No Sleep Til Sudbury With Brent Jensen

The Dock 104.1FM on-air personality Josh Duncan joins me in Episode 30 to talk Motorhead, Sabbath, Nirvana, and a little Simon & Garfunkel. Josh and I have a great chat, including the strange emotional dichotomy of The Hip's final show, the last record I was actually excited about buying upon its release, the irony of alternative becoming mainstream, and Ozzy's unfortunate 80s Bea Arthur phase. And by the way, Josh's dog is named Ronnie James Dio. True fact.     Duncan's playlist: Motorhead - Ace of Spades Simon & Garfunkel - Sounds of Silence The Tragically Hip - Grace, Too Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit Black Sabbath - War Pigs Bob Marley - Three Little Birds Steppenwolf - Snowblind Friend Bad Religion - New Dark Ages   

In Episode 029 of No Sleep Til Sudbury, my pal and massive punk rock fan Colin Lumsden returns to the studio to further discuss the songs that stir him emotionally, all the while continuing to impress me with incredible degrees of knowledge.  During our discussion we consider the contradictions of punk as a mainstream concept, that the lack of musicality in punk is in fact the entire point, and the fact that I may or may not have a soul. Not many people I know get more out of music than Lumsden does. Towards the end of the interview he makes some very powerful confessions with brutal honesty, in turn capturing the very essence of everything I've tried to do with this show.     Lumsden's playlist: Oasis - Don't Look Back in Anger Rancid - Honor Is All We Know Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the UK Social Distortion - I Was Wrong John Lennon - Imagine 

It's my distinct pleasure to host one of the nicest guys in rock and roll in Episode 28 of NSTS, Def Leppard guitarist extraordinaire Phil Collen. Phil and I cover a lot of ground in our chat - Hysteria's 30th anniversary, Sting's sublime bass lines, that he was asked to join Iron Maiden in 1981, his blues band Delta Deep, what he learned about being a guitar player from Mutt Lange, and the fact that my high school art class pencil sketch of he and Steve Clark was given an A+. Wish I had saved that thing.    Collen's playlist: David Bowie - Moonage Daydream Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen Al Green - Tired of Being Alone The Police - Walking on the Moon Sly and the Family Stone - If You Want Me To Stay Jimi Hendrix - Fire Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks        

In Episode 27 of NSTS, Brad Jemmett and Kent Bailey both return to the studio for the fourth and final installment of their Golden Age of Hip Hop segment, and it's Bailey's turn to trash talk Jemmett's playlist. And he doesn't pull punches. House of Pain, 2 Live Crew, and Jeru the Damaja all get talked about, but Bailey saves the best for last when he critiques Jemmett's last pick. Check it out!               

My jackass friends Brad 'Jammer' Jemmett and Kent 'Blaze' Bailey are back for the third installment of their little hip hop exercise, and after we finish winding Blaze up for playing the French horn in high school band, Jammer goes through Blaze's playlist from Episode 10. Quite critically. Lots of trash talk.  Listen along as we talk Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Public Enemy, Slick Rick, Wu Tang Clan, and how Blaze's high school girlfriend looked like MC Lyte.         

Colin Lumsden is a personal friend, a highly intelligent business executive currently working in the field of higher education, and a massive music fan. In the first of this two-part series with Colin, he eloquently shares his deep knowledge of punk rock, the personal reasons why it compelled him so much as a younger man, as well as some incredibly insightful perspectives on the genre and others.     We also discuss the very unique and scientific way in which he derived his playlist, which impressed but did not surprise me. This is a really great chat.    Lumsden's playlist: The Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever Arctic Monkeys - When The Sun Goes Down Dead Kennedys - Where Do Ya Draw The Line The Fratellis - For The Girl Green Day - Coming Clean  

Canadian rock journalist Mitch Lafon joins me in NSTS episode 24 with a classic hair metal playlist that brings me back to my high school days. Join us as Mitch talks about the disappointment that was Montreal rock radio in the 80s, and why he's tight with Slash and Alice Cooper. He even teaches me a dirty little secret I didn't know about German rockers Scorpions!   Lafon's playlist:  Bon Jovi - Wanted Dead or Alive Metallica - Enter Sandman Whitesnake - Still of the Night Scorpions - Big City Nights Poison - Talk Dirty To Me Honeymoon Suite - All Along You Knew Alice Cooper - Ballad of Dwight Fry Bryan Adams - Heat of the Night

