The Imbalanced History of Rock and Roll

When Jimmy Cliff passed away November 24, 2025, it was a bit of a shock to most people. He'd been busy, producing music, and making future plans before a fall changed everything. Markus & Ray are both major fans, rushing this episode to "the front of the line." Thank you, Jimmy, for all you gave us, especially your indomitable spirit! Fly free! Email us your thoughts at imbalancedhistory@gmail.com Check out all of our episodes on our web site: https://imbalancedhistory.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Markus and Ray have done this before, but somehow it always comes out different! But this is repeat #2 of this great Xmas episode! The boys are promising a fresh take in 2026! The Imbalanced Boys have covered 5 Fave Rock n’ Roll Christmas songs, as well as 5 Fave Heavy Metal Xmas songs, (and a couple other related passes) a few times in their almost 7 years as a podcast! Nothing beats listening to nouveau holiday favorites, mixed with classics, at the holidays! You might be surprised, if you’ve enjoyed their Xmas treats before, at what is (and isn’t) a part of this year’s take on holiday music! So, kick back with some holiday grog, a hot toddy, or whatever sets the mood right, and enjoy this episode of 5 Favorites, and…have a very Merry Christmas & yes, a joyous New Year!" In case you missed it, here's a Spotify link to that #AlicesRestaurant episode we discussed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rather than just list them all, Mark and Ray dance through this era-focused topic, guitars in hand, for an episode of Game Changers! Starting with a brief history of the Fender Strat, and a brief side road about "the two Jimmys," the "Imbalanced Ones" cram as much '70s axe action into this one as possible! The 1970s didn't arrive fully formed, so the discussion has to include those Sixties players, like Jimi Hendrix, who opened doors and laid the base forSeventies-specific guitarists. No discussion of the decade and guitar is complete without talking about Eddie Van Halen, which bookends this story. Cotton and color gave way to artificial fabric and varied print patterns, the Hippies yielded to Suburbia...it's the 1970's in America! Disco was around the corner...but Rock was King to start the decade, and guitars drove a massive wave of music to an exploding youth culture! There might be a #FiveFavorites follow-up given the influential mountain of talent on guitar discussed in this episode!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We can't tell the story any better than this annual repeat episode about one of our favorites, John Lennon! John meant the world, to most people, and definitely to both of us. His music, his message, and his fun way of spreading it, attracted so many to him. One wicked soul saw things differently than most. He took John's life on 12/8/1980... Forgiveness is a virtue, but forgive us for being less than virtuous in our disdain for that man. For us, the living, we have found ways to move forward for decades now. This episode, repeated this week, has helped some of those who still mourn. Markus and Ray had two very different evenings on December 8th, 1980. Hear their stories, and a Rock & Roll intersection on that date, and the mournful night after. Thank you, and here's our best wishes for a happy holiday season, whichever one(s) you celebrate. And If like us, you mark them ALL...let's party!!! Special thanks to producer Tony "Shoes" Maddox for his original production on the flashback part of this episode! Don't forget that you can find all of our episodes, on-demand, for free right here on our web site: https://imbalancedhistory.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn about the immense cast of characters who ARE Deep Purple, and find about some near misses that might surprise you! Unexpected twists can be so much fun, and we unearthed a few in this episode! Before you break out that old guitar and plug-in for some rust-knocking with that classic riff (you know which one), dig in for some fun with the guys...all of them! Take time to learn stuff about stuff you already know stuff about! Listen to this cool episode, and then get caught up here!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Massacrepreat of our original episode from 2024 is dedicated to our dearly departed brother, Pierre Robert, as well as Alice Brock, the story's central figure, who passed away last year just before Thanksgiving. The roasting of the bird! The sharing of the bounty! A tradition that goes back to the earliest days of America. The Imbalanced Boys get into that, but mainly they discuss the modern day addition of Arlo Guthrie's "Alice Restaurant" to the holiday musical fare! Earle Bailey of Sirius-XM stops by to offer historical perspective to the discussion. He shares a couple surprises! Other forms of the original song/album are discussed, it's role in the movement to stop the Vietnam War, as well as a film about the original story in 1969! However you celebrate, be thankful for what you have, and share what you can! We're thankful that you're here!!! Markus & Ray Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the Imbalanced Boys explore the birth and life (so far) of Pearl Jam. They were formed by Seattle stalwarts after the death of Andrew Wood, the singer for Mother Love Bone. The episode includes a brief discussion of Wood's death, as Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament moved on and found an incredible Rock & Roll life. The boys discuss the arrival of Eddie Vedder, and the various drummers who've been in the fold, as part of the overall history of this living legend of a band! Unlike many subjects here on the podcast, this band is still going, at their own pace, in their own way. And we follow... Please add to the conversation by commenting here, or by email: imbalancedhistory@gmail.com Listen or find other episodes on our web site!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They learn as they go, but despite best efforts, this is the only set of Birthday Triplets the Imbalanced Boys have unearthed, so far. Born on November 10th, 1947: Greg Lake, Progressive Rock founder/innovator (King Crimson/ELP) Glen Buxton, lead guitarist of the Alice Cooper Band Dave Loggins, Hall Of Fame singer/songwriter They're all gone now... They'd be 78 today... