Rock of Aging

Rock of Aging
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Music Commentary

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.

  1. Oct 25

    The Best, Worst, and Weirdest '80s Metal Album Covers

    Do you remember when you went to the record store and would just get lost in the racks? You would study the images on the front cover, check out the band's logo, and in some cases, make your buying decision based (mostly) on that cover! In the 80s, there was no streaming, and record stores usually had no way for customers to preview an album before buying. A good album cover was everything! For this episode, Erika and Dave are picking some of their favorite (and a few least favorite) 80s metal album covers. We divided them into six categories. Do our favorites match yours? What are your favorite 80s metal album covers? Please leave them in the comments. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyHjhVnQ2P3y6FAhuJ6JZ-lScX5WpL4td&si=_2pJsnR-cTWungwZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockofaging Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582584991887

  2. Oct 10

    Interview with Rikki Rockett of POISON // 40 Years of Look What The Cat Dragged In

    For our newest episode, we have a special one! We have an interview with the legendary drummer of POISON, Rikki Rockett. Erika was able to interview Rikki as the band was celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of Poison's debut album, Look What The Cat Dragged In. Rikki and Erika reminisce about the glory days of MTV, Poison's domination of the Sunset Strip, and how it feels looking back 40 years on this iconic album. In addition to sharing some behind the scenes stories from Poison's early days, Rikki also shares his plans for Rockett Mafia -- his newest band. Rikki has just released his autobiography, Ghost Notes: My Life in Poison. NOTE: Erika conducted this interview in May 2026, and Rikki's book had not yet been released. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyHjhVnQ2P3y6FAhuJ6JZ-lScX5WpL4td&si=_2pJsnR-cTWungwZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockofaging Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582584991887

  3. Sep 25

    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 and wild arena moments, we dive into the nostalgia, energy, and chaos of attending live rock shows before cell phones and digital tickets took over. Plus, Dave delivers a "Not-So-Deep Dive" into Dinosaur Jr. and why metal fans love J Mascis's guitar shredding, followed by Erika's concert "Atmosphere Check." In This Episode: Dave's Not-So-Deep Dive: Dinosaur Jr., J Mascis, and the metal crossover appeal Erika's Atmosphere Check: What made going to shows in the '80s a whole different experience The Top 6 Concerts: Dave and Erika's most vivid and unforgettable '80s metal memories YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyHjhVnQ2P3y6FAhuJ6JZ-lScX5WpL4td&si=_2pJsnR-cTWungwZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockofaging Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582584991887

    The Most Unforgettable '80s Metal Shows We Ever Saw

  4. Sep 10

    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 studio album released in 1987. Erika and Dave each picked a drummer, bassist, singer, and two guitarists! Who had the better team? Erika or Dave? Who would be on your team? Leave it all in the comments. Just before the draft, we have Dave's (Not So) Deep Dive. For this episode, Dave reviews the newest release from KISS, Destroys Anaheim '76. In The Atmosphere Check,  Erika reveals her love of football, and what it takes to make her team in this year's draft. NOTE: We post a new episode of Rock of Aging on the 10th and 25th of every month!  YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyHjhVnQ2P3y6FAhuJ6JZ-lScX5WpL4td&si=_2pJsnR-cTWungwZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockofaging Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582584991887

  5. Aug 25

    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 Erika offer up some of their absolute favorite 80s metal and hard rock three record streaks. Three Albums. No Misses. The rules?! The only rules are: three consecutive studio albums from one artist, and that the albums were released in what is considered the "80s metal era." In other words...the 80s. Before the episode begins, we have Dave's (Not So) Deep Dive. This time around, he's diving into the new album from The Rolling Stones, "Foreign Tongues."  In The Atmosphere Check, Erika reconnects us back to our younger selves, and taps into the feelings we had for a band releasing its third great album in a row. The anticipation was epic. What is your favorite three album run? Leave it in the comments! YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyHjhVnQ2P3y6FAhuJ6JZ-lScX5WpL4td&si=_2pJsnR-cTWungwZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockofaging Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582584991887

  6. Aug 10

    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 success. But there’s a lot more to their original run than “Round and Round.” We’re going album by album through Ratt’s classic era: Ratt EP (1983) Out of the Cellar (1984) Invasion of Your Privacy (1985) Dancing Undercover (1986) Reach for the Sky (1988) Detonator (1990) We’ll talk about the songs, the videos, the albums that still hold up, the records that deserve another listen, and how Stephen Pearcy, Warren DeMartini, Robbin Crosby, Juan Croucier and Bobby Blotzer created a sound that was unmistakably Ratt. From “You Think You’re Tough,” “Round and Round” and “Back for More” to “Lay It Down,” “Dance,” “Body Talk,” “Way Cool Jr.” and “Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job,” we’re revisiting the hits, the deep cuts and the evolution of the band across one of the strongest album runs of the hair-metal era. We’ll also get into the changing hard-rock landscape as the ’80s came to an end and why Detonator feels like the closing chapter of Ratt’s original glory years. Six releases. Seven years. A whole lotta Ratt ’N’ Roll. Where do you rank Ratt’s albums from 1983–1990? And what’s the one Ratt song that absolutely belongs on the ultimate playlist? Before we begin with Ratt, we quickly recap seeing Riki Rachtman's One Foot in the Gutter tour in Lincoln, Nebraska. We got a little hang time with Riki after the show, and we ate some incredible chocolate cake. YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyHjhVnQ2P3y6FAhuJ6JZ-lScX5WpL4td&si=_2pJsnR-cTWungwZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockofaging Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582584991887

    Ratt ’N’ Roll 1983–1990: The Rise, the Hits & the End of an Era // RATT Deep Dive

  7. Jul 25

    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 perfects its sound, delivers its biggest hits, or proves the debut was no fluke. We'll discuss albums that took bands to the next level, sophomore slumps that weren't really slumps at all, and a few records that might even be better than the debut. Some of the bands we'll cover include: Van Halen Poison W.A.S.P Ratt Warrant L.A. Guns What are YOUR favorite second albums from 80s hard rock and metal bands? Let us know in the comments—we may feature your picks in a future episode! Please like this video and subscribe to the channel if you have not already done so. Thanks. NOTE: We post a new episode of Rock of Aging on the 10th and 25th of every month! YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyHjhVnQ2P3y6FAhuJ6JZ-lScX5WpL4td&si=_2pJsnR-cTWungwZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockofaging Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582584991887

  8. Jul 10

    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 Riki is much more than the host of a great TV show that we grew up watching. He has opened and ran the legendary Hollywood nightclub, The Cathouse, worked in radio, NASCAR, podcasting, and is currently on tour with a spoken word show called, "One Foot in the Gutter." The multimedia show finds Riki recounting stories from his lengthy career and exciting life. Find out more about Riki's life and career, as well as the dates for the current tour, check out his website: https://cathousehollywood.com/. Find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rikirachtman/ Find Riki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rikirachtman/ To get tickets or VIP Packages for the Riki Rachtman tour:  https://cathousehollywood.com/pages/riki-tour-one-foot-in-the-gutter-more YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyHjhVnQ2P3y6FAhuJ6JZ-lScX5WpL4td&si=_2pJsnR-cTWungwZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockofaging Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582584991887

    The Riki Rachtman Interview// Headbangers Ball, One Foot in the Gutter, The Cathouse
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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 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.

Information

  • Creator
    Rock of Aging
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rock of Aging
  • Show Website
    Rock of Aging

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