Rock's Backpages
@rocksbackpages.bsky.social
www.rocksbackpages.com
The world's largest archive of music journalism: 55,000+ classic articles and audio interviews by pop's finest writers, spanning 60 years across all genres.
New edition and newsletter every Friday.
The world's largest archive of music journalism: 55,000+ classic articles and audio interviews by pop's finest writers, spanning 60 years across all genres.
New edition and newsletter every Friday.
New on RBP: Tom Waits' breakthrough year of 1976, plus:
• a 1987 audio interview with Emmylou Harris
• featured writer Jeff Walker
• our farewell to Television's Fred Smith
www.rocksbackpages.com
• a 1987 audio interview with Emmylou Harris
• featured writer Jeff Walker
• our farewell to Television's Fred Smith
www.rocksbackpages.com
February 13, 2026 at 9:24 AM
New on RBP: Tom Waits' breakthrough year of 1976, plus:
• a 1987 audio interview with Emmylou Harris
• featured writer Jeff Walker
• our farewell to Television's Fred Smith
www.rocksbackpages.com
• a 1987 audio interview with Emmylou Harris
• featured writer Jeff Walker
• our farewell to Television's Fred Smith
www.rocksbackpages.com
Cheering to read this. Go, Charley! www.pastemagazine.com/music/charle...
Is Charley Crockett the only cowboy willing to resist country music's MAGA machine?
Paste Magazine is your source for the best music, movies, TV, comedy, videogames, books, comics, craft beer, politics and more. Discover your favorite albums and films.
www.pastemagazine.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:19 AM
Cheering to read this. Go, Charley! www.pastemagazine.com/music/charle...
Farewell Fred. So loved that Smith/Billy Ficca engine room.
Fred Smith, Bassist for Television, Dies at 77
Fred Smith, bass player for the influential proto-punk band Television, died Thursday. He was 77. The band confirmed his death on Instagram.
variety.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Farewell Fred. So loved that Smith/Billy Ficca engine room.
Makes one yearn for El Lay!
26 legendary music sites in L.A., from the Troubadour to the Whisky a Go Go
Viper Room, VIP Records, the Troubadour, Whisky a Go Go, Capitol Records, Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Here's a guided tour through the most iconic sites of Los Angeles music history.
www.latimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:03 AM
Makes one yearn for El Lay!
New on RBP: David Toop's 1993 audio interview with Janet Jackson, whose masterful Jam & Lewis-produced 'Control' turns 40 this week, plus:
• free pieces about Yes & prog rock
• featured RBP writer Maura Johnston on Madonna & more
• farewells to Chuck Negron & Lamonte McLemore
www.rocksbackpages.com
• free pieces about Yes & prog rock
• featured RBP writer Maura Johnston on Madonna & more
• farewells to Chuck Negron & Lamonte McLemore
www.rocksbackpages.com
February 6, 2026 at 11:32 AM
New on RBP: David Toop's 1993 audio interview with Janet Jackson, whose masterful Jam & Lewis-produced 'Control' turns 40 this week, plus:
• free pieces about Yes & prog rock
• featured RBP writer Maura Johnston on Madonna & more
• farewells to Chuck Negron & Lamonte McLemore
www.rocksbackpages.com
• free pieces about Yes & prog rock
• featured RBP writer Maura Johnston on Madonna & more
• farewells to Chuck Negron & Lamonte McLemore
www.rocksbackpages.com
New podcast episode: Phast Phreddie Patterson looks back at his '70s fanzine Back Door Man, his L.A. band Thee Precisions and his work for the ARChive of Contemporary Music. Plus he listens to clips from our audio interview with the Supremes' Mary Wilson. www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
February 2, 2026 at 9:19 PM
New podcast episode: Phast Phreddie Patterson looks back at his '70s fanzine Back Door Man, his L.A. band Thee Precisions and his work for the ARChive of Contemporary Music. Plus he listens to clips from our audio interview with the Supremes' Mary Wilson. www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
