Chronicles of Rock: Recent Episodes
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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.
60 years ago, in August 1966, London was being called "Swinging London" -- the home of Twiggy, James Bond, Pop Art, mini-skirts, and the site of England's only World Cup championship (in July). It was also the home of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr who went into Abbey Road Studios in April to record an album that would redefine what popular music could be. From radically new recording techniques to non-western musical influences, The Beatles raised the bar with Revolver. And Randy Renaud marks its 60th anniversary with the story behind its recording, on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
Randy Renaud caught up with Frank Marino, legendary musician and frontman of Mahogany Rush. He discusses his early career, shares his favourite guitar solos and chats about Angine de Poitrine's success.
Frank Marino will be playing a free outdoor concert at the 2026 edition of Italfest MTL on August 7 at 9:15 p.m. at the corner of St. Laurent boulevard and Jean-Talon Street.
In 1991, for their fifth album, Metallica teamed up with Canada's Bob Rock to create an album with more of a mainstream sheen, while still not sacrificing the band's dark undertones. The result was the massively successful self-titled album "Metallica" -- more commonly known as "the Black Album." It stands as one of the seminal albums of the 90's, and on August 12, it turns 35 years old. Randy Renaud celebrates its anniversary with the story behind it, on the Chronicles of Rock.
In early 1975, Bruce Springsteen was in danger of being dropped by his record label. So he and the E-Street Band threw all their energy into creating something epic -- a marriage of Phil Spector, Bob Dylan, Jack Kerouac, and Marlon Brando all rolled into one. It would not only save his career, but it would become one of the quintessential albums in the history of rock. Randy Renaud has the story of the creation of Born to Run on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
One hot and stormy weekend in the summer of 1969, a half a million people gathered at a pig farm in upstate New York to experience an incredible event -- one of the greatest collections of rock performers in history, and a remarkable example of collective harmony and cooperation. Randy Renaud revisits the story of the most famous music festival in history: the 1969 Woodstock Music and Arts Festival, on the Chronicles of Rock.
Image: AP Photo/File
15 summers ago, in July 2011, U2 came to Montreal on their 360 Degrees tour. But unlike their previous show in 1997, this time, they wouldn't be playing at Olympic Stadium. It was deemed unsafe, and there was nowhere else large enough to accommodate the band's massive stage structure, nicknamed "The Claw." So the band spent their own money to adapt the old Blue Bonnets racetrack into a world-class concert venue. And the resulting shows would become two of the most memorable shows in Montreal concert history. Randy Renaud revisits that magical weekend on the Chronicles of Rock.
Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Donald Tarlton was one of the most important figures in not only the history of popular music here in Montreal, but in Canada. He founded the concert promotion and booking company Donald K. Donald (or DKD) in 1966, and was instrumental in bringing to Montreal bands like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and the Who. He also helped create the Aquarius record label featuring artists like April Wine, Corey Hart and Sum 41. In the year 2000, he was selected as a Member of the Order of Canada.
Here he is in conversation with CHOM deejay Live Earl Jive in 1974 talking about a new Canadian band who were coming to Montreal for the first time, named not Mahogany Rush, but "Rush."
CP PHOTO/Adrian Wyld
On April 2, 1968, Jimi Hendrix came to Montreal to perform for the one and only time. He and the Experience did a concert at the Paul Sauvé arena (that's Jimi backstage at the arena in the photo), but unruly fans kept invading the stage and even stole some of the band's equipment. Jimi, Mitch Mitchell, and Noel Redding arrived in town the night before, and ended up in an Irish pub. Randy Renaud has the story on today's episode of For The Record.
In 1982, Eddie Vedder was working at a San Diego radio station, and he fell in love with a new song they were playing from a British band. Many years later, he and Pearl Jam recorded their song "Better Man," and once it became a hit, Vedder suddenly realized that he had unintentionally borrowed the chord structure from that 80's song he'd loved. But he made up for it by making sure the original writer got a special payday. Randy Renaud has that story on today's edition of For The Record, featured Monday through Thursday at 2pm.
