David Bowie released a clue-filled final album then succumbed 10 years ago today, following a secret bout with liver cancer. As always, he'd orchestrated everything with a sense of mystery and panache: ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-...

The 1976 touring schedule was highlighted by some important firsts and some very memorable endings. Check out my new look back at 1976's 20 Biggest Rock Tours: ultimateclassicrock.com/1976-top-roc...

50 years ago, Journey's live shows were drawing plenty of crowds around the Bay Area concert circuit. Still, the group was at a crossroads after just one jammy studio project. Check out my deep dive into a critical moment in Journey's history: ultimateclassicrock.com/journey-look...

It’s true.

Always proud of my work on this one.

The upcoming tour schedule holds plenty of intrigues for rock music fans: Rush is getting back together. Journey is breaking up. There is, admittedly, a lot going on. But some very notable rock stars apparently won't be out there. Here's a look: ultimateclassicrock.com/classic-rock...

The Band’s reliably ambitious “Christmas Must Be Tonight” was inspired by the arrival of Robbie Robertson’s new son Sebastian. Unfortunately, this would never become a holiday favorite, even after Robertson re-released the song. I'll never know why: substack.com/home/post/p-...

UCR's list of Top 25 Rock Songs of 2025 shows that the genre remains anything but predictable. Here's a look: ultimateclassicrock.com/top-rock-son...

There's only so much goopy seasonal music you can listen to, right? That's where UCR's staff-voted list of Top 12 classic rock Christmas albums comes in. We've dug up the best song cycles from guys who set the old cardigan-wearing holiday-music model aflame: ultimateclassicrock.com/rock-christm...

Released 45 years ago today, "Seven Bridges Road" took a winding road before becoming the Eagles' final Top 25 hit. They'd need several tricks of fate. Oh, and one of the Monkees. Here's my anniversary deep dive: ultimateclassicrock.com/eagles-seven...

Released 55 years ago today, John Lennon's 'Plastic Ono Band' was more than a kiss-off to the Beatles. It was his demolition of everything the previous decade stood for. Here's my deep dive: ultimateclassicrock.com/john-lennon-...

Let's look ahead: Next year will see confirmed studio projects from Joe Jackson, Megadeth and Squeeze, along with a massive box set reissue from Yes. Vinyl editions of live albums are also on the way from Van Halen and Cream, among others. More here: ultimateclassicrock.com/2026-new-mus...

David Bowie doing David Bowie things. Wedding day guest list: Bono, Ono, Eno.

Released 60 years ago this week, "We Can Work It Out" lived up to its title, even though the song thrusts Beatles fans into the middle of a romantic disentanglement. Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison created a striking collaborative triumph: ultimateclassicrock.com/beatles-we-c...

Remembering the great Steve Cropper, the secret weapon on countless R&B and early rock songs - and at Bob Dylan’s 30th Anniversary Concert: nickderiso.substack.com/p/the-real-s...

Finally nailed this down while rewatching the Beatles' 'Anthology.'

‘Real South / West Magazine’ published an excerpt from my forthcoming book, ‘Forever Young: How the Band and Bob Dylan Made the Only ‘60s Music That Still Matters.’ It's an examination of the Band’s ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’: realsouthwestmag.com/2025/01/reco...

Remembering George Harrison on the anniversary of his too-early passing – and his multi-platinum solo-career defining 'All Things Must Pass,' released 55 years ago this week. ultimateclassicrock.com/george-harri...

The justifiably lauded ‘Dirt Farmer’ peaked on the charts this week in 2007, as Levon Helm returned to songs with the gravity and meaning of his best work with the Band. Here’s my look back at the true follow-up to his terrific1978 solo debut: nickderiso.substack.com/p/the-look-b...

Issued 45 years ago today, John Lennon's 'Double Fantasy' has a complicated legacy. It was released to mixed reviews, but then became the last completed blockbuster in his lifetime. Here's my ranked look back at Lennon's songs from 'Double Fantasy': ultimateclassicrock.com/john-lennon-...

What if someone released an impassioned twin-guitar genius record and nobody cared? That's initially what happened with the only album from Derek and the Dominos. My retro review of 'Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs,' issued 55 years ago this week: ultimateclassicrock.com/derek-and-th...

With Black Friday's edition of Record Store Day in the rearview mirror, the music industry's engines will inevitably begin to slow next month. Thankfully, there are still a few cool things set to arrive before the end of the year. Here's a look ahead: ultimateclassicrock.com/december-202...

With its sweet harmonies and deftly twinned guitars, 'Eagles Live' plays like a peaceful easy feeling. But the LP, released 45 years ago this week, tells a more complex story of a relentless attention to detail and an ugly initial split. My new retro review: ultimateclassicrock.com/eagles-live-...

Before the advent of the streaming playlist era, creating a big finish for your LP was a big deal. It's clear that the Eagles understood the assignment. Here's a ranked look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/eagles-album...

Released 55 years ago this week, the character-driven 'Tumbleweed Connection' doesn't sound anything like the sleek soundtrack work that Elton John devolved into by the '90s. It hardly sounds like his peak '70s stuff, either. Here's my retro review: ultimateclassicrock.com/elton-john-t...

Ready for a preview of the Biggest Rock Tours Announced for 2026 (So Far)? Look for huge reunions, a notable farewell, and lots (and lots) of Vegas shows. Here's my complete rundown for next year: ultimateclassicrock.com/2026-rock-to...