New on RBP: a 1977 audio interview with the Supremes' Mary Wilson, plus B. George and the world's biggest record collection, Phast Phreddie Patterson and a farewell to Sly Dunbar. www.rocksbackpages.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:46 AM
New on RBP: a 1977 audio interview with the Supremes' Mary Wilson, plus B. George and the world's biggest record collection, Phast Phreddie Patterson and a farewell to Sly Dunbar. www.rocksbackpages.com
Pull up to the bumper: Vivien Goldman interviews drummer Sly Dunbar (1952-2026) (www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti...) and bassist Robbie Shakespeare (1953-2021) in 1978, plus Don Snowden meets reggae's ultimate rhythm section in 1982 (www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti...). #SlyDunbarRIP
January 27, 2026 at 10:33 AM
Pull up to the bumper: Vivien Goldman interviews drummer Sly Dunbar (1952-2026) (www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti...) and bassist Robbie Shakespeare (1953-2021) in 1978, plus Don Snowden meets reggae's ultimate rhythm section in 1982 (www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti...). #SlyDunbarRIP
Like a hurricane: Circus' Jeff Tamarkin talks to Scorpions bassist Francis Buchholz (1954-2025) in November 1985 (www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti...) and Kerrang!'s Howard Johnson checks in with the German metal stalwart (www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti...) in the summer of 1986.
January 26, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Like a hurricane: Circus' Jeff Tamarkin talks to Scorpions bassist Francis Buchholz (1954-2025) in November 1985 (www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti...) and Kerrang!'s Howard Johnson checks in with the German metal stalwart (www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti...) in the summer of 1986.
Tonight in El Lay... as widely adored by Tom Waits and David Lee Roth.
January 23, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Tonight in El Lay... as widely adored by Tom Waits and David Lee Roth.
A rare commodity in country music these days: courage.
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Zach Bryan Has a New Song Bashing ICE. Republicans Are Big Mad
Zach Bryan dares to say the United States is fading and takes a shot at ICE in his new song 'Bad News.'
www.rollingstone.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:20 AM
A rare commodity in country music these days: courage.
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
New on RBP: Alan Vega's life after Suicide, plus a 1984 audio interview with Jefferson Airplane/Starship legend Paul Kantner, ten years gone... and archive interviews by featured RBP writer Rob Tannenbaum. www.rocksbackpages.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:13 AM
New on RBP: Alan Vega's life after Suicide, plus a 1984 audio interview with Jefferson Airplane/Starship legend Paul Kantner, ten years gone... and archive interviews by featured RBP writer Rob Tannenbaum. www.rocksbackpages.com
New podcast episode: Bob Stanley talks about his books and Saint Etienne's swansong year. Plus he listens to Hank Bordowitz's Connie Francis interview from 1997...
www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
January 19, 2026 at 7:41 PM
New podcast episode: Bob Stanley talks about his books and Saint Etienne's swansong year. Plus he listens to Hank Bordowitz's Connie Francis interview from 1997...
www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
New on RBP: a Saint Etienne/Bob Stanley special, plus...
• a Connie Francis audio interview from 1997
• our farewell to the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library, from Muddy Waters (1956) to Addison Rae (2025)
www.rocksbackpages.com
• a Connie Francis audio interview from 1997
• our farewell to the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library, from Muddy Waters (1956) to Addison Rae (2025)
www.rocksbackpages.com
January 16, 2026 at 7:22 AM
New on RBP: a Saint Etienne/Bob Stanley special, plus...
