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TOWNSEND: Heavy Metal is for Hypersensitive Kids

Devin explains why the heaviest music comes from the most sensitive people, not "sociopaths".

The version you’re seeing here is the "sanitized" edit. To hear the full, unfiltered, and legally dangerous deep dive—including the stuff that gets us banned elsewhere—join the Inner Circle at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com. Become a VIP and get the substance the mainstream won't touch.

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00:02:41
75-Year-Old Grandma Picks The Wrong Shift Leader At Tim Hortons (VIP)

Neeley and Chris dive into the bizarre legal fallout of a Tennessee school board member facing criminal assault charges after a context-dependent comment to a student. Was it a predatory move, or did an algorithmic outrage mob just destroy a 20-year career over a colloquial phrase? Immediately following that, the hosts react to the shocking viral footage of an elderly woman engaging in a physical brawl with a Tim Hortons shift leader. We break down the footage, look at who threw the first punch, and ask the uncomfortable question: Has public decorum officially collapsed?

00:58:56
Why Nazareth’s Pete Agnew Thinks the Internet is KILLING Rock and Roll

You’re listening to last week’s news—our VIPs already finished this episode commercial-free seven days ago. Stop waiting in line and get instant access to every show, advance interviews, and exclusive bonus content for just $4.99 at https://classicmetalshow.locals.com.

Nazareth founding member Pete Agnew doesn't pull punches when discussing the state of the music industry and the upcoming "Titans of Classic Rock" tour with Foghat. While the world remembers them for the legendary ballad "Love Hurts," Agnew reveals the raw, hard-rocking reality of a band that has survived five decades of industry shifts. From the "gift from the gods" in new vocalist Gianni Pontillo to the polarizing effect of the internet on global setlists, this is an uncensored look at rock royalty still claiming their throne. Discover why the "original rockers" are the only ones left who truly understand the spirit of the 70s.

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ON THIS EPISODE:

02:15 - The Titans...

00:26:16
DEAD ARTIST LAWSUITS & AIRPLANE SEAT SQUATTERS! (Audio)

Why is everyone still suing Michael Jackson's estate? Neeley and Chris are giving their honest take on the skepticism surrounding the latest legal battle and reviewing the trailer for the upcoming MICHAEL biopic. We're also talking about the tragedy of the woman who fell off the cruise ship and the infuriating new trend of "seat squatting" on planes. Finally, CMS Producer Weezie honors our lost friend, Bob Nalbandian. Share and follow for the metal-fueled truth! Get commercial-free episodes by joining Rumble Premium at https://rumble.com/premium. Hail and Kill! Join the rebellion!

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DEAD ARTIST LAWSUITS & AIRPLANE SEAT SQUATTERS! (Audio)
Agnostic Front BASSIST on DMC & Their Bold New Sound! (Audio)

Seriously, how do you keep your music fresh when you're a band with a decades-long history? It's tough! Chris chats with Agnostic Front bassist Mike Gallo about their latest, ECHOES OF ETERNITY. They talk about the killer sound improvements, what it was like working with a legend like DMC for the first time, and the guts it takes to try new things as a legacy act. Don't just listen—hit that share button, follow us, and subscribe to Rumble Premium for more! Hail and Kill! Join the rebellion!

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Agnostic Front BASSIST on DMC & Their Bold New Sound! (Audio)
LEMMY SMASHES MIXING BOARD! KING DIAMOND'S $26K HANDOUT! (Audio)

What’s crazier: Lemmy destroying a multi-million dollar mixing board with a cheeseburger, or King Diamond getting $26,000 a year from his government just for being an artist? Neeley and Chris tackle these wild metal stories! We also review George Lynch's new single, which he released after admitting he totally lied about retiring. Hint: the guys are NOT impressed. Plus, check out the insane guitar talent from a young private school student. Like, follow, and share this video! Get commercial-free episodes and more by joining Rumble Premium at https://rumble.com/premium. Hail and Kill! Join the rebellion!

