Kusun

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

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

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

On July 3, 1973, David Bowie did something almost unheard of in rock music: he killed off one of the most successful characters in music history, live on stage, with no advance warning to anyone — including his own backing band, the Spiders from Mars. By 1973, Bowie’s alter ego Ziggy Stardust, the androgynous alien … Read more

Few albums in rock history carry as much behind-the-scenes drama as Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours,” released in February 1977. The album’s success is often discussed alongside the extraordinary personal turmoil the band was experiencing during its creation, turmoil that arguably fueled some of the album’s most powerful songwriting. By the time recording began, the band was … Read more

Pink Floyd’s 1975 album “Wish You Were Here” stands as one of the band’s most emotionally resonant works, largely because of its central focus: founding member Syd Barrett, who had left the band years earlier due to worsening mental health struggles widely attributed to heavy drug use during the band’s early psychedelic years. Barrett had … Read more

Janis Joplin’s version of “Me and Bobby McGee” stands as one of the most poignant recordings in rock history, not just because of its raw, emotive performance, but because of the tragic timing surrounding its release. Joplin recorded the song shortly before her death in October 1970, and it wasn’t released until early 1971, months … Read more

Few origin stories in rock music are as understated as the one behind Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid.” Despite becoming the title track of the band’s breakthrough 1970 album and one of the most recognizable riffs in heavy metal history, the song was reportedly written almost as an afterthought, cobbled together in a matter of minutes to … Read more