• a Connie Francis audio interview from 1997
• our farewell to the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library, from Muddy Waters (1956) to Addison Rae (2025)
www.rocksbackpages.com
• a Connie Francis audio interview from 1997
• our farewell to the Grateful Dead's Bob Weir
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library, from Muddy Waters (1956) to Addison Rae (2025)
www.rocksbackpages.com
Playing in the band: Bob Weir (1947-2025) & Phil Lesh look back on the Grateful Dead's 1972 European tour with David Gans in 1995 www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti.... Plus Weir discusses his 2nd solo album with Rolling Stone's John Swenson in 1978. www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti... #BobWeir
January 11, 2026 at 11:37 AM
Playing in the band: Bob Weir (1947-2025) & Phil Lesh look back on the Grateful Dead's 1972 European tour with David Gans in 1995 www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti.... Plus Weir discusses his 2nd solo album with Rolling Stone's John Swenson in 1978. www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Arti... #BobWeir
New on RBP: a Todd Rundgren audio interview + archive articles about the famed soul sound of Muscle Shoals.
Plus Chris Charlesworth's 1976 interview with David Bowie, Lesley O'Toole on the Jesus & Mary Chain and 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
Plus Chris Charlesworth's 1976 interview with David Bowie, Lesley O'Toole on the Jesus & Mary Chain and 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
January 9, 2026 at 9:08 AM
New on RBP: a Todd Rundgren audio interview + archive articles about the famed soul sound of Muscle Shoals.
Plus Chris Charlesworth's 1976 interview with David Bowie, Lesley O'Toole on the Jesus & Mary Chain and 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
Plus Chris Charlesworth's 1976 interview with David Bowie, Lesley O'Toole on the Jesus & Mary Chain and 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
As we gear up for the 10th anniversary of David Bowie's demise, here's a new book for French enfants by our friend Maud Berthomier... as you will see, she's launching it in Paris next week.
January 6, 2026 at 12:07 PM
As we gear up for the 10th anniversary of David Bowie's demise, here's a new book for French enfants by our friend Maud Berthomier... as you will see, she's launching it in Paris next week.
New podcast episode: in case you missed it going live on Friday, we welcomed the splendid Thurston Moore to RBP back in December & he was a terrific guest. Listen to him talking about free jazz, Sonic Youth & Derek Bailey. And happy new annum to you all... www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
January 5, 2026 at 12:24 PM
New podcast episode: in case you missed it going live on Friday, we welcomed the splendid Thurston Moore to RBP back in December & he was a terrific guest. Listen to him talking about free jazz, Sonic Youth & Derek Bailey. And happy new annum to you all... www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
New on RBP: a Thurston Moore special on the first home page of 2026:
• archive articles on Sonic Youth
• an audio interview with Derek Bailey
• the great Brian Case on Cecil Taylor & Archie Shepp
• the late Howie Klein on AC/DC & the Cramps
• 50 new additions to RBP's library
www.rocksbackpages.com
• archive articles on Sonic Youth
• an audio interview with Derek Bailey
• the great Brian Case on Cecil Taylor & Archie Shepp
• the late Howie Klein on AC/DC & the Cramps
• 50 new additions to RBP's library
www.rocksbackpages.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:02 AM
New on RBP: a Thurston Moore special on the first home page of 2026:
• archive articles on Sonic Youth
• an audio interview with Derek Bailey
• the great Brian Case on Cecil Taylor & Archie Shepp
• the late Howie Klein on AC/DC & the Cramps
• 50 new additions to RBP's library
www.rocksbackpages.com
• archive articles on Sonic Youth
• an audio interview with Derek Bailey
• the great Brian Case on Cecil Taylor & Archie Shepp
• the late Howie Klein on AC/DC & the Cramps
• 50 new additions to RBP's library
www.rocksbackpages.com
A nice bit of press from the Netherlands. Thank you, Fred De Vries. www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast
December 31, 2025 at 8:03 AM
A nice bit of press from the Netherlands. Thank you, Fred De Vries. www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast
Deeply sad news from the U.S. that music-biz eminence and RBP contributor Howie Klein has died after a long illness. Read his articles and listen to his audio interviews at www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Writ... #HowieKleinRIP
December 29, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Deeply sad news from the U.S. that music-biz eminence and RBP contributor Howie Klein has died after a long illness. Read his articles and listen to his audio interviews at www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Writ... #HowieKleinRIP
In our last edition of 2025...
