Yesterday I rewatched Metallica: Some Kind of Monster after listening to the episode of a podcast I listen to- 60 Songs That Explain the 90s– focused on “Enter Sandman”, reminded me of it. The first time I watched it was 2005. I had recently landed in San Francisco… I was on Metallica’s turf… the world […]
Read More
This was my 4th year attending this event, and it is a surreal, cool one-off show made even better because it is all done to support a great cause. MusiCares is the “safety net” that steps in when one of those elements of the trifecta know as Sex, Drugs, & Rock ‘n’ Roll gets a […]
Read More
I’ve said “this is a once in a lifetime opportunity” to myself an uncountable number of times in my life over the past decade; as the quote in that movie goes, I’ve done twice the things I’ve said I did. But it was still hard to wrap my head around the fact that this would […]
Read More
OK…before we even get to who won last night, I have to continue to express how exciting it was to have some hard rock/metal bands featured on the GRAMMY telecast this year! Â To see Metallica and Lang Lang with their pyro, and Nine Inch Nails and Queens of the Stone Age with Dave Grohl on […]
Read More
1. The first GRAMMY for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance was given in 1988…and Jethro Tull won for “Crest of a Knave” over Metallica, AC/DC, Iggy Pop, and Jane’s Addiction. The award was presented by Alice Cooper and Lita Ford, and a couple of snakes. This moment is the most iconic and discussed GRAMMY moment in […]
Read More
I was lucky enough to be there for metal’s biggest night again this year. Check out my piece for GRAMMY.com, an my black carpet interviews below. RIP Jeff Hanneman. The last time I saw him play with Slayer was the day after my mom’s funeral. Here’s the last photo I took of him.
Read More
Hi. I’ve already got a piece up on GRAMMY.com about this…but it had to be edited down and there was just too much to say about this weekend. So here’s more. 1. Traveling to Atlantic City takes too long for people who live in most of the world. Also, Atlantic City is evil, and not […]
Read MoreIt was at about 2pm when I got the call. As soon as the caller ID popped up that it was my mom, I knew. Mom doesn’t randomly call me on a Saturday afternoon. My grandfather had just passed away. It wasn’t a surprise. In fact, when I first heard the words, I felt very […]
Read MoreIt was through the kindness of someone who I met through my NIN pieces that allowed me to follow one more tour before the year is up: first NIN, then Mayhem Fest, then Masto/klok, Rob Zombie, and now Metallica/Machine Head. I was eleven years old when Metallica’s Black Album came out. It was one of […]
Read MoreIn 1992, when I was 12 years old, I asked my parents if I could go see the Metallica and Guns ‘n Roses show (which was supposed to be supported by Nirvana) in Houston. They told me, “sure, if you wear a football helmet”. I said, “no problem”. They rescinded the offer. Fast forward to […]
Read MoreLast year’s Bridge School Benefit may very well be the best concert I ever attend. Beyond stellar all-around performances by Devendra Banhart, Gillian Welch, Death Cab for Cutie, and Dave Matthews Band (who I’ve never understood beyond their fierce looking fiddler), I experienced things I had been waiting to see/hear my whole life, basically. First […]
Read More