The Opus

Latest Episodes:

Alice in Chains' Dirt Was a Venn Diagram of Grunge, Metal, and Hard Rock: The Opus Oct 06, 2022

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Alice in Chains are seen as one of the bands that helped define the hard rock era that arose from early-1990s Seattle. But at a time when the entire music industry was laser focused on the rise of grunge music, Alice in Chains sat both at the epicenter of the global movement and on its periphery. Although Dirt emerged as the Seattle sound began to dominate the charts, it sat in the middle of a grunge, metal, and hard rock Venn diagram, refusing to adhere to the confines of a single musical form.

On Episode 1 of The Opus: Alice in Chains' Dirt, host Adam Unze takes a look at Alice in Chains both defied the burgeoning grunge scene and was an integral part of it. Joining him are Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, City and Colour musician Dallas Green, and author Mark Yam (Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge).

Make sure to like, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to keep up with all new episodes of The Opus Season 18.

Fans of The Opus can also pick up an official Opus hoodie or T-shirt at the Consequence Shop or via the buy-now buttons below.

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The Opus: Alice in Chains' Dirt is Coming Soon Oct 03, 2022

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The Opus podcast is rising out of the Dirt for a new season centered on the legacy of Alice in Chains’ sophomore album. Presented by the Consequence Podcast Network and Sony, the hit music history series is back to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the genre-changing classic.

Launching on October 6th, Season 18 of The Opus travels back to 1992, a time when alternative music was being pushed towards grunge, putting it in direct conflict with the metal scene. Then along came the Seattle quartet of Layne Staley, Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney, and Mike Starr with Dirt, an effort that took the best of both worlds and redefined hard rock for the end of the millenium.

“As the Seattle sound exploded in the early ’90s, Alice in Chains created one of the decade’s darkest and most influential albums at the intersection of grunge, metal, and hard rock,” says new host Adam Unze. “They channeled their pain and grief into Dirt, a genre bending collection of electrifying songs with hooks that defined an era. I’m so excited to explore that seismic cultural shift on this new season of The Opus.”

Joining Unze to trace the legacy of Dirt will be guests like Anthrax’s Charlie Benante, Bush’s Gavin Rossdale, Baroness, City and Colour’s Dallas Green, Halestorm, author Mark Yam (Everybody Loves Our Town: An Oral History of Grunge), and more. Together, they’ll till the soil of how Alice in Chains changed a scene, bared their souls, and moved heavy music in a new direction.

Tune in when The Opus: Dirt premieres on Thursday, October 6th. New episodes of the four-part season will arrive every Thursday. While you wait, revisit Alice in Chain’s classic album by streaming or downloading it here. You can also watch the band perform some of the LP’s songs alongside other hits from their catalog on their current tour, tickets for which can be found here.

To keep up with The Opus: Dirt, subscribe now to be notified when each new episode drops, and also revisit our 17-season archive. Also pick up an official Opus hoodie or T-Shirt at the Consequence Shop.

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The Real Riot Behind Sly and the Family Stone's There's a Riot Goin On Mar 17, 2022

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The title of There's a Riot Goin On is a reference to an actual riot that broke out during a Sly and the Family Stone concert that never happened.

On July 27th, 1970, Sly and his band were set to play a first-of-its-kind concert at the Petrillo Bandshell in Chicago's Grant Park. Before the Family Stone had even arrived, however, an unknown group called Fat Water had performed a three-song set -- but the crowd wasn't expecting the show to have opening acts. As the next band, The Flying Burrito Brothers, appeared on stage, the crowd hurled projectiles at them, inciting a riot that would leave 162 injured.

In this final episode of The Opus: There's a Riot Goin On, we look back at the events of that day and what lead up to a Chicago riot that would change music history. Host Jill Hopkins welcomes former commissioner of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Mark Kelly and Summer of Soul producer Joseph Patel to discuss the infamous moment that birthed a classic album.

Check out the final episode of The Opus Season 17 now, and make sure to review, like, and subscribe to The Opus to keep up with future seasons.

The Opus fans can also pick up our official hoodie and T-shirt at the Consequence Shop. In celebration of the Season 17, both items are on sale for 25% off! Just enter the code OPUS25 at checkout.

Original music by Tony Piazza.

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Sly and the Family Stone Really Was a Family Affair Mar 10, 2022

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Sly and the Family Stone did more than just write "Family Affair" -- they lived it. On Episode 3 of The Opus: There's a Riot Goin On, we dive into the family dynamics of the band and similar relationships throughout music history.

There were actually four Stone relatives in the Family Stone: siblings Sly, vocalist/guitarist Freddie, vocalist/pianist Rose, and background singer Vet. While their tensions were nothing compared to, say, Oasis, there were clashes. That went double for the non-blood related Family members, especially during the period that birthed There's a Riot Goin On.

In this episode of The Opus Season 17, host Jill Hopkins welcomes Summer of Soul producer Joseph Patel and music journalist/editor of Braxton Family Values to look at the Stone siblings' place in the pantheon of relatives making music together, the pros and cons of creating and doing business with family, and why sometimes it works better than others.

Listen now, and make sure to like and subscribe to The Opus to keep up with all of Season 17.

Fan of The Opus? Grab our official hoodie and T-shirt at the Consequence Shop, now on sale for 25% off with the code OPUS25 at checkout.

Original music by Tony Piazza.

