Search Results for: little richard

May 11, 2020

Little Richard’s Passing Inspired Deeply Personal Reflections from Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan

When this past Saturday’s news of the death of Little Richard hit the internet, it inspired an outpouring of love from all corners of the music community — such was...

May 9, 2020

Rest in Peace Little Richard, Rock and Roll Pioneer: 1932-2020

Little Richard, undeniably one of the most important figures in the history of rock and roll music, has died at the age of 87, it was reported by Rolling Stone...

December 9, 2021

Q&A: Inside the New ‘Carpenters: The Musical Legacy’ Book with Richard Carpenter & Authors Mike Cidoni Lennox/Chris May

“Close to You,” “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “For All We Know,” “Rainy Days and Mondays, “Goodbye to Love,“ “Yesterday Once More,” “Top of the World” —  Carpenters’ legacy of exquisitely...

November 30, 2021

Premiere: T Bear (Richard T. Bear) “Christmas on the Row,” a Charity Single to Help the Homeless This Holiday Season (with the Get Together Foundation)

“Christmas on the Row” is the title of a new song from T Bear, otherwise known as singer/songwriter/actor Richard T. Bear. The composition, a bluesy and heartfelt piano-driven number co-written...

November 30, 2020

Get in the Holiday Spirit with Keith Richards’ New Video for His 1978 Cover of Chuck Berry’s ‘Run Rudolph Run’

Back in 1978, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards dropped his very first bit of music under his own name, separate from the Stones: A special cover of “Run Rudolph Run,”...

November 9, 2020

Keith Richards Previews ‘Live at the Hollywood Palladium’ with ‘You Don’t Move Me’ (LP Out 11/13, Live Stream 11/14)

Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988 is an album released by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards in 1991, documenting a wild live performance from three years earlier from Richards and some of his musical pals...

October 15, 2020

Keith Richards Shares ‘I Wanna Be Your Man’ — New ‘Live at the Hollywood Palladium’ Reissue Out 11/13

Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988 is an album released by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards in 1991, documenting a wild live performance from three years earlier from...

July 28, 2020

The Psychedelic Furs Return: Richard Butler on Early-Era MTV, Post-Punk and ‘Made of Rain,’ the Furs’ First Album in 29 Years (Q&A)

The Psychedelic Furs were gods of the MTV era. But after a ten-year run, and a string of hit songs, albums, and era-defining videos – not to mention having a...

April 2, 2020

Steven Van Zandt Launching ‘The Qoolest Quarantine Qollection,’ Replaying Top Interviews from Little Steven’s Underground Garage

The man they call Little Steven — a.k.a. Steven Van Zandt, renowned musician and member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band — is rolling out a special 12-week batch of...

October 28, 2019

Rest in Peace, Paul Barrere of Little Feat: 1948 – 2019

Over the weekend, sad news came across that Paul Barrere, longtime guitarist and vocalist of Little Feat, had passed away at the age of  71. The band’s statement provided details...

May 6, 2019

Steven Van Zandt Discusses the Return of Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, His Love of Motown and More (The Interview)

Guitar player, songwriter, producer, actor, political activist and lord of his own music radio kingdom with Sirius XM’s Little Steven’s Underground Garage, Jersey’s finest, Steven Van Zandt, is an artist...

February 15, 2017

New from Pegi Young: Watch the 'Too Little Too Late' Video; 'Raw' Album Out 2/17

On Friday, February 17, Pegi Young will release a new studio album titled Raw, “a collection of songs about love, loss and forgiveness.” Most of the album was written in...

May 16, 2022

New from America’s Gerry Beckley: Listen to Title Track of New Solo Album ‘Aurora’ Out 7/1

On July 1, Gerry Beckley of the band America will release a new solo album titled Aurora. As a preview of the record, Beckley debuted the title track this past Friday,...

May 13, 2022

Take a Trip Inside the Brand New Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa with Director Steven Jenkins

This month, a new chapter in Tulsa, Oklahoma’s storied cultural history unfolded when the Bob Dylan Center opened in a 100-plus-year-old, 29,000 square foot former paper mill.  A boon for...

April 7, 2022

One-Hit Wonder … Or Not? A Chat With Billy Vera (1987’s No. 1 Classic “At This Moment”)

In our newest One-Hit Wonder … Or Not? entry, vocalist/songwriter Billy Vera discusses his hit “At This Moment,” which was first released in 1981 before making major strides on the charts...

March 9, 2022

America’s Gerry Beckley Readying Solo Album ‘Aurora,’ Due in June; Stream “Friends Are Hard to Find”

On June 17, Gerry Beckley of the band America will release a new solo album titled Aurora. Announced this week, Aurora will be Beckley’s fourth album with Blue Élan Records,...

February 17, 2022

Preview ‘Elvis,’ Baz Luhrmann’s New Elvis Presley Biopic in Theaters 6/24 — Starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks

Back in July of 2019, it was confirmed that actor Austin Butler (from Arrow and The Carrie Diaries and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, among other roles) had...

October 7, 2021

Steven Van Zandt Q&A: On New Memoir, ‘The Sopranos’ and the Inside Story of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Studio Sessions

Steven Van Zandt, better known as “Miami Steve” or “Little Steven,” is one of hardest working musicians in the music business and one of its most colorful characters. A Hall...

August 23, 2021

Don Everly of the Everly Brothers Remembered: Legendary Singer Dies at Age 84

Don Everly, one half of the esteemed and iconic Everly Brothers, passed away recently at the age of 84. News of his death was made public by Everly’s family over...

July 13, 2021

Top 11 Songs About Sweets

For his latest Top 11 column, Frank Mastropolo looks at some of the most notable songs based on sweets.  I like to serve chocolate cake, because it doesn’t show the...

June 1, 2021

Rest in Peace, Grammy Hall of Fame Singer B.J. Thomas: 1942-2021

B.J. Thomas, whose hit songs of the 1960s and 70s (including “Hooked on a Feeling” and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”) made him a household name among various musical...

