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. 5d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Jun 25

    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 t-shirts and tour programs to posters, buttons, patches, bandanas, and everything in between, we remember what it was like to stand in line before the show and decide how much of our allowance (or paycheck) we were willing to sacrifice for a piece of rock and roll history. We'll discuss: The first concert shirts we ever bought Why concert merch felt so special in the 1980s The must-have items beyond t-shirts Tour books, posters, patches, buttons, and other forgotten collectibles The bands that had the best merch Regrets over the merch we didn't buy Vintage merch prices then vs. what collectors pay today The legendary parking lot bootleg shirt sellers Why wearing a concert shirt was a badge of honor We'll also share some of our favorite merch memories and talk about the items we wish we had never thrown away. Whether you spent your weekends at arena shows, haunted record stores looking for band posters, or still have a drawer full of faded concert tees, this episode is a celebration of one of the most fun parts of being an 80s metal fan. What was the best piece of 80s metal merch you ever owned? Let us know in the comments! For Dave's (Not So) Deep Dive, he is going back to 1987 and the album by The Cult, 'Electric.' The record was a shocker to the band's earlier fans. Does it still hold up all these years later? In Erika's Atmosphere Check, she looks back on her teenage understanding of how the merch industry really worked. Could the guy selling the shirts get me a backstage pass?  Ummm...This and many other revelations will be revealed. 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

  5. Jun 25 ·  Bonus

    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: https://www.instagram.com/youthgonemildpc https://www.youtube.com/@UCcj0SJ2GGwoJ0aPaqvNfTog https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580665186601 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. Jun 10

    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 on" a friend to some cool music, or trying to get the attention of a girl in your homeroom class, there are some basic rules you need to follow if you want to make a good mixtape.  What's a good first song? Do the songs flow into one another smoothly or abruptly? How do you end Side A or begin Side B? What's a good closer? We offer up our best suggestions for making the ultimate 80s metal mixtape. Dave & Erika then battle it out for the title of mixtape champion! We each created a 60 minute, 80s metal mixtape for you to review and compare. Then you must vote on who made the better tape! 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

  7. May 25

    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. All music fans can relate. At the end of that video, Erika asked the audience for their recommendations on other "lost" 80s hard rock albums that we should check out. We received hundreds of suggestions, and decided to do a video where we review YOUR top three picks. Which ones did you really think we needed to know about? The three most suggested were: Shotgun Messiah "Shotgun Messiah" The Four Horsemen "Nobody Said It Was Easy" and Mindfunk "Mindfunk." We dove in! For Dave's (Not So) Deep Dive, he offers a quick review of the brand new theatrical film about Iron Maiden, Burning Ambition. In Erika's Atmosphere Check, she returns to her record store days where the clerks had all the inside information about new music. Before the internet, before streaming, where else did you discover new music that wasn't on the radio or MTV? At the record store. In this instance, you get to be the cool person behind the counter making the suggestions about what to play or what to buy. 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. May 10

    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 the era: Andrew McCarthy, Robert Downey Jr, Jami Gertz, and James Spader. Neither of us was old enough to see this R-rated movie in the theater when it was released in 1987. The soundtrack, on the other hand, was an instant classic. Less Than Zero produced one of the best soundtracks of the entire decade! Aerosmith, Slayer, Poison, LL Cool J, The Bangles, are just a few of the artists on this album. We go through the entire thing: the good, the bad, and the...meh. We get to the bottom of why this soundtrack is celebrated more than the actual movie. For Dave's (Not So) Deep Dive, he is talking about the new heavy metal band from Brooklyn, Castle Rat (https://castlerat.com/). This doom metal band has been winning over crowds for years, and has just released a new album called, The Bestiary. For Erika's Atmosphere Check, she explains the difference between 8pm - 10pm Hollywood in 1987, and 2am - 4am Hollywood in 1987. It could get pretty dark on those streets the later you're out there. 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

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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
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rock of Aging
  • Show Website
    Rock of Aging