The Chronicles of Michael Christopher
Links to writings. Musings on life. Photography. Travels. Skulls.
Unbeknownst to fans at the time, come 1995 the relationship between Sammy Hagar and the brothers Van Halen had seriously deteriorated. Their fourth album together, Balance, was released that January, and by the following spring, they'd split. The recording of the LP had been anything but smooth, leading producer Bruce Fairbairn to ask Eddie Van... Continue Reading →
The union between Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes back in 1999 was one of necessity and convenience that just happened to work really well - until it didn't. The former wanted to keep rocking and rolling but his ex-Led Zeppelin bandmate Robert Plant had no interest. The Crowes just released their best album in... Continue Reading →
It's an exciting day here at The Chronicles of MC as my first book, Depeche Mode FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the World's Finest Synth-Pop Band has an official release date! It will be available beginning October 15, 2020. Pre-orders are being taken now at Amazon with other outlets to be announced soon.... Continue Reading →
It's been three decades since the follow-up to the most successful film of 1985 delivered a sequel. Back to the Future II saw Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) go to the year 2015 then back again to 1955 in a tale full of time traveling twists and turns. For the... Continue Reading →
The Bay Area thrash metal scene of the early 80s isn't one of the most popular nor well-known. Mainly people see the era as the one that birthed Metallica. Thanks to director Adam Dubin, that's all changed with his excellent documentary Murder In The Front Row: The San Francisco Bay Area Thrash Metal Story. Featuring the... Continue Reading →
While on the road to promote their 2008 LP Dig Out Your Soul, arguably the best Oasis album since (What's the Story) Morning Glory? the fractious relationship between brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher finally reached DEFCON 1, with the latter first hurling a plum (!) at his sibling before swinging a guitar like an axe... Continue Reading →
Everyone seems to be focusing on 1969 for their anniversary pieces this year. Hey, I've been guilty of it too. I get it. But you know when was a really strange time? The summer of 2009, when some crazy weird shit went down over a short period of time. Tomorrow's Rock Music Menu in The... Continue Reading →
Earlier this month, the folks behind Ultimate Classic Rock launched a site dedicated to all things Prince, aptly dubbed Ultimate Prince. It's a deep repository of reviews, criticisms and news surrounding the life and death of the Purple One, and this week I took part in a roundtable to discuss the curiosity that is Prince's... Continue Reading →
Fifty years on, director Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece The Wild Bunch still has the ability to shock with its depiction of the last remaining outlaws in the Wild West going out with guns blazing and blood spilling. Over on the movies and culture desk at Ultimate Classic Rock, I look at just how affecting the film... Continue Reading →