March 15, 2021

Wolfgang Van Halen Turned Down an Invitation to Perform ‘Eruption’ at the Grammys

A number of music luminaries were honored during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday evening, with powerful musical tributes given by big-name acts to influential icons including Little Richard,...

March 14, 2021

Grammys: Watch Brittany Howard, Chris Martin, Lionel Richie, Brandi Carlile & Silk Sonic Play 2021 ‘In Memoriam’ Segment

As is customary for every Grammys broadcast, several artists participated in the In Memoriam segment during Sunday night’s CBS broadcast of the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, paying homage to some...

March 11, 2021

I’m Still Standing: America’s Gerry Beckley Looks Forward and Back on His New Solo Set, ‘Keeping the Light On’

Singer-songwriter Gerry Beckley of the band America has hardly slowed down during the pandemic. He and Dewey Bunnell celebrated America’s 50th anniversary in 2020 with an eight-disc box set (click...

December 22, 2020

A Look Back at Musicians/Entertainers Who Died in 2020

The year is drawing to a close. As we all look ahead to 2021 (and hopefully a return to our “normal” way of life that the COVID-19 pandemic made impossible...

November 5, 2020

Producer Tony Visconti: Why Marc Bolan and T. Rex Are Deserving 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

Tony Visconti was closer than anyone to the flame that was Marc Bolan, the front man, songwriter and phenom that was the heart and soul of T.Rex, part of the...

September 15, 2020

Top 11 Songs by Bands/Artists With the Best, Most Iconic Nicknames

What’s in a (nick)name? Some of the biggest artists music history also had the best, most unforgettable nicknames.  “Alexander the Great, who said on his wedding night, ‘It’s only a...

August 26, 2020

The Empty Hearts Conjure Fab Visions on ‘Second Album’ — Q&A with Clem Burke and Andy Babiuk (LP Out Now)

Whatever your preferences in 60’s and 70’s classic and garage rock, you’ll find much to cheer on The Empty Hearts and their aptly titled Second Album, which will be released...

July 27, 2020

Talkin’ ‘Bout This Generation: Filmmaker Bob Rose Explores How Today’s Musicians Find Success in ‘InstaBAND’

Since The Who burst upon the global stage more than half a century ago singing “My Generation,” the music scene — and how to succeed in it — has undergone...

June 12, 2020

Bob Dylan Reflects on COVID-19, George Floyd, the Eagles and New Album ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ in Rare New York Times Interview

Bob Dylan rarely does interviews — part of his mythical allure stems from his unique manner of conducting himself — but fresh off his 79th birthday in late May, he...

June 5, 2020

Q&A: Dion on His NYC Roots and His Star-Studded New Album, ‘Blues With Friends’

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame icon Dion first scored major success almost sixty years ago with smash hits like “The Wanderer,” “Runaround Sue” and “Ruby Baby.” Since then, Dion...

May 14, 2020

Ronnie Wood Has Some Impressive New Rolling Stones-Inspired Art to Sell You

The Rolling Stones may have had to postpone their No Filter U.S. tour dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that unexpected free time has led to a wealth of...

May 11, 2020

Jesse Colin Young Launches Podcast ‘Tripping On My Roots,’ Performs for Rolling Stone’s ‘In My Room’ Sessions

It’s a particularly busy time for Jesse Colin Young, celebrated singer/songwriter known for his solo work in addition to the music he made with the Youngbloods decades ago. Today, May...

April 14, 2020

‘Streetlight Harmonies’: Doo-Wop Doc Goes Deep on Beloved Musical Genre (Film Review)

I Only Have Ears For You: Doo-Wop Doc Streetlight Harmonies Does Deep Doo Run Run on Beloved Musical Genre This reviewer would be hard-pressed to find a more appropriate film...

March 12, 2020

John Lodge Q&A: The Moody Blues, Rock Cruises and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

John Lodge Takes His Solo Material and Some of his Hits with the Moody Blues “B Yond” on New Album Often, new circumstances and the normal passage of time can...

December 13, 2019

Recalling Elvis Presley’s Iconic 1969 Las Vegas Run, 50 Years Later

2019 marks the 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s triumphant 1969 return to live performance with a sold-out engagement at the newly opened International Hotel in Las Vegas. The newly released...

September 13, 2019

The Beatles Onscreen: The Top 12 Fab Four Films

With its title plucked from a beloved Paul McCartney tune, Danny Boyle’s just-released movie Yesterday proves that 54 years after the Beatles first recorded that song and almost a half...

August 1, 2019

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Doug Clifford on CCR’s Woodstock Performance Finally Seeing the Light of Day

In an unprecedented span of just four years between 1968-1972, Creedence Clearwater Revival owned the record charts, selling more records than the Beatles for two years in a row (1969...

May 28, 2019

Bruce Springsteen Says There Will Be A New E Street Band Album and Tour in 2020

Bruce Springsteen is just weeks away from the release of his new solo album, Western Stars, which will be out on June 14 — but the Boss is already thinking...

January 14, 2019

Graham Gouldman of 10cc: “The Beatles Permeated Everything We Did” (Interview)

Graham Gouldman defines the word wunderkind. In the ‘60s, in his late teens, Graham established himself as an in demand songwriter, penning smash hits for The Yardbirds, The Hollies, Herman’s...

December 27, 2018

Aces High: A Q&A with Ace Frehley About ‘Spaceman’ and the KISS Farewell Tour

(Ace Frehley photograph courtesy Jay Gilbert) In the ‘60s while growing up in the Bronx, budding teenage guitarist Paul “Ace” Frehley, had his share of formidable six-string heroes, Jimmy Page,...

November 9, 2018

A History of Rock and Roll Biopics (Inspired by the New ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Film)

Hollywood has had a long love affair with pop stars. Considering their often outrageous personas, lifestyles, talent and high profiles, pop music figures are naturals for movie biographies about them,...

