PODCAST · music
Rock of Aging
by Rock of Aging
Step back into the loud, wild world of 80s hair metal with Rock of Aging! Join lifelong fans and music industry veterans Dave and Erika as they revisit the albums, bands, and backstage stories that shaped an era. From Mötley Crüe and Guns N’ Roses to Ratt, Kiss, Ozzy, and beyond, they explore what made glam, pop, and hair metal so irresistible—and why it still rocks their world decades later. Each episode features Erika’s “Atmosphere Check”, setting the vibe for the topic at hand, and Dave’s (Not So) Deep Dives, spotlighting new music worth your ears. New episodes drop on the 10th and 25th of every month. Whether you lived it or just wish you had, crank it up—because Rock of Aging is more than a podcast… it’s a lifestyle.
Episodes
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The Most Unforgettable '80s Metal Shows We Ever Saw
What made '80s metal concerts truly unforgettable? In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika look back at six memorable heavy metal and hair metal shows from the 1980s that still stick with them nearly 40 years later. From ticket outlet lines and cash-only merch tables to parking lot hangs...
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Rock of Aging's 80s Metal / Hard Rock Fantasy Football Draft
Football season has begun! Your friends here at Rock of Aging have come up with a great way to merge your love of 80s metal with your love of football. Today's episode is the first ever Rock of Aging Fantasy Football Draft! Here's how it works...To be eligible for the draft, you must have had a...
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Three Albums. No Misses. The Best 3-Album Runs of ’80s Hard Rock & Metal
Some bands only make one good album. That's it. So, what happens after you make that stellar album? Can you follow it up with another? What about a third? Is it even possible?! For some bands, creating an epic, three album run is simply unattainable. In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and…
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Ratt ’N’ Roll 1983–1990: The Rise, the Hits & the End of an Era // RATT Deep Dive
This time on Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika are going deep into one of the defining bands of the 1980s hard rock scene: Ratt. From the raw swagger of the 1983 Ratt EP through the massive breakthrough of Out of the Cellar, Ratt quickly went from the Sunset Strip to arenas, MTV, and multi-platinum...
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No Sophomore Slump: The Best Second Albums in 80s Metal
Everyone talks about the debut album... but what about the follow-up? On this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika dive into the best second albums from some of our favorite 80s hard rock and metal bands. The sophomore release can make or break a band's career. Sometimes it's where a band...
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The Riki Rachtman Interview// Headbangers Ball, One Foot in the Gutter, The Cathouse
In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika speak to Riki Rachtman, the legendary host from MTV's Headbangers Ball. Everyone watching this episode grew up watching Riki every Saturday night -- he introduced us to the bands, the videos, and the scenes throughout the world of heavy metal. But...
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Rock of Aging: Merch Madness – The Glory Days of 80s Metal Concert Merch
Before online stores, limited-edition drops, and social media ads, there was one place to get the coolest band merchandise: the merch table at the concert. In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika take a nostalgic trip back to the golden age of 80s metal merch. From overpriced concert...
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Rock of Aging on the Youth Gone Mild Podcast
Dave and Erika recently appeared on the Youth Gone Mild Podcast. We spoke with Gen X Joe about the state of 80s metal, Sebastian Bach joining Twisted Sister, which 80s bands still "bring it" live, and so much more. Thanks, Joe, for having us. Find Youth Gone Mild:...
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The Lost Art of Making the Perfect 80s Metal Mixtape
In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika reminisce about the lost art of making the perfect mixtape. Nobody who wasn't alive back in the 80s can relate. Whether you're recording your favorite songs from the radio for repeated playback, making a soundtrack for a road trip, trying to "turn...
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Viewer Picks: Lost 80s Hard Rock & Metal Albums: These Albums Should’ve Been Huge! Rock of Aging
In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika revisit our most popular video - The Lost 80s Hard Rock and Metal Albums episode. Everyone seems to love to talk about that great album that no one else knows about; or that one album by your favorite band that everyone ignored, but you loved it.…
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Less Than Zero: The Soundtrack That Defined the Dark Side of the ‘80s // Neon, Drugs & Great Music
In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika take a trip to the darker side of Hollywood in the late 1980s. The 1987 film, Less Than Zero, told a tale of extreme wealth and extreme behavior among a circle of friends navigating young adulthood. The movie starred some of the biggest actors of…
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Our 10 Favorite 80's Metal Music Videos // Rock of Aging // Headbangers Ball
In this episode of Rock of Aging, we crank the volume and fire up the TV for a celebration of our favorite 1980s metal music videos. Back when MTV ruled the culture, videos weren’t just promotion—they were events. Bigger hair, louder guitars, cinematic concepts, wild performances, and enough…
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Rock of Aging Talks The Big 4 of Thrash: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax
In this episode of Rock of Aging, we are talking about the harder side of 80's metal! Erika and Dave debate The Big 4 of Thrash: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. Let's just say that we don't see eye to eye on this part of the 80s metal scene. For Dave's (Not So) Deep Dive, he is talking...
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Ace Frehley vs. Richie Sambora: Rock of Aging Homework Assignments!
In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika are going back to school! In a sense, anyway. We have both been given our homework assignments! Erika has assigned Dave Richie Sambora's 'Stranger In This Town.' This 1991 album was the first solo LP from the Bon Jovi guitarist and songwriter. Dave...
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The 80's Hard Rock & Metal Bands We've Seen Live The Most!
In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika are talking live shows. Which 80's metal and hard rock bands have we seen the most times in concert? Club shows, theater shows, arena shows, stadium shows, festivals -- they all count! We both have a lengthy history of seeing concerts, beginning in...
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Our Favorite "Lost" 80's Hard Rock and Metal Albums (That Deserved Better)
In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika discuss their favorite "lost" 80s hard rock/heavy metal albums. Our definition of a lost album is either one by an unknown band that seemed to have major potential, but was ultimately ignored, OR an album from a more established band that failed to...
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Back When Videos Meant Everything: The Rise (and Fall) of MTV: Rock of Aging
In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika rewind to the glory days of MTV, when music videos weren’t optional, they were everything. Before streaming, before algorithms, before phones in our pockets, MTV told us what mattered — what to wear, how bands looked, and which artists became...
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The Women of ’80s Metal — Fighting for Space in the Boys’ Club: Rock of Aging
In this episode of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika dig into the often-overlooked contributions of women who shaped 80s metal, both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. We talk honestly about what it meant to be a woman in a genre that frequently celebrated rebellion—while resisting…
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Our Gateway Albums: The Records That Made Us 80s Metal Fans
These albums ruined our lives. In the best way. In episode 13 of Rock of Aging, Dave and Erika reveal the “gateway” albums — the records that turned them into 80s metal fans, then metalheads, and eventually people who never quite recovered. This is our metal origin story — the records that…
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Airing 80s Metal Grievances with the Rock of Aging Crew! Heavy Metal Meets FESTIVUS!
Help celebrate an 80's metal Festivus with Dave and Erika! This is the 12th episode of Rock of Aging, and it's our first ever holiday show! For this special episode, we decided to celebrate the "alternative" holiday of FESTIVUS, as celebrated on the TV show, Seinfeld. With an 80s metal vibe…
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From Bell-Bottoms to Big Hair: ’70s Rockers in the ’80s – Who Nailed It, Who Failed It?
This is the 11th episode of Rock of Aging, and this month, we are looking back to the 1970s. Heavy metal was invented in the 1970s, and it was a massive decade for this music: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, and KISS helped to define the decade's music. But what about when those artists…
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Ranking the KISS Ballads: The Good, The Bad, & The Sappy
This is the ninth episode of Rock of Aging: the series where my co-host Erika and I explore the depths of our "hair metal" past, and try to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades. Rock of Aging is your go-to spot for 80s metal conversion and...
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Rock of Aging Ep. 8: 80’s Metal Homework Assignment
This is the eighth episode of "Rock of Aging." In this series, Dave and Erika explore the depths of their "hair metal" past, and try to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades. Rock of Aging is your go-to spot for 80s metal conversion and community....
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Rock of Aging Ep. 3: Unsung 80s "Hair Metal" Greats
This is the third episode of the "Rock of Aging" series. In this series, my co-host Erika and I will be exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades. It's your new, go-to spot for 80s…
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Rock of Aging Episode 2: Our "Alternate Big 4" of Hair Metal / 80s Metal
This is the second episode of the "Rock of Aging" series. In this series, my co-host Erika and I will be exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades. In this month's episode, Erika and I...
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Rock of Aging Episode 1: Heavy Metal Time Machine
Today's episode is the first in a new series here at The Dark Stuff called "Rock of Aging." In this new series, my co-host Erika and I will be exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Step back into the loud, wild world of 80s hair metal with Rock of Aging! Join lifelong fans and music industry veterans Dave and Erika as they revisit the albums, bands, and backstage stories that shaped an era. From Mötley Crüe and Guns N’ Roses to Ratt, Kiss, Ozzy, and beyond, they explore what made glam, pop, and hair metal so irresistible—and why it still rocks their world decades later.
Each episode features Erika’s “Atmosphere Check”, setting the vibe for the topic at hand, and Dave’s (Not So) Deep Dives, spotlighting new music worth your ears.
New episodes drop on the 10th and 25th of every month. Whether you lived it or just wish you had, crank it up—because Rock of Aging is more than a podcast… it’s a lifestyle.
HOSTED BY
Rock of Aging
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Rock of Aging have?
Rock of Aging currently has 26 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Rock of Aging about?
Step back into the loud, wild world of 80s hair metal with Rock of Aging! Join lifelong fans and music industry veterans Dave and Erika as they revisit the albums, bands, and backstage stories that shaped an era. From Mötley Crüe and Guns N’ Roses to Ratt, Kiss, Ozzy, and beyond, they explore what...
How often does Rock of Aging release new episodes?
Rock of Aging has 26 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Rock of Aging?
You can listen to Rock of Aging on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Rock of Aging?
Rock of Aging is created and hosted by Rock of Aging.
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