History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff

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 tapping and twin leads. The songs serve as bricks, but Martin slathers plenty of mortar. At the end, hopefully he has a sturdy house in which this week’s theory can reside unbothered by the elements. At approximately 7000, Martin has had published in books more record reviews than anybody in the history of music writing across all genres. Additionally, Martin has penned approximately 85 books on hard rock, heavy metal, classic rock and record collecting. Proud part of Pantheon - the podcast network for music lovers.

Episodes

History in Five Songs Episode 313: What did you do during hair metal?

June 24, 2025 • 36 mins
In Episode 313 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin delves into how a wide range of hard rock and metal bands navigated the hair metal era—from those who ignored it entirely, to those who subtly adapted, stayed the course, or went in completely bizarre directions. Black Sabbath – “Call of the Wild” Scorpions – “Hit Between the Eyes” Queen – “Pain Is So Close to Pleasure” Kiss – “Good Girl Gone Bad” St...
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History in Five Songs Episode 312: Unexpected AOR Albums

June 17, 2025 • 36 mins
In Episode 312 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores a curious subset of rock history—unexpected AOR albums—by spotlighting bands like Heart and Yes that made surprising forays into glossy, radio-friendly territory during the early ’80s, blurring the lines between prog, pop, and proto–hair metal. Heart – “Heavy Heart” Yes – “City of Love” Blue Öyster Cult – “Eyes on Fire” Golden Earring – “Enough...
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History in Five Songs Episode 311: Covers, not grunge, killed hair metal.

June 10, 2025 • 37 mins
In Episode 311 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin argues that the real nail in hair metal's coffin wasn’t grunge, but the wave of uninspired cover songs that undermined the genre’s credibility and alienated metal purists from the very start. Quiet Riot – “Cum on Feel the Noize” Great White – “Gimme Some Lovin’” Mötley Crüe – “Smokin’ in the Boys Room” Twisted Sister – “Leader of the Pack” Poison – “...
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History in Five Songs Episode 310: Struggling with the Greatest New Wave Bands

June 3, 2025 • 39 mins
In Episode 310 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin wrestles with defining the genre and counts down his five favorite—yet genre-challengingly eclectic—new wave bands, kicking off with the Boomtown Rats and Devo in a tightly-defined 1979-focused episode. The Boomtown Rats – “Keep it Up” Devo – “Blockhead” The Police – “No Time This Time” The Jam – “Girl on the Phone” XTC – “Scissor Man” Learn more...
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History in Five Songs Episode 309: New Wave’s Pub Rock Problem

May 27, 2025 • 39 mins
In Episode 309 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin delves into the theory that traditional, conservative pub rock diluted the innovation of New Wave, highlighting how artists like Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, and Rockpile carried this "pub rock problem" into a genre otherwise defined by its creative and edgy origins. Elvis Costello – “The Beat” Joe Jackson – “Kinda Kute” Rockpile – “A Knife and a Fork” ...
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History in Five Songs Episode 308: Who invented new wave?

May 20, 2025 • 32 mins
In Episode 308 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into the murky origins of new wave music, exploring whether bands like Velvet Underground and Roxy Music truly helped invent the genre—or if new wave simply evolved without a clear starting point. Velvet Underground – “Some Kinda Love” Roxy Music – “All I Want Is You” Iggy Pop – “Sister Midnight” David Bowie – “Word on a Wing” The Sex Pistols ...
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History in Five Songs Episode 307: Knighted Rock Stars

May 13, 2025 • 35 mins
In Episode 307 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into the fascinating and sometimes controversial world of UK rock stars who’ve been knighted, exploring the honors system, the cultural implications of Britishness, and spotlighting five legendary artists—like Mick Jagger, Ray Davies, and Bob Geldof—whose contributions to music (and beyond) earned them royal recognition. Mick Jagger – “Shoot Off Your Mouth...
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History in Five Songs Episode 306: Offshoot Band, Shadow Band

May 6, 2025 • 36 mins
In Episode 306 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin toys with the concept of "shadow bands"—offshoot groups formed by former members that mimic, diverge from, or rival the original band—ranging from dim echoes like David Lee Roth’s solo work to near-equal counterparts like Slash’s Snakepit to Ozzy’s post-Sabbath solo reign. David Lee Roth – “40 Below” Slash’s Snakepit – “Soma City Ward” Roger Waters – “Bir...
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History in Five Songs Episode 305: Bands That Became American

May 5, 2025 • 41 mins
In Episode 305 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin dives into how bands like Whitesnake, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath, though originally British (or from elsewhere), became increasingly "Americanized" through their members, locations, recordings, and career. Whitesnake – “Slip of the Tongue” Geezer – “Box of Six” Accept – “Overnight Sensation” Pat Travers – “Then I Fall” King Crimson – “Neal and Ja...
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History in Five Songs Episode 304: The Best Real Estate on a Vinyl Album

