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PODCAST

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff is the show that aims to make grand and often oddball hard rock and heavy metal points through a narrative built upon the tiny idea of a quintet of songs. Buttressed with illustrative clips, Martin argues quickly and succinctly why these songs - and the specific sections of these tracks - support his mad professor premise, from the wobbly invention of an “American” heavy metal, to the influence of Led Zeppelin in hair metal or to more succinct topics like

music music history

All Episodes

34:25

History in Five Songs Episode 380: Modest Metal Wins...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/10/07

In Episode 380 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin looks back at the modest metal victories of the '90s. From hair-metal revivals and thrash tours to underground bands earning major-label attention and surprising gold and platinum certifications, Martin recalls the excitement of championing metal during its supposedly “dead” era.Poison – “Sexual Thing” Machine Head – “Old” Cathedral – “Ride” Saigon Kick – “Freedom” Monster Magnet – “Powertrip” Learn more about your

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35:37

History in Five Songs Episode 379: Improbable...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/09/29

In Episode 379 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores albums with unexpectedly high sales certifications. He highlights unusual successes across live albums, greatest hits compilations, soundtracks, EPs, and unconventional studio records, spotlighting artists including Cheap Trick, Kiss, and the Clash.Cheap Trick – “Lookout” Kiss – “Let’s Put the X in Sex” Curtis Stigers – “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding” Ugly Kid Joe – “Too Bad” The

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37:38

History in Five Songs Episode 378: Falsetto

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/09/22

In Episode 378 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines the many ways rock singers use falsetto. From the theatrical and expressive styles of Queen and David Bowie to the comedic, shrieking, and novelty approaches of artists including King Diamond and the Rolling Stones, Martin goes deep on this one.King Diamond – “Little One" Queen – “Cool Cat” Halford – “Silent Screams” David Bowie – “Ashes to Ashes” Rolling Stones – “Fool to Cry” Learn more about your ad

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35:05

History in Five Songs Episode 377: Albums with Shared...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/09/15

In Episode 377 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines the fascinating “shared birthdays” of iconic 1970s albums. He highlights unexpected release-day pairings, musical rivalries, and the stories and connections behind these coincidental release dates.U.K. – “In the Dead of Night” Queen – “Sheer Heart Attack” Kiss – “I Want You” Max Webster – “Toronto Tontos” Thin Lizzy – “Emerald” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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33:09

History in Five Songs Episode 376: Conned by the Cover

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/09/08

In Episode 376 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the art of the album “con” by examining rock and metal records whose dramatic or intriguing covers may have overpromised the experience. Artists including Alice Cooper, Jethro Tull, and the Clash teased darker, heavier, or more ambitious musical experience than the albums ultimately delivered.Alice Cooper – “I’m the Coolest” Uriah Heep – “Out on the Street” Jethro Tull – “Watching Me Watching You” Michael

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34:41

History in Five Songs Episode 375: The Catalogue Bad Boy

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/09/01

In Episode 375 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin contemplates the gritty, rebellious, swaggering, often dark and unapologetically uncommercial album that stands apart in a band's discography, including Van Halen, Pink Floyd, and Ozzy Ozbourne.Van Halen – “Loss of Control" UFO – “Makin’ Moves” Accept – “Demon’s Night” Pink Floyd – “Sheep” Ozzy Osbourne – “Demon Alcohol” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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35:14

History in Five Songs Episode 374: Jarring Volume...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/08/25

In Episode 374 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines how bands such as the Pixies, Queen, and Black Sabbath use dramatic shifts between quiet and heavy passages to create tension, surprise and impact.Pixies – “Tame” Queen – “Death on Two Legs” Opeth – “Heir Apparent” Black Sabbath – “Orchid” Roger Waters – “Deja Vu” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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34:24

History in Five Songs Episode 373: Underrated Singing...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/08/18

In Episode 373 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin celebrates underrated singing guitarists, exploring how artists including Brian May, Ted Nugent and Jerry Garcia are often overshadowed as vocalists by their reputations as guitarists, frontmen and songwriters.Steve Hackett – “Strutton Ground” Queen – “Sail Away Sweet Sister” Ted Nugent – “Crave” Gary Moore – “Enough of the Blues” Y&T – “Hell or High Water” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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36:06

History in Five Songs Episode 372: Killed by Booze

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/08/12

In Episode 372 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin looks back at the tragic stories of rock and metal legends who died from alcohol-related illness and substance abuse. He including several musicians he personally interviewed, while reflecting on booze as the music world’s often-overlooked “silent killer.”1. The Stooges – “T.V. Eye” 0:23 – 0:532. Fear of God – “All That Remains” 2:37 – 3:073. Bruford – “Hell’s Bells” 1:51 – 2:214. Rory Gallagher – “Shadow Play” 0:17 – 0:475

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35:12

History in Five Songs Episode 371: Last Song, Best Song

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/08/04

In Episode 371 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores why some of rock and metal's greatest albums save their strongest statement for last. Closing tracks from Ozzy Osbourne, Metalllica and others prove the final song can be the album's most memorable, ambitious, and powerful moment.Ozzy Osbourne – “Diary of a Madman” Yes – “Heart of the Sunrise” Metallica – “Metal Militia” Alice in Chains – “Would?” Kiss – “Black Diamond” Learn more about your ad choices