September 11, 2018

Wayne Kramer Looks Back on 50 Years of the MC5 and His Prison Experience

Detroit’s legendary MC5 were probably the first punk rock band — but try to tell the band’s guitarist, Wayne Kramer, that. “I get that. I get the value of that....

October 10, 2017

Liam Gallagher Goes It Alone with ‘As You Were’ — The Interview

“We went straight into Beady Eye from Oasis, and just for whatever reason it didn’t connect,” Liam Gallagher tells me, pining just a bit for the days of that other rock and...

May 10, 2017

Musicians Recall ‘The First Time I Heard Jimi Hendrix’

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame calls Jimi Hendrix “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music.” Hendrix was an unparalleled guitarist and showman who helped launch...

December 9, 2016

Top 11 Songs About Rock N' Roll

Rock and Roll: Music for the neck downwards. – Keith Richards Below,  enjoy Frank Mastropolo’s new Top 11 Rock N’ Roll Songs, but note: The absence of Bob Seger’s “Old...

November 3, 2016

Remembering Jimi Hendrix and the Band of Gypsys: Q&A with Billy Cox

Reflecting back on Jimi Hendrix’s career, one marvels at how productive and creative he was in a short span of just a few years. By the time Hendrix formed Band of...

July 8, 2016

Jeff Beck: The Interview

“I guess it’s my sense of inquisitiveness and maybe boredom, a mixture of the two. I always look for tomorrow in today. Whoever’s involved with my music at the time,...

July 8, 2016

Behind the Curtain: Billy Gibbons and ZZ Top

Every day now for two weeks, I heard the song rise from what must have been a pair of seriously-powered speakers the size of refrigerators. Floating out over the hills...

November 6, 2015

John Fogerty: A ‘Fortunate Son’ Speaks (The Interview)

Good fortune may have smiled upon John Fogerty, but he damn well earned it. In his candid and gripping new autobiography, Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music, his life jumps...

September 14, 2013

Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine of the Beach Boys – The Interview

Holed away in his family’s music room, 18 year-old Brian Wilson, future music genius/visionary of The Beach Boys, is cocooned safely in his private sanctuary, immersed in what would become...

June 27, 2013

I Will Be Me: An Interview with Kinks Guitarist Dave Davies

Founding Kinks guitarist Dave Davies talks to us about his new solo album, spirituality, and perseverance.

May 12, 2013

Roll Up for the Mystery Tour: A Visit to Lesser-Known North American Beatles Landmarks

There are many well-known Beatles landmarks scattered across North America. Many of them are well known, from the Hollywood Bowl, to the Ed Sullivan Theater to the Dakota Apartments. But...

June 12, 2012

Sunset Strip-Tease! (A Photo Tour)

It may just be the sexiest mile and a half in America: a curvy, alluring ribbon of road called the Sunset Strip. Since the 1930s, the portion of Sunset Boulevard...

February 16, 2012

Women Who Rock Exhibit

A trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH, is a must at some point for every music lover. For anybody nearby now would be a...

June 3, 2011

Sex Is Always the Answer

From time to time, when I’m in the midst of one of my room-clearing rants on the woeful state of modern popular music, unfortunate listeners will try to agree with...

August 12, 2022

David Paich Talks Toto, the “Yacht Rock” Label, Working with Steely Dan and His New Solo Debut, ‘Forgotten Toys’

Toto‘s string of hits reads like a soundtrack of the 1970s and ’80s: “Hold the Line,” “99,” “Rosanna,” and “Africa,” the No. 1 smash that has logged over one billion...

July 29, 2022

Ringo Starr Previews New ‘EP3’ (Out 9/16) with the Joyous “World Go Round” — Listen

Ringo Starr and several of his All-Starr friends are at it again — and on Sept. 16, the Beatles legend will release EP3, a new four-song collection that works as...

July 14, 2022

Toto’s David Paich Previews New Solo Record ‘Forgotten Toys’ with “Queen Charade”; LP Out 8/19

David Paich of Toto will release his very first solo album, Forgotten Toys, on Aug. 19. Paich announced the record recently, and on Thursday the iconic musician previewed it with...

July 7, 2022

Peace and Love, Ringo Starr is 82! A Toast to the Famed Beatles Icon on His Birthday

While there are many acclaimed technical drummers in commercial rock music — names like Neil Peart of Rush and Stewart Copeland of The Police to name just two — the...

May 13, 2022

I’m Still Standing: Leo Sayer Gets Back With New Album of Reinvented Beatles Songs

The 2021 documentary The Beatles: Get Back could not have come at a better time for Leo Sayer. The singer-songwriter often crossed paths with the group as a young performer...

April 18, 2022

Out Now: Kurt Vile Takes Another Laid-Back and Engaging Journey on New Album ‘(watch my moves)’ — Listen

Guitarist/singer/songwriter Kurt Vile has carved out his own little niche in the music world, his laid-back guitar-based albums earning him a singular spot in an otherwise crowded indie community. He’s very comfortable...

April 11, 2022

Jim Messina Q&A: Memories of Buffalo Springfield, Poco and Reuniting with Kenny Loggins for Two Special Gigs

Fans of classic rock radio are never far from hearing a song Jim Messina had a hand in creating. A singer, guitarist and songwriter in three celebrated bands, Messina also...

April 11, 2022

Top 11 Songs with Memorable Harmonica Parts

“I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window.” —Steven Wright “I Guess That’s...

December 29, 2021

A Look Back at Musicians/Entertainers Who Died in 2021

The year is drawing to a close. As we all look ahead to 2022 (and hopefully a return to more of a “normal” way of life that the COVID-19 pandemic has rendered...

December 21, 2021

Ringo Starr Details New Coffee-Table Book for Charity Available via Julien’s Auctions (Signed Copies $495)

'Fab Images and Memories In My Life with the Beatles From Across The Universe' is a new coffee table book from Ringo Starr.

