Beatles fans will forever mourn April 10. On that date in 1970, Paul McCartney announced the Beatles would be no more. In legal documents obtained by Rolling Stone’s David Browne, McCartney blames “personal differences, business differences, musical differences,” for the demise of one of the greatest bands in history.
Check out the time line of events in the days leading to the break up.
He may be turning 70 next month, but Bob Dylan proves you can teach an old dog new tricks - or at least get him to perform in new countries. On Wednesday night the legendary songwriter played in Beijing, China for the first time ever. As we reported, the two-hour show - comprised of government-approved songs - was light on Dylan’s better-known protest numbers but included staples like “All Along the Watchtower”.
Check out photos from the show, which was one stop in Dylan’s current tour of Asia.
April 7 - This week in 1989, an illustration of James Brown with the headline “Behind Bars with the Godfather of Soul” decorated the cover. That year, Brown would be sentenced to prison for six years, of which he would serve only three.
Be sure to go vote in the Do You Wanna be a Rock & Roll Star? contest and help us pick the first unsigned act to be featured on the cover. Check out the artists, download FREE MP3s, and watch videos of all eight and rate your favorite on RollingStone.com.
Today is the anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s 1994 death. In a story written for Rolling Stone two months after he died, Neil Strauss recreated the Nirvana frontman’s last days:
On March 25, roughly 10 friends — including band mates Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear, Nirvana manager John Silva, Billig, longtime friend Dylan Carlson, Love and Goldberg (Bottum had already gone home) — gathered at Cobain’s home on Seattle’s Lake Washington Boulevard to take a different approach with a new intervention counselor. (Novoselic is said to have staged his own separate confrontation with Cobain as well.) As part of the intervention, Love threatened to leave Cobain, and Smear and Novoselic said they would break up the band if Cobain didn’t check into rehab. After a tense five-hour session in the two-day process, Cobain retired to the basement with Smear, where they rehearsed some new material.
RIP, Kurt. We miss you.
Our Do You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star? contest rolls on, today with a whole new batch of goods for you to enjoy. First up are two MP3s from each of the eight remaining bands. We connected each band to some amazing record producers who’ve worked with everyone from Beyonce to Fall Out Boy. We’ve also got live performance videos from each band, so you that you can check their look, too.
The second round of the contest that lets you choose the cover star of Rolling Stone is under way. After hundreds of thousands of votes were cast online, the eight remaining acts are vying for the cover, as well as an Atlantic Records contract and a performance slot at Bonnaroo.
Grab the tunes here…
Voting for round two will end April 14, and the final four contestants will be announced at the end of the month. Tell us who you like!
This weekend saw the end of James Murphy’s LCD Soundsystem, at an epic show at Madison Square Garden. Rob Sheffield was there and in his review of their nearly four-hour grand finale he calls them “the planet’s fiercest live band.”
Plus, we’ve got amazing photos from LCD’s last waltz and a video of the entire show – in case you couldn’t make it over to MSG.
The new issue of Rolling Stone hits stands today, and features contributing editor Josh Eells’ juicy interview with Rihanna. Check out the excerpts, in which the star opens up about Chris Brown, her upcoming role as a Navy Weapons expert in ‘Battleship’ and why her hit single “S&M” is autobiographical: “I like to be spanked. Being tied up is fun.”
You can also find photos and video from the Rihanna cover shoot (including an interview with the stylist who came up with the concept of her barely-there shorts) and our compilation of Highs and Lows: the 10 videos that defined her career—before “Umbrella” and up through the banned-in-11-countries “S&M”—over at RollingStone.com.
Coming April 13th!
Rolling Stone and Longreads present: A night of long-form journalism.
Join us at Housing Works in NYC for a special panel with Rob Sheffield, Jeff Goodell, and more. Moderated by Rolling Stone managing editor Will Dana.
We are extremely excited to be partnering with Longreads and Housing Works for this event. Mark your calendars!
Last night in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, Arcade Fire played a surprise show for a small crowd at the Hotel Olaffson; they are reportedly in town to produce a DVD with a local band. Arcade Fire member Regine Chassagne is from Haiti, and the band has pledged to raise $1 million for earthquake relief efforts in the country.
Check out more photos from the show at RollingStone.com.
Photo by Lee Celano
Born This Day: Here’s wishing a happy 25th birthday to Lady Gaga. We’re sure it will be a contained, low-key affair…
Check out our gallery of Gaga’s Best Looks since she catapulted to Monster-status in 2009.
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Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - Observatory Crest
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We were here for this on Wednesday! And it was awesome!