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rock & Roll world lost a major figure when "Ace" Frehley succumbed to his injuries, sustained in a fall in his studio, on October 16... His impact and influence on the music world is clear, and Kiss fans feel the loss heavily... Ray and Markus discuss their own feelings, and impressions of the man, and his band, in this upbeat memorial. Since then, the guy's immediate world has been rocked to the core with the untimely death of their brother and fellow WMMR personality, Pierre Robert. This episode is dedicated to him... Email us any time at imbalancedhistory@gmail.com, especially with your thoughts and memories about Ace! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For your scaring, and other frightening affairs, we Re-Present, (but for the first time ever since it came out on 10/26/20 - we swear), The Return Of Hollow Weenie Roast One!!! All of the scary! All of the hairy!!! All of the only marginally improved) by production advancements in the last 5 years) original "seasonal ep!" You can also listen to other previous Hollow Weenie Roasts here: Hollow Weenie Roast 2: The Cramps vs Type O Negative (2022) Hollow Weenie Roast 3: The Final Hallowing (2024) Have a safe and fun Hollow Weenie 2025!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People joke about lost albums or icons, but this week Markus and Ray discuss one such thing that is very real: the long, forgotten re-issue of an album that didn't get enough love in its own time. Buckingham Nicks, was the duet debut by two of the most important ingredients in Fleetwood Mac since 1974! Friends since high school, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks set out together to take on the Rock & Roll World! Keith Olsen produced their beautiful, eponymous debut, and is a big part of the story and this episode! Dig in! And hit us on email (imbalancedhistory@gmail.com) if you have a photo of your original Buckingham Nicks album! Find all episodes on our web site: imbalancedhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Word got out about tour dates and plans, just as Markus & Ray were about to sit down with Jim McCarty and Annie Haslam to discuss their unique upcoming short run of shows featuring their own music, and that of their shared love, the band Renaissance! Jim tells us about his plan for his part in this upcoming words and music celebration, and together they fill us in the rest! Turns out, this is their first interview about this imminent stretch of dates. Click links below to find individual show tickets: 11/21 & 11/22 - The Wildey Theater, Edwardsville, IL 11/28 - The Newton Theater, Newton, NJ 11/29 - The Lansdowne Theater, Lansdowne, PA They give us all of the details on how this idea came together, and what's planned for the shows, which are for the fans!!! Click Annie's Facebook, or Jim's Page! Both have info and links to these shows. Email us any time: imbalancedhistory@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We feel that Punk ethos embodies our humanity, and reflects our attitude in this world today. Find yours and get to it! ⁠Here's the link to that Reddit thread⁠ that helped sparked this episode! You might also want to read the full ⁠Why America Still Needs Punk Rock ⁠article! whatculture.com posted their ⁠21 Best Punk Rock Albums Of The 21st Century⁠, and the Imbalanced Ones dissect it! Find all of our episodes on your app, or our website: ⁠imbalancedhistory.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story of Iggy Pop goes back to his Michigan roots, and his role in the groundbreaking Proto-Punk band The Stooges! Markus and Ray go through the years and the evolutions of his music, including his association with David Bowie. But through it all, Iggy, the man, the legend, the icon endures! Enjoy this episode about the roots of #PunkRock! All of our Punk episodes are here: imbalancedhistory.com Just type "Punk" in the search box! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Markus and Ray have talked about 5 Favorites in this area, but this time, they break out the wider topic of ALL Blues guitarists, not just the favored electric side of things! Send us your 5 Faves! Email us at imbalancedhistory@gmail.com! All episodes are on your favorite podcast app, or right here via our web site: imbalancedhistory.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Grateful Dead's Europe '72 was both an incredible ground-breaking live album, and the fulfillment of the band's dream of playing over there! Find out about the roots of "the plan," as the Imbalanced Boys dig into this 3-piece vinyl live monster! Ray mentions an article in SF Gate in the discussion. Check out that article here! Add your comments in the episode on Spotify, or by emailing us at imbalancedhistory@gmail.com - find all our episodes on our web site: imbalancedhistory.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The recent passing of Golden Earring co-founder George Kooymans, succumbing to ALS, caught both of our attention, as "kids" of the Golden Earring era! His lifelong partnership with his neighbor and brother-in-law, Marinus Gerritsen alone is a great tale. The guys share a lot of what they learned along the way. Plus, the music...ahhh their music! Learn more about ALS, and support their efforts to cure this terrible disease, right here!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When approaching a discussion as vast as the music of Frank Zappa, the question is, "Where to begin?" The answer is: The Mothers, naturally. Markus and Ray talk about that incredible period, and the wealth and variety of music it gave us. Give us your Mothers Moment via email: imbalancedhistory@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank White and Alan Tecchio co-wrote the book, Jersey Metal, smash success! Frank stops for some great stories, an update on the pair's projects plus a surprise or two, all inside this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glen E. Friedman joins the guys for a discussion about his newest book, Fearless Vampire Killers, focused on his photos of Bad Brains! While the conversation veers wildly, and includes some of his other work, the Imbalanced Boys focus on this new book, and its subject! Check out his web site, it links to everything!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices