Crimson Glory was gone longer than most modern metal fans have been alive, leaving behind a legacy that felt untouchable—until now. Ben Jackson breaks the silence on the 26-year hiatus, the "itch" that brought the original members back together, and the impossible task of stepping out of Midnight's shadow. This isn't just a comeback; it’s a total re-evaluation of what a legendary band owes its fans and itself. If you think you know how this industry works, this conversation will prove you wrong.

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- The 26-Year Silence: What Finally Flipped the Switch?
- Replacing Midnight: The "Thankless Job" of Travis LaBrie
- Chasing The Hydra: The Dark Meaning Behind the New Record
- The Wacken Reality: Preparing for 100,000 Fans After Decades Away
- Industry Secrets: Why Staying Dead is Better for Business (But Worse for Art)

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Saturday Night Live: THE CLASSIC METAL SHOW is Live Saturdays 9pm-3am EST on Rumble/Locals.

Chris Akin and Neeley are back on The Classic Metal Show, tearing into butt-hurt request warriors, roasting Bullet Boys’ alien probe lyrics, and destroying Pretty Boy Floyd’s entire Kiss covers album — because some things just deserve the kiss of death.

From opening with Black Sabbath’s “Lady Evil” and a heavy block of Testament, Judas Priest (with Ripper Owens), Nevermore, and Annihilator, the guys immediately address the endless chat room drama over song requests. They explain the simple truth: only about 18-19 songs fit per show, blocks are grouped by vibe (heavy first, hair next), and no — they’re not personally targeting anyone. If your song doesn’t make it, it’s time or fit, not a conspiracy. They make it crystal clear they’re not adding extra talk time just to squeeze in more requests, especially when the show already runs until 3 AM.

The rant hits peak unhinged when they call out a former listener who rage-quit because his song wasn’t played. “Bye.” They even joke about revoking his five bucks and playing “Walks Like a Woman” on repeat. The honesty is raw: there’s real work behind the live show — queuing, bathroom breaks, water runs, and keeping the flow going while Chris uploads everything for on-demand viewing.

Then it’s full classic metal talk. Chris dives deep into Bandcamp discoveries, starting with Bullet Boys’ Acid Monkey. After one full listen, he drags out the bizarre track “Alien” — complete with graphic anal probe lyrics on the 4th of July. The guys lose it: “Why would you put this in a song?” They agree it’s the opposite of what Bullet Boys fans actually want (Smooth Up In Ya, THC Groove, etc.) and confirm Sophie remains the only real post-classic return to form.

Next victim: Pretty Boy Floyd’s brand-new (to Bandcamp) full Kiss covers album, Kiss of Death. They sample “King of the Nighttime World,” “I Stole Your Love,” “I Love It Loud,” “Deuce,” and “Strutter” — and the verdict is brutal. Whiny vocals, noisy production, zero reason for existence. Chris declares it sounds like a 33 played at 45 and questions if a single human on Earth actually wanted 12 Kiss songs done this way. Bonus: they note Pretty Boy Floyd’s alleged popularity surge from Peacemaker apparently never reached the CMS request line in nine years.

Additional hot takes include the Scott Coogan vs. Ryan Cook debate over Ace Frehley tribute shows (too soon or just making a living?), Carmine Appice’s unwanted Blue Murder tribute idea (no one is asking, Carmine), and the zero-demand conversation around a new full-length Mötley Crüe album with John 5. They point out John 5’s own wording basically admits he’s a hired gun, and after the Dogs of War disaster, nobody outside the die-hards wants new Crüe music anyway.

The episode closes the segment with the requested Kiss “Black Diamond” for Floyd Gundoli, keeping the live energy rolling exactly as fans expect from The Classic Metal Show.

Raw, honest, and zero fucks given — exactly why you tune in.

Watch the full episode now, smash that like button, and drop your own request in the Fast Pass (but don’t cry if it doesn’t fit the block). Subscribe on YouTube, join us on Locals/Substack for early access and extras, and keep the conversation going in the Rumble chat.