As 1971 was coming to a close, David Bowie was going through some "Changes" -- from a Dylan-inspired singer-songwriter to the space-age rock star named Ziggy Stardust. He was broke, a new father, and in desperate need of some commercial success. So he recruited a band of musicians from Northern England, including a brilliant guitarist and arranger named Mick Ronson. And together they created an album called Hunky Dory. It laid the groundwork for his big breakthrough album to follow. But it is recognized today as one of his best-ever albums. Randy Renaud has the story behind its creation 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.
In celebration of the return to Montreal of Billy Corgan and the band for the Osheaga Festival, Randy Renaud revisits their epic 1995 double album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness on the Chronicles of Rock. It was intended to be kind of Pink Floyd's The Wall, but for a new generation, and it went on to be one of signature albums of the Nineties. Hear the story behind its creation here.
In celebration of the release of the new 40th anniversary boxset for Synchronicity, Randy Renaud has the story behind their brilliant fifth and final album -- an album partly recorded here in Quebec, at Le Studio. And right after recording it, they celebrated by performing two shows here in Montreal -- first at Le Spectrum and then the Big O. This week's topic on the Chronicles of Rock.
52 years ago this week, the Rolling Stones STP ('Stones Touring Party') tour came to Montreal. Riots broke out on the streets around the Forum as some fans discovered they'd been sold counterfeit tickets, and the band had to scramble to replace their equipment when their equipment truck got bombed. But despite all that, the Stones still delivered an unforgettable performance. Randy Renaud has the whole crazy story on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
In July 1977, Pink Floyd wound up their In the Flesh world tour with a massive event at the still-brand-new Olympic Stadium. It would become famous for what happened during the show, and what it ended up inspiring: the concept album, The Wall. Randy Renaud has the whole story on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
In December of 1971, Deep Purple traveled to the Lake Geneva shoreline to make a record with a mobile. But their plans went, literally, up in flames. So they had to scramble to find a way to record their album. But somehow they managed to do it, and in the process created one of the greatest and heaviest albums in the history of rock. Randy Renaud tells the tale of Machine Head by Deep Purple on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
In the summer of 1982, Simple Minds went from an obscure post-punk, synth-rock band to one of the most innovative and influential bands of the 80's New Wave scene. Even the members of U2 were inspired by what the Glasgow lads were doing, and that began a close friendship between the two bands. So, to celebrate the dawning of the summer of 2024, Randy Renaud puts the spotlight on a great summer record: New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84, on the Chronicles of Rock.
52 years ago this week, a blond-haired hippie folkie named David Bowie reinvented himself as Ziggy Stardust; and backed by his band, the Spiders from Mars, he released an album that created a sensation. Randy Renaud has the story behind the brilliant album 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
They were one of the creative and influential bands of the 70's. But in 1982, they created perhaps their finest album. An album that oozed elegance, beauty and sensuality. Randy Renaud takes you back to this week in 1982 when Roxy Music released their final album.
55 years ago this week, John Lennon and Yoko Ono focused the world's press attention on Montreal as they hosted their pillowy summit for peace at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. Randy Renaud takes you back to that monumental moment in Montreal's history on this week's episode of the Chronicles of Rock.
On this day, 55 years ago, The Who released an album that opened whole new vistas for rock music and the record album. Tommy was one of the first 'rock operas', and it turned The Who into one of the world's most important rock bands. It has since been adapted as a movie, an opera, a dance production, and more. Randy Renaud has the story behind Tommy for its 55th anniversary on this week's edition of The Chronicles of Rock.
Despite being the biggest rock band in the world, the Rolling Stones were deeply in debt in 1972. So they packed up their mobile recording studio, and headed to the French Riviera to record in an old mansion that was once a Nazi headquarters. It was a month-long party marked by wild debauchery, but it also resulted in one of rock's all-time greatest albums. Randy Renaud has the story of Exile On Main Street on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
The newly restored version of the Beatles original documentary, Let It Be, is about to be released for the first time in four decades. And to mark that occasion, Randy Renaud revisits the recording and filming of what ended up being the Fab Four's farewell project: Let It Be. On this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
Back in the spring of 1997, Dave Grohl was dealing with not only a divorce, but the potential break-up of the band that he just formed! And yet, out of all that emerged an album that would become one of the best-selling rock albums of the late 90's. Randy Renaud has the story of The Colour and the Shape on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
Due to Jim Morrison's legal and alcohol problems, the Doors' live gigs had dried up. So, to cut costs, they set up a makeshift recording studio in a dingy former jewelry store on Santa Monica Blvd. But just as they were getting set to record their sixth studio album, their producer suddenly quit. Nevertheless, the band soldiered on, and created one of the all-time great rock albums. Sadly, it would be Jim Morrison's last.
