In the mid-1950s, American popular music had two figures who were, simultaneously and independently, inventing something that did not yet have a name but that would shortly be called rock and roll. Chuck Berry was doing it from St. Louis with a guitar and a lyrical precision that documented teenage American life with the specificity … Read more
Roger Daltrey has spent forty-five years being the voice of a band whose drummer died in 1978 and whose absence has never been filled — not because other drummers are insufficient but because Keith Moon was not replaceable in the way that musicians are normally replaceable, as a function that a sufficiently skilled person can … Read more
There are final performances that reveal themselves as final only in retrospect — nights that seem, in the moment, like excellent concerts from excellent musicians, and that become something else entirely once the context is supplied by what comes after. And then there are performances that people who were present describe, even before knowing what … Read more
That was Bruce Springsteen’s message as he accepted the 2026 Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award at the Tribeca Film Festival. During a candid conversation with U2’s Bono, The Boss addressed one of the biggest questions surrounding his career today: what happens when speaking your mind costs you part of your audience? Rather than … Read more
In 1991, the world of legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter Eric Clapton changed forever. His four-year-old son, Conor, tragically lost his life after falling from the 53rd floor of a New York City apartment building. The unimaginable loss left Clapton devastated, leading him to withdraw from the public eye as he struggled to cope with overwhelming … Read more
More than half a century after they changed music forever, The Beatles continue to remind the world why their message remains timeless. This year’s Global Beatles Day was marked by a special gift for fans: the first-ever colorized release of the band’s iconic 1967 performance of “All You Need Is Love.” Released on June 25, … Read more
His heartbeat slowed until every pulse felt heavy. The little girl noticed him staring and instinctively pulled her sleeve halfway back down. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I wasn’t supposed to lose it.” Rafe swallowed. “You know who gave you that?” She nodded once. “My daddy.” The answer hit him harder than any punch he’d taken … Read more
The Rolling Stones have released two new songs from their upcoming studio album, “Foreign Tongues,” giving fans their clearest look yet at one of the most anticipated rock releases of the summer. The tracks, “Jealous Lover” and “Divine Intervention,” dropped together on June 25 and immediately became one of the most-discussed rock stories online, drawing … Read more
Few modern presidents have blended politics and popular culture quite like Barack Obama. Known for his charisma, relaxed demeanor, and genuine appreciation for music, Obama helped redefine what many considered “presidential cool.” One of the finest examples of that came on February 21, 2012, during the White House concert “In Performance at the White House: … Read more
For years, music industry pundits treated rock as a relic — a genre kept alive by classic rock radio and aging fanbases while pop, hip-hop, and electronic music dominated the charts. That narrative has collapsed. Walking into any major festival in 2026, the loudest, most chaotic mosh pits aren’t full of forty-somethings reliving their youth … Read more