November 8, 2021

Top 11 Classic Songs Featured in ‘The Many Saints of Newark: A Sopranos Story’

“I listen to a lot of music all the time… A lot of these things are dredged up from memory. I’ll go, ‘Oh, that was a really good song.’ Or...

October 26, 2021

Drummer Gina Schock on Her New Book ‘Made in Hollywood: All Access with the Go-Go’s,’ Rock Hall of Fame Induction and Beyond

You may think you’ve stumbled into a time warp when you see how omnipresent The Go-Go’s have become in 2021. Formed as a punk band in 1978, the group —...

October 20, 2021

Trey Anastasio of Phish Issues Mid-Show Speech Addressing Death and Injuries at San Francisco Gig

UPDATE: After the initial story of the death and injuries sustained in falls at last weekend’s Phish concert in San Francisco, band leader Trey Anastasio paused the next show in...

October 11, 2021

Willie Nile Q&A: New LP ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still,’ Cinema, the Early Days of CBGB and More

During a career spanning more than 40 years and 14 studio albums, Willie Nile has flown slightly under the radar, despite luminaries like Pete Townshend, Bruce Springsteen, Roger McGuinn, Lou...

September 20, 2021

‘Oasis Knebworth 1996’: The Last Gig of its Kind, from Those Who Were There (Noel, Liam, ‘Bonehead,’ More)

Oasis went from playing to a handful of fans on Tuesday nights in their hometown of Manchester in the early 1990s to 250,000+ at Knebworth Park in the summer of...

September 9, 2021

‘Under the Volcano’: The Real-Life Rock & Roll History of George Martin’s AIR Studios Montserrat (Q&A with Filmmakers Gracie Otto and Cody Greenwood)

Gracie Otto and Cody Greenwood discuss their new documentary, Under the Volcano, telling the incredible tale of Sir George Martin’s AIR Studios Montserrat. What do you do when you’re in...

August 24, 2021

Rest in Peace, Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones: Legendary Drummer Passes Away at 80

Charlie Watts, longtime drummer of the Rolling Stones, has passed away at the age of 80. The news was shared by a spokesperson for the legendary drummer on Tuesday: “It...

August 5, 2021

Charlie Watts to Miss Rolling Stones’ Fall 2021 ‘No Filter’ Tour Dates, Steve Jordan to Fill in on Drums

This fall, The Rolling Stones will resume their anticipated No Filter U.S. tour dates, but a familiar face will not be participating: Charlie Watts. Watts and the band made the...

July 26, 2021

A Rockin’ Toast to Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones for His 78th Birthday

Note: This originally ran in 2020 in celebration of Mick Jagger and his 77th birthday, and has now been updated for 2021 and his 78th. In the history of music,...

July 13, 2021

Q&A: Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet) Gets Reflective on ‘In Solo’ (“A Scrapbook About a Man of My Age Trying to Join the Dots in His Life”)

Gary Kemp helped soundtrack the MTV-era as the principal songwriter of 1980s mega-stars Spandau Ballet. The hits he penned for the band — “Through the Barricades,” “Only When You Leave,”...

June 29, 2021

With its Grungy, Aggressive New Anthem “1% Milk”, Holy Wars Asks: ‘What About The Other 99?”

“1% Milk” is the name of a new single from Los Angeles-based “dark pop” band Holy Wars, comprised of vocalist Kat Leon, guitarist/producer Nic Perez and drummer Greg Garman. The...

June 21, 2021

Joni Mitchell: Stream Digital EP Featuring 5 Unreleased Songs from ‘Blue’; ‘Archives: Vol. 2’ Coming 10/29

Originally announced back in September 2020, the Joni Mitchell Archives series promised a wealth of material celebrating the robust recorded output of the legendary singer/songwriter. The first edition of the...

June 14, 2021

Top 11 Caribbean Songs

“The true Caribbean people … We are carnival people, we are vibrant people, not dead people. We like to be heard and we like to have fun.” —Viv Richards, cricketer...

May 28, 2021

Rolling Stones Share Lyric Videos for Newly Remastered “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and 1968 B-Side “Child of the Moon”

ABKCO Records has debuted two new lyric videos from the Rolling Stones — one for the iconic track “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and the other for its original 1968 B-side, “Child...

May 14, 2021

Top 11 Songs That Shared Names with Movie Titles

“I would rather turn my head and cough than see any part of ‘Patch Adams’ again. The title of this movie should have been ‘Punch Adams!’ — Gene Siskel “Strange...

April 23, 2021

Steve Cropper Q&A: On Working with Otis Redding, His New Album ‘Fire It Up’ (Out Now!) and Beyond

Steve Cropper is a certifiable rock and roll legend. After cutting his teeth as part of the early-60s R&B band the Mar-Keys, Cropper found stardom as part of the backbone...

April 22, 2021

Rest in Peace Les McKeown, Singer of the Bay City Rollers: 1955-2021

Les McKeown, the lead singer of Scottish pop/rock band Bay City Rollers during the group’s peak in the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 65. McKeown’s social media...

April 8, 2021

Ed Asner & Navah Paskowitz-Asner on Charitable Giving and the Efforts of The Ed Asner Family Center

“To those who have been given much, much is expected.” Jesus, Luke 12:48 In our celebrity-worshipping society, some public figures who have attained fame, wealth and power use their privileged position...

April 8, 2021

Joni Mitchell Archives Series Continues 6/25 with ‘The Reprise Albums (1968-1971),’ Stream Remastered ‘A Case of You’ (Pre-Order)

The recently launched Joni Mitchell archival series will continue on June 25 when Rhino releases Joni Mitchell: The Reprise Albums (1968-1971), the latest installment in a planned series of reissues...

March 11, 2021

Top 11 Acoustic Guitar Rock Songs

“To stand up on a stage alone with an acoustic guitar requires bravery bordering on heroism. Bordering on insanity.” —Richard Thompson “You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)” by Rod...

