Michael Azerrad
@michaelazerrad.bsky.social
Author of _The Amplified Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana_ and _Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991_.
Bylines: the New Yorker, the Yale Review, the New York Times, etc.
Bylines: the New Yorker, the Yale Review, the New York Times, etc.
Pinned
The Amplified “Come As You Are” Book Revisits Nirvana’s Legend with New Depth and Devastation - That Eric Alper
When Michael Azerrad first published Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana in 1993, he captured lightning in a bottle. It was the only biography written with full access to Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoseli...
www.thatericalper.com
"For those too young to remember MTV Unplugged or zines or mixtapes, this book is a roadmap to the 1990s: the rage, the disaffection, the way music could crack open a kid’s worldview. For those who were there, it’s a chance to relive it all with the benefit of hindsight — and heartbreak."
It was funny to look at what some people wore to the Grammys last night and think about how, 25 years ago, Bjork was mocked for the beautiful, now iconic swan dress she wore to the 2001 Oscars. Lest we forget, it can be hard to be a visionary.
February 2, 2026 at 4:58 PM
It was funny to look at what some people wore to the Grammys last night and think about how, 25 years ago, Bjork was mocked for the beautiful, now iconic swan dress she wore to the 2001 Oscars. Lest we forget, it can be hard to be a visionary.
Happy birthday, Philip Glass
Hap-py birth-day, Phil-ip Glass
HappybirthdayPhilipGlass
Hap-py birth-day, Phil-ip Glass
HappybirthdayPhilipGlass
January 31, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Happy birthday, Philip Glass
Hap-py birth-day, Phil-ip Glass
HappybirthdayPhilipGlass
Hap-py birth-day, Phil-ip Glass
HappybirthdayPhilipGlass
Gustav Holst's 1918 orchestral suite "The Planets" is notable for many reasons, not the least of which is that it inspired this all-synth version, a certified '70s stoner classic. Best heard on big, bulky headphones in total darkness.
The Planets - Isao Tomita
YouTube video by Charclem Charcleme
youtu.be
January 27, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Gustav Holst's 1918 orchestral suite "The Planets" is notable for many reasons, not the least of which is that it inspired this all-synth version, a certified '70s stoner classic. Best heard on big, bulky headphones in total darkness.
"Pants Prince"! 😂
January 26, 2026 at 2:32 AM
"Pants Prince"! 😂
I wrote a Substack about Kurt Cobain and Lead Belly — and a song that Kurt never sang.
tinyurl.com/CobainLeadBe...
tinyurl.com/CobainLeadBe...
Kurt Cobain, Lead Belly and "Grey Goose"
The greatest song that Cobain never sang
tinyurl.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:27 PM
I wrote a Substack about Kurt Cobain and Lead Belly — and a song that Kurt never sang.
tinyurl.com/CobainLeadBe...
tinyurl.com/CobainLeadBe...
Sad news: Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst has died. Wow, he was great: played with immense flair and power, a sonic embodiment of the band's righteousness. Also co-wrote many MO songs, was archivist, art director, political researcher, spokesperson and internal cheerleader. Like I say, he was great.
January 20, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Sad news: Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst has died. Wow, he was great: played with immense flair and power, a sonic embodiment of the band's righteousness. Also co-wrote many MO songs, was archivist, art director, political researcher, spokesperson and internal cheerleader. Like I say, he was great.
They would do well to have you involved.
January 19, 2026 at 2:34 PM
They would do well to have you involved.
Al Green has done some great covers of great songs, uncovered new depths in them, both made them his own and everyone else's. When he does a cover, it's a kind of benediction. Here's his beautiful new take on Lou Reed's "I Found a Reason," from the Velvets' _Loaded_.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKSf...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKSf...
Al Green - I Found A Reason (Official Lyric Video)
YouTube video by Al Green
www.youtube.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Al Green has done some great covers of great songs, uncovered new depths in them, both made them his own and everyone else's. When he does a cover, it's a kind of benediction. Here's his beautiful new take on Lou Reed's "I Found a Reason," from the Velvets' _Loaded_.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKSf...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKSf...
A good executive knows how to delegate. 😉
January 15, 2026 at 7:34 PM
A good executive knows how to delegate. 😉
Thanks for letting me know.
January 15, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Thanks for letting me know.
I've always been fascinated by what makes music swing. It's kind of an elusive thing, but sometimes one can better understand something by observing its absence. This robot playing John Coltrane's solo on "Giant Steps" is a case in point.
Giants steps solo by a Robot!