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A Message About The Opus: Sly and the Family Stone Feb 17, 2022

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Record scratch! We've loved diving into the story of Sly and the Family Stone's There's a Riot Goin On, but some production delays have us cryin' just like a baby. We'll return with Episode 3 on February 24th, followed by the 4th and final episode on March 3rd. We apologize for the hold up, appreciate your patience, and thank you for letting us talk to ya. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, make sure to like, subscribe, and rate The Opus wherever you get your podcasts.

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There's a Riot Goin On: Sly and the Family Stone's Musical Riot Still Rages Through Decades of Sampling Feb 04, 2022

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As Season 17 Consequence Podcast Network and Sony’s The Opus, continues, we're exploring how the legacy of Sly and the Family Stone’s masterpiece There’s a Riot Goin On can still be heard today.

Sly and the Family Stone are one of the most covered and sampled artists in all of soul music. Everyone from Jurassic 5 to Janet Jackson, *NSYNC to members of the Wu-Tang Clan have drawn inspiration from the songs on Riot to make classics of their own. In Episode 2 of The Opus: There's a Riot Goin On, host Jill Hopkins is joined by Summer of Soul producer Joseph Patel to discuss the artists who have long been Family Stone fans and used the group's music to supplement their own, to fantastic results.

Listen now, then like and subscribe to The Opus wherever you get your podcasts. Plus, you can enter to win a Sly and the Family Stone prize pack that includes There's a Riot Goin On and the Summer of Soul soundtrack on vinyl, along with a brand new sound system courtesy of Sony.

Fans of The Opus can also snag an official Opus hoodie or T-shirt at the Consequence Shop, on sale for 25% off! Use the code OPUS25.

Original music by Tony Piazza.

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There's a Riot Goin On: Sly and the Family Stone Kicked Off a Funk Riot in 1971 Jan 27, 2022

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The Opus is back, kicking off Season 17 of the Consequence Podcast Network and Sony’s music history podcast by exploring how Sly and the Family Stone’s iconic There’s a Riot Goin On was at the vanguard of a soul revolution. Released in 1971, the album ushered in a more mature sound for soul music. It served as the link between the late-'60s psychedelic movement and the burgeoning aggressive turn in funk, a sound that would become popularized throughout the decade.

In Episode 1 of The Opus: There's a Riot Goin On, host Jill Hopkins and her guests Carlos Santana, Summer of Soul producer Joseph Patel, and music journalist Steve Huey discuss the cultural change the album instigated and how it contributed to the funky stylings that would become a signature of the era.

Listen now, and make sure to like and subscribe to The Opus wherever you get your podcasts. Also, enter to win a Sly and the Family Stone prize pack that includes There's a Riot Goin On and the Summer of Soul soundtrack on vinyl, along with a brand new Sony sound system.

Fans of the series can also snag an official Opus hoodie or T-shirt at the Consequence Shop, on sale for 25% off! Use the code OPUS25.

Original music by Tony Piazza.

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Ten: The Final Show of Pearl Jam's First Tour Heralded Future Stardom Sep 02, 2021

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Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament once stated that "essentially Tenwas just an excuse to tour."

The band clearly just wanted some material to play on the road, as their first tour kicked off just after they'd completed mixing sessions for their debut album; the record wasn't even released yet. The tour -- PJ's only with drummer Matt Chamberlain -- was a short one focusing on the East Coast and Midwest. It wrapped up in Chicago at the famed Cabaret Metro with a concert that is still legendary among Pearl Jam fans.

After that Metro gig on July 21st, 1991, the band took a break as they prepared for the release of Ten. The album arrived a month later on August 27th, and by September, Pearl Jam returned for a world tour as one of the newly crowned kings of '90s rock.

In this episode of Consequence Podcast Network and Sony’s The Opus: Ten, we go back to The Metro to relive that final show of Pearl Jam's first tour so we can see a band on the brink of decades-long stardom. Joining host Jill Hopkins on this trip back in time is none other than The Metro's founder, Joe Shanahan.

Subscribe now to stay up-to-date on future seasons of The Opus. Also, make sure to support our show and the Consequence Podcast Network by picking up an official Opus hoodie or T-shirt at the Consequence Shop.

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The Best Songs on Pearl Jam's Ten Aren't the Singles Aug 26, 2021

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Ten yielded (no pun intended, Pearl Jam fans) three enduring hit singles: "Alive," "Even Flow," and "Jeremy." But here on Consequence Podcast Network and Sony’s The Opus, we focus on the legacy of the entire album -- and the real meat of Ten is on the non-single tracks.

The band has opened shows with the record's final track, "Release," ever since the original Ten tour. "Oceans" features some of the most unusual percussion arrangements on any hard rock track of the era. And the label wanted to release "Black" as a single, but the band refused.

On Episode 3 of The Opus: Ten, we dig into the songs we haven't been hearing on the radio over the last 30 years, and find out why they've become so beloved to Pearl Jam's legions of fans.

Listen now, and make sure you subscribe to keep up with all episodes of Season 16 of The Opus. Also, show your love of our show by picking up an official Opus hoodie or T-shirt at the Consequence Shop.

Original music by Tony Piazza.

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Ten: Jeff Ament's Art Helped Define Pearl Jam Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

While Season 16 of the Consequence Podcast Network and Sony’s The Opus focuses on the unparalleled musical legacy Ten, it's important to note of Pearl Jam has been defined as much by their visuals as their sound. On Episode 2, we explore how bassist Jeff Ament not only contributed to the band's sonics, but their imagery as well.

Subscribe now so you can listen to all episodes of Season 16 of The Opus. Also, pick yourself up one of our official Opus hoodies or T-shirts at the Consequence Shop.

Original music by Tony Piazza.

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