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35:14

History in Five Songs Episode 370: Underperforming...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/07/28

In Episode 370 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines why so many classic rock and metal bands, from Def Leppard to Rush and Iron Maiden, have debut albums that sold surprisingly poorly compared to their blockbuster follow-ups, despite often being fan favorites and essential parts of their catalogs.Def Leppard – “Satellite” Rush – “Finding My Way” Twisted Sister – “Run for Your Life” Slayer – “Die by the Sword” Iron Maiden – “Phantom of the Opera” Learn more

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37:17

History in Five Songs Episode 369: Lowering the...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/07/22

In Episode 369 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin argues how rock bands from the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin to Fleetwood Mac and UFO escaped the creative limits of the British blues boom. He posits that their willingness to evolve into hard rock, heavy metal, prog, and pop ultimately defined their greatest successes.The Rolling Stones – “Street Fighting Man” Status Quo – “Oh Baby” Black Sabbath – “Hand of Doom” Aerosmith – “Woman of the World” UFO – “Rock

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36:10

History in Five Songs Episode 368: Your new guitarist...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/07/15

In Episode 368 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explains how replacement guitarists can become welcome or unwelcome distractions by transforming a band's sound, identity, songwriting, or fan perception. He highlights memorable examples from acts like Yes, Whitesnake and Fleetwood Mac. Yes – “Changes” Whitesnake – “Slip of the Tongue” Dio – “Big Sister” Fleetwood Mac – “Second Hand News" Thin Lizzy – “The Holy War” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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33:15

History in Five Songs Episode 367: How crazy was 1991?

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/07/14

In Episode 367 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into why 1991 stands as one of rock's most transformative years. He traces the remarkable flood of landmark hard rock, metal, grunge, and more that redefined the music landscape in just a few extraordinary months. David Lee Roth – “Baby’s on Fire” Van Halen – “Runaround” Ozzy Osbourne – “Desire” Soundgarden – “Face Pollution” R.E.M. – “Losing My Religion" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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36:26

History in Five Songs Episode 366: The Four...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/06/30

In Episode 366 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin traces the four key albums recorded by future Deep Purple members before their reunion on Perfect Strangers. Martin further explores how disparate projects with Whitesnake, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Gary Moore set the stage for one of rock's most celebrated comeback albums. Gary Moore – “Don’t Take Me for a Loser” Whitesnake – “Saints an’ Sinners” Rainbow – “Stranded” Black Sabbath – “Hot Line” Deep Purple –

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38:05

History in Five Songs Episode 365: Where Guitar Takes...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/06/23

In Episode 365 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the many ways guitar can fade into a supporting role in rock and metal. Bands like Rush, Twisted Sister, and Genesis demonstrate how songwriting, vocals, keyboards, rhythm sections, or dominant personalities can overshadow what is typically the genre’s central instrument. Rush – “Red Sector A” David Lee Roth – “Hot Dog and a Shake” Twisted Sister – “Burn in Hell” The Stranglers – “Water” Genesis –

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34:40

History in Five Songs Episode 364: Best Weird Lineup...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/06/16

In Episode 364 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin celebrates rock and metal’s greatest one-off lineups, highlighting albums where a unique combination of musicians appeared just once yet produced some of the most memorable and influential records in their bands’ catalogs.Judas Priest – “Dissident Aggressor” Black Sabbath – “Die Young” The Saints – “This Perfect Day” Alcatrazz – “Wire and Wood” Yes – “Into the Lens” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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34:14

History in Five Songs Episode 363: Title Not in the...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/06/09

In Episode 363 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into the curious world of songs whose titles never appear in their lyrics. He uses examples from heavy metal, prog, grunge, and classic rock to examine how artists use enigmatic, descriptive, and literary titles to add meaning beyond the words actually being sung. Black Sabbath – “A National Acrobat” Rush – “Witch Hunt” Faith No More – “Epic” Scorpions – “The Sails of Charon” Queen – “Bohemian

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37:44

History in Five Songs Episode 362: Prog and Metal

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/06/02

In Episode 362 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin delves into how heavy metal and progressive rock evolved as musical "doppelgangers," tracing their shared roots, parallel development, eventual convergence, and enduring bond through virtuosity, ambition, and a common outsider spirit.Deep Purple – “Into the Fire” Yes – “Siberian Khatru” Rush – “The Camera Eye” Metallica – “Phantom Lord” Porcupine Tree – “The Blind House” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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35:00

History in Five Songs Episode 361: Career Sabotage...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/05/26

In Episode 361 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin discusses “career sabotage albums.” These daring, strange, or self-destructive records by bands like Fleetwood Mac, Ministry, and Nirvana that may have intentionally (or unintentionally!) derailed commercial momentum in pursuit of artistic freedom or anti-commercial instincts. Fleetwood Mac – “The Ledge” Ministry – “Useless” Pearl Jam – “Tremor Christ” Masters of Reality – “Ants in the Kitchen” Neil Young – “Payola

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