

Are those Tommy John elbow socks being worn by Steve Summers of Pretty Boy Floyd?

Who the heck is in Enuff Z'nuff these days?

Where the heck was Warrant's Jerry Dixon?

We learn all this and much more!

 

WARRANT, BULLETBOYS, STRETCH Live at The Astro, Omaha, NE 4/12/25 (PHOTOS)

Warrant at The Astro 4/12/25

Hit The Astro once again for the recent Warrant/Bulletboys concert. I had some history with both of these bands back in the 80s, but I hadn't seen or heard much from either band since that time. I was curious who was still in each of the bands. Obviously, the late frontman for Warrant, Jani Lane, would not be there. But who actually would be?

Stretch opened the show

The first band, Stretch, features the owner of Grinder's in Kansas City, and he has appeared on the Food Network many times. (Hat tip to my Rock of Aging co-host Erika for actually knowing that!).

Marq Torien and Bulletboys played next

Bulletboys was up next. Though my fandom of this band was more shortlived than with Warrant, I thought Bulletboys put on a better show on this night. I didn't realize Marq played guitar (I had only seen him as the singer in the old videos), and that he was actually quite good. Before the band started, he was noodling some Van Halen and it sounded great.

During the set, BB also played "Everybody Wants Some!" by Van Halen. I remember a time in the late 80s when the knock on Bulletboys was that they ripped off Van Halen...

Just as I was warming up to the band, and feeling pretty positive about them, Torrien ruined it by saying, "Fuck Joe Biden." Dude, bad move. Keep your politics to yourself. No one cares what you think. And note, Nebraska may be a "red" state, but Omaha went solidly for Harris in '24 and Biden in '20. Read the room.

Warrant was the headliner, and they opened with one of their best known songs, "Down Boys." The band played a decent set, though it lacked some of the enthusiasm of Bulletboys.

Lead singer of Warrant, Robert Mason

Warrant still features Joey Allen and Erik Turner on guitar, and Steven Sweet on drums. For some reason, bassist Jerry Dixon was not there. He was featured in the show advertisements, but Robbie Crane was playing bass on this evening.

The show closed with Bulletboys joining Warrant on stage for "Cherry Pie." The crowd loved it, and it finally got them on their feet after a night of mostly sitting.

Rock of Aging Ep. 4: BON JOVI Before the Breakthrough: '7800° Fahrenheit' at 40 (VIDEO)

Today's video is the fourth episode of the "Rock of Aging" series. In this series, my co-host Erika and I will be exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades. It's your new, go-to spot for 80s metal news and conversation!

This month, we do a "deep dive" into Bon Jovi's second album, 7800° Fahrenheit. The album came out 40 years ago this month, and is a divisive record in the band's celebrated catalog. Jon Bon Jovi himself doesn't care for it, but the album remains a fan favorite. 

Erika and I offer up our "origin story" as to how we initially heard the record and became fans. Then, we go track by track through the album and give our thoughts on each one! How does the album hold up after 40 years? Why is this album generally ignored by the band during its live shows? Is it bad? Is it underrated? Overrated? What do you think?

Rock of Aging Ep. 3: Unsung 80s "Hair Metal" Greats (VIDEO)

This month's video is the third episode of the "Rock of Aging" series. In this series, my co-host Erika and I will be exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades. It's your new, go-to spot for 80s metal news and conversation!

In this month's episode, we begin with a little bit of news on the solo band tour from Gene Simmons of KISS. Is this something you are planning to attend? Why? Why not?

After the news, we immediately jump - head first - into our selections for best, underappreciated or unknown 80s metal bands. These are hardly the only ones we could have chosen. I'm guessing we'll be revisiting this subject again...

In this episode, we talk about Electric Boys, Lillian Axe, Kix, Bonham, Rock City Angels, and Black 'N Blue.

Do you have any recommendations for "lost" or "unsung" 80s metal bands you'd like us to check out? Leave them in the comments!

Rock of Aging Episode 2: Our "Alternate Big 4" of Hair Metal / 80s Metal (VIDEO)

Today's video is the second episode of the "Rock of Aging" series. In this series, my co-host Erika and I will be exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades.

In this month's episode, Erika and I offer up our selections for an "alternate" Big 4 of 80s metal. Most people associate the "Big 4" to mean the biggest, most successful thrash metal bands of the 1980s: Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer. But that leaves a lot of amazing bands from the 80s out in the cold.

Naturally, Googe A.I. had something to say on the subject, and offered up the following as the "Big 4 of Hair Metal": Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Posion, and Ratt. But Google didn't exist in the 80s, and Erika and I did, so our opinions are clearly more relevant. So, we have made our own alternate "Big 4" of the 80s.

Before we get to our choices, we both present some news items from our 80s metal favorites.

Rock of Aging Episode 1: Heavy Metal Time Machine (VIDEO)

Today's episode is the first in a new series here at The Dark Stuff called  "Rock of Aging." In this new series, my co-host Erika and I will be exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades.

Our plan is to post a new episode of the show on the 10th of every month! To learn more about Erika, check out her podcast, A92A: https://www.a92a.life/

Because it's the first episode of the series, we begin with a series of five questions for Erika so the audience can learn a little bit about her and her musical taste.

Next up, we engage in a heavy metal thought exercise. In it, we imagine where we would go and what we would see if given a time machine and the ability to see any past concert or tour. Where would you choose? The Beatles at Shea Stadium, Bob Dylan at Cafe Wha, Van Halen at The Whiskey? The choices are endless.