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January 16, 2025, marks the 45th anniversary of a moment that shook rock ‘n’ roll to its core and almost put Paul McCartney behind bars for seven years. The world’s most famous bassist—Beatle, hitmaker, and knight-to-be—was arrested at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport for smuggling nearly half a pound of marijuana. What could’ve been just another…
Claude Lemaire thinks Led Zeppelin is so seminal to hard rock, he chooses them twice for Episode 3. King Crimson also makes the cut.
On December 31, 1970, as a damp London chill settled over the city, Paul McCartney made his way into the High Court of Justice. The man who once penned “Yesterday” was now stepping into tomorrow with a heavy heart. In his hands, he carried a lawsuit that would dissolve The Beatles, a band that had…
Among my music recommendations is a handful of favorite holiday records in my collection – some new, some classic. ’Tis the season!
To celebrate its 75th anniversary, McIntosh Labs is collaborating with mastering facility Sterling Sound on a series of AAA analog tape-recorded vinyl releases. John Seetoo and Frank Doris take a look at the first release in the series.
The FTC’s 2024 Amplifier Rule aims for transparency but sparks backlash for outdated testing, unrealistic standards, and a loophole echoing pre-1974 marketing chaos.
Imagine it’s a chilly December 1 evening in 1957. TV screens across America flicker to life with that iconic Ed Sullivan introduction: “And now, ladies and gentlemen… Buddy Holly and the Crickets!” For just a few minutes, Buddy Holly—only 21 at the time—commands the national stage, bringing rock ‘n’ roll into America’s living rooms like…
From courtly halls to Zen temples, the shakuhachi evolved from a Tang Dynasty import into a meditative tool and global musical icon, resonating with timeless beauty.
In the late 1930s, when Hollywood was still refining synchronized sound, Walt Disney had an audacious idea. He wanted to create an animated film that not only brought classical music to the masses but did so in a way that allowed audiences to feel like they were immersed in the music itself. Enter Fantasia—a revolutionary…
It was November 4, 1963, and London’s Prince of Wales Theatre was buzzing. The Royal Variety Performance, that stately British showcase, was in full swing. London’s cultural pulse was racing, charged by a new phenomenon: Beatlemania. But inside, the atmosphere felt more upper-crust than counterculture—a space typically reserved for polite applause and tasteful applause for…
On October 31, 1975, Queen unleashed a track that would transform rock music and forge its own genre: Bohemian Rhapsody. This was more than a song; it was a production, a revolution, and maybe even a bit of madness. Mercury, Queen’s fearless frontman, had begun to sketch ideas for Bohemian Rhapsody as early as 1968,…
Welcome to Claude Lemaire’s new series, in which he explores the history of hard rock, heavy rock, and heavy metal—including metal’s many subgenres.
All photos by David Meerman Scott On September 23, 1980, Bob Marley, already a global icon and a beacon for reggae music, took the stage at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh for what would be his last live performance. The air was thick with anticipation as 3,500 fans packed the sold-out venue, but few knew…
Rudy Radelic digs into vintage rock, blues, and jazz, spotlighting reissues with stellar mastering, hard-to-find rarities, and standout titles cherished by collectors.
When N.W.A. released Straight Outta Compton on August 8, 1988, it marked a seismic shift in music, culture, and the way America viewed hip-hop. The album was a raw and unfiltered portrayal of life in the streets of South Central Los Angeles, delivered with an urgency and authenticity that had never been heard before. Not…