The first thing Samuel noticed was that the boy knew motorcycles. Not the way teenagers sometimes pretended to know them. Not the way someone might recognize a Harley because it was loud and expensive. This kid knew what he was looking at. Samuel had been fighting with the same electrical problem for nearly twenty minutes. … Read more
The Doors appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 17, 1967, at a time when appearing on Sullivan’s nationally televised program could give a young band an enormous boost. The group was asked to perform their breakthrough hit, “Light My Fire.” There was just one problem. Before the cameras rolled, the show’s producer approached … Read more
Pianist Brad Kella was performing a powerful, genre-bending version of Black Sabbath’s “Changes” on the streets of New York City when an unexpected visitor brought his casual busking session to an emotional standstill. As Sharon Osbourne approached, visibly moved and wiping away tears, Brad suddenly found himself performing one of Ozzy Osbourne’s most heartfelt songs … Read more
Every night for three weeks, the same outlaw biker parked his black Harley outside the nursing home at exactly 8:17 p.m. He never stayed long. Twenty minutes. Sometimes thirty. He always wore the same black leather vest, the same worn boots, and the same silver chain around his neck. He never spoke to the nurses … Read more
An Old Woman Saved a Biker’s Wife — Then 800 Hells Angels Came Looking for Her…. You do not expect eight hundred motorcycles to appear on your driveway before breakfast. You do not expect the desert horizon to turn black with leather, chrome, and dust while you stand on your porch in a faded house … Read more
Few musicians leave behind a legacy that continues to grow long after they are gone. Kurt Cobain was one of them. More than three decades after his death, the music of Nirvana still resonates with listeners around the world, and the band’s influence can be felt across generations of rock musicians. Now, as Nirvana receives … Read more
At 81, Rod Stewart is preparing to close one of the most remarkable touring careers in music history. From busking on the streets in the 1960s to selling more than 120 million records worldwide, Stewart built a legacy filled with unforgettable songs, No. 1 hits, legendary performances, and honors that include inductions into both the … Read more
My six-year-old daughter asked a biker at a diner to be her dad because her real father had just left us. She said it loudly. In front of everyone. With ketchup on her sleeve, a purple crayon in her fist, and a tiny stuffed rabbit tucked underneath her arm. “Excuse me,” Lily said to the … Read more
Whatever the genre, one of the most important things music is meant to do is entertain. Few artists have understood that better—or done it for longer—than Bruce Springsteen. For decades, “The Boss” has delivered countless unforgettable performances, making it almost impossible to choose the very best. But every now and then, a performance comes along … Read more
Some songs become classics because of their melody. Others endure because of the story they tell. Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” is one of those rare songs that has managed to become both. Written and recorded by Dolly Parton in 1973, “Jolene” quickly became one of the defining songs of her career. The song reached No. 1 … Read more