The 80's Hard Rock & Metal Bands We've Seen Live The Most! (VIDEO)

 

In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika are talking live shows. Which 80's metal and hard rock bands have we seen the most times in concert? Club shows, theater shows, arena shows, stadium shows, festivals -- they all count!

We both have a lengthy history of seeing concerts, beginning in the early 1980s. But who have we seen the most times over the years? Specifically, which hard rock and metal bands have we seen the most amount of times?

Who have you seen the most? Leave it in the comments!

Also in this episode, we have Dave's (Not So) Deep Dive. This time around, he will be discussing the album "Turn-Ons" by the band, The Hotrats. Erika's Atmosphere Check will take us back to 1980s pre-concert prep -- locking down the right clothes & the right look. What about transportation? Who's driving? Are we even old enough to drive?

Rock of Aging Episode 9: Ranking the KISS Ballads: The Good, The Bad, & The Sappy (VIDEO)

Today's video is the ninth episode of Rock of Aging: the series where my co-host Erika and I explore the depths of our "hair metal" past, and try 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 conversion and community.

This month, we're talking my all-time favorite band, KISS. We haven't done any KISS themed videos yet on this show, so we really took it to another level for this one! Knowing Erika's fondness for the 80s metal power ballad, we decided to look into KISS's contribution to the genre. Kiss has released ballads in the 70s, the 80s, and the 90s. But which ones are the best?! Which ones just suck?

We attempt to answer this seemingly unanswerable question and we rank the Ten Best Ballads from KISS!

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.

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. 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.

"Back in the Day" Concert Tales: KISS + White Lion Nov. 27, 1987 // Meeting Gene Simmons! (VIDEO)

In my newest installment of "Concert Tales," I take you back to a November 1987 show from KISS and White Lion. 

In 1987, I was 16 years old, and I could finally drive myself to concerts (no more begging for rides from Mom). I had learned, by then, that many of the bands that perform at the Omaha Civic Auditorium stay at the nearby Red Lion Inn hotel. November 27, 1987 was a Friday, and it was the day after Thanksgiving that year. Omaha was in the midst of a two day snowstorm, but I decided to drive down to the Red Lion on the off chance I might meet someone from KISS.

I had already met the band on the previous tour, but I was at the height of my fandom at this time, and I needed more! I spotted Gene Simmons dining alone in the hotel's restaurant, and I approached him. He invited me to sit with him, and I proceeded to do a spontaneous interview with the rock legend. 

Later that night, my friend and I hit the Civic Auditorium Arena to KISS and opening act, White Lion. For a variety of reasons, we were among the few, the proud, who went to this particular KISS concert. In the newspaper the next day, the attendance was reported as 2,592. The place was pretty empty. Regardless, KISS put on their usual, high energy show, and I loved it.

I hope you enjoy this trip down hair metal memory lane...

REVIEW: Faster Pussycat LIVE at Waiting Room Lounge 2024 (VIDEO)

Welcome back, friends, and thanks for watching my latest video. This week, I caught the band Faster Pussycat at the Waiting Room Lounge in Omaha. When I was a teenager, I loved this band; but to be honest, I had lost track of them by about 1990.

I still have fond memories of Faster Pussycat, so I threw on their debut record from '87 to see what I thought today. I dug it. Very early Aerosmith vibe -- and lead singer Taime Downe's voice is a little bit Steven Tyler and a little bit Darby Crash. That sealed the deal, I was going to go to the show.

A lot of time has passed since May 1990 when I saw ‪Faster Pussycat open for KISS. The current version of the band features only lead singer Taime Downe from that period. I had no real expectations going in.

Faster Pussycat 2024 is a harder, grittier rock band than they were back in the day. They played an impressive set that featured all the classics from the first two records, as well as some newer material and a surprising cover song. It was a great night.

There were four openers for the show (way too many, imho), but I only caught two.