February 26, 2021

Premiere: Jefferson Starship Debuts ‘Setting Sun’ Music Video (& a Chat with David Freiberg)

Fans of Jefferson Starship agreed it was worth the wait when the band released Mother of the Sun in August 2020. The new EP is Jefferson Starship’s first collection of...

February 25, 2021

Bonnie Tyler Talks ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart,’ Miley Cyrus, TikTok, the’ 80s, Desmond Child and Believing ‘The Best Is Yet to Come’

The Best Is Yet to Come, the vibrant new album from Bonnie Tyler, is bolstered by dramatic, full-bodied vocals, synths, and some rock guitar solos. Those same elements helped propel...

January 8, 2021

Top 11 Songs from Musicians With Punctuation (or Symbols) in Their Names

“Punctuation: The difference between knowing your shit and knowing you’re shit.”  “Take Me Away” by Blue Öyster Cult Blue Öyster Cult is one of the first bands to use an umlaut,...

November 19, 2020

Mike Campbell Q&A: On the Dirty Knobs’ ‘Wreckless Abandon,’ Songwriting and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ Legacy

For decades, Mike Campbell dutifully served as Tom Petty’s right hand man in the Heartbreakers, laying down scorching licks and co-writing some of the band’s most popular songs, namely “Refugee”...

November 13, 2020

Top 11 Songs About Growing Old

For our latest Top 11 list, writer Frank Mastropolo selects some of the most notable songs about that inevitability of life: growing old.  Older people shouldn’t eat health food, they need...

November 2, 2020

Watch John Lennon Groove to the Rolling Stones’ First-Ever Performance of ‘Sympathy for the Devil’

In 1968, the Rolling Stones staged their legendary/infamous Rock and Roll Circus television special. Looking back, it was a remarkable snapshot of music from the time, and much more. From...

October 14, 2020

‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?’ at 25: Revisiting Oasis’ 1995 Album with Those Who Should Know

(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?, the second album from Oasis released to the masses in 1995, celebrated its 25th anniversary in early October. After bursting onto the British music scene...

October 12, 2020

Top 11 Songs About (or Dedicated to) Children

For our latest Top 11 list, writer Frank Mastropolo selects some of the most notable songs about — or dedicated to — children to be released over the years.  “Be...

September 30, 2020

Rest in Peace, Country Musician/Elvis Presley Songwriter Mac Davis: 1942-2020

Mac Davis, an esteemed country musician/songwriter who penned Elvis Presley‘s “In the Ghetto” in addition to his own solo hits including “Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me” and “Stop and...

September 16, 2020

Brian Auger Q&A: Jazz Rock, Playing with Jimi Hendrix + Paul McCartney and His New ‘Introspection’ Box Set

Brian Auger may not be a household name to those who consider themselves music lovers, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find that this illustrious British-born octogenarian, musician,...

August 14, 2020

Jeff Slate (Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist/Rock Cellar Writer) Releases 43-Track ‘Lockdown Live’ Album, ft. Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Warren Zevon Covers and More

Jeff Slate is a New York-based singer/songwriter with a prolific solo career — in addition to being a rock music journalist. He’s a regular contributor to Rock Cellar (if you...

August 5, 2020

The Go-Go’s: L.A. Punk-Rockers Turned ‘America’s Sweethearts’ Dish On Their New Documentary and Transcendent History

In so many ways, The Go-Go’s owned the 1980s. Born out of the Los Angeles punk scene, the band quickly became “America’s Sweethearts,” as guitarist Charlotte Caffey recalls to Rock...

July 30, 2020

The Portland Protests: Fighting Fascism? Or Malicious Mayhem?

A Note from Rock Cellar Magazine:  Rock Cellar has always been about bringing you the latest news and information that’s going on in the world (and not just the rock...

July 20, 2020

Rest in Peace, Singer/Songwriter Emitt Rhodes: 1950-2020

Emitt Rhodes has passed away at the age of 70, it was announced on Sunday evening. A post on the singer/songwriter’s official Facebook page made it official. Chris Price, who...

July 7, 2020

Ringo Starr at 80: Peers, Colleagues and Musician Friends Toast the Legendary Beatles Drummer for His Birthday

Note: This piece originally ran in 2019, in honor of the 79th birthday of Ringo Starr. For his 80th on July 7, 2020, be sure to watch Ringo’s Big Birthday...

June 15, 2020

New from the Immediate Family (Danny Kortchmar/Waddy Wachtel/Leland Sklar/Russ Kunkel/Steve Postell): Stream ‘Cruel Twist’

The debut single from The Immediate Family, a who’s-who of music industry legends involving Danny Kortchmar (guitar and vocals), Waddy Wachtel (guitar and vocals), Leland Sklar (bass), Russ Kunkel (drums)...

June 10, 2020

Ronnie Wood: Artist, Painter, Author, Rolling Stone (The Interview)

Ronnie Wood is a certifiable rock legend. Keith Richards’ guitar foil in the Rolling Stones since the 1970s, Wood had already made his name as a member of not only...

June 10, 2020

Was Brian Jones Murdered? Director Danny Garcia Discusses New Documentary ‘Rolling Stone: Life and Death of Brian Jones’

When Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones was found dead in the swimming pool of his UK home July 3, 1969, many believed he had been a victim of a...

June 10, 2020

Part 2: Rockers Recall The Most Impressive Live Gigs They’ve Seen (Memories from Rick Springfield, Gene Simmons, Eric Carmen, More)

With a return to live concerts unlikely for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, join us for the next best thing, more recollections from noted rock luminaries queried about their...

April 23, 2020

Hear the Rolling Stones’ Funky New Song ‘Living in a Ghost Town,’ Their First Original Song Since 2012

On Thursday, the Rolling Stones returned with a new song, and “Living In a Ghost Town” finds Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood feeling a little funky....

April 17, 2020

A Dispatch from COVID-19 Quarantine: Checking in with Rick Springfield from His Studio/Bunker in Southern California

For many of us, being self-quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re following strict heath guidelines and using the extra time to finish up long abandoned projects or simply taking stock...

