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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

35:21

History in Five Songs Episode 349: Live Albums That...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/03/03

In Episode 349 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin contrasts his previous celebration of career-defining concert records by spotlighting “live albums that meant little," from messy hybrids and poorly timed releases to reputation-denting misfires that felt unnecessary, undercooked, or simply forgettable within their bands’ catalogs.Ozzy Osbourne – “Symptom of the Universe” Rolling Stones – “Twenty Flight Rock” Rainbow – “Kill the King” The Clash – “I Fought the Law”

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36:12

History in Five Songs Episode 348: Peaked with a Live...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/02/25

In Episode 348 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines bands like Kiss, Foghat and others whose live albums either broke them commercially, became their bestsellers, defined their reputations, or even marked their creative peak.Kiss – “Strutter” Foghat – “Fool for the City” UFO – “Mother Mary” Pat Travers Band – “Heat in the Street” Peter Frampton – “It’s a Plain Shame” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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32:14

History in Five Songs Episode 347: Bands with...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/02/17

In Episode 347 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the intriguing phenomenon of major bands like Rush, Iron Maiden, and Nirvana whose beloved early albums—often packed with staple songs and fan favorites—surprisingly underperformed commercially compared to their later multi-platinum successes.Rush – “Finding My Way” Iron Maiden – “Phantom of the Opera” Cheap Trick – “Hot Love” Nirvana – “Swap Meet” Def Leppard – “It Don’t Matter” Learn more about your ad

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37:13

History in Five Songs Episode 346: Kate Bush and...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/02/10

In Episode 346 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin traces the parallel career arcs of Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, comparing their conservative early albums, synchronized creative peaks, shared technologies and collaborators, commercial high points, and eventual semi-retirement marked by long gaps, home studios, and artistic mystique.Peter Gabriel – “Modern Love” Kate Bush – “Delius” Peter Gabriel – “Mercy Street” Kate Bush – “Snowed in at Wheeler Street” Peter

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38:28

History in Five Songs Episode 345: Rock Stars with No...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/02/03

In Episode 345 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores surprisingly famous rock stars across metal, prog, and punkrock who—despite major influence, acclaim, and ticket-selling power—never earned a single U.S. gold record.Scorpions – “Top of the Bill” 0:53 – 1:23 Status Quo – “Down Down” 1:02 – 1:32 Porcupine Tree – “Shallow” 0:34 – 1:04 The Replacements – “I Don’t Know” 0:22 – 0:52 Motörhead – “(Don’t Need) Religion” 0:20 – 0:50 Learn more about your ad

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36:32

History in Five Songs Episode 342: Title Track as...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/01/28

In Episode 342 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin contemplates the unusual choice of albums where the title track appears last, and examines what that placement says about the songs and albums, using examples from Slayer, Alice in Chains, David Bowie, and more.Slayer – “Seasons in the Abyss” Nazareth – “No Mean City” Alice in Chains – “Black Gives Way to Blue” April Wine – “The Whole World’s Going Crazy” David Bowie – “Heathen (Rays)” Learn more about your ad

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36:08

History in Five Songs Episode 344: Infiltrated by...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/01/27

In Episode 343 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores how famously British and international bands—from Yes and Black Sabbath to Bowie, Foreigner, and Peter Gabriel—gradually absorbed American members, not to “become American,” but through creative instinct, convenience, touring realities, and fresh energy that subtly reshaped their sound and identity. Yes – “Cut from the Stars” Foreigner – “Lonely Children” Sepultura – “Unconscious” Rainbow – “Freedom Fighter”

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32:57

History in Five Songs Episode 343: Biggest Left Turns

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/01/20

In Episode 343 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the most surprising and often baffling musical “biggest left turns,” spotlighting bands that radically and unexpectedly reinvented their sound—from punk to prog, metal to synth-pop, and rock to funk—often defying logic, trends, and their own pasts. The Saints – “See You in Paradise” Alice Cooper – “Leather Boots” The Meat Puppets – “Paradise” The Tubes – “Tip of My Tongue” Rush – “Lock and Key” Learn more

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36:32

History in Five Songs Episode 342: Title Track as...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/01/13

In Episode 342 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin contemplates the unusual choice of albums where the title track appears last, and examines what that placement says about the songs and albums, using examples from Slayer, Alice in Chains, David Bowie, and more.Slayer – “Seasons in the Abyss” Nazareth – “No Mean City” Alice in Chains – “Black Gives Way to Blue” April Wine – “The Whole World’s Going Crazy” David Bowie – “Heathen (Rays)” Learn more about your ad

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36:52

History in Five Songs Episode 341: Good Riddance to...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2026/01/06

In Episode 341 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin rings in the "new year” of 1980 by examining how classic rock, metal, punk, and new wave bands either reinvented themselves, stalled out, or flat-out quit as the calendar flipped from the ’70s into the radically different ’80s.Y&T – “Shake It Loose” Led Zeppelin – “Carouselambra” Black Sabbath – “Wishing Well” The Damned – “Plan 9 Channel 7” David Bowie – “Ricochet” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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33:02

