Free Republic

Forty years ago, on July 12, 1979, what was supposed to be a wacky promotional stunt by shock-rock DJ Steve Dahl to sell tickets to a double-header White Sox baseball game at Chicago’s Comiskey Park turned ugly — when piles of vinyl records, many by artists of color, were destroyed as thousands of anti-disco rioters, 39 of whom were eventually arrested for disorderly conduct, stormed the field. Dahl has always vehemently denied that 98.7FM WLUP’s infamous “Disco Demolition Night” had any racist or homophobic undertones or intentions, arguing that “annexing this event to today’s advocacy is lazy academically and inappropriate...

There was nothing like Sly and the Family Stone – not then, and not now. At their late-'60s best, this expectation-confounding group boasted the rhythmic ferocity of R&B, but none of its quickly devolving formulaic Motown tics. At the same time, they had a distinctly rock 'n' roll character. That meant no small amount of screw-you attitude, an exhilarating focus on hooks, some seriously weird outfits and a tendency toward hedonism. Fans got a taste of this groundbreaking, genre-jumping amalgam on 1968's Dance to the Music, but it all really came together with Stand, released on May 3, 1969. This...

As Paramount comes off a rocky week in which the company lost its CEO and its exclusive merger talks window with Skydance came to an end without a deal, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett says his company has now sold its entire stake in Paramount. Berkshire Hathaway had previously sold a third of its stock in Paramount during the fourth quarter of last year. "We sold it all, and we lost quite a bit of money, that happens in this business too," Buffett said on Saturday at Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. He added that he was "100%...

My latest song. It might just put a spell on you.

An investigation into the viral vegetable dessert — plus five rhubarb cake recipes for your consideration.If you spend time on any corner of TikTok, you might’ve heard this extremely catchy song. In the German rap, called “Barbara’s Rhabarberbar,” a woman known as “Rhubarb Barbara” is renowned for the rhabarberkuchen (rhubarb cake) she sells at her rhubarb bar. A few patrons frequent the bar so often that they’re called rhubarb barbarians. The rhubarb bar barbarians then visit the barber and declare themselves the rhubarb barbara bar barbarian beard barbers (keeping up?) You can watch the full video with an English translation...

<p>Over a 30-year-plus career in the public eye, as a drummer with Nirvana and frontman for Foo Fighters, Dave Grohl has built up a reputation as one of the kindest people in rock 'n' roll. Seemingly a regular, down-to-earth person who can get along with most anyone in the chaotic world of music, he also speaks out for important causes. This is, after all, the guy who accepted a playful drumming challenge from a 10-year-old and brought rescued miners to a Foo Fighters concert and a meet-and-greet.</p>

The myth that Cass Elliot died by choking on a ham sandwich in 1974 was invented by her manager in an attempt to protect her legacy, the singer’s daughter said. Owen Elliot-Kugell was 7 years old when Elliot passed away at 32 from a heart attack after 36 hours of performing and partying. The former The Mamas & the Papas vocalist had been developing her solo career in London, U.K,. and seemed to have a bright future ahead of her. “By the time she got back to her flat, it was evening the following day,” Elliot-Kugell told the BBC in...

Now that Disney management has won its proxy battle with activist investor Nelson Peltz, let's take a look at the Big Lie the company told to help keep shareholders on management's side. Last month, the Mouse House released a detailed, 67-page report for investors "singing the praises of its chief executive Bob Iger in a bid to convince stockholders to side with him in a battle with activist investors," as Forbes' Caroline Reid put it. I included the link because Reid did in her write-up, but the PDF file is no longer there, perhaps flushed down the memory hole.Reid's article...

Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health. “Deep down I know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me, and my hope is that I continue to inspire others to remain steadfast, prioritize your mental health, advocate for yourself and others by using your voice, and never be afraid of what the future holds, even if it feels uncertain,” she wrote on Instagram. Voigt, of Utah, succeeded the 2022 Miss USA, Morgan Romano...

ST. LOUIS — A gorilla died late Saturday night at the Saint Louis Zoo. Joe was around 26 years old. The Saint Louis Zoo posted this message to patrons on social media: “It is with incredible sadness we share that western lowland gorilla Little Joe, who had been in treatment for heart disease, died of a heart attack overnight May 4th. Joe’s wonderful personality and lovable grumpy face endeared him to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.” The gorilla was known for his intelligence. Signs at the Saint Louis Zoo call him Joe, The Professor, and he...

Bobby Bones, often regarded one of country music most formidable songwriting forces, released "INLAWS" immediately after his previous hit single "OUTLAWS" dominated the charts for 32 months. Not only was he a brilliant mandolin player, but he was generally a soft spoken friendly and humble man. He also originated the trend of country and folk singers covering their faces in badly done tattoos. Truly one of Nashville's most prized treasures, Bones left an impression on everyone he met. People all across the lands shared wild stories of Bobby and his gang's shenanigans as they toured the southern states.

(NEXSTAR) – Country artist Randy Travis released a new song Friday — nearly 11 years after a stroke left him largely unable to speak or sing. Travis had teased the release of “Where That Came From” earlier this week, previewing a snippet of the song along with a video featuring footage from what appeared to be the recording process. In it, Travis could be seen observing the studio musicians, though not actively singing. “Eleven years ago I never thought I would be able to have a hand in music production of any kind,” Travis wrote in a Facebook post a...

The late David Crosby of Crosby Stills and Nash talks about the May 4, 1970 shootings at Kent State and how it lead to their song, "Ohio."

Ohio by: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Tin soldiers and Nixon coming We're finally on our own This summer I hear the drumming Four dead in Ohio

Happy 90th birthday today to the original Jersey Boy Frankie Valli (born 5/3/34). Known for his distinctive falsetto voice and as the frontman of the Four Seasons, one of the most successful vocal groups of the 1960s, along with a solo career that garnered hits such as “My Eyes Adored You” and “Grease.” In addition to his singing career, he has also ventured into acting and appeared in several films and television shows.

WARNING: NSFW! My latest song. Think of it as Hobbesian: Short, brutish, and nasty.

Peter Gunn by Duane Eddy at The Musicians Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony & Concert in 2008

Chuck the Movieguy interviews Shia LaBeouf for The Greatest Game Ever Played

The guitar legend says he's "speechless" after hearing the news.Peter Frampton says news of his long-awaited Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction “hasn’t really sunk in yet.” But he’s still thrilled that the honor is upon him after 26 years of eligibility as a solo artist. “I think I’m a little bit in shock, and speechless,” Frampton tells Billboard with a laugh from his home in Nashville. “I never expected this. People always said, ‘You should be in.’ I said, ‘Eh, what is to be,’ y’know? So mixed emotions, because it’s something that I just never expected, whereas other...

Duane Eddy, the twangy, Grammy-winning rock guitarist who had Top 10 instrumental hits including “Rebel Rouser” and “Forty Miles of Bad Road” and scored with a version of Henry Mancini’s “Peter Gunn,” died Wednesday of cancer at a hospital in Franklin, TN, his wife Deed Abbate told The Associated Press. He had turned 86 last week. Eddy, who influenced generations of guitar legends including George Harrison, John Fogerty, Bruce Springsteen, Ritchie Blackmore, Mark Knopfler and The Ventures’ Don Wilson, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. Born on April 26, 1938, in Corning, NY, Eddy...