#ClassicMetalShow #CMSNetwork #BulletBoys #PrettyBoyFloyd #KissCovers #AceFrehley #MotleyCrue #CarmineAppice #BandcampMetal #RonnieJamesDio #JudasPriest #Testament #Annihilator #Nevermore

Timestamps

00:00:00 - Intro: Black Sabbath “Lady Evil” (Dio)

00:00:41 - Testament “Perilous Nation”

00:00:50 - Judas Priest “Cathedral Spires” (Ripper Owens)

00:00:58 - Nevermore “42-147”

00:01:03 - Annihilator “The Trend”

00:01:12 - Rant: Butt-Hurt Request Warriors & Chat Drama

00:03:49 - Former Listener Rage-Quits Over Requests

00:04:54 - “Everybody’s Mom Has Taken a Load” – Classic CMS Banter

00:09:01 - Classic Metal Talk Begins

00:09:29 - Bullet Boys on Bandcamp – Sophie Love vs. Acid Monkey Disaster

00:12:42 - Bullet Boys “Alien” – Anal Probe Lyrics Reaction

00:16:13 - Why Bullet Boys Keep Abandoning Their Sound

00:19:34 - Pretty Boy Floyd’s Kiss of Death Covers Album

00:24:43 - Pretty Boy Floyd “King of the Nighttime World”

00:26:37 - “I Stole Your Love”

00:29:02 - “I Love It Loud”

00:30:29 - “Deuce”

00:32:20 - “Strutter”

00:33:58 - Kiss of Death Verdict: Pure Garbage

00:34:19 - Scott Coogan vs. Ryan Cook – Ace Frehley Tribute Debate

00:43:30 - Carmine Appice’s Blue Murder Tribute – Nobody Wants This

00:50:14 - Mötley Crüe New Album Talk – Zero Demand After Dogs of War

00:55:16 - Kiss “Black Diamond” Request for Floyd Gundoli

00:56:43 - Outro / Next Break Tease

Let’s not sugarcoat it: when Jason Newsted announces a return to the stage, most fans expect thunder, aggression, and at least a shadow of his Metallica legacy. That’s not what they’re getting—and that disconnect is already causing friction.

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Instead, Newsted is hitting the road with The Chophouse Band, a project rooted in acoustic, rootsy, Americana-style vibes. And here’s the reality: this isn’t a side project anymore. This is the version of Newsted he wants the world to see right now.

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This Isn’t a Metal Comeback—It’s a Reinvention

Newsted’s upcoming North American headlining tour marks the first time this band has taken center stage at this level. No thrash nostalgia. No “Blackened” riffs. No attempt to recreate the past.

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And that’s exactly why this announcement hits a nerve.

Fans who grew up watching Newsted command massive stages during Metallica’s peak are now being asked to follow him into stripped-down, intimate performances that lean more toward storytelling than headbanging.

That’s not evolution—it’s a hard pivot.

Fans Are Split—And There’s No Middle Ground

You can already see the divide forming:

• One side respects the artistic freedom. They see a veteran musician refusing to become a nostalgia act.
• The other side? They feel like this is a bait-and-switch. A legend stepping away from what made him essential.

Here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud:
Metal fans are loyal—but they’re also incredibly rigid about identity.

And Newsted just challenged that identity head-on.

Why This Move Matters More Than It Looks

This isn’t just about one tour. It’s about legacy.

Newsted has spent decades tied to one of the most dominant metal brands in history. Walking away from that sonic identity—voluntarily—is either incredibly brave or wildly disconnected from what fans actually want.

There’s no safe interpretation.

And let’s be honest: if this tour succeeds, it proves that a metal icon can rewrite his narrative without leaning on the past. If it struggles, it reinforces the idea that fans only want the version of you they already know.

Mid-Article Reality Check

If you’re still reading, you’re already asking yourself the real question:

Do you want artists to evolve—or do you only want them to relive your favorite era?

Because you don’t get both.

What Happens Next?

This tour is going to answer a brutal question for Newsted:

• Can he draw a crowd without the Metallica association driving it?
• Or will this experiment prove that even legends can’t escape their past?

There’s no easing into this. No gradual transition. This is a full-on identity shift—and the audience will decide if it works.

Final Word

Jason Newsted isn’t trying to be the guy from Metallica anymore.

And that’s exactly why this tour is either going to redefine him—or completely alienate the fanbase that made him a household name in metal.

There’s no comfortable outcome here.