Bill Bois
@billbois.bsky.social
Bassist, writer, pie enthusiast, and aging gentlemen punk. Find my music at www.billbois.com and my words at www.tnocs.com.
Nothing says Christmas like tubas. I went to two different TubaChristmases this year and wrote about them and why I go every year at tnocs.com/a-tale-of-tu...
#tubachristmas #christmasmusic #tuba
#tubachristmas #christmasmusic #tuba
A Tale Of TubaChristmas: The Accidental Holiday Ritual That Put The Low-End Brass Front and Center
What started as a respectful nod to a Christmas-born tuba legend somehow grew into a roaming, globe-spanning holiday ritual involving hundreds of horns, civic pride, and more breath control than most ...
tnocs.com
December 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Nothing says Christmas like tubas. I went to two different TubaChristmases this year and wrote about them and why I go every year at tnocs.com/a-tale-of-tu...
#tubachristmas #christmasmusic #tuba
#tubachristmas #christmasmusic #tuba
Tom Robinson said what others only hinted at. I wrote about what came before and after "Glad To Be Gay" at tnocs.com/the-road-bef...
#musichistory #tomrobinson #gladtobegay
#musichistory #tomrobinson #gladtobegay
The Road Before And After “(Sing If You’re) Glad To Be Gay”
Pop spent decades coughing politely, speaking in code, and pretending it was “just a character” before finally blurting out “(Sing If You’re) Glad To Be Gay.” Contributing Author Bill Bois traces the ...
tnocs.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Tom Robinson said what others only hinted at. I wrote about what came before and after "Glad To Be Gay" at tnocs.com/the-road-bef...
#musichistory #tomrobinson #gladtobegay
#musichistory #tomrobinson #gladtobegay
Here's a bit of Nashville history I knew nothing about until two days ago. tnocs.com/the-dark-sid...
#musichistory #nashville #murder #payola
#musichistory #nashville #murder #payola
The Dark Side of Music Row: Untangling the Cash Box Murder Mystery
Contributing Author Bill Bois examines a Music Row murder shaped by corruption, fear, and the quiet mechanisms that once powered an entire industry. His account traces the long arc from a single night...
tnocs.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Here's a bit of Nashville history I knew nothing about until two days ago. tnocs.com/the-dark-sid...
#musichistory #nashville #murder #payola
#musichistory #nashville #murder #payola
When Paul Pena wrote "Jet Airliner," he didn't think he'd ever fly to the center of Asia. I wrote about the fascinating man at tnocs.com/from-jet-air...
#paulpena #tuva #throatsinging
#paulpena #tuva #throatsinging
From “Jet Airliner” to Tuvan Earthquake: The Astonishing Journey of Paul Pena
In this week’s dispatch, Contributing Author and historian Bill Bois introduces us to a man who heard a weird noise on Radio Moscow and thought, quite reasonably, that his radio had finally given up. ...
tnocs.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:57 PM
When Paul Pena wrote "Jet Airliner," he didn't think he'd ever fly to the center of Asia. I wrote about the fascinating man at tnocs.com/from-jet-air...
#paulpena #tuva #throatsinging
#paulpena #tuva #throatsinging
Nobel Prize winning physicist, musician, and class clown Richard Feynman cracked safes and broke the barrier secluding a remote part of the world. I wrote about him at tnocs.com/richard-feyn...
#richardfeynman #tuva #percussion
#richardfeynman #tuva #percussion
November 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Nobel Prize winning physicist, musician, and class clown Richard Feynman cracked safes and broke the barrier secluding a remote part of the world. I wrote about him at tnocs.com/richard-feyn...
#richardfeynman #tuva #percussion
#richardfeynman #tuva #percussion
The Singing Revolution: How Music Helped A Country Gain Its Independence
tnocs.com/the-singing-...
#history #musichistory #estonia
tnocs.com/the-singing-...
