The Chronicles of Michael Christopher
Music • Culture • Film • Travel • Photography • Vinyl
Art Alexakis hasn’t had the easiest life. But you don’t need us to tell you that; it’s all in the lyrics to some of the most popular songs by his alternative rock band Everclear. Growing up with an absentee dad? “Father of Mine.” Being a child of divorce? “Wonderful.” Brother succumbing to a heroin overdose and his... Continue Reading →
Backstage in the dining area last night at The Xfinity Center, I'm sitting down to dinner with Jeff Gutt, the singer from Stone Temple Pilots - which is an absolutely bonkers way to start a story, I realize this - and we're talking about the Vanyaland 617 Q&A he did with me recently. He mentions... Continue Reading →
I'm pleased to announce that the audiobook for Van Halen: The Eruption and the Aftershock is now available across all listening platforms. While the print and eBook came out last October, I had been concurrently working diligently on the audiobook version, which was quite the experience and one that I look forward to taking on... Continue Reading →
Welcome to this year’s edition of Rock Music Menu’s “New Year’s Resolutions for Rockers Who Need Them,” where we assist often otherwise occupied musicians with setting goals for the coming 12 months. It’s not an easy job, but one that has to be done. Just like you and I, there are rockers, rollers and other... Continue Reading →
Earlier this week I took part in a prog-rock throwdown between Rush of the 1970s and Rush of the 1980s. Who were better? Was the addition of keyboards in the '80s a smart move? What was their most underrated LP of each decade? And which version of Rush were better to see live? Sitting down... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
The Chronicles of Michael Christopher 