Reading Hit Parader with a Millennial - RATT, WASP, KISS, Iron Maiden

Join Robert John Hadfield as he takes Maren on a tour through a December 1985 issue of Hit Parader magazine, offering a fascinating look at what hard rock and heavy metal fans were reading during one of the genre's biggest eras. Together they flip through pages packed with KISS, Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, Ratt, Dio, Dokken, AC/DC, Scorpions, Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Twisted Sister, Rush, Bon Jovi, and many more. Along the way, Robert explains the bands, the fashions, the advertisements, and the culture that defined the mid-1980s metal scene. The conversation explores everything from KISS navigating the post-makeup era and the success of Asylum, to early Metallica and Megadeth appearances, the shock-rock reputation of W.A.S.P., the rise of guitar heroes like George Lynch and Vivian Campbell, and the incredible ways fans discovered music before the internet. Robert also shares memories of Columbia House record clubs, mail-order merchandise, and a surprising encounter with a member of Autograph in Pocatello, Idaho. Whether you lived through the 1980s or are discovering these bands for the first time, this magazine time capsule offers a unique glimpse into a world where rock magazines were the center of music culture and every page revealed a new band, album, or piece of metal history. Robert John Hadfield brings the stories, context, and nostalgia that make these vintage magazines so much fun to revisit. Chapters 0:00 Introduction: December 1985 Hit Parader Magazine 0:40 The KISS Asylum Era and Post-Makeup Success 1:55 W.A.S.P., Shock Rock, and Leslie West 2:38 Dokken, George Lynch, and Under Lock and Key 3:24 Mötley Crüe, Dio, and Vivian Campbell 4:47 Judas Priest and 1980s Metal Fashion 5:33 Reader Mail, Ozzy, and Metal Culture 6:20 Early Metallica and the Underground Metal Scene 7:15 Robert Plant, Deep Purple, and Music Discovery Before the Internet 7:53 Columbia House and Mail-Order Music 8:45 Q5, Anthrax, Megadeth, and Floyd Rose 9:39 Concert Fashion and Iron Maiden's Live After Death 10:20 Twisted Sister, KISS, Ratt, AC/DC, and Scorpions 11:34 Bon Jovi's Rise to Superstardom 11:58 Early Megadeth and Metal Polls 12:20 Rush, Autograph, and Black 'N Blue 13:14 Song Lyrics, Curtis Mayfield, and Hidden Favorites 14:44 More KISS, Merchandising, and Magazine Culture 16:24 Sending Mail to 1980s Advertisers? 16:44 Ratt and Hit Parader Subscriptions 17:14 KISS Catalog Reissues and Favorite Albums 17:58 The Autograph Story: Meeting a Rock Musician in Idaho 19:48 Final Thoughts and Viewer Discussion #Audiomover #RobertJohnHadfield #HitParader #KISS #MotleyCrue #Metallica #Ratt #JudasPriest #Dokken #Dio #IronMaiden #Megadeth #Scorpions #BonJovi #Rush #1980sMetal #ClassicRock #HeavyMetal #RockHistory #MusicMagazine