#history #musichistory #estonia
The Singing Revolution: How Music Helped A Country Gain Its Independence
In a world that often mistakes volume for power, Estonia quietly proved otherwise: sometimes all you need is 100,000 people singing in tune and refusing to go home. In this remarkable piece by Contrib...
tnocs.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:35 PM
The Singing Revolution: How Music Helped A Country Gain Its Independence
tnocs.com/the-singing-...
#history #musichistory #estonia
tnocs.com/the-singing-...
#history #musichistory #estonia
Is the new movie about Springsteen worth seeing? Depends. I wrote about it at tnocs.com/movie-review...
#springsteen #moviereview
#springsteen #moviereview
Movie Review: Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
Deliver Me From Nowhere lingers on a conflicted artist and the making of the seminal Springsteen album Nebraska. Contributing Author Bill Bois guides us through the intimacy, the music, and the quie...
tnocs.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Is the new movie about Springsteen worth seeing? Depends. I wrote about it at tnocs.com/movie-review...
#springsteen #moviereview
#springsteen #moviereview
I never thought I'd turn down a Jello shot from Batman, but Waffle House at 5am is an alternate universe.
November 2, 2025 at 11:52 AM
I never thought I'd turn down a Jello shot from Batman, but Waffle House at 5am is an alternate universe.
How young women won the Battle of the Atlantic. tnocs.com/the-girls-wh...
The Girls Who Beat the Germans: How Chalk, War Games, and Wit Helped Win the Battle of the Atlantic
Contributing Author and Historian Bill Bois revisits a forgotten victory, one fought not with torpedoes or tanks, but with chalk lines on the floorboards. It’s a story of intellect over instinct, and ...
tnocs.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:56 PM
How young women won the Battle of the Atlantic. tnocs.com/the-girls-wh...
Joey Ramone: American Heartthrob. That's right, he wasn't good looking but he was cooler than you and me put together. I wrote about the duets he recorded with famous and not so famous women at tnocs.com/joey-ramone-...
#joeyramone #ramones #musichistory #punk
#joeyramone #ramones #musichistory #punk
Joey Ramone: American Heartthrob
Not traditionally handsome. Not polished. And at first glance, entirely unforgettable: But Joey Ramone proved that charm isn’t a face, it’s a presence. Contributing Author Bill Bois dives into classic...
tnocs.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Joey Ramone: American Heartthrob. That's right, he wasn't good looking but he was cooler than you and me put together. I wrote about the duets he recorded with famous and not so famous women at tnocs.com/joey-ramone-...
#joeyramone #ramones #musichistory #punk
#joeyramone #ramones #musichistory #punk
I wrote about why I have hope for the future of music -- and the world. tnocs.com/may-you-live...
May You Live (And Have Hope) In Interesting Times
In a time when “interesting” feels like the politest possible word for "chaos," Contributing Author and Historian Bill Bois finds reasons to be hopeful and maybe even grateful for the turbulence.
Hi...
tnocs.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I wrote about why I have hope for the future of music -- and the world. tnocs.com/may-you-live...
How long should musicians go between albums? How's 50 years? I wrote about the 5 artists with the longest gaps between records at tnocs.com/the-longest-...
#musichistory #alicecooper #mc5 #deangitter
#musichistory #alicecooper #mc5 #deangitter
The Longest Gap Between Albums, Part 2
Contributing Author and Music Historian Bill Bois is back with Part Two of stories of extraordinary musical reemergence..
Five more artists who vanished for decades, then reemerged as if no time had ...
tnocs.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
How long should musicians go between albums? How's 50 years? I wrote about the 5 artists with the longest gaps between records at tnocs.com/the-longest-...
#musichistory #alicecooper #mc5 #deangitter
#musichistory #alicecooper #mc5 #deangitter
Some bands vanish for years before stepping back into the studio, and the results can be fascinating, funny, or flat-out legendary. Here are 5 artists that took decades between albums.
tnocs.com/the-longest-...
#musichistory
tnocs.com/the-longest-...
#musichistory
The Longest Gaps Between Album Releases - Part 1
Some bands vanish for decades before stepping back into the studio, and the results can be fascinating, funny, or flat-out legendary.
