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The “high level” 1986 Van Halen album Sammy Hagar thought was out of everybody’s league
This piece revisits how Van Halen navigated the departure of frontman David Lee Roth in the mid-1980s and the arrival of his replacement, Sammy Hagar, whose insistence on being a genuine creative partner rather than a stand-in reshaped the band’s sound. That new dynamic, the article argues, produced some of the band’s most adventurous work,…
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What was the first song to use the term ‘heavy metal’ back in 1968?
The article explores the origins of the term “heavy metal” in music, tracing it back to Steppenwolf’s 1968 hit “Born to Be Wild” rather than the genre’s later pioneers like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Though those bands came to define the sound, the phrase itself was first voiced through a lyric referencing “heavy metal…
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The “last chance” 1987 audition that saved Jodie Foster’s career: “I stayed in bed all day”
Jodie Foster has revealed that a 1987 audition for the film “The Accused” came at what she considered the make-or-break point of her career, after a post-Taxi Driver dip in fortunes had left her struggling to find work. Despite winning two BAFTAs and an Oscar nomination by age 15, Foster found the industry had moved…
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Who can see the similarities?
This is a YouTube Shorts clip built around a single teasing question: “Who can see the similarities?” Framed this way, it invites viewers to spot a resemblance between two pieces of music, artists or performances placed side by side, playing into the kind of “spot the copy” debate that often does the rounds in music…
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Skillet’s John Cooper says Christians who call rock music ‘demonic’ are ‘getting the gospel wrong’
Skillet frontman John Cooper said Christians who regard rock music as inherently demonic are misunderstanding the gospel. He argued that musical styles do not possess inherent evil and that creative expression is a gift from God, making the debate relevant to wider disagreements about faith, culture and artistic freedom. Cooper made the comments to Fox…
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The “wild” guitarist Brian May called the most dangerous: “It was extraordinary watching him”
Brian May has named Deep Purple’s Ritchie Blackmore as the guitarist he considers the most “dangerous” he has watched perform, praising his wild, unpredictable playing style. May, who deliberately steered Queen towards heavier, riff-driven rock rather than straightforward pop, has spoken about how guitarists like Blackmore shaped his own approach and inspired a generation of…
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The 2001 intervention that launched Christopher Nolan’s career: “Everybody needs that somebody”
This piece revisits how Christopher Nolan won the job directing 2002’s Insomnia, the studio remake of a 1997 Norwegian neo-noir, and how that project became his springboard into working with major Hollywood stars. Before Memento’s success in 2000, Nolan couldn’t even secure a meeting with Warner Bros about the film, despite wanting to direct it…
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BRET MICHAELS To Take ‘Next Several Months Off’ From Touring ‘To Heal And Get Back To 100%’ Following His Recent Surgeries
Poison singer Bret Michaels will take several months away from touring after doctors concluded he needs further recovery from recent kidney-stone surgery. The decision followed an attempted return to the stage in Georgia on 21 August, after which medical staff advised that continuing to perform could jeopardise his health. Michaels underwent emergency surgery in July…
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Olivia Rodrigo Releases New Song ‘Serena Joy’ Via CD Single at One Indie Record Shop
Olivia Rodrigo has surprise-released a new song, “Serena Joy”, through a limited-edition CD single sold exclusively by Analog Music Shop in Tustin, California. The release supports the build-up to her upcoming Daisy Chain Fields festival in nearby Irvine, while also highlighting her support for an independent local record retailer and women-focused music initiatives. Rodrigo supplied…
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The “acoustic” 1990 album Dave Grohl called “the most beautiful record” ever made
Dave Grohl has long championed Mark Lanegan’s 1990 debut solo album, The Winding Sheet, once calling it “the most beautiful record” ever made. Speaking to Melody Maker in 2000, the Foo Fighters and Nirvana musician placed the acoustic blues record alongside classics by the Beatles and Led Zeppelin among his all-time favourites, praising the depth…