In Episode 30, George, John, TR, and Jay are joined by listener Derek Weston from Ireland to explore their favorite side projects, supergroups, and bands that grew out of other acts, whether born from breakups, creative detours, or musicians simply stretching beyond their main gig. They wrap up the episode by sharing a few of the bands and albums currently in their rotation, giving listeners a fresh batch of recommendations to dig into.

Episode 29 opens with a subtle but meaningful shift in the room, as the Stairway to Eleven crew welcomes a new voice into the fold. Once the dust settles, the episode dives headfirst into a deceptively simple question: what was heavy before heavy metal existed? We trace the deep roots of heaviness, looking beyond volume and distortion to mood, rebellion, lyrical darkness, and sheer attitude. The discussion moves from blues legends and early rock pioneers through fire-and-brimstone gospel, proto-punk chaos, and the strange, dissonant edges that made it all possible long before Black Sabbath rewrote the rulebook.

This Best of 2025 episode of Stairway to Eleven opens with a brief, somber acknowledgement of the passing of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele, recognizing Reiner’s lasting influence on film, comedy, and music culture. We touch on Spinal Tap: The End Continues as a final chapter in a legacy that still looms large, then shift gears and get down to business. From there, George, John, and TR count down their Top 10 Albums of 2025, breaking down the records that stood out, surprised us, and earned repeat listens in a year packed with strong releases.

In Episode 27, the trio cranks the time machine back to the final year of the millennium - 1999 - when Y2K panic buzzed in the wires, nu-metal ruled MTV, and some of the most forward-thinking rock and metal albums of the decade dropped like sonic depth charges. George, John, and TR each bring their personal favorites to the table, celebrating the eclectic mayhem of a year that blended futuristic experimentation with late-’90s swagger. Come relive the last gasp of the ’90s with us—before the world didn’t end, but everything changed.

This time on Stairway to Eleven, we dive into the artists who leave us completely tongue-tied. We share the artists that we think we’d be cool meeting… but know we’d actually just freeze, mumble, or forget how to form basic human sentences. We also talk about the times we did meet our heroes. Along the way, we also recap some recent shows we’ve caught and run through what’s been spinning in our headphones lately. If you’ve ever imagined bumping into one of your musical heroes and instantly forgetting every album they ever released… this one’s for you. Turn it up — and maybe rehearse what you’d say if your favorite musician walked right past you.

Some songs blaze up the charts and live forever on the radio, while others—just as powerful—get lost in the shadows. In this episode, George, John, and TR shine a spotlight on the deep cuts, hidden gems, and overlooked masterpieces that never quite got the recognition they deserved. Then John and TR recap this year's ProgPower fest in Atlanta.

George, John, and TR admit they’re totally cribbing from their pals over at the Metalheads Podcast as they present their own Best of 2025…So Far midyear special! Each host brings their personal list of favorite rock albums released this year, comparing notes, debating picks, and uncovering some hidden gems you may have missed. From big-name releases to underground surprises, the trio takes stock of the year in rock at halftime—sharing plenty of laughs, hot takes, and maybe a little friendly trash talk along the way. If you need a playlist to get you through the rest of 2025, this is the episode to start with!

In episode 23 of Stairway to Eleven, George, John, and TR dive into the magic of musical momentum as they count down their favorite back-to-back album releases—those rare moments when a band or artist dropped not just one classic, but followed it up with another killer record right after. From legendary one-two punches in rock and metal history to surprising runs that proved lightning can strike twice, the trio explores what makes these sequential releases so powerful, memorable, and defining for a band’s legacy. Whether it’s evolution, reinvention, or just plain dominance, this episode celebrates the sweet sound of consistency at its finest.