Jeff Scott Soto & Joel McIver guest on this weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 450 - Sons of Morbid

This week we talk with Jeff Scott Soto about the latest Sons of Apollo release MMXX plus everything else he’s got going. After that we welcome back Joel McIver to give us the story on his the new book he did with David Vincent, “I Am Morbid”. All that plus a lot of discussion on this weeks show.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always
Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Megadeth Bassist Dave Ellefson Guests on This Weeks Focus on Metal.

Episode 426 - More Life With Deth

Dave Ellefson returns this week to Focus on Metal to discuss his new book “More Life With Deth” and the accompanying album. He’ll also be busy this summer doing another round of Basstory and also doing some Sleeping Giants shows. So lots to discuss with Dave this week.

Look for the Sleeping Giants release this month

Track of the week is True Colors from Sweet Oblivion (feat Geoff Tate).

Here's another great track off the release

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Our Kerrang! Project Wraps up on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 395 - Kerrang! Episode 11.5

Our massive Kerrang! project wraps up this week as we finish up the chat with noted music journalist Dave Reynolds that we started last week. Is it really done? Only the Irish guy really knows.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Mick Wall & Joel McIver Guest on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 386 - Kerrang! Episode 10

Our Kerrang! project continues this week with not one, but two guests. First up we have our perennial co-conspirator Joel McIver. Joel happens to have taken the dive into podcasting with the new show “Dead Rock Stars” which brings me to our second guest this week Joel’s cohost the legendary Mick Wall. 

Any longtime listener will know we’ve tried forever to get Mick on the show and we finally have him on as part of our Kerrang! project.So enjoy part 10 of the project and make sure you add “Dead Rock Stars” to your podcast habit.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, EarPeeler.com or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us every Tuesday night on Pure Rock Radio
and each Wednesday afternoon on Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Author Joel McIver is Our Guest Once Again on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 316 - McIver Alive VI

Author Joel McIver makes has sixth appearance on Focus on Metal this week. We always like to have a year end wrap up discussion with Joel and we finally managed to schedule that this week. Who ever said the year end discussion had to take place right at the end of the year?

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, EarPeeler.com or subscribe on iTunes.

You can hear us On Demand everyday on Platinum Rock Radio by going to this link

You can hear us every Wednesday on these great stations:
Pure Rock Radio & Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always

Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Former Death Angel drummer Andy V Galeon Guests on This Weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 301 - Master of Puppets 2

We continue our 300th episode celebration and the 30th anniversary celebration of Master of Puppets this week by welcoming former Death Angel drummer Andy V Galeon to the show. Being on the scene back in 86 gives Andy a unique perspective on MOP. 

Although no longer with Death Angel Andy is still hitting the skins. These days besides teaching drums he also plays with The Butlers and The Devil in California. 

Find him online at facebook.com/andyvgaleon

Here's Andy on some classic DA

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes.

You can hear us On Demand everyday on Platinum Rock Radio by going to this link

You can hear us every Wednesday on these great stations:
Pure Rock Radio & Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Flemming Rasmussen & Joel McIver Celebrate Master of Puppets as Focus on Metal Hits Episode 300.

Episode 300 - Master of Puppets

Another milestone passes this week as we roll out episode 300. We taken this opportunity to use this episode to celebrate another metal milestone that turns 30 this year, namely Metallica’s landmark release “Master of Puppets”. Released on March 3rd 1986 MOP changed the thrash game forever.

The file icon came out so cool we had to share a larger version

This week we talk with author Joel McIver and MOP producer Flemming Rasmussen about the album and next week we’ll have original Death Angel drummer Andy Galeon continuing our MOP discussion. 

Stay tuned later in the year as we speak with MOP mixer Michael Wagener to wrap this one up.

Joel, as always can be found at joelmciver.co.uk/ or check out his other gig at bassguitarmagazine.com/

Flemming is online at facebook.com/flemming.rasmussen.35

Thanks for listening to FOM and here's to 300 more.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes.

You can hear us On Demand everyday on Platinum Rock Radio by going to this link

You can hear us every Wednesday on these great stations:
Pure Rock Radio & Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Just posted: Joel McIver is our guest on this weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 264 - McIver Alive V

Joel McIver helps us wrap up 2015 by making his fifth appearance on Focus on Metal. Joel chimes in on his thoughts on the year in metal and also lets us know what's going on in the land of McIver. Find out what he's up to at http://www.joelmciver.co.uk/ Besides his fine books Joel is also a driving force behind Bass Guitar magazine which you can find on the web at bassguitarmagazine.com

I'm sure that even Joel would agree that the single biggest impact of 2015 is the recent death of the legendary Lemmy. It's a massive blow to music, metal and the next generation of bass players that will never get to see (and feel) how bass can truly drive the bus.

Big thanks to all of you for a great 2015 and we look forward to a most metal 2016. No new show next week but we'll be embarking on the 2016 edition of Focus on Metal the week after with a massive music episode.

Get the this episode from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, or on iTunes.

You can hear us Tuesdays on Platinum Rock Radio and be sure to check their schedule because we usually get a repeat run during the week.

