My latest for The New York Times, on the legendary session musician Carol Kaye. The outspoken 90-year-old is being inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame this fall. With thoughts on Kaye's career from Paul McCartney, Kathy Valentine & more. Gift link here: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/a...

My latest for The New York Times, on the legendary session musician Carol Kaye. The outspoken 90-year-old is being inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame this fall. With thoughts on Kaye's career from Paul McCartney, Kathy Valentine & more. Gift link here: www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/a...

My latest for the New York Times on the colorful career of Josh Freese, late of Foo Fighters, currently of Nine Inch Nails-a child drum prodigy who's risen to the ranks of the world’s top musicians. With thoughts from Sting, Mark Mothersbaugh, Jim Keltner & more. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/a...

My latest for the New York Times on the colorful career of Josh Freese, late of Foo Fighters, currently of Nine Inch Nails-a child drum prodigy who's risen to the ranks of the world’s top musicians. With thoughts from Sting, Mark Mothersbaugh, Jim Keltner & more. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/a...

You might've heard the news about an incredible project from Hüsker Dü, "1985: The Miracle Year," a 4LP/2CD box set coming this fall from Numero Group. Had the privilege of writing the liner notes to this epic package. Check it out here: numerogroup.com/products/198...

You might've heard the news about an incredible project from Hüsker Dü, "1985: The Miracle Year," a 4LP/2CD box set coming this fall from Numero Group. Had the privilege of writing the liner notes to this epic package. Check it out here: numerogroup.com/products/198...

Terry Reid: 1949-2025. Fly on...

My latest for The New York Times on Neil Sedaka. Fifty years ago, Sedaka pulled off one of pop music’s great comebacks. This is the story his rise, fall and rise again, as he marks the occasion with a deluxe release of “Sedaka’s Back” and some intimate shows in LA. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/a...

My latest for The New York Times on Neil Sedaka. Fifty years ago, Sedaka pulled off one of pop music’s great comebacks. This is the story his rise, fall and rise again, as he marks the occasion with a deluxe release of “Sedaka’s Back” and some intimate shows in LA. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/a...

My latest for The New York Times, on some of the still (officially) unreleased material from across Brian Wilson's career: Adult/Child, Sweet Insanity, The Paley Sessions and more. With insights from Wilson biographers David Leaf and Peter Ames Carlin. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/a...

My latest for The New York Times, a profile of Irish music legend Christy Moore. Got to chat with the great man & some of his many admirers-U2’s The Edge, Elvis Costello, The Late Late Show's Patrick Kielty & Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland-for this feature. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/a...

My latest for The New York Times, a profile of Irish music legend Christy Moore. Got to chat with the great man & some of his many admirers-U2’s The Edge, Elvis Costello, The Late Late Show's Patrick Kielty & Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland-for this feature. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/a...

Fascinating find! I looked for this ad for a long time but could never locate it. It's an interesting bit of history that affixes the date officially for the Bataclan - or Ba-Ta-clan - gig that was set up specifically for Peter Jesperson. Let me explain...

Sad news from the world of Memphis music: Terry Manning, the noted engineer, producer, and musician who worked with a galaxy of stars — from Led Zeppelin to ZZ Top — over a sixty-plus year career has died. More on Manning's life and career here: www.commercialappeal.com/story/entert...

Sad news from the world of Memphis music: Terry Manning, the noted engineer, producer, and musician who worked with a galaxy of stars — from Led Zeppelin to ZZ Top — over a sixty-plus year career has died. More on Manning's life and career here: www.commercialappeal.com/story/entert...

My latest for the New York Times, a profile of the great Benmont Tench, as he releases his second solo album, “The Melancholy Season." With thoughts from Mike Campbell, Danielle Haim, Don Was, Jonathan Wilson. Look for it in Sunday’s print edition of the NYT. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/a...

My latest for the New York Times, a profile of the great Benmont Tench, as he releases his second solo album, “The Melancholy Season." With thoughts from Mike Campbell, Danielle Haim, Don Was, Jonathan Wilson. Look for it in Sunday’s print edition of the NYT. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/a...