Part One of this sharp and surprising chronicle comes from Contr...
tnocs.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Some bands vanish for years before stepping back into the studio, and the results can be fascinating, funny, or flat-out legendary. Here are 5 artists that took decades between albums.
tnocs.com/the-longest-...
#musichistory
tnocs.com/the-longest-...
#musichistory
"Turning Japanese" isn't about what you were told it's about, but we love sexy rumors. I wrote about fact vs. fiction at tnocs.com/turning-japa...
"Turning Japanese" Exposed:The Real Truth About The Vapors’ Biggest Song
Pop culture loves a indelicate legend, but Contributing Author Bill Bois sets the actual record straight on “Turning Japanese”, showing how clever hooks and catchy choruses fueled its rise.
tnocs.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
"Turning Japanese" isn't about what you were told it's about, but we love sexy rumors. I wrote about fact vs. fiction at tnocs.com/turning-japa...
What happens when a teenager tunes his guitar incorrectly? He writes a hit! Read about how it happened at tnocs.com/save-it-for-...
#englishbeat #saveitforlater #rockhistory
#englishbeat #saveitforlater #rockhistory
Save It For Later:The English Beat’s Accidental DADAAD Classic - tnocs.com
Discover how an accidental tuning helped The English Beat’s Save It For Later become a timeless classic admired by Pete Townshend and beyond.
tnocs.com
September 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
What happens when a teenager tunes his guitar incorrectly? He writes a hit! Read about how it happened at tnocs.com/save-it-for-...
#englishbeat #saveitforlater #rockhistory
#englishbeat #saveitforlater #rockhistory
This Friday Sidebar wanders highways, hotel lobbies, and AM radio static in search of something surprising: authentic connection. It's less about politics, and more about people, and a surprise soundtrack to accompany them.
tnocs.com/no-continent...
tnocs.com/no-continent...
No Continental Divide: The Red and Blue Gone Missing - tnocs.com
Discover the surprising lessons learned from cross-country travel, where politics took a backseat and real connections emerged. Tune into a different frequency.
tnocs.com
September 12, 2025 at 11:49 AM
This Friday Sidebar wanders highways, hotel lobbies, and AM radio static in search of something surprising: authentic connection. It's less about politics, and more about people, and a surprise soundtrack to accompany them.
tnocs.com/no-continent...
tnocs.com/no-continent...
There was a time when concerts smelled good. I wrote about it at tnocs.com/music-and-fr...
#concert #musichistory
#concert #musichistory
Music and Fragrance: The Forgotten Multisensory Experience of Baroque Concerts - tnocs.com
Discover how 17th-century concerts fused music and scent for a multisensory experience, from rosewater to ambergris.
tnocs.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
There was a time when concerts smelled good. I wrote about it at tnocs.com/music-and-fr...
#concert #musichistory
#concert #musichistory
I wrote about "Ticket To Ride," my favorite game. 18 million copies sold, so far. Read about its creator and how to play at tnocs.com/the-story-of...
#tickettoride #boardgames #alanrmoon
#tickettoride #boardgames #alanrmoon
The Story Of Alan R. Moon And The Rise Of 'Ticket to Ride' - tnocs.com
Discover how Alan R. Moon created Ticket to Ride, the gateway game that reshaped modern board gaming and won worldwide acclaim.
tnocs.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:26 PM
I wrote about "Ticket To Ride," my favorite game. 18 million copies sold, so far. Read about its creator and how to play at tnocs.com/the-story-of...
#tickettoride #boardgames #alanrmoon
#tickettoride #boardgames #alanrmoon
I saw the first show of The Who's last tour. Here's my review. Spoiler alert: they were great.
tnocs.com/concert-revi...
#thewho #thesongisover
tnocs.com/concert-revi...
#thewho #thesongisover
Concert Review, Sunrise, Florida: The Who’s 'The Song Is Over' Tour - tnocs.com
A concert chronicle that captures The Who's final bow with candor, wit, and admiration. Contributing Author and Music HistorianBill Bois indeed can explain why after a 60 year career, their music and ...
tnocs.com
August 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
I saw the first show of The Who's last tour. Here's my review. Spoiler alert: they were great.
tnocs.com/concert-revi...
