Chronicles of Rock

It was a bold move, and a desperate one, when David Bowie, struggling to make a go of it as a rock musician, adopted a pseudonym and donned a wild outfit in 1972. It was the birth of Ziggy Stardust, and it worked. The look and sound of Ziggy took the rock world by storm, and Bowie's concept album based on the character, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, released on June 16, 1972, marked the beginning of Bowie's rise to super-stardom. Randy Renaud has the story behind it all on this week's episode of the Chronicles of Rock.

50 years ago this month -- June 5, 1975 -- Pink Floyd were in the studio working on a new song for the next album -- a long, epic song written in honour of their former leader and principal songwriter, Syd Barrett, who had been estranged from the band for years. And as they worked in the studio, they noticed an unfamiliar figure standing in the control room. To their shock, they suddenly realized that it was the very man the song was about, who somehow showed up that very day, uninvited. Randy Renaud revisits the bizarre tale of the recording of Shine On You Crazy Diamond for the latest edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

40 years ago, after building a stellar reputation as one of rock's most unique and critically acclaimed bands, Simple Minds reached a new level, becoming one of the globe's biggest bands. It started with a number 1 hit featured in one of the year's most popular films, The Breakfast Club; then an appearance at Live Aid, followed by the most successful album of their career, Once Upon a Time. Randy Renaud takes you back to 1985 -- a golden year for Simple Minds -- on the Chronicles of Rock.

In late May 1997, former Nirvana drummer, Dave Grohl, embarked on a new phase of his career by releasing an album with a new band he called Foo Fighters. It proved to be a massive success and helped make the Foos one of the biggest bands in the world. Randy has the story behind that album on the latest edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

After disappointing sales for Weezer's second album, leader Rivers Cuomo went into complete isolation and wrote an incredible 121 new songs -- 10 of which were recorded for the band's next album, produced by Ric Ocasek of the Cars. That album, popularly known as the Green album, turned the band's fortunes around and became a huge success; especially here in Canada where it reached number 2 on the charts. Randy Renaud has its story for its 24th anniversary on the Chronicles of Rock.

40 years ago, Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits released their 5th album, Brothers In Arms, recorded with radically new recording technology and a new form of music delivery called "the compact disc." The album proved to be so popular that the CD was suddenly all the rage in music, and the album went on to become one of the best selling records in music history. Randy Renaud revisits Brothers In Arms for its 40th anniversary on the Chronicles of Rock.

In May 1970, the last original album that the Beatles would ever release finally came out, after sitting on the shelf for over a year while the Fab Four battled over management control and financial issues, and in the process broke up. As such, the album Let It Be would act as the finale of the biggest band in the history of popular music. Randy Renaud revisits its creation in honour of its 55th anniversary.

In the spring of 1983, David Bowie took a new direction in his career. Instead of music aimed at your brain, he decided to make an album directed at your pelvis. Music to dance to. He teamed up with Chic's Nile Rodgers and recruited a hot young Texas guitarist named Stevie Ray Vaughan and recorded Let's Dance -- the best-selling album of his career. Randy Renaud revisits David Bowie's Let's Dance on the Chronicles of Rock.

In the spring of 1977, the Rolling Stones put on two surprise club shows in Toronto. But meanwhile, RCMP officers broke into Keith Richards' hotel room, and discovered heroin. The ensuing criminal trial led to a very unusual verdict: the band had to put on a charity concert for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Why for them? Largely due to the testimony of a Quebec Stones fan. Randy Renaud has the whole tale on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

In the spring of 1986, Peter Gabriel released his 5th solo album -- one which became his most successful yet, and made him a global star, and one of the most respected artists in contemporary music. Randy Renaud has the story behind So, on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

One April evening 60 years ago, John Lennon and George Harrison ingested something that they'd never experienced before, and didn't even know they were consuming. It would be the start of a wild night out on the town, and the beginning of the transformation of the sound of the Beatles; and, by extension, it would help create a new genre called "acid-rock." Randy Renaud revisits that crazy night on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

30 years ago this week, the Tragically Hip played to the biggest crowd they'd ever played for, when they appeared on Saturday Night Live as that week's musical guests. And there to introduce them was a guy from their hometown: Dan Ackroyd. Randy revisits that night on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

In an attempt to escape from the long shadow of their big breakthrough hit, Creep, Radiohead turned for inspiration to the music of John Lennon and Jeff Buckley. The result was the brilliant album, The Bends -- one of the best albums of the 90's. Randy Renaud has the whole story on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

At the start of the 90's, as a way of refreshing the way they worked, the members of R.E.M. all tried playing different instruments. They also brought in guest musicians and vocalists. And, for the first time, Michael Stipe tried writing a love song. The result was a hit song, and their first album to reach number 1 in the U.S., Canada, and around the world. Randy Renaud has the story behind Out of Time, released 34 years ago this week, on the Chronicles of Rock.

