The Afternoon Rock Ride with Bilal

The Afternoon Rock Ride with Bilal

CHOM 97 7 is The Spirit of Rock in Montreal.

Episodes

October 17, 2025 2 mins

Today's new music releases include a David Gilmour's "The Luck And Strange Concerts" (from Live at Circus Maximus), a new kinda boogie from Australia's Tame Impala and a big 10th album from All Time Low. 

*Honorable mention: Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold As Love (Expanded Edition) with 27 previously unreleased recordings from 1967, demos, alternate takes, plus TV and radio performances.

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Montrealers will elect a new mayor in just over 2 weeks, but we still don't know much about the candidates and their platforms. Bilal asked the CHOM faithful which political promise would win their vote? Let's build this city on rock n' roll! No? Ok, maybe next time ;)

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Ever wonder if your favourite Habs players are rock fans like you? The Montreal Canadiens allowed players to choose their own song to skate out to on opening night at the Bell Centre and Bilal reveals the real rock fans on the Habs' roster. Rock is alive and well - GO HABS GO!! 

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The city is buzzin' with hockey fever and the Montreal Canadiens just boosted fan-excitement with pregame announcements of contract extensions on-ice and off, along with a rebrand of the 1909 Fan Club. Bilal breaks down the details and asks Montrealers what they're most excited about this season. GO HABS GO!!

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Today's new releases include a live album from Sammy Hagar, Yellowcard's 11th album featuring a Canadian pop/punk princess and 90 unreleased tracks from John Lennon in an expanded collection to celebrate what would have been his 85th birthday.

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When the former-Beatle met Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson at the Taylor Hawkins tribute shows in 2022, he gave them some sage rock star advice. Could this have been the catalyst to RUSH's return? Hear Geddy reveal Macca's message and decide for yourself!

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Bilal marks the anniversary of 2 historic accomplishments in Elton John's career and his lyricist Bernie Taupin tells the story of how an unexpected surge of creativity almost led him to crash his car along the English countryside, but instead - resulted in Elton's first global-smash hit!

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Have you tried these beans? On National Coffee Day (Sept. 29), Bilal asked CHOM listeners where to find the best java in the city.

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It's been 45 years since John Bonham died at the age of 32. Bilal pays tribute to the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer with praise from his son Jason and his old rhythm section partner, John Paul Jones. 

Image: AP Photo, File

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Which driving behaviours upset you the most? Bilal heard from both motorists and pedestrians.

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This past Saturday marked the 40th edition of Farm Aid, a music festival to benefit American family farms. Did you know that Farm Aid was born from a serendipitous moment during the Live Aid concert 40 years ago? Bilal tells the story of how one good deed and an outspoken rebel helped lead to another of epic proportions! 

Image: AP Photo/Seth Perlman, file

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David Coverdale turned 74 this week.  On today's special, he reveals the origin behind Whitesnake's biggest hit and how it only topped the charts 12 years after it was first released!

Image: Greg Allen/Invision/AP

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The legndary B.B. King would have been 100 this week and he was the musician who inspired CHOM 97 7's Bilal Butt to pick up a guitar. Which musician inspired you?

Image: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

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We asked Montrealers which bands they've seen the most in concert. Did any of these top your list?

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September 10, 2025 2 mins

In today's edition.. Bilal pays tribute to one of his faves, Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry, who celebrates his 75th birthday today!

Image: Winslow Townson/Invision/AP, File

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Some of our staffers recently travelled down th 401 to see Deftones and System of a Down. As much as the bands were great, the sound was atrocious. Bilal asked you about your bad sound experiences.

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This doesn't make it any easier to sing, but since the officially licensed sheet music for R.E.M.'s "It's The End Of The World (As We Know It)" was first published in 1989 by Hal Leonard, the lyrics have been wrong for 2 particular lines in the song. Frontman Micheal Stipe decided to correct the masses and debunk the misheard lyrics via his Bluesky account once and for all!

Image: AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis

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Bilal asked Montrealers, if they were running for mayor, which promises they would make. Take a listen!

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We asked Montrealers which bands they can't be convinced to like... some of the answers might surprise you.

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On this day in 1978 -- August 26th -- The Pretenders played their first public show, opening for Strangeways in Wakefield, England. Chrissie Hynde shares the story of how their first US single and #1 UK single "Brass in Pocket" got its name, despite it having nothing to do with the overall lyrical theme.

Image: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File

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