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Prisoners of Rock and Roll is a podcast about music, the people who make it, and the almighty power it has over so many parts of our lives. We love music, and we love talking about the records that changed us, the songs that remind us of a particular time in our lives, and the tunes that have helped us get through some pretty rough times. Music is therapeutic in a lot of ways. But today, we're taking that idea a whole lot deeper by exploring the actual therapeutic benefits of music, especially for our veterans. We’re joined by Tim McAlee, a board-certified music therapist and U.S. Army veteran, to talk about how music can be used to help veterans cope with trauma, express things that aren't always easy to put into words, and connect with other people. Because there's a difference between putting on a record that makes you feel better and using music as actual therapy. In the trailer for this show, we borrow a line from Don McLean's American Pie: “Can music save your mortal soul?” We think it can. Let’s hit it. Episode Playlist Check out this week's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode Play⁠l⁠ist.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before Elvis shook his hips, before Chuck Berry duck-walked across a stage, and before anyone had smashed a guitar or pissed off their parents with a Beatles haircut, there was a DJ in Cleveland spinning records that weren’t supposed to be for white kids. His name was Alan Freed. Contrary to legend, Freed didn’t invent  the term rock and roll. And he sure as hell didn’t invent the music. Black artists had been rocking and rolling long before he ever stepped behind a microphone. But Alan Freed heard something happening that most of America didn’t. He played the original Black records instead of the watered-down white covers. He put Black and white artists on the same stage. He brought them to television and movie screens. And when Frankie Lymon danced with a white girl on national TV, the South lost its goddamn mind. Freed helped turn rhythm and blues into a teenage revolution—and became one of rock and roll’s first celebrities in the process. But there was another side to the story: money, songwriting credits, suspicious relationships with record labels, and the payola scandal that destroyed his career. So was Alan Freed the father of rock and roll? A crooked DJ? A racial trailblazer? Or maybe a little bit of all three? Tonight, we’re telling the story of the man who didn’t invent rock and roll… but turned up the volume. Episode Playlist Check out this week's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode Play⁠l⁠ist.⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alice in Chains is one of the biggest bands from the 90s. But by 1996, they were ghosts.  Over two and a half years had passed since their last real concert. Layne Staley’s heroin addiction had derailed the band’s touring schedule. Yeah, they dropped their self-titled album in 1996 and it went to number one, but they couldn’t go on the road behind it.  The band was out of the spotlight and the rumors about Layne’s addiction were deafening.  MTV had chased them Unplugged for years and, in 1996, the finally said yes.  The rehearsals were rough – guys not showing up and old habits refusing to die – but Layne got himself together long enough to step on that stage – with a little dose of H to round off the edges.  On April 10th, they delivered what many – and I – call one of the greatest MTV Unplugged performances ever.  The stage was dark, intimate—candles flickering, lava lamps barely moving. Layne showed up in his trademark wraparound glasses looking thinner than normal.  It wasn’t perfect… and that’s exactly why it was perfect.  A false start here, a wavering note there, Layne visibly frail but fighting through it. That raw vulnerability made it electric.They reached across their whole career—from early tracks to the new album—with acoustic versions that sometimes enhanced the songs, like the gorgeous ‘No Excuses,’ and other times exposed just how dark and brutal the lyrics really were, like ‘Sludge Factory.’ When Layne’s voice cut through ‘Nutshell’ or ‘Down in a Hole,’ you felt every word. It was haunting, beautiful, and heartbreaking… one of Layne’s final stands with the band. Episode Playlist Check out this week's ⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode Play⁠l⁠ist.⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

KISS was well known for their image, the characters, and the merch. But behind the makeup and pyrotechnics, Ace Frehley brought the fire. Ace was the secret weapon: a Bronx-bred, unschooled guitar slinger whose wild bends, dinosaur vibrato, and pentatonic mayhem gave KISS songs their teeth. No formal lessons, just a Les Paul through a Marshall on ten, loose picking, and pure feel. He didn't just play solos—he sang through the guitar.  Episode Playlist Check out this week's ⁠⁠⁠Episode Play⁠l⁠ist.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You guys ready for this one?  Dr. Dre didn’t just have a great run in hip-hop… he reshaped the entire genre three separate times in less than thirty years.  First, as the driving force behind N.W.A. He helped take raw, unfiltered gangsta rap out of the streets of Compton and slam it onto the national stage. Straight Outta Compton, an actual FBI warning letter — the whole thing was a cultural explosion.  Then, after leaving N.W.A., Dre basically invents the G-Funk sound. The Chronic, Snoop Dogg, laid-back Parliament-Funkadelic grooves mixed with hard street edge. Suddenly that West Coast vibe took over radio, took over the charts, and defined the entire mid-90s.  And just when you think he’s done? Late ‘90s Dre starts Aftermath, signs this skinny white kid from Detroit named Eminem, and opens hip-hop up to a whole new generation of fans. Then comes 50 Cent, Kendrick, and the business empire that turned him into a billionaire. Three different eras. Three different sounds. Three different ways he changed what hip-hop could be. So today we’re asking: Is Dr. Dre the most important man in hip-hop history? This one’s a banger. Let’s get into it. Episode Playlist Check out this week's ⁠⁠Episode Play⁠l⁠ist.