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LEMMY SMASHES MIXING BOARD! KING DIAMOND'S $26K HANDOUT! (Audio)
Your Bandcamp Metal Of The Day...

Apparently, this guy is The Sopranos' answer to Vinnie Vincent.

Heaven and Hell live 2009.

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L.A. GUNS Bring The “Electric Gypsy” Back From The Guild Theatre With New ‘Live From The Guild Theatre’ Album Out July 3

June 3, 2026 -- July 3 sees the release of one of the most anticipated live albums of the metal year, a full all-format release for Live From The Guild Theatre, recorded almost exactly one year earlier at the onstage launch of L.A. Guns’ most acclaimed album in years, the mighty Leopard Skin.

 

 

Rockpit.net described Leopard Skin as “a hook-filled, melody-drenched delight—perfectly mixed and balanced from start to finish. If you’re a diehard rocker who still worships the ’80s glory days, this one’s for you. But don’t get it twisted: this isn’t some nostalgic retread. L.A. Guns aren’t stuck in the past—they’ve evolved naturally, delivering a record that feels fresh while staying true to their roots.”
 
MetalPlanetMusic.com said the Guns are “still churning out bangers,” and Maximumvolumemusic.com applauded them for still having “a way of sounding filthy.”  In fact, that review continued, “The best thing about L.A. Guns is how unapologetic they are, and ‘Hit and Run’ nails it. ‘We’re just having fun,’ sneers [vocalist Phil Lewis], as only he can.”
 
It nails it here, too, sliding in between “Hellraisers Ball” and “Like A Drug,” but Live From The Guild Theatre is explosive from start to finish, the Gunners firing off killer versions of fan favorites tracing as far back as the band’s debut album - “Sex Action,” for example, probably hasn’t featured in the repertoire since the eighties, but it’s alive and kickin’ here.
 
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Sophomore set Cocked and Loaded, meanwhile, spits out some of the most powerful shotgun blasts in the band’s entire arsenal - “I Wanna Be Your Man,” “The Ballad of Jayne,” “Rip and Tear,” and the set-ender, “Never Enough.”  And Leopard Skin gets both a triumphant airing and a delirious response.
In fact, longtime vocalist Phil Lewis and the man who put the Guns in L.A. Guns, Tracii Guns, have never sounded better - quite an achievement for a band that’s been tearing up the stages of the world since 1983!  Ace Von Johnson (guitar), Johnny Martin (bass) and Shawn Duncan (drums) complete the line-up.
 
The first single from the album, “Electric Gypsy” which is now available to stream and download HERE, is another from the self-titled debut, and it sounds as fresh now as it did way back then…drop it into your streaming playlist and it won’t simply wake up the neighbors, it’ll have them hammering on your door, demanding to know what you’re listening to.
 
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Yes, you’ll tell them it’s L.A. Guns - who else could it be?  But you can also tell them that it’s not only coming out on CD and vinyl, but there’s a DVD and a cassette. 
 
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Here’s the track listing for LIVE FROM THE GUILD THEATRE:
 
1. Intro - Taste It
2. Cannonball
3. Electric Gypsy
4. Sex Action
5. Hellraisers Ball
6. Hit and Run
7. Like a Drug
8. Speed
9. One More Reason
10. Theremin Jam
11. Over the Edge
12. Guitar Solo
13. I Wanna Be Your Man
14. Lucky Motherfucker
15. Never Enough
16. The Ballad of Jayne
17. Rip and Tear
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DEVILDRIVER Unleash New Single "Dead In The Water" From Upcoming Album "Strike To Kill

"Let the fire rise, you were born for this, stay the course" —Dez Fafara

The fans and critics have made their voices heard, DEVILDRIVER have leveled it up! In anticipation their rabid new album, Strike and Kill, out July 10 via Napalm Records, the groove metal legends first released the boisterous lead single "Dig Your Own Grave," cracking over 400k cross platform streams, becoming a mainstay on SXM's Liquid Metal, and stampeding up the Metal Contraband charts just a month after release.

