Latest articles by Christopher Scapelliti
Gene Simmons on the guitar solo Eddie Van Halen recorded for a Kiss hit — and Ace Frehley copied note for note
Simmons was producing Van Halen at the time in the hope of turning the group into superstars
The hit single that’s over six minutes long, has 14 verses and no hook or guitar solo. They nailed it on the first take
With spare time in the studio, Gordon Lightfoot peeled off a commemoration to a modern tragedy that's 50 years old today: “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”
John Fogerty says one word from Bob Dylan convinced him to do something he’d avoided for 15 years
Bad feelings about his Creedence Clearwater Revival days made him swear off his old hits. Dylan changed everything in a moment
Tom Petty and Mike Campbell on how a chance meeting saved the Heartbreakers’ debut single from oblivion
Petty was so excited to find the hook, he called the band back in the studio to remake the song — at four in the morning
Paul McCartney on life after the Beatles — and the haunting truth behind the “Paul Is Dead” rumors
The icon tracks his life in the decade after the Beatles in his new book, ‘Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run,’ out today
J.J. Cale on his song that launched Eric Clapton’s solo career and made the laidback Tulsa guitarist a surprise overnight sensation
Cale reflected on the Tulsa sound and his sudden rise to fame in the years after Clapton cut "After Midnight"
Ritchie Blackmore on the thing that made Jeff Beck special — but kept him from realizing his own talent
In a new interview, Blackmore recalls the guitarist and his habit of putting himself down, something we find evident in his interviews through the years
Eric Clapton on the group he wanted to join so badly that he broke up Cream
The guitarist wouldn’t perform with the act until 1976, at its star-studded farewell concert
Health issues force Brian Setzer to “regrettably” cancel the Stray Cats' fall cross-country tour
After initially bowing out of the opening show, Setzer announced the band "very regrettably have to cancel our tour"
Donovan on his helter-skelter session with Jeff Beck
After a string of hits in the late 1960s, Donovan closed out the decade with a tune that marked the end of his chart run
Joe Walsh on the iconic rock hit that got him into the Eagles and turned him into a TikTok star. And all because he mowed down his neighbor’s rose bushes
The “Unfortunately, I do love” theme song is about standing proud even when you might feel shame. Millions of TikTok users have taken the sentiment to heart
Brian May on the time Freddie Mercury shocked Queen onstage — and stole the spotlight from the biggest show on Earth
Queen were a late addition to the star-studded lineup. But Mercury’s viral moment made them the one act everyone was left talking about
Boz Scaggs on how Duane Allman and a spare hour of studio time led to one of the guitarist’s greatest recordings
As Scaggs drops his new album, ‘Detour,’ we revisit his historic 1969 session for “Loan Me a Dime” with a young Duane Allman
Tom Petty on the accident that nearly ended his guitar-playing days
In a flash of anger over a song, the guitarist saw his future nearly disappear
Ace Frehley on his one regret about the hit that is forever associated with him
A prior success in the U.K., the tune became an American classic after the Space Ace covered it on his 1978 solo album
Bruce Springsteen on writing his most personal song — and his biggest hit — in one anger-fueled late-night session
Along with its hit music video — Springsteen's first — the tune became a global hit, establishing him as leading artist for the 1980s
Ace Frehley’s life and music are remembered in tributes from Kiss's Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, and others
The news of Frehley's death shocked the rock world, catching both his friends and fans by surprise
Ace Frehley, Kiss cofounding guitarist, is dead at age 74
The guitarist was on life support following a fall in his studio in late September
John Fogerty on the band that nearly ruined CCR’s Woodstock set — and the audience member who saved the show
Delayed by the previous act’s trouble-plagued set, CCR went on past midnight to find the audience dead asleep
Bob Dylan on the Neil Young song that got under his skin — for the most personal reason of all
Of all the Bob Dylan imitations over the years, this one bothered him the most
George Harrison on the 1968 visit with Bob Dylan that changed his future in the Beatles
Dylan's invitation for Harrison to spend Thanksgiving with him in Woodstock forged a friendship that lasted through Harrison's life
"Alex and I have done some serious soul searching and come to the decision that we effing miss it." Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee announce Rush will tour in 2026
The announcement came at a Sunday night private event, much to the surprise of everyone in attendance
“That’s a terrible idea for a song!” “Margaritaville” writer Jimmy Buffett didn’t listen to his critics. Here’s how a bad day, a traffic jam and a rejection from Elvis Presley turned out just fine for him
After years of struggling in Nashville, Buffett turned his musical ambitions south, to the Gulf Coast, and created a generation all his own
