UPCOMING EPISODES

With over 100 million albums sold Worldwide across an incredible 50 year career, German Heavy Metal giants Scorpions are one of the most successful international rock bands of all time. We chart their meteoric journey from post war Germany, to headlining Madison Square Garden and living out their American dream. After establishing themselves as one of the iconic Heavy Metal acts of the 1980’s the band’s attention turned elsewhere and Scorpions played a leading role as the Winds of Change brought the Cold War to an end. But as is so often the case when a Rock Band realizes its ambitions, trouble is never far away. Find out the true story, told by the Scorpions themselves, of how excess, money and power-struggles within the band turned its American Dream... into a Heavy Metal nightmare.

Skid Row burst onto the rock and roll scene in 1989, with a leg up from their friend Jon Bon Jovi. United in their sheer ambition and drive Skid Row stormed the stage, set the charts ablaze and brought MTV metal to the masses. Marketed as ‘the new bad boys of rock’, Skid Row’s unpredictable frontman Sebastian Bach, did his best to live up to the label. But as tales of controversy stalked them, Sebastian’s behavior began to jeopardize everything the band had worked towards. Skid Row’s charismatic, sex-symbol frontman became a double edged sword, pushing the band’s popularity up, but also pushing them closer to the brink of break-up. As Skid Row’s fame grew, power struggles and clashing egos destroyed the brotherly bond that had propelled them to fame. And a band already self-combusting had no choice but to pull the plug on their nine year rock and roll roller coaster.

With a combined fortune of 900 million dollars and a band life spanning four decades, Metallica is one of the biggest selling heavy metal bands in history. Their 1991 sixteen-times certified album ‘Metallica’, known as ‘The Black Album’ changed the course of heavy metal and plunged the young quartet to megastardom. But, it hasn’t always been an easy road. Struggles with aggression, addiction, jealousy and the death of a much loved band member have plunged the band in and out of darkness for as long as it’s been a unit, and yet Metallica continues to thrive. ‘Breaking the Band: Metallica’ reveals the inside story of the trials and tribulations of one of the biggest, baddest metal bands on earth.

With over 100 million records sold world wide, Def Leppard are one of the biggest bands in music history. Five working class boys from England, who left their factory town in search fame and fortune. Through hardwork and determination, they changed the way rock sounded, bringing them fame and great riches. But with the highs, came terrible tragedies, some still say that the band is cursed. Drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in a car accident at the age of 21, and against all odds taught taught himself to play with one hand. Guitarist and musical genius Steve Clark lost his battle with alcoholism a few years later. But still they kept going. Breaking The Bands: Def Leppard tells their story.

With over 100 million records sold world wide, Def Leppard are one of the biggest bands in music history. Five working class boys from England, who left their factory town in search fame and fortune. Through hardwork and determination, they changed the way rock sounded, bringing them fame and great riches. But with the highs, came terrible tragedies, some still say that the band is cursed. Drummer Rick Allen lost his arm in a car accident at the age of 21, and against all odds taught taught himself to play with one hand. Guitarist and musical genius Steve Clark lost his battle with alcoholism a few years later. But still they kept going. Breaking The Bands: Def Leppard tells their story.

At the height of their success they were the biggest rock band in the world infamous for their excess and raucous live performances. With their strutting frontmen, wild hair and penchant for spandex they are often portrayed as the archetypal 80's American rock band. The band went through two 'break ups' covered by our timeline owing to a variety of factors but most prominently conflicts over the Van Halen brother's desire for total control and the destructive impacts of substance/alcohol abuse. By 1984 they were the biggest band in the world but, behind the scenes, all was not well and a battle for control raged between the brothers at the heart of the band and it’s lead singer, David Lee Roth. Years of touring, drugs and personality clashes had left them on the brink. When Roth’s ambitions grew beyond the band, the brothers moved quickly to force him out. Their millions of fans were left devastated, but rising from the ashes the they would regroup with a new front man, Sammy Hagar. Against the odds they reached even greater heights with a string of 4 consecutive No.1 albums. Apparently vindicated by their decision the band appeared harmonious. But as the success grew, new tensions emerged and in 1995 the tale of ten years earlier was repeated when Hagar too was ousted for his apparent disloyalty.

