The Chronicles of Michael Christopher
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Heavy metal is coming to Sin City. Following months of rumors and speculation, it was announced this week that Metallica will debut its “Life Burns Faster” residency at Sphere in Las Vegas this fall. The highly anticipated run will take place across eight evenings: October 1 and 3, 15 and 17, 22 and 24, and... Continue Reading →
There’s little denying that a distinct absence of concert etiquette has skyrocketed in recent years. From incessant talking during a performance to a total lack of spatial awareness, both in general admission and seated settings, it’s made the live environment untenable at some shows. Then, of course, there is the fact that everyone in the... Continue Reading →
Welcome to Archive, where I’ll be periodically highlighting articles pulled from my files that have either disappeared into the ether of the internet, originally ran in print, or otherwise faded away. Each one will be connecting the past to the present day. Today, it’s a May 2015 LA Weekly interview I did with Nickolas Rossi,... Continue Reading →
If you’ve been on social media at any point over the past few months, you’ve likely seen a myriad of reels, memes, and posts about the death of MTV. That’s right, the channel that exploded into the mainstream in the early ‘80s, revolutionizing the music industry by putting faces, performances, and concept videos to the... Continue Reading →
Welcome to this year’s edition of “New Year’s Resolutions for Rockers Who Need Them,” where we offer some help to musicians who may have trouble thinking up goals for the coming 12 months. It’s not an easy job, but one we’re more than happy to take on because, hey, these folks are busy. Last year,... Continue Reading →
Last year, at this time, Vanyaland was doing its annual Year in ReView, and my submission was 12 of the best revelations from our 617 Q&A series. This time around, we revisited the concept, but instead of combing through the interviews for revelatory nuggets, we went straight to the recommendations. If you'll recall, the 617... Continue Reading →
If you’ve followed Everclear at any point over the last three decades, you already know that beneath the sweet-sounding, radio-ready power pop of the Portland, Oregon outfit’s music, frontman Art Alexakis never sugarcoated a damn thing. He’s always been the guy who turned the ugliest parts of his life into songs, ones that just happened to be... Continue Reading →
Back in June, to celebrate his 70th birthday, Vanyaland ranked the 70 greatest songs from Glenn Danzig. Curated by site founder and editor-in-chief Michael O'Connor Marotta and me, it was an exhaustive dive into the catalog of the Evil Elvis, one he would surely bristle at because that's just what he does, but which the... Continue Reading →
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 →
Before there was The Cult, there was Death Cult, a darker, more gothic iteration of the group that would later become known for hits like “She Sells Sanctuary,” “Fire Woman,” and “Love Removal Machine.” And while a shadowy side existed to the modern version through the years, no matter what musical path they ventured down, it was... Continue Reading →
The Chronicles of Michael Christopher 