Chronicles of Rock

In November 1993, one of rock's hottest new bands, Nirvana, travelled to New York City to record a performance for MTV's Unplugged series. But the resulting live album wouldn't get released for another year due to the suicide of Kurt Cobain 5 months after the taping. It would, however, become one of the most successful live albums in rock history, and a poignant farewell to one of the most important artists of the 90's.  Randy Renaud has the story behind the tv filming and the resulting album on the latest edition of the Chronicles of Rock. 

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. 

Out in the English countryside sits an old manor house that was once an orphanage; and bands like Genesis, Led Zeppelin, and Fleetwood Mac would go there to write, rehearse, and even to record. But they all found it ultimately unsettling due to strange noises in the night, and even ghostly apparitions. Jimmy Page and Steve Hackett help Randy Renaud tell the chilling tale of Headley Grange for the Chronicles of Rock. 

In late October, 1993, Pearl Jam were featured on the covers of both Time Magazine and Rolling Stone, proclaiming them as the vanguard of a new youth movement and new generation of rock bands. They had just released their second album, Vs., which became one of the fastest albums in history, and helped to establish Pearl Jam as one of the biggest bands in the world. Randy Renaud takes you back to that time in the career of Pearl Jam on the Chronicles of Rock. 

In mid-October, 1985, a great new rock band from the north of England blazed onto the scene featuring a lead singer who'd been raised in Hamilton, Ontario. Marrying elements of 60's psychedelic rock, 70's hard rock, and 80's post-punk rock, The Cult crafted an album that served notice that heavy guitar rock was still alive and well in the era of synthesizers. Randy Renaud revisits the story behind Love by the Cult on the Chronicles of Rock. 

In early October, 1992, that little ol' band from Kingston, the Tragically Hip, released their third album, Fully Completely. It featured a heavier sound and lyrics inspired by Canadian culture and history. It went straight to number one in Canada, and became one of THE defining albums of Canadian rock. Randy Renaud revisits the story behind it on 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.

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.