Judas Priest has sold over 50 million records worldwide making them one of the most successful rock groups of all time. With a career spanning 50 years they have come to epitomize Heavy Metal, both through their famed ‘two guitar attack’ and their iconic leather and studs look. But with two lead guitarists vying for control of the group, life threatening addiction issues, an accusation of murder and a secret kept for decades with the potential to destroy the band, after 20 years the group was at breaking point. Nothing was heard from them in 5 years but they made a controversial comeback and are still going strong today. But the longevity came at a price - only one of the original members has remained true to the band. Judas Priest: Breaking the Band reveals the story of the legendary band.

Formed in the late 1970s and racking up more than a hundred million album sales, British band Iron Maiden have been heavy metal’s undisputed kings for nearly 40 years. Loud, proud and famed for their spectacular album covers and live shows, their meteoric rise from the pubs and clubs of London, England to the stadiums of the world, was borne out of the uncompromising musical vision of founder and bass player Steve Harris. But that same leadership and vision ignited long-festering tensions – especially when the band signed up flamboyant lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson. Not only did he constantly push Steve aside to take center stage, he had plenty of his own musical ideas too. As the band grew exhausted touring the world performing its massive shows relentlessly, these tensions loomed larger and large and ultimately shook Iron Maiden to its very foundations in the early 1990s.

ZZ Top is one of the most iconic rock bands of all time, their unique sense of humour combined with catchy heavy rock songs made them global stars of MTV. Known in the 1970’s as ‘The Little Ol’ Band from Texas,’ the blues-rockers struggled to gain national recognition despite massive success in the South. Drug addiction, exhaustion and in-fighting between the three musicians threatened to destroy the band. But a change of musical direction sparked their breakthrough, and 1982’s classic album ‘Eliminator’ sold over 10 million copies, spawning massive hit singles like ‘Gimme All Your Lovin’ and ‘Sharp Dressed Man’. Out of fame and fortune came further division over the band’s new sound – and an even greater threat to their future.

With over 150 million records sold worldwide in a career spanning a staggering 50 years- Aerosmith has truly earned its title as America’s greatest Rock n Roll band. Formed in 1970, the ‘Bad Boys from Boston’ soon became notorious for their raucous live performances and wild off-stage antics. They built their reputation with a blues infused hard-rock take on their 60’s heroes, The Rolling Stones. The early success of Aerosmith was built around the talents of iconic frontman Steven Tyler and guitar god Joe Perry - whose love/hate relationship and notorious drug abuse led to their nickname of the toxic twins. It also lay behind the first era of Aerosmith ending in disaster when in 1979 Joe Perry walked away from the band… Both Perry and the remaining members of Aerosmith spent years in the wilderness, drug addicted and broke and it appeared as though a promising career had been cut short. But in a remarkable and unprecedented turn around- the band reunited in 1984, staging one of the most unlikely comebacks in music history. Indeed, the second iteration of Aerosmith rose to even greater heights in the 1980’s and 1990’s, as the band captured the spirit of the MTV generation and moved beyond America to worldwide superstardom...In this feature length special we explore the inside story- told by those who were there- including, for the first time, the man behind their 1980’s resurrection, Manager Tim Collins, who’s tenure ended in bitter acrimony. This is the remarkable story of how the band survived 50 years of every kind of Rock n Roll excess- the breaking and remaking of Aerosmith…

The Supremes were the greatest girl band ever. Over the course of the 60’s they had 12 Billboard chart topping hits, including 5 consecutive number 1’s - still a record for a girl band. They were an international sensation – three teenage, African American girls from the Detroit projects who conquered the world. Berry Gordy, the boss of Motown, moulded Mary Wilson, Flo Ballard and Diana Ross into music stars as The Supremes. When they first got together, they were inseparable, but as their fame grew something happened to shatter the bonds between these friends. Diana Ross rose to become a superstar, but for another band member it would end in a tragedy of drink, despair and death. Told through the first hand testimony of those that were there, including original band member Mary Wilson, and with expert psychological analysis from Dr Linda Papadopoulos, this is the story of the Break Up of the Supremes.