Randy Renaud has the story of L.A. Woman by the Doors for its 53rd anniversary on the Chronicles of Rock
April 13, 1970 was a night that would go down as one of the greatest highlights in Montreal concert lore, because it was the night that Led Zeppelin came to town for the first time. They became the first band to ever sell out the Forum, and something happened that night that would, in the years to come, become a worldwide tradition at rock concerts. Randy Renaud has the whole story on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
Its title was inspired by a movie starring Sally Field, and its music was partly inspired by Peter Gabriel's recording experimentations, as well as some of the contemporary bands Roland Orzabal was listening to at the time. And in the spring and summer of 1985, it ruled the world's record charts. For this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock, Randy Renaud has the story of Tears for Fears' Songs From the Big Chair.
Although leader Ian Anderson denied that it was ever intended to be a concept album, Jethro Tull's breakthrough album, Aqualung, explored the contradictions of institutional religion and contemporary social conditions on an album that would go to be hailed as an all-time classic. Randy Renaud has the story of Aqualung, for its 53rd anniversary, on the Chronicles of Rock.
This week in 1987, the rock world was buzzing about the brilliant new album from U2, on which the Irish band painted a portrait of America in song. It ended up winning the Grammy for Album of the Year, and would then go on to become one of the best-selling albums in history. Randy Renaud has the story of The Joshua Tree on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
To welcome Peter Gabriel back to Montreal and Quebec City, Randy returns to 1993 when Gabriel came here not only to collaborate with Quebec artistic designers, and to rehearse for his upcoming tour, but also to perform two concerts: one at the Forum, and three months before that, a special surprise show at the Spectrum.
After a 5 year absence, the California band, Weezer, came bouncing back in the summer of 2001 with a bouyant album, produced by Ric Ocasek of the Cars, and sporting a bright green cover. Randy Renaud revisits Weezer's 'Green' album on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
32 years ago this week, a brand new band came blazing out of Seattle, led by a Southern Californian surfer on lead vocals. Their debut album, released on August 27, 1991, would become one of the defining albums of the 90's. Randy Renaud has the story behind the formation of Pearl Jam, and the recording of Ten, on the Chronicles of Rock.
It was an unforgettable Montreal concert event -- for all the wrong reasons. And it happened 31 years ago this week at the Big O. Randy Renaud has the story of the Guns N' Roses/Metallica concert & riot, which made international headlines, August 8, 1992, on the Chronicles of Rock.
32 years ago, Metallica released the album that would make them global superstars. It would win them a Grammy and become one of the best-selling albums in history. It's the story of the album popularly known as the Black album, on the Chronicles of Rock.
It was comprised of left-over musical elements from an abandoned, ambitious multi-media project. Yet Pete Townshend and the Who turned into an anthemic statement of where rock was headed; and it became the template sound for what came to be known as 'arena rock.' To this day, it remains one of the greatest rock albums ever. On this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock, Randy Renaud revisits the summer of 71 to honour the Who's brilliant album Who's Next on the Chronicles of Rock.
In celebration of their concert appearance at this year's Festival d'été de Québec, Randy Renaud has the story of Green Day's big breakthrough album, Dookie, on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
52 years ago this week (July 3, 1971), Jim Morrison was found dead at the age of only 27. But ever since, controversy has swirled around what really happened the night of his death, and also what happened immediately afterwards. So, for this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock, Randy revisits that strange tale, while also paying tribute to the Lizard King, one of rock's most legendary talents.
