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PODCAST

Chronicles of Rock

Randy Renaud uses his unique storytelling ability to relive some of the biggest and most important moments in the history of rock "n" roll. Important albums, legendary concerts and nights of debauchery all make up the Chronicles of Rock.

music music commentary

All Episodes

7:04

The Opening Chapter in a Hall of Fame Career

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/11/14

In November 1972, a new California band suddenly burst onto the scene with a brilliant debut album. But that band was really just a recording vehicle for two songwriters from New York, Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, who would go on to create some of the finest albums of the Seventies and get inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in 2001. But this first one has gone down in history as one of rock's finest. Randy Renaud revisits the birth of Steely Dan on this week's edition of the Chronicles of

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5:43

The R.E.M. Album Written As a Statement of Optimism

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/11/07

In November of 1988, there was optimism in the air as the Cold War was thawing, and words like "glasnost" and "perestroika" were part of the parlance of the age. And R.E.M., for their 6th album, reflected that optimism on the album Green. It was one of their most overtly political albums with songs like "Orange Crush," "Stand" and "World Leader Pretend." Randy tells the story behind it, and how Montreal's own Leonard Cohen inspired one of its songs, on the Chronicles of Rock.

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5:32

The Eerie Tale of the Original Spirit of Rock: the...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/10/31

CHOM's original studios were at 1355 Greene Avenue in an old manour home that CHOM staff was convinced was haunted. Eerie sounds were heard at night, a large mirror at the top of the stairs kept cracking, and a spectral presence was spotted by many employees. Staff refused to work overnight, and it got so bad that an emergency seance was held. For Halloween, Randy revisits the chilling tale of the CHOM Ghost -- the original "spirit" of rock.

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6:35

The Ambitious Double Album Meant to be the White...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/10/24

In 1995, the Smashing Pumpkins were on top of the rock world with the release of a double album that leader Billy Corgan likened to the Beatles' White Album, or Pink Floyd's The Wall. And despite it being a double album, it debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and earned the band 7 Grammy nominations. To mark the album's 30th anniversary, Randy Renaud revisits the story behind the making of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness on the Chronicles of Rock.

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7:29

Genesis's First Concept Album & Peter Gabriel's Farewell

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/10/17

It began with the theft of a bunch of their instruments, continued with writing sessions in a rat-infested (and possibly haunted) old house, and finished in a race to meet a deadline. But the result was one of Prog-Rock's greatest concept albums. It would also prove to be the last with lead singer Peter Gabriel. To mark the release of the new box set and Dolby Atmos mix of the album, Randy traces the story behind The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway by Genesis on the Chronicles of Rock.

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7:02

The Birth of Van Halen

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/10/10

In celebration of David Lee Roth's 71st birthday, and in commemoration of Eddie Van Halen, who passed away 5 years ago this week, Randy Renaud revisits the birth of the band Van Halen and the creation of their debut album, on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

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7:06

The 55th Anniversary of Led Zeppelin III

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/10/03

In October, 1970, Led Zeppelin revealed just how diverse was their musical palette with their third album, featuring more delicate numbers inspired by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant's love of English folk music. And so to celebrate the 55th anniversary of that great album, Randy Renaud has the story behind its creation on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

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6:47

Remembering Rick Davies & Supertramp's Crime of the...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/09/26

By 1973, after two albums, it looked like the career of Rick Davies and Supertramp was over. But with the addition of new members, Supertramp set about creating an album that would turn their fortunes around and that would go on to be recognized as an all-time classic. In remembrance of Rick Davies who passed away on September 6, 2025, at the age of 81, Randy Renaud revisits the story behind that brilliant album on the Chronicles of Rock.

