-
“It’s great when music leaves your head and inhabits your body, but there are some songs where you need to keep thinking.” The story behind Metallica’s apocalyptic thrash masterpiece, Blackened
Metallica’s Blackened, the opening track on 1988’s …And Justice for All, is presented as an apocalyptic thrash song about environmental destruction and nuclear winter. The article places it within a wider 1980s thrash-metal concern with ecological collapse, arguing that its bleak subject matter gives the album an immediately severe opening. The song imagines the Earth’s…
-
Voices: ‘It’s just not worth it’: Readers say Andy Burnham’s pub rates cut is too little, too late
Andy Burnham’s plan to cut business rates by 20 per cent for pubs, clubs and live music venues has prompted mixed reactions from Independent readers. Supporters said it could help prevent closures and protect venues’ wider role as community spaces, while critics argued the relief is too limited to offset growing tax, energy and operating…
-
Forget expensive sleepbuds. Buy this pillow instead
The article argues that a piercing pillow is a cheaper, simpler alternative to specialised sleep earbuds for side-sleepers who want to use their existing earbuds in bed. Its ear cutouts keep pressure off the ears and earbuds, potentially avoiding the discomfort of lying on bulkier devices such as AirPods or Galaxy Buds, without batteries, Bluetooth…
-
The 1959 song Elton John called “one of the greatest”
Elton John has praised Ray Charles’s 1959 hit ‘What’d I Say’ as one of the greatest songs ever made, highlighting the lasting influence of Charles on his own musical development. The article presents the track as a landmark of rhythm and blues that helped shape the sound and energy of later rock and pop performers.…
-
“I just didn’t feel I could pull off the things Peter Gabriel did. I said: ‘I’ll give it a go but don’t expect me to wear costumes!’” Phil Collins’ first show as Genesis frontman
Phil Collins made his first appearance as Genesis’s lead singer on 26 March 1976 in London, Ontario, following Peter Gabriel’s departure. The performance was a significant test for the band, as Collins had to convince audiences that Genesis could continue without Gabriel’s distinctive stage presence and theatrical costumes. Collins later recalled feeling anxious about what…
-
Karol G Kicks Off 2026 Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour: Full Setlist
Karol G opened her Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour at Chicago’s Soldier Field on 24 July, presenting a Tropicoqueta-themed stadium show and a 33-song set spanning her career. – The set opened with “Latina Foreva” and included newer Tropicoqueta tracks such as “Papasito”, “Ivonny Bonita” and “Viajando Por El Mundo”. – Established hits including “Provenza”,…
-
NEW TREND I WANNA SEE YALL DO IT🫵
The page displayed a YouTube consent notice rather than the video itself. It explains how Google uses cookies and data to run services, protect users, measure engagement and, if permitted, personalise content and advertising. Users can choose to accept all cookies, reject additional cookie uses, or view more options to manage privacy settings. The notice…
-
Karol G Celebrates Global Stadium Tour With Unapologetic New Song ‘Matadora’
Karol G has released the new song “Matadora” as she began her Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour in Chicago. The release signals a possible new musical phase following her 2025 album Tropicoqueta and coincides with a tour that marks a significant milestone for Latin pop representation in major stadium venues. She teased the track with…
-
The metal band Metallica destroyed in 1988: “Can you please put ’em on after us?”
In 1988, Dokken asked to switch places with Metallica on the US Monsters of Rock tour because Metallica’s increasingly intense performances were making Dokken look comparatively weak. The episode illustrates Metallica’s rapid rise from a support act to a major live draw, while exposing the difficulty faced by more melodic hard-rock bands competing with thrash…
-
The 1983 role Terence Stamp hated every second of: “I’d done it because I was broke”
Terence Stamp said he disliked every aspect of making the 1983 television series *Chessgame*, accepting the role only because he was struggling financially. The experience mattered because he feared high-profile television work could restrict his future film opportunities, yet it ultimately helped revive his screen career. Stamp said he hated television’s demanding workload and its…