 

 

If you know what's good for you, you'll pay close attention to the words on their next bloodthirsty ripper, "Dead In The Water" out today. This single is built upon cataclysmic blast beats and ornately blackened guitarmonies, delivering the good with vibrance and violence. Iconic frontman Dez Fafara's delivery remains venomous, galvanizing listeners with affirmations of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity.

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Dez on "Dead In The Water":
"This is one of the most positive songs I've ever written lyrically, coming from a very dark time straight into blinding light. I needed to empower others to do the same as I did, and tell them to 'stay the course,' life turns around if given the chance to flourish.

"The vibe musically on this is very old school DEVILDRIVER and the entire band is cracking hard here, if you're a long time listener you're gonna love this one! Enjoy!"

WANT TO CHECK MORE OF THIS ALBUM OUT? VISIT IT ON BANDCAMP! https://devildriver.bandcamp.com/album/strike-and-kill

Following DEVILDRIVER's career defining double album Dealing With Demons Vols. 1 & 2 —with Vol. 1 sitting at #1 at metal radio for a triumphant 15 weeks, and Vol. 2 celebrated by internationally revered media like Metal Injection, Kerrang!, and Blabbermouth, who lauded "you can't stop the unstoppable"— the band sets out on a rabid hunt with Strike and Kill, holding the blade to your throat, and serving up that trademark DEVILDRIVER blend of melodeath elegance, blackened atmosphere, tectonic grooves, and Fafara's iconic visceral delivery.
 
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Wasting no time, the album bursts open with the incendiary "Dig Your Own Grave," a flurry of assault rifle kicks and crunchy riffs encircle the listener casting them into the waiting abyss before transitioning into "Dead in the Water," showcasing the vibrant melodeath tapestries of master guitar duo Alex Lee and Gabe Mangold. "Sanctified In Scars" implements industrial pulsating beats and ethereal sonic textures, sanctifying Fafara's venomous voice with blackened tremolo excellence. The album’s title track "Strike and Kill" is a reconciliation of hardships and lessons learned, built upon the backs of blisteringly technical riffage and dizzyingly swift drumming by Davier Perez. Tracks like "In the Moonlight" and "Never Coming Home" wrap listeners in serenely blissful guitarmonies, elevating the brutality with elegance and emotion. "Ride or Die" unleashes pure metal inertia, pulling listeners in with unrelenting force. Exemplifying their technical edge with tracks like “Headed for the Fall” and "You’re just a Ghost," the band embraces mind-bendingly off-kilter patterns that spin listeners' heads. "Summoning Shadows" offers the albums longest respite from carnage, with textured acoustic guitars building tension before the band comes crashing back in with triumphant power. "Shut the Silence On" and "Oath of Iron" get super thrashy with their ballsy riffage and blast beats, before "All Bets are Off" brings things to a cataclysmic conclusion. 

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Strike and Kill Will Be Available in The Following Configurations:
1-CD Digipak
1-LP Gatefold Vinyl SOLID BLUE
1-LP Gatefold Vinyl TRANSLUCENT VERDE – Napalm Records Mailorder Exclusive
1-LP Gatefold Vinyl SPLATTERED (incl. LP-Sized Booklet 24 pages, Certificate, Covercard) – Napalm Records Mailorder Exclusive
1-LP Gatefold Vinyl WHITE LABEL (incl. LP-Sized Booklet 24 pages, Certificate) – Napalm Records Mailorder Exclusive
1-LP Gatefold Vinyl SOLID ORANGE – Indie Merch Exclusive
Digital Album

STRIKE AND KILL TRACK LISTING:
"Dig Your Own Grave"
"Dead in the Water"
"Sanctified In Scars"
"Strike and Kill"
"In the Moonlight"
"Ride or Die"
"Headed for the Fall"
"Shut the Silence On"
"Never Coming Home"
"Summoning Shadows"
"You're just a Ghost"
"Oath of Iron"
"All Bets are Off"