Newly uploaded to YouTube, a discovery on par with the Dead Sea Scrolls, actual footage of Brian Wilson rapping a little bit of "Smart Girls." Shout out to @andrewsandoval.bsky.social for the find, a real treasure for those who appreciate "sexy legs with high IQs"

Was pleased to find this lovely spread in today's print edition of The New York Times for my story on The Bangles, timed to the publication of a new bio authorized biography of the band, "Eternal Flame." You can read the NYT story here: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/a...

Was pleased to find this lovely spread in today's print edition of The New York Times for my story on The Bangles, timed to the publication of a new bio authorized biography of the band, "Eternal Flame." You can read the NYT story here: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/a...

My latest for the New York Times, a look at the life and legacy of The Bangles, ahead of the publication of “Eternal Flame” an authorized biography of the band by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike. Spoke with Susanna Hoffs, the Peterson sisters, and producer David Kahne etc. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/a...

My latest for the New York Times, a look at the life and legacy of The Bangles, ahead of the publication of “Eternal Flame” an authorized biography of the band by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike. Spoke with Susanna Hoffs, the Peterson sisters, and producer David Kahne etc. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/a...

It includes sixty-five previously unreleased music tracks as well as a forty-eight-page hardcover book with previously unpublished photos and a new liner note by Grammy-winning writer @bobmehr.bsky.social.

Sad news out of Memphis: Don Nix - Stax artist, producer and 'Going Down' songwriter - has died at 83. Nix, a member of The Mar-Keys ("Last Night"), worked with Freddie King, Albert King, Jeff Beck, George Harrison and more. A look at his life and career: www.commercialappeal.com/story/entert...

Sad news out of Memphis: Don Nix - Stax artist, producer and 'Going Down' songwriter - has died at 83. Nix, a member of The Mar-Keys ("Last Night"), worked with Freddie King, Albert King, Jeff Beck, George Harrison and more. A look at his life and career: www.commercialappeal.com/story/entert...

Wishing a happy 65th birthday to The Replacements' Paul Westerfield.

Sad news out of Memphis: the great Stanley Booth - author, critic, historian and Rolling Stones biographer – has died at the age of 82. My obit on his life, work, and passing: www.commercialappeal.com/story/entert...

Sad news out of Memphis: the great Stanley Booth - author, critic, historian and Rolling Stones biographer – has died at the age of 82. My obit on his life, work, and passing: www.commercialappeal.com/story/entert...

Robert Bruce “Slim” Dunlap: 1951-2024. Not enough room to pay proper tribute here, but here's a few thoughts on one of finest men and musicians I'ver known: www.facebook.com/1059560020/p...

On the anniversary of Kirsty MacColl's tragic passing, here's a story I did last year for The New York Times chronicling her remarkable life and musical journey. With thoughts from Johnny Marr, Billy Bragg, Steve Lillywhite, Spider Stacy, Tracey Ullman and more: www.nytimes.com/2023/11/02/a...

Had a fun time talking about The Replacements, "Tim," and my book "Trouble Boys" on the new Major Label Debut Podcast, hosted by Graham Wright (CBC Radio) and co-produced by Josh Hook from Tokyo Police Club. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

My latest for The New York Times, on the great Native American guitarist Jesse Ed Davis, who’s the subject of a new biography by Douglas Miller, “Washita Love Child,” an exhibit at the Bob Dylan Center, and a forthcoming comp gathering his unreleased solo material. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/19/a...

Since I'm new here figured I'd share a couple recent pieces. Starting with a New York Times story on a song written nearly 60 years ago by a 16-year-old kid. The song was “These Days” and the kid was Jackson Browne. A look at the tune’s unique journey over the decades www.nytimes.com/2024/09/12/a...

My latest for The New York Times, a feature on Dwight Yoakam. One of the all-time great and unique artists in country music history, we discuss his new album “Brighter Days,” his new family, and new collaborations. www.nytimes.com/2024/11/09/a...