For its 40th anniversary, Randy Renaud has the story behind the Police's great 1983 album, Synchronicity. It was partly recorded here in Quebec; and just weeks after its release, they came back to record a concert film. Hear the whole tale on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
He was Pink Floyd's original driving creative force: Syd Barrett. But after becoming increasingly unreliable, the band chose to replace him with friend David Gilmour. Then, after not seeing him for 7 years, the members of Pink Floyd were in the studio recording a tribute song Roger Waters had written in honour of his lost friend and mentor. And suddenly, Barrett appeared, there, in the studio. Randy Renaud has that strange but true tale on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
It went to the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, including here in Canada, and won three Grammys. And it made R.E.M. one of the world's top bands at the dawn of the 90's. It's the story of 'Out of Time' on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
This week in 1997, the Foo Fighters took flight as a band with the album The Colour and the Shape. But recording it wasn't easy -- a band member quit and Dave Grohl's wife filed for divorce. Randy Renaud has the whole story, including why 'colour' was spelled the Canadian way, on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
It was the album that turned Peter Gabriel from an esoteric, avant-garde recording artist into a global superstar. Featuring his first song to reach number 1, So ended up getting nominated as Album of the Year at the Grammys, and became the most successful album of Peter Gabriel's remarkable career. Randy Renaud has the story behind So for its 37th anniversary, and to celebrate the launch of his first full concert tour in 9 years, on the Chronicles of Rock.
It was a seminal album in the lives of Slash, James Hetfield, Nikki Sixx and Kurt Cobain. And it was released this week in 1976. It's Aerosmith - Rocks on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
Acid-rock was born one wild April night in 1965 when John Lennon and George Harrison “mistakenly” ingested LSD. That harrowing but ultimately enlightening experience led the Beatles to explore whole new avenues of composition and recording, and would usher in the psychedelic era of rock. Randy has that crazy tale on this week's edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
On April 21, 1971, the biggest rock band in the world released perhaps the best album of their entire career: Sticky Fingers. Bolstered by a new lead guitarist as well as two horn players, and featuring some of the Stones' most-loved songs, Sticky Fingers remains a masterpiece. And Randy Renaud has the story behind its creation on this week's Chronicles of Rock.
40 years ago today, April 14, 1983, David Bowie released the most successful album of his career: Let's Dance. He was inspired after seeing a 28 year old Texas guitar phenom named Stevie Ray Vaughan, which led him to binge recordings by the likes of Albert King and James Brown. He then recruited a crew of New York funk musicians and a celebrated disco/funk songwriter & producer, and recorded the album in less than 3 weeks. Randy Renaud has the whole story on the latest edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
Depeche Mode became global superstars in the spring of 1990 with the release of their album, Violator. Randy Renaud has the story behind it on the latest edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
After their breakthrough hit 'Creep,' and their debut album, Radiohead were under intense pressure to follow it up quickly with a new album. They almost crumbled under the pressure, and the recording kept getting delayed as they sought inspiration. That finally came thanks to a John Lennon solo album, and a Jeff Buckley concert. Randy Renaud has the full story on the Chronicles of Rock.
40 years ago this week, a new band from Bath, England, inspired by the music of Gary Numan and Peter Gabriel, released their debut album. It went all the way to number 1 on the U.K. album charts, and made into the top 10 here in Canada -- beginning a mutual love affair between Montreal and Tears For Fears. It's the story behind "The Hurting" on the Chronicles of Rock.
To mark its 50th anniversary, Randy Renaud details the creation of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, on the Chronicles of Rock. The story behind those random voices, the recording of "Great Gig in the Sky,' and more.
In late February, 1974, the first album from a brand-new Montreal band was released. It would help launch a Montreal musical renaissance, and lead to that band getting an invitation to tour Europe with Supertramp. Randy Renaud has the story behind Harmonium by Harmonium on the Chronicles of Rock.
One February day in 1970, a seismic shift took place in rock with the release of the debut album from a new 4-piece band from Birmingham, England. They took their name from a Boris Karloff movie, and proceeded to change the very sound of rock. It's the story behind the debut album from Black Sabbath on the Chronicles of Rock.
Exactly 45 years ago, an exciting new band erupted out of the Sunset Strip music scene in L.A. Van Halen released their debut album on February 10, 1978, and a new guitar god joined the likes of Clapton, Page, Beck and the rest on the Mount Olympus of Rock.