April 15, 2020

Top 11 Songs About Doctors

“My doctor told me to stop having in,timate dinners for four. Unless there are three other people.” – Orson Welles “Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)” by Robert Palmer...

March 12, 2020

Robbie Robertson: ‘Sinematic,’ ‘Once Were Brothers’ and Friendship with Martin Scorsese (The Interview)

It’s 2020, and rock and roll icon Robbie Robertson is busier than ever. A new solo album, Sinematic, acclaimed work on the Martin Scorcese’s mobster film The Irishman and a...

March 12, 2020

Top 11 Revenge Songs

This month’s Top 11 list concerns revenge … a topic that’s served as the inspiration for all sorts of songs over the years! “We should forgive our enemies, but not...

March 12, 2020

Behind the Curtain: Joe Perry and Aerosmith, Before and After Getting Clean

For this month’s Behind the Curtain, Steve Rosen recalls various encounters with Joe Perry and Aerosmith at disparate points in the band’s career — first as a fledgling guitar god,...

March 3, 2020

Kansas Announces New Album ‘The Absence of Presence,’ Due Out This Summer

Prog-rock icons Kansas are gearing up for a summer spent alongside Foreigner and Europe on the Jukebox Heroes tour, and the band will have some new material to present on...

February 4, 2020

‘Chuck Berry: Brown Eyed Handsome Man,’ ft. Archival Tributes from Jimi Hendrix/Beatles/Rolling Stones/Linda Ronstadt and More, Set for PBS 2/29

Charles Edward Anderson Berry. You might know him better as Chuck Berry, undeniable pioneer of what we now know as “rock and roll.” The man’s presence, music and legacy has...

January 13, 2020

2020 Oscar Nominations Unveiled: ‘Joker,’ ‘The Irishman,’ ‘1917’ Earn Top Honors (Full Details)

On Monday, the official 92nd Academy Awards nominations were announced, ahead of the Oscars ceremony which will air on Sunday, Feb. 9 on ABC. Leading the pack in terms of...

December 13, 2019

Turn Me On: Keyboardist Marco Benevento and His ‘Hot Dance Piano Rock’

Keyboardist Marco Benevento is best known for having spent over twenty years playing music with his seventh grade buddy, drummer Joe Russo. In addition to their extensive history of playing...

November 22, 2019

Out Now: Posthumous Leonard Cohen Album ‘Thanks For The Dance’ Compiled By His Son (and a Mini-Documentary)

Thanks for the Dance is a new album from Leonard Cohen that serves as the first posthumous release from the legendary singer/songwriter/poet/author, who passed away in 2016 at the age...

November 14, 2019

Top 11 Telephone Songs

This month, enjoy a curated list of some of the most noteworthy “telephone songs” ever recorded — that is, songs all about the phone and our communal relationship with it!...

October 24, 2019

Hear ‘Happens to the Heart,’ from the New Posthumous Leonard Cohen Album ‘Thanks for the Dance’ Out Nov. 22

Leonard Cohen passed in 2016 at the age of 82, but the massively influential and iconic singer/poet/novelist has a new album coming out posthumously on Nov. 22. Here’s a song...

October 14, 2019

Hear Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and Joe Walsh’s Take on John Lennon’s ‘Grow Old With Me,’ from Ringo’s New LP Out 10/25

On Oct. 25, Ringo Starr will add to his legacy of music with a new album, What’s My Name. The album, previewed recently with its title track, now has a...

September 25, 2019

You Haven’t Heard ‘Yello Submarine’ Until You’ve Seen Ringo Starr, Jimmy Fallon and the Roots Play It on Toy Instruments

Among the versatile canon of the Beatles‘ catalog, “Yellow Submarine” is perhaps the song most suited for children — its sing-songy verse structure and inescapably catchy melodies making it stand...

September 20, 2019

Keane Returns with ‘Cause and Effect,’ UK Band’s First New Album Since 2012 — Listen

It’s been quite a long time since Keane, the massively successful indie/rock band from East Sussex, released a new record — 2012, in fact. But today, the band has brought...

September 13, 2019

Ringo Starr Details New Album, ‘What’s My Name,’ Due Out Oct. 25, Premieres Title Track

On Oct. 25, the iconic Ringo Starr will release his 20th proper solo studio album, What’s My Name. The famed Beatles drummer announced the news on Friday, and premiered its...

August 13, 2019

Top 11 Songs By Bands with Animal Names

This month’s Top 11 is a list of some of the most noteworthy songs recorded by bands or artists with animal names.  “Animals may be our friends, but they won’t...

July 12, 2019

Four Classic Reissued Paul McCartney Live Albums Available Now (Listen)

Today, July 12, Sir Paul McCartney released four reissued live albums from his heralded solo career, spanning decades and a number of projects he’s been associated with, whether the Beatles,...

July 11, 2019

Ringo Starr at 79: Peers, Colleagues and Musician Friends Toast the Legendary Beatles Drummer

While there are many acclaimed technical drummers in commercial rock music, Neil Peart of Rush, Stewart Copeland of The Police to name a few, Ringo Starr’s exceptional work as a...

June 27, 2019

Film Review: ‘Yesterday,’ a Magical Mystery Movie About the Meaning of Life, Imagines a World Without the Beatles

Since the Beatles split up almost half a century ago, fans, concert promoters, recording industry executives, etc., sought ways to reunite all of the members of what’s arguably the greatest...

June 13, 2019

Top 11 Songs About Happiness

“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” – George Burns “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin Bobby McFerrin’s 1988 tune “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”...

June 13, 2019

Slash on Guns N’ Roses’ Future and His Lifelong Bond with the Guitar (The Interview)

Slash is probably the last of the guitar heroes of the Golden Age of rock and roll. Following in the footsteps of the rock gods who inspired him — Joe...