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6:17

Remembering Jimi Hendrix On the 55th Anniversary of...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/09/19

Exhausted and frustrated with his career, Jimi Hendrix retreated to London in September of 1970 to recover and reset. However, on September 18, he was found dead in his rented apartment at the age of 27. For the 55th anniversary of his passing, Randy Renaud revisits the strange circumstances of his death on the latest edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

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7:03

The Montreal Launch of Pink Floyd's First Tour...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/09/12

38 years ago this week, Pink Floyd embarked on their first tour in 6 years, but now without Roger Waters. And they launched their world tour, first with a show in Ottawa, and then the official launch with 3 concerts at the Montreal Forum. Press from all over the world flew into town to witness whether or not they could do it without Waters. And despite the band members being very nervous, the shows were a triumph. Randy Renaud takes you back to those monumental shows on this week's edition of the

en-US

7:28

The Story Behind the Album That Made Genesis a Top...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/09/05

In September 1981, Genesis recorded their 11th album. And for the first time, they utilized guest musicians and the newly developed drum machines. They adapted their sound to the rising New Wave movement in music, and scored their best-selling album to that point in their career. Randy Renaud has the story behind Abacab on the Chronicles of Rock.

en-US

7:28

Remembering Stevie Ray Vaughan for the 35th...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/09/02

35 years ago, after a triumphant performance at a music festival in Wisconsin alongside many other rock & blues greats, the 35 year old Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a helicopter crash, thus cutting short one of the most remarkable careers and talents in the history of rock. Randy Renaud pays tribute to the guy who even blues giants like Buddy Guy and B.B. King revered on the latest edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

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7:19

A 50th Anniversary Celebration of Bruce Springsteen's...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/08/22

In the summer of 1975, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band released an album that saved their careers. In jeopardy of being dropped by their record company, they came up with a masterpiece of an album that now ranks as one of rock's all-time greatest. Randy Renaud looks back at the story behind its creation on the Chronicles of Rock.

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7:27

The Brilliant Rock Album Created From the Leftovers...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/08/15

Following the immense success of the concept album/rock opera Tommy, Pete Townshend had an even more ambitious project in mind for the Who's next studio album -- one that would connect the band and listeners via computer technology and the newly invented synthesizers, long before the creation of the internet or virtual reality. But it proved to be TOO ambitious, so the band abandoned it. But the leftover songs formed the basis of one of the greatest rock albums in history. Randy Renaud revisits the

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6:11

One of the Biggest Concert Productions in Rock...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/08/08

In August 1977, Emerson, Lake and Palmer brought a very ambitious concert tour to Montreal, to Olympic Stadium backed by a 60-piece orchestra. But before the tour began, the three bandmates lived and rehearsed here in Montreal. On this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock, Randy Renaud revisits that incredible concert event, and Carl Palmer explains what happened just 15 minutes before showtime, almost derailing the whole show.

en-US

6:49

The Story Behind the Album That Made Us All Want to...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/08/01

43 years ago, a band from Birmingham, England, became a sensation with an album that fused Bowie & Roxy Music influences with American soul & funk, and delivered it with a sunny sheen that helped make it the soundtrack of the summer of '82. And so, for this summer weekend, Randy revisits the making and impact of Duran Duran's album Rio, on the Chronicles of Rock.

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7:16

How Rush pared down their sound to create Moving...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/07/25

In the early 1980’s, rock’s New Wave washed away many of the bands from the previous decade. But one Canadian band adapted and rode the tide to even greater success. For their 8th album, Rush pared down their sound and integrated ska and afro-beat rhythms to create the most successful album of their career. Randy Renaud has the story of Moving Pictures on the Chronicles of Rock.

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6:07

How The Rolling Stones created Sticky Fingers

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/07/18

It may well be the greatest album in the career of one of rock’s greatest bands. With the help of a brand new guitarist recruited from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, and through recording sessions at the legendary Muscle Shoals studios, The Rolling Stones created the masterpiece, Sticky Fingers. Randy Renaud unzips the tale on Chronicles of Rock.

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4:19

The True Story Behind the Time Ozzy Munched Down on a...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/07/11

With Ozzy Osbourne performing what looks to be his final concert ever, Randy looks back at one of the most infamous concert moments of Ozzy's remarkable career -- the time he bit into a bat onstage. All the bloody details, and how the bats got their revenge later, on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.

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6:41

It Only Took Black Sabbath One Week to Change the...

Chronicles of Rock ·

2025/07/04

In 1970, just months after their debut album had been released, four lads from Birmingham re-entered the studio to record a follow-up. It took them less than a week, but its impact would be eternal, helping to create a new sound in rock that would come to be called "heavy metal." Randy Renaud looks back at the creation of the Black Sabbath masterpiece, Paranoid, in honour of the band's farewell concert in Birmingham.

en-US

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