Death Metal MusicMusic and Culture on the Edge

By Steve Bergstein Many years ago in high school, when I was reading a lot of rock criticism, a common theme among the more politically-oriented writers was that corporate American was killing music. The idea was that corporate-types at the record companies and radio stations were too conservative and afraid to try anything new in the way of innovative music. While these writers were correct, they overlooked another music-killer: the celebrity and rock and roll lifestyle. Many great rock a

The first short story I ever wrote, and read aloud, was called ‘Michael Jackson and the Magic Hat’. I was in Year 3. Besides the magic hat, there was mystery, romance and intrigue. My best friends in Year 3 - Genna and Rebecca - both messaged me first thing yesterday morning. As did my sister, and many other people who shared MJ with me throughout my childhood. I remember my MJ love being sparked by the ‘Remember the Time ‘ film clip. I’d heard about him before this - little Robbie in kinde

The Slums Off Hollywood Boulevard, Jade Blackmore an Interview The Slums Off Hollywood Boulevard. Tell me about your Blog? The Slums Off Hollywood Boulevard http://slumshollywood.blogspot.com/ is my entertainment and music blog , where I review offbeat but intelligent books, music and films. I occasionally interview people like Dr. Deena Weinstein who has written several book about heavy metal, and Susan Dynner, director of the film “Punk’s Not Dead” And sometimes I even write about

And I suppose you’re asking, “Just WHAT the Farnsworth does this have to do with sports?!” Nothing and everything. I was nine years old when Thriller was released. Admittedly, the first time I heard “Billie Jean” on the radio, I thought I was hearing a woman (but I also thought Boy George was a woman and at nine was still holding on my belief in Santa Claus) Eventually, that album was in heavy rotation on our turntable. And then I saw him perform the Moonwalk on that Motown 25th Anniver

Let’s see… My earliest memories: one of the first records my father ever bought for me was the Jacksons’ Victory . That world tour they did, with screaming fans passing out and needing to be hospitalized, so very much like when the Beatles first came to America – not that I could appreciate the comparison at the time, me being only about 9 or 10. Of course, I begged my parents to get tickets, but tickets were impossible to get. You’d have to have a persistence that my parents did not have. It