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summer’s coming in hot, and so are we. In this episode of Prisoners of Rock and Roll, we’re checking out one of the coolest, most American sounds in rock history: surf music.  It’s a sound designed to imitate the ocean — dripping wet reverb, a clean glowing tone, and that lightning-fast, machine-gun guitar picking you instantly recognize.  It exploded right in the gap between the first wave of rock ‘n’ rollers and the British Invasion, when the music charts had gone soft. But while surf rock as short lived, it wasn’t just a blip.  This scene drove major advances in guitar amps, influenced guitar gods from Jimi Hendrix to Eddie Van Halen, and even helped blaze a path toward speed metal. And of course, it gave the world The Beach Boys. This was counterculture. This was pure American teenage freedom in musical form — cars, girls, waves, and rebellion.  In this episode, we’re riding the wave: and talking about artists like Dick Dale, The Surfaris, and the Ventures. We’ll also touch on how the Pulp Fiction soundtrack helped surf rock get back up on the board as well as some modern bands that are still hanging 10 with the sound. Episode Playlist Check out this week's ⁠Episode Play⁠l⁠ist. ⁠⁠⁠Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jerry Garcia never wanted to be the leader. He was the reluctant heart of the Grateful Dead — the quiet, bearded wizard whose guitar could take a song and stretch it into an all-night cosmic journey. But whether he liked it or not, the band revolved around him, and the counterculture found its soundtrack in his hands. Garcia was a profoundly complicated man. A devoted family guy who cherished his children, yet locked in a lifelong battle with addiction that would ultimately claim his life in 1995. He was equal parts dreamer and self-destroyer — a walking contradiction who somehow made that tension beautiful. What defined Jerry most was his restless creativity. The Grateful Dead was never enough. He dove into bluegrass, folk, jazz, and avant-garde with a rotating cast of side projects — from Old & In the Way to the Jerry Garcia Band — always chasing a new sound, a new collaboration, a new way to express the inexpressible. He wasn’t just a rock star; he was a musical explorer who treated every stage like uncharted territory. Today, his spirit lives on in every jam band that refuses to play a song the same way twice, in the Americana revival, and in generations of artists who understand that music isn’t about perfection — it’s about the journey, the risk, and the willingness to get lost so the audience can find something unexpected. Jerry Garcia: counterculture icon, reluctant leader, family man, addict, and eternal innovator. The ripples are still spreading. Episode Playlist Check out this week's ⁠Episode Playlist. ⁠Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s easy and honestly fun to complain about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Every year, they announce a class of inductees and music fans rise up in anger asking “how is so and so not in yet” or “how did this person get in before that person.” Or, my favorite, “what? That person isn’t even rock and roll.” We all do it. Hell, we’ve done entire episodes on how the Rock Hall screwed up.  But the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced the inductees for the class of 2026 and they pretty much got it right this year.  Phil Collins finally getting kudos for his solo career, Billy Idol with that punk-pop sneer, Iron Maiden crashing the metal gates, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis bringing the Britpop attitude, the smooth sounds of Sade, R&B king Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan changing the game. They rounded it out with Early Influence nods, Musical Excellence awards, and even Ed Sullivan for bringing rock into living rooms. Look, it’s not the purest guitar-rock kickass class ever inducted, but it actually reflects how music evolved and shaped culture. Episode Playlist Check out this week's Episode Playlist. Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twisted Sister started as a hard-working bar band in the New York/New Jersey club scene. These guys played thousands of shows—eight thousand performances—grinding it out night after night in dive bars long before anyone knew their names. They perfected their wild theatrical metal sound the old-fashioned way: pure sweat and persistence. Then came 1984. Stay Hungry exploded, and MTV turned 'We're Not Gonna Take It' and 'I Wanna Rock' into anthems. Those over-the-top videos launched the band from club stages straight to multi-platinum stardom. One minute they're playing for drunks; the next, they're rock stars riding the video revolution. But success has its battles. In 1985, Dee Snider stood before a Senate committee during the PMRC hearings. While others stayed quiet, Dee looked Congress in the eye, defended artistic freedom, and made the whole room look like out-of-touch fools. It was one of the most badass moments in rock history. Years later, the band was gearing up for their 50th anniversary shows. But Dee made the tough call: he couldn't deliver the high-energy, kick-ass performance he demanded of himself anymore—thanks to arthritis and the wear of decades on the road. Rather than give fans anything less, he stepped down with class and integrity.  Now, he's handed the reins to Sebastian Bach, who has Dee's full blessing to front Twisted Sister for these special 2026 dates. The spirit lives on: loud, defiant, and still not gonna take it. From the bars to MTV glory, from humiliating Congress to passing the torch—that's the Twisted Sister story Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rock and roll started to lose its way in the late 1970s. The bands that once sounded dangerous were now playing 10-minute guitar solos in hockey arenas. Progressive rock groups were building entire albums around fantasy epics. Disco had taken over the charts and dance floors. Punk exploded then quickly burned out.  If you were a kid looking for something fresh, rock and roll felt a little…tired.  