40 years ago this week, a band from Bath, England let out a musical shout that had fans around the world falling head over heels for them. And soon, Tears for Fears were ruling the world’s record charts. Randy Renaud revisits the story behind the creation of Songs From the Big Chair for its 40th anniversary, on the Chronicles of Rock.

In 1974, Led Zeppelin returned to the country manor where they had recorded their 4th album, to record their first album for their own new record label. The sessions went so well that they decided to expand the album into a 4-sided double album, which they entitled Physical Graffiti. And it was released 50 years ago this week, February 24, 1975. Randy Renaud marks its 50th anniversary by telling the story behind its creation, on the Chronicles of Rock.

It was released on Friday the 13th, 1970. And it would be the harbinger of a new, heavier form of rock music. A new band named Black Sabbath recorded their debut album in less than 12 hours. But its influence would be eternal. Randy Renaud celebrates the 55th anniversary of Black Sabbath's debut album on the Chronicles of Rock.

It was the album that proved that Genesis could indeed survive and even thrive without their former frontman, Peter Gabriel. And like a Victorian toy box, it was filled with fanciful characters and enchanted tales. For its 49th anniversary, Randy Renaud revisits the story behind Trick of the Tail by Genesis on the Chronicles of Rock.

On a blustery January day in 1969, pedestrians, shopkeepers and office workers along London's Saville Row were stunned to discover that, for their lunch-break, they were being treated to an unannounced concert by the world's most famous band. For the first time in 3 years, the Beatles were performing live. But not on a stage, nor even on the street. They were high on top of a rooftop, performing brand new songs. Until, that is, the police arrived to shut them down. Randy Renaud has the story behind the Beatles legendary rooftop concert on the Chronicles of Rock.

In January 1970, a band from Winnipeg with a cryptic name released an album that, despite containing criticism of American policies, became a huge success in the U.S. and went to number 1 in Canada. It remains one of the greatest rock albums to ever come from the Great White North. Randy Renaud revisits the story behind the Guess Who's American Woman for its 55th anniversary, on the Chronicles of Rock.

As the musical movement called New Wave swept across rock, bands that had ruled the 70's landscape of rock had to adapt or perish. And one band that did it better than most was Rush, who, in January 1980, released their answer to the new musical ethos: Permanent Waves; an album that confirmed that the Canadian trio would remain a force to be reckoned with in the 80's. Randy Renaud has the story behind it to mark its 45th anniversary, on the Chronicles of Rock.

In 1984, Van Halen released an album named after that year. But unlike their previous 5 albums which had been recorded in mere weeks, sometimes just days, the band laboured for many months on this one. It paid off as the album ended up going all the way to number 2 on the Billboard charts, and stayed there for five weeks. But it also led to the break-up of the band. Randy Renaud has the story of the album 1984 on the Chronicles of Rock.

In December 1969, the Rolling Stones released their first truly great album -- the first in a series of brilliant albums. And it managed to unseat the Beatles' Abbey Road from the top of the charts. It came at a time of great emotional turmoil and change, as the band's founder, Brian Jones, had died during the period of the album's recording. Undeterred, the Stones delivered one of their very best records, Let It Bleed. Randy Renaud has the story behind it for its 55th anniversary on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

On December 14, 1979, one of the most important albums in rock history was released -- an album that confirmed that a new musical and cultural revolution called punk had truly arrived. Randy Renaud has the story behind the Clash album London Calling for its 45th anniversary on the Chronicles of Rock.

During the first week of December, Pink Floyd were busy creating the cover for their album Animals. But during the photo shoot for it, their giant inflatable pig, named Algie, broke free, and headed off an a grand adventure across the English countryside. Commercial aircraft had to be grounded and military jets scrambled. Randy Renaud, with help from the man who organized the photo shoot, has that wild story on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock. 

33 years ago this week, Freddie Mercury passed away. So, for this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock, Randy Renaud reveals the three rock stars who helped inspire Freddie's legendary career. Listen and share it with a fellow Freddie fan. 

56 years ago, the Beatles released the only double album of their career -- an album created during a period of great strife within the band's ranks. Yet it contains some of the finest and most diverse songs of their illustrious career. On the Chronicles of Rock, Randy Renaud looks back at the creation of the album called simply The Beatles; but now known due to its distinctive blank white cover as White Album. 