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DEVILDRIVER ON TOUR:
8/14 — San Diego, CA — Observatory North Park
8/15 — Las Vegas, NV — Brooklyn Bowl
8/16 — Phoenix, AZ — Marquee
8/18 — San Antonio, TX — Aztec Theater
8/19 — Austin, TX — Come and Take It Live
8/20 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
8/22 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues
8/23 — Oklahoma City, OK — Diamond Ballroom
8/25 — Chicago, IL — Bottom Lounge
8/26 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave
8/29 — Colorado Springs, CO — Sunshine Studios
8/30 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Depot
9/1 — Boise, ID — Treefort Music Hall
9/2 — Reno, NV — Club Underground
9/3 — Sacramento, CA — Goldfield
9/4 — San Jose, CA — The Ritz
9/5 — Anaheim, CA — House of Blues

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The Truth Behind Tommy Lee’s Exit From Mötley Crüe Finally Comes Out
Tommy Lee Admits He Was “Creatively Dying” In Mötley Crüe — Was The Band Holding Him Back?

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For decades, Mötley Crüe fans have looked at Tommy Lee's late-'90s departure as just another chapter in the band's endless cycle of chaos. But hearing Lee explain it now makes one thing crystal clear: this wasn't about money, ego, or band drama. According to Tommy, he felt trapped, and he believed staying in Mötley Crüe was slowly killing his creativity.

 

 

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In a new interview, Lee revealed that he quit Mötley Crüe because he was "creatively dying slowly" and felt unable to explore the musical ideas that were building up inside him. He said he needed an outlet beyond the established Crüe formula, which eventually led him to launch Methods Of Mayhem and pursue solo projects.

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Here's the reality:

This is probably one of the most honest things Tommy Lee has said in years.

Fans often treat legendary bands as sacred institutions that must remain unchanged forever. The problem is that musicians aren't museums. They evolve. They get bored. They want to experiment. And when a band becomes a machine built around expectations, creativity can start feeling like a prison sentence.

That's exactly what Lee appears to be describing.

According to Tommy, he realized something needed to change during one of the darkest periods of his life. He connected his unhappiness directly to a lack of creative fulfillment and recognized that continuing on the same path wasn't sustainable.

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What's fascinating is that Lee isn't claiming Mötley Crüe was the problem.

In fact, he still acknowledges that the magic of the band comes from the chemistry of those four specific members and that the formula can't simply be recreated with different people.

That's where this story gets interesting.

Because it highlights a contradiction that exists inside nearly every legendary band.

The very thing that makes a band successful can eventually become the thing that limits it.

Fans want the classics.

Artists want growth.

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Eventually those two forces collide.

And when they do, somebody usually walks.

For Tommy Lee, that collision happened more than 25 years ago.

Ironically, his departure may have helped preserve Mötley Crüe in the long run. Sometimes stepping away is exactly what prevents permanent burnout. The band eventually reunited, Lee returned, and the Crüe continued its rollercoaster journey through reunions, farewell tours, controversies, and ongoing fan debates.

What Happens Next?

The bigger question isn't why Tommy left.

The bigger question is whether legendary bands should prioritize preserving their signature sound or allow members to evolve beyond the formula that made them famous.

Because if Tommy Lee felt creatively suffocated at the height of Mötley Crüe's power, you can bet countless other musicians have felt the exact same thing.

And judging by fan reactions already emerging online, this debate isn't going away anytime soon.

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Sound Off In The Comments

Did Tommy Lee make the right decision by leaving Mötley Crüe to pursue other creative outlets?


POLL

Was Tommy Lee justified in leaving Mötley Crüe because he felt creatively trapped?

🔘 Absolutely — artists should never stay confined to one formula

🔘 No way — Mötley Crüe is bigger than any individual's creative urges

🔘 Both sides were right — leaving actually saved the band long-term


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