Dave Mason wrote "Feelin' Alright?," which became a Joe Cocker hit. But Cocker removed the question mark, changing its meaning. "The song is about not feeling too good myself!" Mason told me, with a laugh. "It's not really about feeling alright, at all."
tinyurl.com/DaveMasonDies
'Raised on Radio,' Journey's comeback album with Steve Perry, arrived 40 years ago today. It hadn't been easy. Wives, Perry's mother, two bandmates, an agreed-upon LP title, and even the tapes were lost along the way. Here's my song-by-song look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/journey-rais...
Thinking of Levon Helm, the rail-jumping, loamy-voiced, rhythmic heart of the Band who died on this date in 2012: nickderiso.substack.com/p/levon-helm...
I've broken out all of the rock-related releases set to arrive on Saturday (April 18, 2026) as Record Store Day returns. Look for exclusives from Pink Floyd, Robert Plant, Foreigner, Black Sabbath, the Rolling Stones, Motorhead and the Cars, among others: ultimateclassicrock.com/record-store...
Fifty years ago, Led Zeppelin's career had devolved into a web of tax problems, injury and drug abuse. Faced with all of that, they returned to their musical roots on 'Presence.' Here's a ranked look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/led-zeppelin...
Fifty years ago, @LedZeppelin's career had devolved into a web of tax problems, injury and drug abuse. Faced with all of that, they returned to their musical roots on 'Presence.' Here's a ranked look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/led-zeppelin...
Looking ahead, there are still some big names left to be called: ultimateclassicrock.com/should-be-in...
Whatever their credentials, all of that makes for great TV. But they moved well outside the box with Iron Maiden and Joy Division/New Order. (Gram Parsons, too, as an Early Influence.) The result is the most balanced class in recent memory.
This annual induction ceremony is, first and foremost, a broadcast event aimed at a general audience. So, the Rock Hall made expected genre-adjacent nods to R&B, jazzy pop and rap. Phil Collins certainly provides star power. Oasis might get into a fight.
Easy to overlook just how surprising the Rock Hall's inclusion of Joy Division/New Order and Iron Maiden really is. After all, they've been nominated before. But these are nervy, smart choices, and a clear break from the overly safe Big Show mentality that's surrounded the inductions for many years.
Some of the most recognizable names in all of rock music have never appeared on the front of an album cover. The reasons appear to be many.
READ MORE: The 25 Biggest Rock Stars Who Never Issued a Solo Album | ultimateclassicrock.com/rock-stars-w...
Just because the answer is obvious doesn't make it wrong:
ultimateclassicrock.com/big-four-bri...
"Let the Night Fall" was a group trying to move forward, despite its arrival as part of the Band's 1977 contract-filler album 'Islands.' Yet, even in this dying light, some wrongly ignored what might have been by wishing too much for what once was:
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Wondering why Paul McCartney titled his new album 'The Boys of Dungeon Lane'? The story goes back a ways:
ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-mccartn...
Paul McCartney's determinedly democratic 'Wings at the Speed of Sound' arrived 50 years ago today, as Wings moved forward with the same lineup for the first (and, turns out, only) time. Here's my ranked look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/paul-mccartn...
The last original single released in George Harrison's lifetime arrived 35 years ago today with the Traveling Wilburys' "Wilbury Twist." By then, the former Beatles star had already amassed an impressive list of Top 40 solo songs. Here's my ranked look back:
ultimateclassicrock.com/george-harri...
For Keith Richards, the band was everything. For Mick Jagger? "The Rolling Stones," he memorably said during this period, "is not my only interest in life."
There's another huge haul of Record Store Day releases on the way in April 2026, along with new albums from the Foo Fighters, Joe Jackson, Carmine Appice, Ringo Starr, Corrosion of Conformity and Bruce Hornsby, among others. Here's my new rundown: ultimateclassicrock.com/april-2026-n...
Here's an excerpt from this very kind review!
A deep cut from #TheBeatles appears in the new film 'Project Hail Mary.' I dug into the song's winding creative journey, which began as #PaulMcCartney hit the road with his new girlfriend, Linda: bit.ly/4rBSgUF
Yes. The Black Crowes steered rock back to an earlier, grimier era. They overcame long odds (and their own drama). Their career turned into a celebration of music's storied past. And, in a rarity, they would give the Rock Hall a feel-good story: ultimateclassicrock.com/black-crowes...
New international praise for the Amazon best-selling ‘Journey: Worlds Apart’ from Greece:
My latest deep dive into Neal Schon's plans for Journey Beyond:
As the Eagles announce an expanded 50th anniversary reissue of 'One of These Nights,' let's reexamine this crossroads moment. Here's my ranked song-by-song look back:
ultimateclassicrock.com/eagles-one-o...
Some are bad poetry, while others spark head-scratching confusion. Still others are just plain wrong: ultimateclassicrock.com/worst-rock-l...
As Journey begins their Final Frontier Tour, I dove into soon-departing Jonathan Cain's rich discography – and not just with Journey. He's been part of three big-selling bands, and in their own ways, these eras overlap. Here's my ranked look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/jonathan-cai...
Released 45 years ago today, the Who's last Top 20 song arrived at a time of difficult transition. Much had changed, not least of which was the shocking death of drummer Keith Moon:
ultimateclassicrock.com/the-who-you-...
Hear me out: ultimateclassicrock.com/joy-division...
Who is most overdue for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction? They overcame crushing tragedy. They were foundational in post-punk and then new wave. And they ultimately succeeded with a groundbreaking secret weapon in Gillian Gilbert. They are Joy Division/New Order.
