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

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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

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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

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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

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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 establishments 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

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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.

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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 Canada’s birthday.

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. He 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

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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

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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

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