Twisted Sister founder and guitarist Jay Jay French joins me in episode 23 to discuss Sister, his slew of new and intriguing projects, and of course, his playlist. Jay Jay and I talk about my first ever concert (Twisted Sister opening for Iron Maiden) and his frigid trek across Canada in December 1984, how his guitars (like his wife's shoes) seem to copulate overnight, how Johnny Cash approached him for his autograph in Toronto, why 1967 was such an important year in music, and what it was like to audition for KISS in 1972 before Ace Frehley joined the band. All this and a chat about his unusual obsession with The Beatles too!   French's playlist: Chuck Berry - School Days The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice It's Alright Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Born in Chicago Albert King - Crosscut Saw Pink Floyd - See Emily Play David Bowie - Five Years             

Seattle editor and author of Welcome Thieves Sean Beaudoin joins me via Skype to talk about one of the most unique and compelling playlists ever submitted to the No Sleep Til Sudbury podcast series. Sean supports his playlist with eloquence, interesting facts, and hilarious stores surrounding his experiences with these songs. Listen along as he tells us what his father thought Husker Du really meant, why being at a Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds show is akin to witnessing the inner workings of a cult, the dangers of being a Blue Oyster Cult fan, why he turned his Firm t-shirt inside out, and how he proved he was a real Captain Beefheart fan.     Beaudoin's playlist: The Doors - The Changeling Soft Machine - Hope for Happiness Syd Barrett - Octopus Miles Davis - On The Corner Stiff Little Fingers - Suspect Device Blue Oyster Cult - Hot Rails To Hell The Minutemen - Ain't Talkin Bout Love Captain Beefheart - Lick My Decals Off, Baby  Husker Du - Pink Turns To Blue Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand     

In the most candid episode of No Sleep Til Sudbury to date, comedian and Sirius XM on-air personality Allison Dore shares some very honest and personal insights from her formative years as reflected through the playlist she created for the show. Musically and emotionally, there's a little bit of everything. Allison takes us through her love/hate relationship with cowboys, her perspectives on Steve Earle, and our weakness for the 'crafty' types. But most importantly, Allison shares an important message surrounding mental health that shouldn't be ignored.        Dore's playlist: Hank Williams Jr. - Family Tradition The Beastie Boys - She's Crafty  Steve Earle - Angry Young Man Steve Miller - The Joker The Emotions - Best of My Love  Blue Rodeo - Try Britney Spears - Stronger Destiny's Child - So Good Lennon Stella and Maisy Stella - Joy Parade 

In NSTS episode 020, I'm joined by New York filmmaker Chris Cassidy to talk about his upcoming documentary Dennis and Lois, which chronicles the fascinating story of a couple who have lived out their rock and roll dreams for more than 30 years. Chris' playlist is centred around the film's soundtrack, featuring an assortment of bands that interacted with Dennis and Lois. As we discuss the songs, Chris shares the details behind the towel containing Joe Strummer's DNA, how Dennis and Lois procured the dirty socks of the Gaye Bykers on Acid, and what it was like to watch bands at CBGB alongside Lou Reed playing pool.   As this is an independent documentary film, a Kickstarter campaign has been launched and contributions can be made here. Dennis and Lois is slated for a late 2017 release.   Cassidy's playlist: The Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop The Mekons - Where Were You? The Happy Mondays - Dennis and Lois Fat White Family - Whitest Boy on the Beach The Bogmen - Oceans Apart   

Killer Dwarfs singer Russ Dwarf and I get his birthday festivities started a day early in Episode 019 of No Sleep Til Sudbury, as Russ takes me through the playlist of songs that make his skin vibrate over a few Sapporos. All the important stuff gets covered - classic Sudbury landmarks like The Coulson and the Brockdan, opening for Iron Maiden at Wembley and Hammersmith, The Dwarfs' very first gig in Oshawa, and what it's like to sing Rush songs alongside Rush's own Alex Lifeson.  Happy birthday, Russ!   Russ' playlist: Alice Cooper - Generation Landslide Rick Derringer - Uncomplicated Rush - Anthem Max Webster - On the Road Motorhead - Killed By Death       

Look who's back! The Pink Chief, Chris Long, makes his triumphant return to the No Sleep Til Sudbury podcast. In this episode, The Chief completely flouts my format and does something completely different - no playlist in favour of his confession of a guilty pleasure. And it wouldn't be Chris Long if there wasn't some controversy. Fun episode. I love this lunatic.        