April 22, 2025 • 40 mins
In Episode 304 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin ponders the underrated power and artistry behind the opening track of side two on vinyl albums—“the best real estate” on a record—highlighting how bands like AC/DC, Golden Earring, and Rush use that spot to make bold, surprising, or rewarding musical statements for dedicated listeners. AC/DC – “Guns for Hire” Golden Earring – “D Light” Derringer – “Let’s Make It”...
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History in Five Songs Episode 303: The Stealth Platinums

April 15, 2025 • 33 mins
In Episode 303 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the phenomenon of "stealth platinums" — albums from hard rock and metal bands that unexpectedly went platinum in the U.S. despite being critically dismissed, commercially forgotten, or largely unloved by fans. AC/DC – “Two’s Up” Blue Oyster Cult – “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” Kiss – “Let’s Put the X in Sex” Scorpions – “Hold Me Tight” Nazareth – “M...
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History in Five Songs Episode 302: Prog Bands’ Top Ten Seconds

April 8, 2025 • 34 mins
In Episode 302 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin relives his favorite top 10-second moments from progressive rock bands, highlighting magical and iconic passages that encapsulate the peak musical achievements of bands like Porcupine Tree and King Crimson. Porcupine Tree – “Fear of a Blank Planet” King Crimson – “Three of a Perfect Pair Genesis – “Abacab” Rush – “Tom Sawyer” Yes – “Close to the Edge” Learn m...
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History in Five Songs Episode 301: There’s no such thing as proto-punk.

April 1, 2025 • 36 mins
In Episode 301 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin argues that there's no such thing as proto-punk, exploring how bands like The Saints, MC5, and The Stooges challenged the conventional labels by suggesting that many so-called proto-punk acts are better understood as neo-garage or heavy rock bands, rather than direct precursors to punk. The Saints – “No Time” MC5 – “Call Me Animal” The Stooges – “Your Pretty Face...
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History in Five Songs Episode 300: The Guitar Weave

March 25, 2025 • 35 mins
In Episode 300 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin conceptualizes the "guitar weave," a musical interplay between two guitarists, focusing on examples from bands like The Rolling Stones and AC/DC to highlight how intricate and layered guitar parts create a dynamic, conversational sound. The Rolling Stones – “Rocks Off" AC/DC – “Touch Too Much” The Grateful Dead – “Terrapin Station” Aerosmith – “Adam’s Apple” T...
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History in Five Songs Episode 299: Punk Albums Late by a Year

March 18, 2025 • 36 mins
In Episode 299 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin pontificates on punk albums from 1978 that were released a year later than expected, discussing how these albums reflect a more refined and thoughtful side of punk while still capturing its raw energy. Buzzcocks – “Autonomy” The Adverts – “No Time to Be 21” Johnny Moped – “No One” Generation X – “Ready Steady Go” The Lurkers – “Shadow” Learn more about your a...
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History in Five Songs Episode 298: The Yes Solo Album Break

March 11, 2025 • 36 mins
In Episode 298 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin delves into the solo projects of Yes members between their albums Relayer and Going for the One, discussing the emotional and musical motivations behind each member's work. Steve Howe – “Australia" Chris Squire – “Lucky Seven” Alan White – “Spring – Song of Innocence” Patrick Moraz – “Indoors” Jon Anderson – “Flight of the Moorglade” Learn more about your ad ...
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History in Five Songs Episode 297: Lighter but Better?

March 4, 2025 • 37 mins
In Episode 297 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores how certain bands like Rush, Cheap Trick, and The Damned, surprised him by becoming more melodic and lighter over time, finding these changes to be more appealing than their earlier, heavier work. Rush – “The Analog Kid” The Damned – “Grimly Fiendish” Tygers of Pan Tang – “You Always See What You Want” Vandenberg – “Friday Night” Sepultura – “Cut-Throa...
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History in Five Songs Episode 296: The Last Great Pre-Metallica Albums

February 25, 2025 • 37 mins
In Episode 296 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin explores the "last great pre-Metallica albums" from 1983, analyzing how bands like Raven and Anvil were on the cusp of pioneering heavy metal innovations just as Metallica's debut Kill 'Em All redefined the genre. Raven – “Take It Away” Anvil – “Motormount” Dio – “Caught in the Middle” Mercyful Fate – “Black Funeral” Savatage – “On the Run” Learn more about y...
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History in Five Songs Episode 295: The Rock Hall’s Individual Problem

February 18, 2025 • 38 mins
In Episode 295 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff,, Martin toys with the complexities of individual artists' chances of entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, discussing how membership with one band, like David Coverdale's induction with Deep Purple or Phil Collins' with Genesis, may affect their solo careers or prospects with other groups. Whitesnake – “Wings of the Storm” Phil Collins – “I Missed Again” The Runaways...
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History in Five Songs Episode 294: Early Kiss Songs Not by Kiss

February 11, 2025 • 37 mins
In Episode 294 of History in Five Songs with Martin Popoff, Martin plays with early KISS-like sounds from bands such as Slade, Sweet, and April Wine, tracing the influence of UK glam rock and its connection to KISS's pre-Alive era. Slade – “How D’You Ride” Sweet – “Little Willy” April Wine – “The Band Has Just Begin” Bachman-Turner Overdrive – “Give It Time” Alice Cooper – “Devil’s Food” Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
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