• a Carl Perkins audio interview from 1992
• archive articles on NYC's Bottom Line
• Gary Pig Gold meets Dennis Wilson
• Stuart Bailie in Manhattan with Shane MacGowan
• remembering Lubbock legend Joe Ely
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
• a Carl Perkins audio interview from 1992
• archive articles on NYC's Bottom Line
• Gary Pig Gold meets Dennis Wilson
• Stuart Bailie in Manhattan with Shane MacGowan
• remembering Lubbock legend Joe Ely
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:28 AM
In our last edition of 2025...
• a Carl Perkins audio interview from 1992
• archive articles on NYC's Bottom Line
• Gary Pig Gold meets Dennis Wilson
• Stuart Bailie in Manhattan with Shane MacGowan
• remembering Lubbock legend Joe Ely
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
• a Carl Perkins audio interview from 1992
• archive articles on NYC's Bottom Line
• Gary Pig Gold meets Dennis Wilson
• Stuart Bailie in Manhattan with Shane MacGowan
• remembering Lubbock legend Joe Ely
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
New podcast episode: James Brown relives his days at Sounds and NME, reflects on the runaway success of loaded, and listens to Andy Gill's audio interview with the KLF.
www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
December 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
New podcast episode: James Brown relives his days at Sounds and NME, reflects on the runaway success of loaded, and listens to Andy Gill's audio interview with the KLF.
www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
www.rocksbackpages.com/Podcast/Epis...
New on RBP...
• a KLF audio interview from 1991
• how the Faces unravelled 50 years ago
• loaded legend James Brown on the Beastie Boys
• Idris Walters on Pink Floyd in 1975
• our farewell to the the Mavericks' Raul Malo
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
• a KLF audio interview from 1991
• how the Faces unravelled 50 years ago
• loaded legend James Brown on the Beastie Boys
• Idris Walters on Pink Floyd in 1975
• our farewell to the the Mavericks' Raul Malo
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:18 AM
New on RBP...
• a KLF audio interview from 1991
• how the Faces unravelled 50 years ago
• loaded legend James Brown on the Beastie Boys
• Idris Walters on Pink Floyd in 1975
• our farewell to the the Mavericks' Raul Malo
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
• a KLF audio interview from 1991
• how the Faces unravelled 50 years ago
• loaded legend James Brown on the Beastie Boys
• Idris Walters on Pink Floyd in 1975
• our farewell to the the Mavericks' Raul Malo
• 50+ new additions to the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
New on RBP for a week...
www.rocksbackpages.com
• The brilliant 'Rubber Soul' at 60
• A 1997 audio interview w/ Nicky Chinn
• Archive interviews w/the late Steve Cropper
• Adam Blake on the Count Bishops
• Tim Lott's 1977 Sounds interview w/ Fleetwood Mac
• 50+ new articles in the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
• The brilliant 'Rubber Soul' at 60
• A 1997 audio interview w/ Nicky Chinn
• Archive interviews w/the late Steve Cropper
• Adam Blake on the Count Bishops
• Tim Lott's 1977 Sounds interview w/ Fleetwood Mac
• 50+ new articles in the RBP library
December 5, 2025 at 9:08 AM
New on RBP for a week...
www.rocksbackpages.com
• The brilliant 'Rubber Soul' at 60
• A 1997 audio interview w/ Nicky Chinn
• Archive interviews w/the late Steve Cropper
• Adam Blake on the Count Bishops
• Tim Lott's 1977 Sounds interview w/ Fleetwood Mac
• 50+ new articles in the RBP library
www.rocksbackpages.com
• The brilliant 'Rubber Soul' at 60
• A 1997 audio interview w/ Nicky Chinn
• Archive interviews w/the late Steve Cropper
• Adam Blake on the Count Bishops
• Tim Lott's 1977 Sounds interview w/ Fleetwood Mac
• 50+ new articles in the RBP library