They recorded it north of Montreal, at Le Studio in Morin Heights, in the winter of 1980, and they released it in February 1981. And Moving Pictures carried Rush all the way to the top of the charts, and made them global superstars. Randy Renaud has the story of that brilliant album on the latest edition of the Chronicles of Rock.
At lunchtime, one late-January day in 1969, the world's most famous band took a break from filming and recording, and went up onto the roof of their offices to perform an impromptu concert -- much to the shocked surprise of passersby on the road below. Randy Renaud takes you back to that chilly but monumental day in London on the Chronicles of Rock.
On January 20, 1983, a little-known band from Sheffield, England released an album that took them all the way to number 2 on the Billboard album charts. It's the story of Def Leppard's Pyromania for its 40th anniversary on the Chronicles of Rock.
54 years ago this week, a new powerful musical force rocked the world when Led Zeppelin released their debut album. Randy Renaud has the story behind it on the Chronicles of Rock.
It would be their final album of the 60's, and the last with founder Brian Jones. And it went all the way to number 1 on the album charts, and helped usher in a new era for the band. It also remains one of the greatest albums in rock history. It's the story of The Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, on the Chronicles of Rock.
Even five and a half decades after its release, The Beatles' Abbey Road remains one of the best-selling albums on the yearly charts. In 2019, it went back to number 1 in the U.K. And it is universally recognized as one of the finest albums in rock history. Hear the story behind its creation with Randy Renaud on the Chronicles of Rock.
They were still one of the world's biggest bands, but in 1991, U2 were teetering on the edge of breaking up. But out of the disunity came a triumphant album that reenergized the band, and became one of the most successful of their career. For its 31st anniversary, it's the story of Achtung Baby on the Chronicles of Rock.
The songs were inspired by Eric Clapton's longing for Patti Boyd Harrison, and the recording came out of a period of reclusive writing and jamming with a few American friends/musicians. And the final magic ingredient came about when Clapton attended a concert by the Allman Brothers Band. It's the story behind one of rock's all-time classic albums, Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs, released in November 1970.
50 years ago this week, a brilliant debut album was released by a band named after a sex toy mentioned in William S. Burrough's novel, Naked Lunch. This new band was formed by a couple of East Coast beatniks named Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, who had moved out to L.A. And there, they helped define the sound that came to be known as the West Coast Sound of the late 70's. It's the story behind Can't Buy a Thrill on the latest episode of the Chronicles of Rock.
In 1971, CHOM moved into an old manor home on Greene Avenue, only to discover that there was a spectral presence there haunting its halls, and frightening the staff. Finally a séance was held to try to appease it. Randy Renaud has the true tale of the CHOM Ghost, on the Chronicles of Rock.
For album number 3, Billy Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins decided to tackle an ambitious project: a double album meant to be a kind of White Album or The Wall for a new generation. It proved to be a massive success and established the Pumpkins as one of the quintessential bands of the 90's. Randy Renaud has the story of Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness on the Chronicles of Rock.
37 years ago, a band out of Britain released their second album, and the world suddenly fell in "love" with The Cult. On the Chronicles of Rock, Randy Renaud has the story behind this "revolution" of a rock album to mark its 37th anniversary (released October 18, 1985).
In honour of its 30th anniversary, Randy Renaud has the story behind The Tragically Hip's great third album, Fully Completely, on the Chronicles of Rock. Truly one of the definitive albums in the history of Canuck Rock.
For the 52nd anniversary of the passing of Jimi Hendrix, Randy Renaud revisits the legendary guitarist's final days, explores the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death, and most of all, pays tribute to the lasting legacy of one of rock's mightiest talents, on the Chronicles of Rock.
While being photographed floating above the Battersea Power Station for the cover of Pink Floyd's album Animals, Algie the inflatable pig decided to go off on an odyssey across the English countryside. Randy Renaud has that wild tale to celebrate the long-awaited release of the remixed edition of that album.
In celebration of its 40th anniversary (Sept. 17, 1982), Randy Renaud -- with help from lead singer Jim Kerr -- has the story behind Simple Minds' great album, New Gold Dream, on the Chronicles of Rock.