You can hear us every Wednesday on these great stations:
Pure Rock Radio & Metal World Radio

Visit http://focusonmetal.net/ for information on all the past episodes and to find the links to all our other social media sites.

Focus on Metal is damn proud to be part of The Blast Syndicate. You can get this show as well as many other kick ass metal podcasts by clicking the link below.

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Joel McIver on this weeks Focus on Metal

Episode 188 - McIver Alive IV

Making his fourth appearance on FoM it's author Joel McIver. Joel recently worked on an autobiography  of Brazilian metal legend Max Cavalera "My Bloody Roots from Sepultura to Soulfly and beyond". So of course we will be digging into that and as usual we will also have a great discussion about other metal topics.

Our track of the week is from Pure Underground artist CHAINREACTION from their first full length release "A Game Between Good And Evil". Learn more about the band at: https://www.facebook.com/chainreactionmetal

Grab it now from the Focus on Metal Site, The Focus on Metal RSS feed, The Cast Iron Ring or on iTunes

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Focus on Metal 148 with Joel McIver is now available

One of our favorite guests is back again this week, metal author extraordinaire Joel McIver. Joel just finished up writing Dave Ellefson's bio "My Life With Deth". It's a great read and we hope that this show will encourage you to get yourself a copy. Of course we can't resist hitting some other current metal topics with Joel as well as getting some sneak previews of upcoming books.

Our featured track this week is from Germany's Stainless Steel from their new release Metal Machine on Pure Underground Records

Grab the episode on iTunes, The Cast Iron Ring and of course at the Focus on Metal site

And as always Focus On Metal…Everything Else is Insignificant.

Joel again

   Had another great chat with author Joel McIver last night. It nearly didn't happen because I screwed up the time of the call. Happen it did thank god. We had him on the show to primarily promote the upcoming David Ellefson book My Life With Deth out next month. The talk will be a companion piece to the recent interview we had with Dave.

   We got into the the book a lot but of course with Joel we went here there and everywhere in metal. Like us he loves to talk all things metal and the clock was switched off. Sabbath, guitars, Download, NAMM and so much more including a funny Bob Nalbandian story that Scott had better not edit out. He's just a great guy to talk to and we will have him on again next year when Max Cavalera's book comes out.

   So half and hour of Dave and over 70 minutes of Joel to come. That's a wrap.

Richie.

Review - David Ellefson with Joel McIver- My Life With Deth (Howard Books)

So Dave has had his say and now it's Junior's turn. For a lot of people out there Mustaine is Megadeth. He's the leader, voice, chief songwriter, lead and rhythm guitarist, producer etc. His is the definitive book on the band.

   Ellefson says in the book that in Megadeth he is the lieutenant to Mustaine and he is fine with that. Often he played the role of diplomat within the band smoothing over some of the cracks, teaching the new members the parts. The good cop to Mustaine's bad one. He is an integral part of the band's history but a band member nonetheless. This book is about his journey in life
                                                         and not a Megadeth book.

   Often you want the story to skip the childhood bits and get to the good stuff but they are important here. His rural and Lutheran upbringing near Jackson, Minnesota are in stark contrast to his L.A lifestyle and his descent into drink and  drugs. Many of these rock star bios drug dependencies can be traced to a broken home and/or abusive parents. Not Ellefsons whose family by all accounts have strong ties, religious and work values. It's peer group pressure and a hatred of L.A for not living up to his expectations that started it all. Having older chemists like Gar, Chris and Dave left him with little choice. It's amazing but you'd never know it from the music which was and still is fantastic.

   Having Mustaine as the outspoken voice of the band allowed Ellefson's  drug use to go largely under the radar. He was the quiet guy in the band and he admits he was a functioning addict. Boy did he burn the candle at both ends. Booze, coke, heroin, methadone, the lot. It's all laid bare here. The Monsters of Rock gig in front of 107,000 at Donington should have been a triumph but instead he was dope sick because he couldn't score in England.

   A fear of death, a realization of what he had become and the fact that no matter what he took he couldn't get high anymore allowed him to see what he really was. A rock star for sure but a sorry excuse for a human being. It had to end and the solution started with his religious upbringing and giving his life to god and following a principle he calls Good Orderly Direction.

   Being sober since the early 90's allows Ellefson to tell with great clarity how his personal life has improved and give his take on subsequent albums and tours with Megadeth. His time outside of the band working for Peavy and going back to college are described as some of the happiest times of his life spiritually if not financially. God and family are everything to him. Anyone expecting him to throw some of the past band members under the bus well you won't find it here, he's just not that kind of guy. Once a diplomat always the diplomat, high or no.

   Kudos must go to Joel Mciver for badgering Ellefson to tell the tale and getting it onto paper. It's not overtly preachy as Ellefson himself says in the final chapters that his religious lifestyle works for him and is a constant work in progress. It is his story, it is well told and the guy is still here making great music.

Richie.

http://www.davidellefson.com/

http://imprints.simonandschuster.biz/howard

http://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Deth-Discovering-Meaning/dp/1451699883/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376927019&sr=8-1&keywords=david+ellefson

http://www.joelmciver.co.uk/site.html

http://www.megadeth.com/