Category Archives: Classic Rock

The ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

Released on Aug. 13, 1982, Fast Times at Ridgemont High featured a cast comprising almost entirely unknown young actors portraying the film’s high school-age characters. Many notable actors were up for roles in the film but ultimately didn’t make the final cast. Tom Hanks, then a TV star who hadn’t yet made the transition into movies, was considered for […]

‘Sharp Dressed Man’ Remakes ZZ Top as Kings of Cool

ZZ Top unlocked a potent, universal truth with their 1983 smash “Sharp Dressed Man”: Sharpness isn’t a one-size-fits-all aesthetic, but a state of being. This came as a revelation for trio, who until then had carved out a successful career playing southern-fried blues-rock but were regarded as patently unhip by the critical establishment. ZZ Top struck gold a decade earlier […]

Disturbed Gets Drenched When Pyro Sets Off Sprinklers

Metal band Disturbed got a wet surprise at a recent show, when their pyrotechnics set off the venue’s sprinkler system. Best-known for their 2000 hit “Down With the Sickness,” Disturbed have maintained a passionate fanbase for decades thanks in part to their powerful live shows. The group regularly mixes dramatic lighting displays and pyrotechnics into […]

80 Debuts That Helped Shape ’80s Pop Culture

The ‘80s were a time of seismic change and evolution, felt throughout every aspect of pop culture. Technology influenced all aspects of life more than ever before. Advancements in synthesizers, samplers and keyboards gave artists new tools with which to create. Cable television gave viewers access to more programming than ever before. Computers were made at […]

Nuno Bettencourt and Richard Fortus Bury Hatchet Over Slash Row

Extreme‘s Nuno Bettencourt and Guns N’ Roses‘ Richard Fortus have declared a cease-fire after publicly feuding last week over Bettencourt’s disparaging remarks about Fortus’ bandmate Slash. The drama began when Bettencourt mentioned the top-hatted guitarist while discussing his tenure as Rihanna’s touring guitarist in a Planet Rock interview. “I’m sorry, most of the guitar players who I admire could not in […]

Morrissey Rips ‘Insultingly Stupid’ Sinead O’Connor Coverage

As the world mourns the death of acclaimed Irish singer Sinead O’Connor, Morrissey has criticized media outlets and the record industry for not supporting O’Connor during her life. “She had only so much ‘self’ to give,” Morrissey wrote to his website. “She was dropped by her label after selling 7 million albums for them. She […]

When Sinead O’Connor Tore Picture of the Pope on ‘SNL’

Singer Sinead O’Connor sparked outrage on Oct. 3, 1992, when she tore up a picture of the Pope during her musical performance on Saturday Night Live. In the lead-up to the episode, show creator Lorne Michaels had all of his attention on outspoken host Tim Robbins. The politically active actor had pitched a searing broadside […]