Whitesnake was the brainchild of Ex- Deep Purple frontman David Coverdale. They appeared on the English music scene in 1978 with raunchy lyrics, and a big blues rock sound. Over the next 12 years, David Coverdale’s grit and determination went on to drive them to become one of the biggest successes of the “Hair Metal Age”. But there were plenty of casualties on the way with a host of line-up changes, as Coverdale ruthlessly searched for the winning formula. Hit songs like “Here I Go Again” and “Fool For Your Loving” pushed them to the forefront of the Glam Rock consciousness. With an Image that went from moustached Blues musicians, to Bouffant, leather clad Glam Rockers, David Coverdale’s band Whitesnake sold millions of Albums worldwide and their sexy glamourous videos defined the Hair Metal Era.

Whitesnake was the brainchild of Ex- Deep Purple frontman David Coverdale. They appeared on the English music scene in 1978 with raunchy lyrics, and a big blues rock sound. Over the next 12 years, David Coverdale’s grit and determination went on to drive them to become one of the biggest successes of the “Hair Metal Age”. But there were plenty of casualties on the way with a host of line-up changes, as Coverdale ruthlessly searched for the winning formula. Hit songs like “Here I Go Again” and “Fool For Your Loving” pushed them to the forefront of the Glam Rock consciousness. With an Image that went from moustached Blues musicians, to Bouffant, leather clad Glam Rockers, David Coverdale’s band Whitesnake sold millions of Albums worldwide and their sexy glamourous videos defined the Hair Metal Era.

With a career spanning more than 30 years, and over 130 million records sold, Bon Jovi is one of the best-selling American rock bands in history. Their top-selling album, Slippery When Wet, reinvented heavy metal for a wider, and younger, audience. It turned the New Jersey rockers into global superstars. They were young, fun and good looking. But behind the good-time image, the band’s namesake and front man, Jon Bon Jovi, became a controlling leader with an iron grip. Those who forgot his rules or requirements were replaced. The brand became bigger than the band. ‘Bon Jovi: Breaking the Band’ reveals the inside story of the rise and fall of this 1980s phenomenon that continues to reinvent itself to this day.

With a career spanning more than 30 years, and over 130 million records sold, Bon Jovi is one of the best-selling American rock bands in history. Their top-selling album, Slippery When Wet, reinvented heavy metal for a wider, and younger, audience. It turned the New Jersey rockers into global superstars. They were young, fun and good looking. But behind the good-time image, the band’s namesake and front man, Jon Bon Jovi, became a controlling leader with an iron grip. Those who forgot his rules or requirements were replaced. The brand became bigger than the band. ‘Bon Jovi: Breaking the Band’ reveals the inside story of the rise and fall of this 1980s phenomenon that continues to reinvent itself to this day.

With over 150 million records sold worldwide in a career spanning a staggering 50 years- Aerosmith has truly earned its title as America’s greatest Rock n Roll band. Formed in 1970, the ‘Bad Boys from Boston’ soon became notorious for their raucous live performances and wild off-stage antics. They built their reputation with a blues infused hard-rock take on their 60’s heroes, The Rolling Stones. The early success of Aerosmith was built around the talents of iconic frontman Steven Tyler and guitar god Joe Perry - whose love/hate relationship and notorious drug abuse led to their nickname of the toxic twins. It also lay behind the first era of Aerosmith ending in disaster when in 1979 Joe Perry walked away from the band… Both Perry and the remaining members of Aerosmith spent years in the wilderness, drug addicted and broke and it appeared as though a promising career had been cut short. But in a remarkable and unprecedented turn around- the band reunited in 1984, staging one of the most unlikely comebacks in music history. Indeed, the second iteration of Aerosmith rose to even greater heights in the 1980’s and 1990’s, as the band captured the spirit of the MTV generation and moved beyond America to worldwide superstardom...In this feature length special we explore the inside story- told by those who were there- including, for the first time, the man behind their 1980’s resurrection, Manager Tim Collins, who’s tenure ended in bitter acrimony. This is the remarkable story of how the band survived 50 years of every kind of Rock n Roll excess- the breaking and remaking of Aerosmith…