Canadian kid and fleet-fingered guitarist for hot new heavy blues band Crown Lands Kevin Comeau brings his guitar into the studio for Canada Day, replacing my usual intro music with some tasty slide guitar. He even plays us out with a little bit of Rush in the spirit of the day.  Kev's band Crown Lands just won the 97.7 HTZ-FM 2017 Rock Search and their new album, called Rise Over Run, drops shortly. Kev brought in an incredible playlist of the songs that make his skin vibrate, and he makes me look bad with his eloquent and highly knowledgeable discussion of said songs. The kid is wise beyond his years, folks.   Comeau's playlist: Rush - Xanadu Explosions in the Sky - Your Hand In Mine Bob Dylan - Boots of Spanish Leather Yes - Heart of the Sunrise King Crimson - In The Court of the Crimson King Fleetwood Mac - Silver Springs Paul Simon - Graceland Tycho - Awake     

Canadian TV personality and MuchMusic alum Bill Welychka finally gets his invite to guest on NSTS Episode 16, fresh off of my appearance on his morning show on CKWS TV. During our chat Bill touches on The Hip's take on Jacques Cartier, his Aerosmith backstage listening experience, Liam Gallagher always being on his best behaviour in his presence, and just how expensive Justin Bieber's time can be.     Welychka's playlist: The Tragically Hip - Nautical Disaster Oasis - Live Forever The Cure - A Hundred Years George Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today Aerosmith - Cryin' Blue Rodeo - Hasn't Hit Me Yet Rush - Time Stands Still Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way    

Following in the footsteps of his childhood Scarborough bestie, my old dorm brother Brad 'Jammer' Jemmett drops by with his own hip hop playlist, and trash talks his old mate Kent Bailey (whom you'll remember from Episode 10) and his rap preferences.    I personally learned a lot in this episode, albeit things I should have probably already known. But I refuse to embarrass myself in text - you'll have to listen to the episode to find out just how little I know about Q-Tip and A Tribe Called Quest, and Deee-Lite's "Groove Is In The Heart".     Jemmett's playlist: Grandmaster Flash - The Message NWA - Fuck The Police Eric B and Rakim - Paid in Full Public Enemy - Fight The Power Maestro Fresh Wes - Let Your Backbone Slide A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It? House of Pain - Jump Around Jeru the Damaja - Come Clean 50 Cent - In Tha Club         

In Episode 14 my homegirl from the South, Jo Watson, joins me to discuss the songs that make her skin vibrate, and to hack on each other a bit as we always do. Listen as Watson confesses her love for sexy women and her crush on Tom Petty, props up the Zac Brown Band, and pulls one of my favourite songs from the Stones' Exile On Main Street out of her playlist hat.   Watson's playlist: Bruce Springsteen - My City of Ruins The Black Crowes - She Talks To Angels  Credence Clearwater Revival - Green River Mudcrutch - I Forgive It All Fleetwood Mac - Landslide Pure Prairie League - Amie The Zac Brown Band - Free / Into The Mystic The Rolling Stones - Sweet Virginia   

In Episode 13 leading Canadian music correspondent, public relations wizard, and Sirius XM radio host Eric Alper joins me via Skype. Among other things, we discuss the Genesis gateway between Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins, the jazz inflections that can be found Talk Talk's "Life's What You Make It", and the importance of Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly. We also count the number of genres Sheena Easton has performed within over the course of her underrated career.      And, of course, KISS find their way into the conversation. Again.     Alper's playlist: Genesis - Abacab Talk Talk - Life's What You Make It My Bloody Valentine - Soon Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls of Fire Buddy Holly - Peggy Sue Sinead O'Connor - I Am Stretched On Your Grave Prince - U Got The Look Drive-By Truckers - You Got Another Drive-By Truckers - Daylight      

It was my privilege to host the legendary Alan Cross in Episode 12, voice of that iconic Canadian music doc we've all listened to at some point in our lives - The Ongoing History of New Music. As Alan and I talk about the songs that make his skin vibrate, he tells some incredible stories about the things he touched in Abbey Road Studios, how he perplexed Paul McCartney, and his hilarious discussion with Pete Townsend about the instrumentation in "Won't Get Fooled Again". And after we get through his list, we geek out over David Bowie.      Cross' playlist: The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again Peter Gabriel - Secret World (extended live version) Oasis - Rock and Roll Star Stone Roses - I Am The Resurrection  Paul McCartney and Wings - Live and Let Die The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter Pink Floyd - Mother The Beastie Boys - Sabotage                

Whoa!!! My man Jamie Blaine takes over the show all the way from Nashville and plays the role of host, allowing me to get in on the fun and talk a little bit about the songs that make MY skin vibrate. Jamie does an outstanding hosting job, taking me through that very wide spectrum of emotions that all my songs conjure up - the cocaine, the Quaaludes, and everything in between.   My playlist: AC/DC - Sin City Paul McCartney - Maybe I'm Amazed Led Zeppelin - Down By The Seaside Aimee Mann - Wise Up Motley Crue - Looks That Kill Stereophonics - Handbags and Glad Rags Stone Temple Pilots - Sour Girl Lake Street Dive - Rental Love KISS - Sure Know Something