June 6, 2019

Hiatus Over, Keane Returns With a Video for ‘The Way I Feel’ — New Album ‘Cause and Effect’ Out 9/20

2012 was seven years ago, and it was the year Keane released its most recent album — but on September 20, the long-running English rock/pop band will return with Cause...

May 30, 2019

Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead on the Power of Live Music: ‘When You Play to Real People, Man, That’s Where It’s At’ (Q&A)

Along with Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann was the heartbeat of the Grateful Dead for more than thirty years. After more ups and downs than any band should have to endure,...

May 28, 2019

Review: ‘Rocketman’ Blasts Off: A Must-See for Elton John Fans with Ingenious Fantasy Sequences and a Riveting Story

Dexter Fletcher’s Rocketman opens with a shot of a costumed Elton John (Taron Egerton) walking down a corridor. Whether intentionally or not, the scene suggests the start of Bohemian Rhapsody,...

May 24, 2019

Paul McCartney Reissuing Four Archival Live Albums on July 12

On July 12, Sir Paul McCartney will dip into the vaults once again for a series of reissues of live albums spanning more than four decades of his timeless career,...

April 10, 2019

Top 11 Covers of Bob Dylan Songs

“If I wasn’t Bob Dylan, I’d probably think that Bob Dylan has a lot of answers myself.” — Bob Dylan “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” by the Wonder Who?...

April 10, 2019

Inside the Rolling Stones’ ‘Rock and Roll Circus’ with Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg

Some things are worth waiting for.  “The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus” TV special was filmed in December of 1968, but was shelved for decades as folks assumed its...

April 8, 2019

Review: The Strands at the Trip — Luminescent London Fog and Golden Gaslamp Lyrics

I have always liked The Strands.  I have been following this L.A. Westside jazz-but-much-more band for over 2 years now and often turn to their music when I want to...

March 13, 2019

Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith on Honoring His Hero, Bob Dylan, with The New Basement Tapes

“Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were a big part of how we all learned how to do this thing in the first place,” Dawes’ singer and guitarist Taylor Goldsmith tells...

March 13, 2019

Bob Seger Recalls Opening for KISS in the 1970s and the Stories Behind His Most Celebrated Songs (The Interview)

73-year-old Bob Seger is in the middle of his farewell tour, signifying the finish of a spectacular performing career that has led him to the status he is today of...

January 11, 2019

Behind the Curtain: Expectations vs. Reality in Ace Frehley Interviews, a Few Decades Apart

Back in late 1978 when I first interviewed Ace Frehley and found out I would be talking to him on the phone and not in person, I was relieved. I...

October 31, 2018

Film Review: ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is One of the Greatest Rock Icon Biopics in Movie History

Below, enjoy an exclusive review of the new Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody from Rock Cellar’s resident film critic, Ed Rampell. Are You Ready for Freddie? The new 20th Century...

October 11, 2018

Bassist Darryl Jones on Touring Life with the Rolling Stones and Playing with Miles Davis

It is 10:30 on a Tuesday morning, a morning which can best be described as a “proper” English morning.  You must go to England to really experience a proper English...

August 19, 2018

Top 11 Classic Punk Rock Songs

“Punk rock was the tsunami that threatened to drown us all in 1977.” – Pete Townshend “Kick Out the Jams” by the MC5 “Kick Out the Jams” is the title...

July 12, 2018

Jeff Beck: On Building His First Guitar and Why He’s Not a Fan of Tapping

Jeff Beck is busy. The man who boasts everyone from Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page to David Gilmour, Joe Perry and Slash amongst his most ardent fans, is slinging his...

May 11, 2018

Jon Savage Discusses Derek Taylor and the Reissue of ‘As Time Goes By’ — an Insider’s Look at the Beatles

Derek Taylor got as close to The Beatles’ flame as you could get. Convinced he’d seen the future during a 1963 performance by the band that he’d been sent to...

March 14, 2018

Top 11 Horn Rock Songs

“That’s the big secret. Rock and roll ain’t nothing but jazz with a hard backbeat.” – Keith Richards “Vehicle” by The Ides of March The Ides of March reached No....

January 12, 2018

A Tribute to Malcolm Young: Rock Icons Name Their Favorite AC/DC Anthems

The tragic recent passing of AC/DC founding member and rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young left hard rock fans mourning the loss of a beloved hard rock giant. A few years ago, Ken Sharp queried a...

May 9, 2017

Top 11 Songs About Moms for Mother’s Day

Just in time for Mother’s Day, here are some of the most crucial songs about moms ever laid to tape …  A suburban mother’s role is to deliver children obstetrically...

February 10, 2017

Robbie Robertson’s ‘Testimony’ — The Interview

They’re songs that sound like they’ve been around forever, timeless musical screeds drawing from a deep well of country, R&B, folk, gospel, roots rock, Dixieland jazz, and Tin Pan Alley....

February 3, 2017

Don McLean's 'American Pie' and the 58th Anniversary of 'The Day the Music Died'

One of the most beloved and well-known songs of the past 60 years or so is Don McLean‘s “American Pie,” a song that encapsulated life in America in 1971 and...

December 9, 2016

Life Beyond Skynyrd: Guitarist Gary Rossington and Wife Dale ‘Take It On Faith’ (Interview)

As a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, guitarist Gary Rossington is true rock and roll survivor. Away from his work in Skynyrd as a touring and recording act, Gary has...

October 7, 2016

Top 11 Rebel Songs

The young always have the same problem – how to rebel and conform at the same time. They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another....

October 7, 2016

Top 11 Rebel Songs

The young always have the same problem – how to rebel and conform at the same time. They have now solved this by defying their parents and copying one another....

October 7, 2016

A Byrd's Eye View: Roger McGuinn (The Interview)

“Mudcrutch’s whole approach is like a power band,” Roger McGuinn, the founder of The Byrds, tells me when I catch up with him after seeing him in New York City...

