Today marks the 25th anniversary of Van Halen's final studio album with Sammy Hagar at the helm, the uneven Balance, which was released January 24, 1995. Though it wasn't clear at the time, the band was falling apart from the inside out, which had quite a bit to do with the mess laid down on... Continue Reading →
Talking the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 on Indie617
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2020 was announced today, and there were quite a few surprises in terms of who was inducted and who got snubbed. I guested on Indie617's Morning Glory with Michael Marotta to break it all down and attempt to answer the question, "Does the institution even matter?"... Continue Reading →
Release Date Revealed for Upcoming Depeche Mode Book by Michael Christopher
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 →
Interview with Ian Astbury of The Cult
This week, UK rock and roll stalwarts The Cult are coming to the end of a tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their mainstream breakthrough LP Sonic Temple, which got the box set treatment back in October. The band has been on the road since the spring marking the occasion, with the final show... Continue Reading →
30 Years Ago: ‘Back to the Future II’ Doubles Down on Time Travel
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 →
Roundtable: Do Motley Crue Owe Fans an Apology for Reuniting?
When Motley Crue announced they would be reuniting last week, less than four years after the last date of their much-hyped "Final Tour," some people weren't surprised; after all, look at how many bands have said farewell, only to come back for a money grab reunion. But there were many hardcore fans of the Crue... Continue Reading →
Talking ‘Definitely Maybe’ by Oasis at 25 on Indie617
Those Gallagher brothers will never give up the ridiculousness. Today, Noel released his latest EP under the High Flying Birds moniker, This Is the Place. That's exactly one week after his younger sibling Liam dropped a heavily promoted sophomore solo LP, Why Me? Why Not. Now they're battling it out for the attention of fans... Continue Reading →
Interview with ‘Murder in the Front Row’ Director Adam Dubin
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 →
10 Years Ago: Noel Gallagher quits Oasis and the band begrudgingly call it a day
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 →
Looking Back at the Summer of 2009
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 →