“History will repeat itself” declared Glenn Gregory — correctly — on the original version of “(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang,” in a voice partway between demented crooner and cyborg newscaster. The song was a minor and fitting hit for his U.K. synth-pop act Heaven 17, who took their …
Read More »Ariana Grande Is Heading Back to Number One and She's Bringing 'NSync With Her
Ariana Grande‘s Thank U, Next album is all but guaranteed to debut at Number One. When it does, it will be another in a long string of commercial slam-dunks for Grande. More surprising, the album’s success also represents a return to the charts for ‘NSync and Wendy Rene.That’s because “Break …
Read More »The Making of the Cranberries' Haunted Farewell
Every night, around the same time, they expected her to show up. It was hard to blame them, since much of what the Cranberries were doing last April and into May evoked old times. Once again, the members of the Irish alt-pop band were gathered in a studio with their …
Read More »Ariana Grande: God Is This Woman
When Ariana Grande first showed up on the radio, she came off like the ultimate teen-pop robo-princess, a bubblegum diva wearing a pair of kitten ears. She relished the role of the coy starlet, flashing her Mini Mariah pipes, Bardot ponytail and Edie Sedgwick fashion sense. In her videos, she …
Read More »Peter Hook: Why I'm Auctioning Off My Joy Division Legacy
Joy Division formed in the summer of 1976 after bassist Peter Hook and guitarist Bernard Sumner felt the spark to start a band after seeing the Sex Pistols. They put out two full-lengths of icy, bass-driven post-punk before the band ended in 1980 after frontman Ian Curtis died by suicide. …
Read More »The Grammys Love Hip-Hop Now, But It's a Strained Relationship
The Grammy nominations are out and it’s a rapper-heavy affair. This yearat music’s most prestigious awards ceremony, the three artists with the most nominations all belong to the genre: Kendrick Lamar (8), Drake (7) and Boi-1da (6). Six out of the top 10 artists with the most nominations are either …
Read More »The Last Word: Patti Smith on Performing With Her Kids and What William Burroughs Taught Her
Patti Smith has never shied away from life’s tragic side. But when she calls up Rolling Stone in October, she’s in an upbeat mood. “On the road, they have these LG televisions and when you turn them on, it says: Life Is Good. I love that,” Smith says. “Actually, I …
Read More »CupcakKe, Rap's Raunchiest Star, Gets Personal on 'Eden'
CupcakKe had a tough time titling her second release of 2018. “I was very conflicted,” the Chicago rapper said on a phone call last week. She took to a group chat for more opinions, originally leaning towardsMenu.Since the album is her most personal yet, though, the chat (thankfully) convinced her …
Read More »Lauren Jauregui Talks Solo Career: 'I Can't Create When I Feel Stifled'
Lauren Jauregui is ready to step out on her own, but on a night in early October, she’s preparing herself to step in front of her fans and debut her first official solo song and video following Fifth Harmony‘s hiatus. “I’m excited! I’m so excited,” she repeats, already dressed up …
Read More »Mike Campbell's Life After Heartbreak
Mike Campbell doesn’t cry when he talks about the early-morning phone call that told him Tom Petty, his bandleader and best friend of nearly 50 years, had just been rushed to the hospital. The Heartbreakers guitarist doesn’t cry when he remembers playing to a sold-out Hollywood Bowl with Petty one …
Read More »