Paul Simon could have continued trading on the outsized successes of 1986's 'Graceland.' But instead he started from scratch again on the following 'Rhythm of the Saints,' released 35 years ago this month. Here's a look back at my favorite Paul Simon LP: ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-simon-r...

Joe Walsh's influence on the Eagles will never be defined simply by songs. It was really about the vibe. He'd eventually become a symbol of their lasting resiliency. Here's a ranked look back at all of Walsh's Eagles songs: ultimateclassicrock.com/joe-walsh-ea...

Lead singers tend to become the focal point. (Think Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones.) And yet, legendary frontmen have regularly handed the mic to someone else. Here's a ranked look back at 35 classic rock songs that weren't sung by the lead singer: ultimateclassicrock.com/rock-songs-n...

November 2025's new music includes Beatles-related projects, new releases from Aerosmith and Cheap Trick, and the return of Record Store Day. The Black Friday edition features exclusives from Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and Alice Cooper. My new rundown: ultimateclassicrock.com/november-202...

The too-often-overlooked Bernie Leadon released a very rare solo album this week, the terrific 'Too Late to Be Cool.' Here's where it ranks all time among Eagles solo albums: ultimateclassicrock.com/eagles-solo-...

Jonathan Cain is leaving Journey – after one final tour. He's also talking about what's next: ultimateclassicrock.com/jonathan-cai...

He may have been just a singer in the rock 'n' roll band, but the #MoodyBlues legend John Lodge will be missed. Today's tribute: ultimateclassicrock.com/moody-blues-...

John Lennon would've turned 85 today. He was slow to reveal himself through music. Once he decided to get real, however, the floodgates opened. His songs became as frank, emotional and self-critical as any in rock history. Here's my all-eras look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/top-john-len...

Bernie Leadon was never thought of as cool, but the culture kept moving toward him. The rootsy vibe he helped create holds far more resonance into a new century than rock music does. Same with the former Eagles star's 'Too Late to Be Cool,' due on Friday: ultimateclassicrock.com/bernie-leado...

The best songs challenge assumptions while searching for answers in an often-confusing world. Many pose their questions right in their name. But not everything is so serious, as shown in this new ranking of Top 30 Songs With a Question in the Title: ultimateclassicrock.com/songs-with-q...

I broke out the rock-related releases set to arrive on the Black Friday edition of Record Store Day in late November. Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Alice Cooper and Van Halen are among the highlight exclusives. Here's the complete list: ultimateclassicrock.com/record-store...

Any discussion of Pink Floyd's longest songs ends up as a love letter to the musical partnership of David Gilmour and Richard Wright. The material tended to become shorter and more novelistic as erstwhile bandmate Roger Waters' influence grew. My look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/pink-floyd-l...

Robert Plant's 'Saving Grace' has arrived. Let's talk about where it ranks among his solo albums. Along the way, there have been dizzying summits, disappointing blind alleys, thrilling moments of homecoming and surprising times when he's backtracked: ultimateclassicrock.com/robert-plant...

Summer has always been the traditional time for big tours, but that doesn't mean the stage lights are turned off as the weather changes to fall. Quite the opposite, in fact. Some of rock's biggest acts will be visiting a live music venue near you. More here: ultimateclassicrock.com/fall-2025-to...

Paul McCartney's Wings era somehow remains underrated, but they made their own very rich contributions to his legacy in the decade after the Beatles. Here's my ranked look back at Paul McCartney's 30 best songs with Wings: ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-mccartn...

Southern Rock's big bang, 'Idlewild South' also heralded the arrival of the Allman Brothers Band's savior. Gregg Allman wrote most of the songs, and Duane Allman provided signature guitar. But this LP arrived 55 years ago as Dickey Betts' coming-out party: ultimateclassicrock.com/allman-broth...

Journey fans tend to play the expected hits. In most cases, the album's biggest single is also the song that's streamed the most on Spotify. They represent undeniable high points. But which songs are skipped the most? Here's a look: ultimateclassicrock.com/journey-most...

John Lennon had a knack for stand-alone solo hits: Five of his Top 40 songs weren't part of any original LP. In all, he amassed more than a dozen of them, despite taking several years off in the late-'70s. Here's my new ranked look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/john-lennon-...

The list of October 2025 new music releases is dominated by expanded box set releases, including deep dives into the archives of John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, the Who and Elton John. Here's a look at what's on the way: ultimateclassicrock.com/october-2025...

Paul McCartney brought another voice into the conversation 20 years ago today with 'Chaos and Creation in the Backyard': New producer Nigel Godrich, famous for his work with Radiohead and Beck. That led to much-needed tension. Here's my look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-mccartn...

Nobody ever got saved on Bob Dylan's 'Tempest,' or even forgiven, as far as I could tell. Yet there were tender mercies, things worth grabbing onto, fleeting pleasures for those who’d made it this far. Here's my look back: nickderiso.substack.com/p/bob-dylans...

Paul McCartney has written or co-written 32 chart-topping singles on Billboard's Hot 100 – including seven as a solo act and with Wings. He plays those a lot. But which ones has he played the least? Here's a look: ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-mccartn...

The most popular Eagles songs will be no surprise. They're the ones that classic-rock radio has played like clockwork for decades now. But every album has that one song listeners tend to skip – and Eagles LPs are no exception. I dive into the numbers here: ultimateclassicrock.com/eagles-skipp...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! #PaulMcCartney