History in Five Songs Episode 340: Painkiller on The...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/12/30

In Episode 340 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin treats Judas Priest’s Painkiller and AC/DC’s The Razor’s Edge as near-identical 1990-era comeback doppelgangers, comparing their timing, guitars, drummers, production, and missed momentum as two old-guard metal bands tried to outmuscle a changing scene on the eve of grunge.AC/DC – “Are You Ready” Judas Priest – “Between the Hammer & the Anvil” AC/DC – “Moneytalks” Judas Priest – “Night Crawler” AC/DC –

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33:53

History in Five Songs Episode 339: Stick Around

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/12/23

In Episode 339 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores how persistence and simply staying in the game can eventually pay off, using life-lesson stories and musical examples—from Gary Moore and John Wetton to Tommy Thayer and Derek Shulman—of artists who kept showing up, climbed the ladder in different ways, and ultimately landed career-defining gigs inside and beyond the rock world.Gary Moore – “Moving On” Gentle Giant – “All Through the Night” Kiss – “Outta This

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38:51

History in Five Songs Episode 338: Rock ‘n’ Roll...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/12/18

In Episode 338 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores why veteran rock stars like Alice Cooper, Robert Plant, Rob Halford and others collaborate with younger musicians, examining whether it’s for creative renewal, staying culturally relevant, genuine mentorship, or tapping into youthful energy.Alice Cooper – “Dirty Diamonds” Robert Plant – “Big Love” Fight – “Immortal Sin” Bruce Dickinson – “Back from the Edge” Iggy Pop – “American Valhalla” Learn more about

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35:14

History in Five Songs Episode 337: Missed the...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/12/09

In Episode 337 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin examines rock and metal bands that “missed the pre-grunge window” by failing to release one more album before grunge’s 1991 breakthrough wiped out their commercial momentum.Whitesnake – “Judgment Day" Foreigner – “Counting Every Minute” Accept – “Monsterman” UFO – “Mean Streets” Blue Öyster Cult – “Del Rio’s Song” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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34:51

History in Five Songs Episode 336: Snuck One in...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/12/09

In Episode 336 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin ponders the bands who managed—through timing, luck, pivots, or pure momentum—to sneak in a successful album just before grunge exploded and reshaped the entire rock and metal landscape. Alice Cooper – “Little by Little” Pantera – “Domination” Judas Priest – “Hell Patrol” Metallica – “Holier Than Though” AC/DC – “Let’s Make It” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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34:51

History in Five Songs Episode 336: Snuck One in...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/12/04

In Episode 336 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin ponders the bands who managed—through timing, luck, pivots, or pure momentum—to sneak in a successful album just before grunge exploded and reshaped the entire rock and metal landscape.Alice Cooper – “Little by Little” Pantera – “Domination” Judas Priest – “Hell Patrol” Metallica – “Holier Than Though” AC/DC – “Let’s Make It” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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35:37

History in Five Songs Episode 335: Motörhead and...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/11/25

In Episode 335 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin traces the parallel rise, stumbles, and enduring legacies of Motörhead and Saxon, showing how the two bands evolved like true heavy-metal doppelgängers across debuts, classics, live albums, missteps, and comeback eras.Motörhead – “Keep Us on the Road” Saxon – “Out of Control” Motörhead – “Marching Off to War” Saxon – “Hole in the Sky” Motörhead – “When the Eagle Screams” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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34:58

History in Five Songs Episode 334: Why a Rock ‘n’...

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/11/18

In Episode 334 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin digs into why so many rock, metal, and even punk bands slip old-school 1950s-style rock-and-roll rave-ups into their albums, exploring the roots, motives, and surprising examples behind this enduring musical quirk.Whitesnake – “Bloody Luxury” Kiss – “Let Me Go, Rock ‘n’ Roll” Accept – “Burning” The Clash – “Brand New Cadillac” Rush – “In the Mood” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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36:55

History in Five Songs Episode 333: First Track Buzz-Kill

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/11/18

In Episode 333 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into those puzzling album openers that deflate excitement right out of the gate—exploring songs that worry, confuse, or misrepresent their bands, from The Who and Rush to Queen, Rainbow, and Yes. The Who – “New Song” Rush – “The Big Money” Queen – “Party” Rainbow – “I Surrender” Yes – “Going for the One” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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36:55

History in Five Songs Episode 333: First Track Buzz-Kill

History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff ·

2025/11/11

In Episode 333 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into those puzzling album openers that deflate excitement right out of the gate—exploring songs that worry, confuse, or misrepresent their bands, from The Who and Rush to Queen, Rainbow, and Yes.The Who – “New Song” Rush – “The Big Money” Queen – “Party” Rainbow – “I Surrender” Yes – “Going for the One” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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