#thewho #thesongisover
tnocs.com/concert-revi...
#thewho #thesongisover
Did you know the drawing of The Beat Girl is based on a real person? I wrote about her fascinating story here:
tnocs.com/the-beat-gir...
#ska #brigittebond #beatgirl
tnocs.com/the-beat-gir...
#ska #brigittebond #beatgirl
The Beat Girl: Brigitte Bond and the Untold Story of A Ska Icon - tnocs.com
Uncover the real woman behind Ska’s Beat Girl — Brigitte Bond — a fearless performer whose story is as bold as 2 Tone’s black-and-white style.
tnocs.com
August 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Did you know the drawing of The Beat Girl is based on a real person? I wrote about her fascinating story here:
tnocs.com/the-beat-gir...
#ska #brigittebond #beatgirl
tnocs.com/the-beat-gir...
#ska #brigittebond #beatgirl
The Cramps were wild... and a love story. I wrote about them at tnocs.com/a-legacy-of-...
#thecramps #psychobilly #luxinterior #poisonivyrorschach
#thecramps #psychobilly #luxinterior #poisonivyrorschach
A Legacy of Psychobilly Love: Lux, Ivy, And The Cramps - tnocs.com
Explore the story of The Cramps—how Lux and Ivy fused punk, horror, and rockabilly into a love story unlike any other in music history.
tnocs.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The Cramps were wild... and a love story. I wrote about them at tnocs.com/a-legacy-of-...
#thecramps #psychobilly #luxinterior #poisonivyrorschach
#thecramps #psychobilly #luxinterior #poisonivyrorschach
Where does the word "cocktail" come from? Probably not the animal you think.
tnocs.com/horses-hooch...
tnocs.com/horses-hooch...
Horses, Hooch, and Hearsay:The Surprising Origin of the Word “Cocktail” - tnocs.com
The origin of the word “cocktail” is more complex than a martini—feathers, horses, and urban legends all swirl into the story. Here's what history really says.
tnocs.com
July 25, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Where does the word "cocktail" come from? Probably not the animal you think.
tnocs.com/horses-hooch...
tnocs.com/horses-hooch...
Stephen Colbert has a routine bit called The Colbert Questionnaire. One of the standard questions is "You get to listen to one song for the rest of your life. What is it?"
My answer becomes more appropriate every day.
youtu.be/_NzLs-xSss0?...
My answer becomes more appropriate every day.
youtu.be/_NzLs-xSss0?...
Won't Get Fooled Again
YouTube video by The Who - Topic
youtu.be
July 19, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Stephen Colbert has a routine bit called The Colbert Questionnaire. One of the standard questions is "You get to listen to one song for the rest of your life. What is it?"
My answer becomes more appropriate every day.
youtu.be/_NzLs-xSss0?...
My answer becomes more appropriate every day.
youtu.be/_NzLs-xSss0?...
The understated brilliance of the man who went from studio technician to unlikely pop star. Read my article about Hurricane Smith at tnocs.com/from-emi-eng...
From EMI Engineer to Unlikely Pop Star: The Norman “Hurricane” Smith Story - tnocs.com
Discover the unknown and extraordinary story of Norman “Hurricane” Smith, the Beatles engineer, Pink Floyd producer, and surprise chart-topping star.
tnocs.com
July 11, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The understated brilliance of the man who went from studio technician to unlikely pop star. Read my article about Hurricane Smith at tnocs.com/from-emi-eng...
On this Independence Day, take 10 minutes to read the Declaration.
declaration.fas.harvard.edu/resources/text
declaration.fas.harvard.edu/resources/text
Text of the Declaration of Independence
declaration.fas.harvard.edu
July 4, 2025 at 3:37 PM
On this Independence Day, take 10 minutes to read the Declaration.
declaration.fas.harvard.edu/resources/text
declaration.fas.harvard.edu/resources/text