August 8, 2016

Top 11 Geezer Songs

    “Sex at age 90 is like trying to shoot pool with a rope.” – George Burns Let’s get right to our list of Top 11 Geezer Songs. There’s...

July 8, 2016

Leo Sayer on His 'Restless Years' With Hendrix, McCartney and Daltrey (Q&A)

There is no easy characterization of the Leo Sayer sound. The singer-songwriter broke out in the U.S. with 1974’s Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance), a quirky story-song that made the...

July 7, 2016

Review: Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band Rock the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles

Below, enjoy a review and selection of photos from Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band’s recent gig at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles – review by Peter Palmiere, and all...

June 7, 2016

Good Times Coming: An Interview with The Monkees’ Peter Tork

In commemoration of their 50th anniversary, The Monkees have pulled off the impossible with Good Times, the group‘s first new studio album in 20 years. The LP is truly a timeless...

June 7, 2016

Walking ‘This Path Tonight’: A Chat with Graham Nash

It takes a special artist to merit induction into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and an even more extraordinary one to be inducted twice into that hallowed institution....

March 8, 2016

Carlos Santana – The Interview

Alchemy. It’s that magic, intangible ingredient that determines the creative heights one can achieve in a collaborative process. Over the course of three landmark albums, Santana, Abraxas and Santana III,...

February 8, 2016

Carlos Alomar’s Golden Years with David Bowie (Interview)

“I’m a New York City session musician, so this issue of who I am is always overshadowed by the fact of who I’ve worked for.” Carlos Alomar, the New York...

November 7, 2014

Joe Perry Rocks (The Interview)

Rocks: My Life in and Out of Aerosmith, the name of Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry’s new book  is a play on the band’s classic ‘70s album which spawned such classic tracks as Back in...

July 7, 2014

The Go-Go’s Charlotte Caffey: The Beat Goes On (Interview)

In 1978, against the backdrop of disco, soft practitioners like Debby Boone and the Captain & Tennille and the growing success of arena rock bands like Styx, REO Speedwagon, Boston...

May 6, 2014

Behind the Curtain: Interviewing Led Zeppelin in 1977

Steve Rosen has been writing about the creatures of rock and roll for 40 years. His stories have appeared in and on Guitar World, Guitar Player, Guitarist, Total Guitar and...

October 3, 2013

A Long, Long Time: Linda Ronstadt Looks Back on Four Decades of Music (Interview)

Over delicate acoustic guitar finger-picking and a lush orchestral score, Linda Ronstadt sings, “’cause I’ve done everything I know to try and make you mine and I think I’m gonna love...

July 12, 2013

Music With Your Eyes: A Chat with Original MTV VJ Martha Quinn

In August of 1981, a new revolution took over the airwaves: music cable channel MTV.Music television? Ridiculed and pilloried by the press and rampant naysayers, MTV seemed doomed to fail...

June 4, 2013

Standing in the Shadow: Interview with Rolling Stones Producer/Manager Andrew Loog Oldham

The Stones' iconic manager/producer discusses his legacy and new book 'Stone Free'

April 16, 2013

Not Fade Away: An Interview With Studio Engineer and Producer Andy Johns

As the rock world mourns his death, perhaps his own words would be best at this time: hence, this interview with Johns, which was conducted prior to his untimely passing.

February 4, 2013

February Album Reviews

Kris Kristofferson Camper Van Beethoven Yo La Tengo New Order Bad Religion The Stone Foxes Richard Thompson My Bloody Valentine Kris Kristofferson Feeling Mortal If the United States has a...

February 4, 2013

‘Africa’ by Toto Lives On After 30 Years

In the opening line of the song Africa by Toto, David Paich sings: “I hear the drums echoing tonight…” Those drums are still echoing loud and clear on this month’s 30th anniversary...

January 4, 2013

“The Wrecking Crew” – The Best Music Documentary You’ve Never Seen!

Watching a screening of the music documentary The Wrecking Crew is like going 15 rounds with Manny Pacquiao: the HITS  just keep on comin’ and comin’ and comin.’ God Only Knows! Wichita Lineman! I...

November 14, 2012

Rolling Stones Revelations! Interview with "Crossfire Hurricane" Director Brett Morgen

In an exclusive interview, documentary filmmaker Brett Morgen reveals 11 things you may not know about the Rolling Stones.

October 1, 2012

Top 11 Songs About Football

Yes it’s that time of year again.  The beer.  The hot and greasy wings.  The hot and greasy tailgating.  And, oh yes, that little bit of pigskin insanity called football....

October 1, 2012

Meet Albert Watson, Rock Photographer

[Editor’s Note: Our Every Picture Tells a Story column is normally made up of lots of pretty pictures with very little text.  Once in a while we like to talk...

October 1, 2012

Martha Davis: In Total Control

Martha Davis strutted in heels onto the early new-wave scene in the late 1970s as part of The Motels – an intelligent, moody, yet still-catchy pop band. With her dark brunette...

June 19, 2012

RINGO!

With a little help from his friends, Ringo Starr cranked up the 13th-edition All-Starr Band last week in Niagara Falls, gassed it up, and is taking it on the road…...

April 16, 2012

Donovan is BACK!

Only a handful of individuals in music are known by a single name, and a few are legends. The artist simply known as “Donovan” certainly is one of those. His...

November 16, 2011

Haskell Wexler: Cinematographer / Activist is Candid As Ever

As one of Hollywood’s greatest cinematographers, the Chicago-born Haskell Wexler has worked on close to 150 films and been the director of photography for many of the world’s greatest directors....

September 19, 2011

Edgar Winter Keeps Playing That Rock ‘n’ Roll

With his white mop and pigment-free skin, Edgar Winter revolutionized rock and roll by inventing the keyboard strap, an innovation that allows him the freedom to move around on stage...

June 10, 2011

Peter Asher: A Musical Memoir

From his musical days with Peter & Gordon through his careers as a Grammy-award winning producer, artist manager, Apple A&R man, and record company executive, Peter Asher has witnessed and...