Then something strange started happening in clubs in New York and London. Bands were showing up wearing skinny ties instead of denim, playing short, sharp songs that mixed punk energy with pop hooks, art school weirdness, and a lot of synthesizers. The music was quirky, nervous, and a little futuristic. It didn’t sound like classic rock, and it definitely didn’t sound like disco. They started calling it New Wave. And before long, bands like Talking Heads, Blondie, and The Cars were turning that strange new sound into one of the defining movements of the 1980s. In this episode of Prisoners of Rock and Roll, we’re looking at New Wave, the music genre that turned new sounds into a defining trend of the early 80s. We’re going to talk about bands like The Cars, Blondie, The Talking Heads and more. We’ve got the bands, the tunes, music news, a song for the electric chair, and all of the entertaining and educating stuff we have to say about them. Let’s hit it. Episode Playlist Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠episode playlist here⁠. ⁠⁠⁠ Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Prisoners of Rock and Roll, we’re diving into 1976 – that wild year where America turned 200 with fireworks, flags, and music exploding everywhere. It is also the year where Ryan and I were born.  And the music world celebrated us joining the party by releasing Hotel California from the Eagles, Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life, and Boston’s Debut Album. David Bowie was The Thin White Duke. Disco was taking over the dance floors, while the Sex Pistols, Ramones, and The Clash were just getting started underground. There’s plenty of great stuff to listen to, and debate so let’s hit it.  Episode Playlist Check out our ⁠⁠⁠episode playlist here⁠. ⁠⁠ Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Prisoners of Rock and Roll, we’re talking about covers – those magical moments where one artist takes another’s song and makes it their own…Wait, we said that in the monologue of last episode. Well it’s true! We had so many songs to talk about that we decided to jump back into the trenches and talk about more of those moments where one artist grabs a song and turns it upside down, inside out, or straight into gold…or garbage. We still have a lot to say on this topic since we didn’t get to discuss Jeff Buckley’s haunting version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, Manfred Mann having a number one hit with a Springsteen song while Springsteen has never had a number one hit himself, Weezer and Toto covering each other, Whitney Houston’s enormous hit with a Dolly Parton song, and more.  And as always, we’ve got some thoughts on music news and a song to send to the electric chair. It’s our first ever two part episode so sit your butt down and turn that volume UP.  Episode Playlist Check out our ⁠⁠episode playlist here⁠. ⁠ Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Prisoners of Rock and Roll, we’re talking about covers – those magical moments where one artist takes another’s song and makes it their own. Sometimes they stay faithful to the original. Sometimes they completely blow it up and rebuild it into something fresh.  We’re going to talk about covers that cross genres like Johnny Cash turning Nine Inch Nails into a heartbreaking confession to Sid Vicious giving us a punk rock version of Frank Sinatra. Covers that became more famous than the originals like Respect by Aretha or Nirvana’s unplugged version of The Man Who Sold the World. We’ve got a killer playlist of iconic reinventions, and a few headscratchers that will make you laugh out loud. Episode Playlist Check out our ⁠episode playlist here⁠. Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of year again: our 6th annual Christmas Episode! We've roasted bad holiday tunes, thrown epic Christmas parties with rock legends, and even had a blue Christmas diving into the blues. But this year, we're sneaking around the holiday playlist like a couple of grinches with a twist. We're talking about those classic "Christmas" songs that get blasted every December... but if you listen closely to the lyrics, they never once say the word "Christmas." No Santa, no manger, no ho-ho-ho – just snow, sleigh bells, fireplaces, and winter wonderlands that somehow became holiday staples anyway. Episode Playlist Check out our episode playlist here. Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re opening the vault on the single most mythical recording in Bruce Springsteen’s long career: Electric Nebraska. In January 1982: Bruce locked himself in a bedroom with a four-track and cut ten of the bleakest songs he’s ever written. A few months later, he took those songs into the studio with the E Street Band and tried them loud. They didn’t work. Bruce ultimately released the original demos, and Nebraska became one of the bleakest albums in the Springsteen catalogue.  But what about those full band recordings. For forty years, fans have been debating: do the the tapes even exist? Were they destroyed? Are they better? Even members of the band disagreed on whether they existed. After decades of waiting, we finally have them. In October 2025, Bruce Springsteen dug into the vault and released Electric Nebraska as part of the Nebraska box set. It’s the ultimate “what if” in the Boss’s entire catalogue. Some of these electric takes absolutely rip, but some lose their special darkness as soon as that big E Street sound kicks in.  So join us as we dive into the songs from the musical white whale, the electric ark of the covenant for Springsteen fans: Electric Nebraska. Episode Playlist No playlist for this one, but check out the Nebraska Expanded Edition box set for all of this great music we discussed. Get In Touch Check us out⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or drops us an email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Or if you're in Philadelphia, come visit our home base at⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠McCusker's Tavern⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Prisoners of Rock and Roll is part of⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pantheon Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We're sponsored by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Boldfoot Socks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices