Backstaged: The Devil in Metal Diversion

Ronnie James Dio is metal music royalty. From his early days in New York playing the trumpet and singing in small bands to becoming a metal vocal powerhouse with Rainbow, the resurrected Black Sabbath and his own band, Dio experienced it all, riding the highs and enduring the lows in every band he played in. Then, an unexpected musical reunion with his ex-Black Sabbath band mates Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler brought him the kind of happiness and career stability he always longed for. Tragically, the group abruptly ended when Dio contracted stomach cancer. Though he fought bravely and tried to continue doing what he did best, the disease was incurable. Friends and family rallied by his side, some forming a tighter bond with Dio than ever, as he inched towards his final days. In this episode, host Jon Wiederhorn addresses Dio’s spectacular life and tragic death through interviews with Dio’s widow Wendy, and members of Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell and Dio. Alice Cooper and members of Anthrax, Twisted Sister, and Slayer provide additional commentary.

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Pointless. Spontaneous. Hazardous. Deadly. That’s what mayhem can be like for some metal musicians. Host Jon Wiederhorn dives into the daredevils of metal music’s outrageous pranks, destructive binges, violent outbursts and near-death experiences. And, sometimes, these antics are so outlandish, they couldn’t be true. From trashed hotel rooms and sunken boats to out-of-control tour buses, find out the truth behind the over-the-top exploits from Alice Cooper, Baroness, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, Anthrax, Pantera, Suicide Silence and more.

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Ever since Black Sabbath named themselves after a horror movie and started writing dark, foreboding songs that buzzed with menace and defiance, fans and creators of hair-raising films and metal made a run into the darkness. In this episode, we dare to peer into the darkest parts of human nature through the lens of metal music and horror. Alice Cooper explains how he invented horror rock and Rob Zombie and Dee Snider talk about their entry into the world of horror moviemaking. Members of Pantera, Metallica, Anthrax, Cannibal Corpse and more describe the inextricable link between metal and horror.

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The bottle has called to many metal musicians since the genre’s early days. Some artists found it as a way to push the boundaries of excess, and in some cases, numb out physical and psychological pain. The late Eddie Van Halen drank to write and perform. Other artists got caught up in the partying lifestyle. Either way, whether a happy drunk or crappy drunk, going sober for many was an uphill battle. In this episode, hear scary, and sometimes dramatic, tales of blackout drinking and stories of rehabilitation from host Jon Wiederhorn and members of Van Halen, Pantera, Black Label Society, Lamb of God, Megadeth and more.

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Judas Priest’s success skyrocketed in the early 1980’s. Along with their boom in fame, came a decline in Rob Halford’s emotional and physical health. In the second episode of the two episode arc, host Jon Wiederhorn delves into Halford’s inability to be himself in the public eye. Eventually Halford would temporarily split from the band, enabling him to explore his music and come out publicly. Hear members of Judas Priest, At the Gates, and Pantera talk about the band and Rob Halford’s journey to becoming a metal music icon.

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As one of the most eclectic and popular British metal bands and pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Judas Priest and their vocal powerhouse frontman Rob Halford will forever be one of the greats. In this episode, the first of a two episode arc, host Jon Wiederhorn discusses the beginnings of Judas Priest with a strong focus on Rob Halford. As a closeted gay man in a heterosexual music world, Halford spent a good portion of his days with the band feeling isolated. Even still, his lyrics and piercing vocals paved the way for future musicians to lean into the aggressive nature of metal music. With exclusive interviews with members of Judas Priest, Diamond Head, Life of Agony, and more, listen to them talk about their experiences with Halford and his many influences on metal.

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