Local Loft Episode 236

Looking back... all I ever wanted was to...rock you mister can't you see. Cliff Johnson certainly accomplished his mission. In a career spanning five decades and seven decades of life, he became a forgotten legend and a defined power pop in the greater Chicago area. He will not be forgotten on this two hundredth thirty sixth episode of the podcast which always extensively covers the original music scene where Cliff became a pioneer and groundbreaker.

Wrath should have been deemed pioneers of thrash metal. The veteran Chicago band began a year before the debut of two giants in the Metal realm, Metallica and Megadeth. I talk to drummer Jake Fromkin, and guitarist Rob Noon, as Wrath rocks onward for their 40th anniversary, opening for the Thrash Rush, Canada's Anvil, discovered by many with a documentary on VH-1 in 2007, this Sunday at Reggie's Rock Club,

Horror Punk isn't all bloody corpses and  Dracula impersonators. The ultra-political The Creepers are proof. They haunt Liar's Club for a Saturday night gig. I'll talk with drummer Pony Boy and bassist Snatch about their anti presidential, anti-optimistic lyrical outlook on life. 

Along with all this, you're staying in time with the up-to-date potpourri of Chicagoland and Illinois metal by rocking out to:

The Creepers-Nothing is Alright

The Creepers-Dead Party

Won't Stay Dead-Sink Your Teeth

Wrath-Mutants

Wrath-Draw Blood

Indign-Acheron Falls (River Of Woe)

Cliff Johnson-Ready To Roll

Off Broadway-Just In Time (Fallin' In-1997)

Cliff Johnson & The Raine (interview form Fitzgeralds in Berwyn-7/9/16 Local Loft Episode 30)

Off Broadway-1-2-3 (1986 demo produced by Rick Neilsen at Pierce Arrow Recording, Evanston)

Off Broadway-U.S. Girls (1980 original Quick Turns Atlantic Records Vinyl LP pressing)

D'Thumbs-Battle Of The Bands (1978 Demo)