The songs were inspired by unrequited love, and the recording was the product of Eric Clapton and three American musicians all living together and jamming. When they were ready, they flew to Miami where, on a night off, Clapton saw Duane Allman play for the first time. And soon after, one of the greatest guitar duets in rock history took place. Randy Renaud has the story behind Derek & the Dominos' Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, released 54 years ago this weekend, on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock. 

On November 1, 1994, 7 months after the death of Kurt Cobain, Nirvana's performance on MTV's Unplugged program was released as an album. It earned the band a Grammy, and acted as a poignant farewell to the band's leader. Randy Renaud revisits the filming and recording of that performance, and tells why it almost didn't happen, on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock. 

In the early 70's, the "Spirit of Rock" had two meanings as CHOM moved to an old haunted house at 1355 Greene Avenue, where the resident ghost frightened overnight staff so badly, they started quitting. But it also became a hang-out and party house for some of rock's biggest bands, visiting Montreal for concerts. Hear that story on this week's Anniversary Chronicles of Rock.

On October 28, 1969, CHOM 97 7 first hit the Montreal airwaves. Randy Renaud celebrates the station's 55th anniversary with this look back at the day that CHOM 97 7 was born.

After two unsuccessful albums and an exodus of band members and management, the career of Supertramp was almost over. But Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, with help from David Bowie's producer, turned things around by creating their masterpiece Crime of the Century. Randy Renaud has the story behind it on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock, to mark the album's 50th anniversary. 

With a sound that was rawer and heavier than their debut album, Pearl Jam came roaring back with their second album, Vs. It raced to number one on both the Canadian and U.S. charts, and set an all-time record for first-week sales. Randy Renaud revisits Vs. by Pearl Jam, released 31 years ago this weekend. 

After establishing themselves as masters of heavy rock on their first 2 albums, Led Zeppelin made the surprising decision to suddenly integrate more delicate textures of English folk music into their sound. And in so doing, they honed the sweet and savory blend that would become their trademark for the next decade. Randy Renaud highlights Led Zeppelin III.

32 years ago this week, the Tragically Hip went from being just a Canadian rock band to being Canadian icons, with their third album. Many fans consider it their masterpiece. And now with the release of the docu-series about the band, Randy Renaud revisits the story behind Fully Completely on the Chronicles of Rock. 

After the aborted Let It Be sessions, the four members of the Beatles seemed to realize that the dream was over, and the band was about to break up. But first, they wanted to create one last masterpiece. And they succeeded. The album named after the street where they did their recordings, Abbey Road (EMI Studios would later take that name, due mainly to this album), would go on to be hailed as one of the band's very best, and one of rock's finest. Randy Renaud revisits the story behind its creation for its 55th anniversary (sept. 26) on the Chronicles of Rock. 

20 years ago, the three members of Green Day decided to do something very ambitious: create a concept album about America in the 21st century, post 9/11. It ended up earning them a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album, and becoming one of the most popular and important albums of the new millennium.  Randy Renaud has the story behind American Idiot on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.   

It remains one of the most important albums in rock history, and yet it only took them 6 days to record. Randy Renaud has the story behind Black Sabbath's Paranoid on the Chronicles of Rock -- including the reason why the cover features a sword-wielding guy in pink leotards. 

60 years ago this weekend, John, Paul, George and Ringo came to Montreal to play two concerts on the same day. And like everywhere they played, screaming fans greeted the Beatles at the airport and drowned out the band when they played at the Forum. But rumoured threats of violence from a terrorist organization prompted the band to leave town early; and they would never return.  Randy Renaud has the story on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock. 

In celebration of their return to town for a concert at MTelus, Randy Renaud revisits the Cult's brilliant second album, Love, on the Chronicles of Rock. By fusing elements of psychedelic-rock, goth-rock and proto heavy metal, Ian Astbury and the band became one of the most-talked about new bands in late-80's rock. 

38 years ago this week, a new album, whose title was inspired by a night in a Vancouver strip club, shot to the top of the album charts, and ended up becoming the best selling album of 1987. It was from a band named Bon Jovi who had travelled across the continent to record in Vancouver, and Slippery When Wet turned them into one of the biggest bands on the planet in the late 80's. Randy Renaud has the story behind it all on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock. 

In honour of its 55th anniversary this past weekend, Randy Renaud revisited the story of the most famous music festival in history: the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival, on the Chronicles of Rock. Hear the story of this legendary event and the remarkable music, love, cooperation, and unity that was at the heart of it.