YouTube video by Nicolas Farrugia
www.youtube.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:40 PM
I've always been fascinated by what makes music swing. It's kind of an elusive thing, but sometimes one can better understand something by observing its absence. This robot playing John Coltrane's solo on "Giant Steps" is a case in point.
"Early British jazz appreciation shared with so many forms of left-wing culture an eschewal of the popular, a comradeship of the elect, which was the secret at once of its richness and its marginality."
— Kevin Morgan, "King Street blues: jazz and the left in the 1930s-1940s," 1998
— Kevin Morgan, "King Street blues: jazz and the left in the 1930s-1940s," 1998
January 13, 2026 at 3:13 AM
"Early British jazz appreciation shared with so many forms of left-wing culture an eschewal of the popular, a comradeship of the elect, which was the secret at once of its richness and its marginality."
— Kevin Morgan, "King Street blues: jazz and the left in the 1930s-1940s," 1998
— Kevin Morgan, "King Street blues: jazz and the left in the 1930s-1940s," 1998
I did a Substack about composer Phil Kline's magical classic "Unsilent Night," flash mobs, self-checkout registers and benevolent conspiracies.
Silver Bells: Communing with Phil Kline's "Unsilent Night"
"Unsilent Night" is perhaps noted new music composer Phil Kline's greatest hit.
michaelazerrad.substack.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:19 PM
I did a Substack about composer Phil Kline's magical classic "Unsilent Night," flash mobs, self-checkout registers and benevolent conspiracies.
I think you'll find this an enjoyable follow, if you don't already.
bsky.app
January 6, 2026 at 4:48 PM
I think you'll find this an enjoyable follow, if you don't already.
Dramatically increased electric bills also help a lot. That's a language everybody can understand.
January 2, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Dramatically increased electric bills also help a lot. That's a language everybody can understand.
Perhaps you love late-'50s South African pop vocal music. In that case, I recommend _The Very Best of the Skylarks, 1956-1959_, vol. I and II. Yep, that's Miriam Makeba's group. RIYL: the Andrews Sisters and mbaqanga
December 30, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Perhaps you love late-'50s South African pop vocal music. In that case, I recommend _The Very Best of the Skylarks, 1956-1959_, vol. I and II. Yep, that's Miriam Makeba's group. RIYL: the Andrews Sisters and mbaqanga
Well, I wouldn’t take credit for one of Damon’s excellent pieces.
December 30, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Well, I wouldn’t take credit for one of Damon’s excellent pieces.
If you're interested in the craft of songwriting, I recommend listening to this "Democracy Now" episode about lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, who wrote the words to classics like "Over the Rainbow," "It's Only a Paper Moon," "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" etc.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
December 26, 2025 at 2:27 PM
If you're interested in the craft of songwriting, I recommend listening to this "Democracy Now" episode about lyricist E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, who wrote the words to classics like "Over the Rainbow," "It's Only a Paper Moon," "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" etc.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...
I did an UnderPile about the story behind Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack to _A Charlie Brown Christmas_ and why the music touches us so deeply. There are also some words of wisdom from the record's potty-mouthed drummer.
On Vince Guaraldi's Immortal Soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas
This Peanuts stuff was a little more sophisticated than it appeared
michaelazerrad.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I did an UnderPile about the story behind Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack to _A Charlie Brown Christmas_ and why the music touches us so deeply. There are also some words of wisdom from the record's potty-mouthed drummer.
As yesterday's _New York Times_ "Connection" puzzle so compellingly demonstrates, the B-52s' legacy is deep and abiding.
December 21, 2025 at 1:15 PM
As yesterday's _New York Times_ "Connection" puzzle so compellingly demonstrates, the B-52s' legacy is deep and abiding.
Funny timing for a piece about Peanuts and commercialism: Sony just bought 41% of Peanuts Holdings LLC for $457 million, increasing its stake to 80% of the company.
December 20, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Funny timing for a piece about Peanuts and commercialism: Sony just bought 41% of Peanuts Holdings LLC for $457 million, increasing its stake to 80% of the company.
I did a Beneathpile on the enduring relevance of the classic _A Charlie Brown Christmas_ — with a Fugazi reference thrown in.
A Charlie Brown Christmas: You Are Not What You Own
Commercialism meets the Gospel of St. Luke
michaelazerrad.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
I did a Beneathpile on the enduring relevance of the classic _A Charlie Brown Christmas_ — with a Fugazi reference thrown in.
Popscreens are for snowflakes.
December 19, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Popscreens are for snowflakes.
Happy 82nd birthday to Keith Richards, who has been struggling to be free ever since.
December 18, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Happy 82nd birthday to Keith Richards, who has been struggling to be free ever since.