Although Ringo Starr was unable to travel to his hometown of Liverpool to receive his honorary degree, the University of Liverpool made sure the celebration came to him instead. Ahead of his 86th birthday celebrations, the university sent a delegation to Beverly Hills Park in Los Angeles to officially present Starr with an Honorary Doctorate … Read more
When Bruce Springsteen shouted, “Liverpool, make some noise!” during his June 7 concert at Anfield, the response from the crowd felt powerful enough to shake the stadium foundations. Then came the surprise nobody in attendance was expecting. The Boss paused for a moment, smiled at the crowd, and announced, “Let’s bring out Sir Paul McCartney.” … Read more
The grease under Herbert “Road Dog” Johnson’s fingernails was a permanent ledger of his sixty-eight years. It was a mixture of standard 10W-40, road grit from forty states, and the stubborn soot of a life lived in the open air. For thirty years, he had run Johnson’s Custom Cycles, a cavernous workshop on the city’s … Read more
For the most part, it’s easy to tell which songs belonged to which member of The Beatles. A song written by John Lennon usually carried his sharp wit, emotional honesty, or biting edge. A composition from Paul McCartney often leaned toward melody, warmth, and sentimentality. By the late 1960s, their songwriting personalities had become so … Read more
Few artists played a bigger role in introducing Warren Zevon’s music to the world than Jackson Browne and Linda Ronstadt. Browne became one of Zevon’s strongest supporters and closest collaborators, while Ronstadt’s hugely successful cover songs brought his songwriting to audiences far beyond the singer-songwriter scene. Together, they helped transform one of Zevon’s sharpest and … Read more
When The Band took the stage for their farewell concert, The Last Waltz, they invited an extraordinary lineup of musical legends to help celebrate their final live performance. With so many iconic artists sharing the spotlight, it seemed impossible for any one guest to stand above the rest. Yet by the end of the night, … Read more
When Sammy Hagar agreed to perform at the Freedom 250 Fourth of July celebration in Washington, D.C., he expected to deliver a heartfelt message of unity before launching into Right Now. Instead, severe thunderstorms canceled the entire musical program, leaving fans to debate an appearance that never actually happened. Although Hagar never stepped on stage, … Read more
Keith Richards has never been afraid to speak his mind, and his latest comments about the United States are generating plenty of conversation. In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, the legendary Rolling Stones guitarist described America as “a bit of a disappointment at the moment” while discussing “Ringing Hollow,” a song from the … Read more
Some live performances become unforgettable the moment they happen. Prince’s appearance during George Harrison’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction is one of those rare moments. His electrifying guitar solo on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has become one of the most celebrated live performances in rock history, earning millions of views and endless … Read more
Louis reached into the deep inside pocket of his black leather vest. For a second, my survival instincts flared, but his movements were entirely devoid of aggression. When his massive, scarred hand emerged, he was holding a thick, worn envelope made of heavy parchment paper, its edges yellowed with age. He didn’t hand it to … Read more