Author: Ken Kurson

Remembrance 

Tom Whalen, 1967-2022

March 28, 2022March 30, 2022 Ken Kurson 2 Comments Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Taylor Hawkins, The Lilacs, Tom Whalen

Founding member of The Lilacs was excellent bassist, fine human being

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Alternative Rock Music Journalism Pop 

Why Has Sirius Lost a Million Subscribers?

December 14, 2021April 3, 2022 Ken Kurson 2 Comments Apple Music, BAMTech LLC, Blondie, Bob Michelson, Disney, HBO and Hulu, James Woodell, Joe Inzerillo, Little Steven’s Underground Garage, Netflix, Nirvana, Paramount Plus, Peacock, Pravda Records, Richard Lloyd, Rodney Bingenheimer, Sirius, Sonic Youth, Spotify, The Lilacs, The Lilacs Endure, The Ramones, The Wall Street Journal, X

The greatest radio ever built has to stop acting like a radio

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Music Journalism Rock Rock Docs 

Mick Rock, 1948–2021

November 19, 2021April 3, 2022 Ken Kurson 0 Comments Blondie, Bob Marley, Brian May, Cat Stevens, David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Ian Hunter, Iggy and the Stooges, Jack White, Joan Jett, John Cale, Johnny Marr, Lady Gaga, Lou Reed, Madonna, Matthew Kassel, Michael Stipe, Mick Rock, Mötley Crüe, New York Observer, Ozzy, Peter Gabriel, Pharrell Williams, Phil Collins, Ray Davies, Roxy Music, Squeeze, Talking Heads, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, Thin Lizzy, Tina Turner, Transformer

Rock’s greatest photographer chronicled rock’s greatest era

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Music Journalism 

I Bought a Hit Song by Mux Mool

November 10, 2021March 13, 2022 Ken Kurson 0 Comments Barry Manilow., Big Pun, Blondie, Bob Dylan, Brian Lindgren, Chrissie Hynde, Domingo Padilla, Drake, Hipgnosis Song Fund, Imagine Dragons, KRS One, Masta Ace, Mux Mool, Richie Sambora, Rick James, royalties, Stevie Nicks

Unexpected payday when EDM artist lands a song on a TV show

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Heavy Metal 

Rob Halford’s ‘Confess’ Is What a Rock Memoir Should Be – Brutally Honest and Funny as Hell

December 28, 2020March 24, 2022 Ken Kurson 2 Comments David Bowie, Judas Priest, Memoir, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Rob Halford, The Clash, The Scorpions, Van Halen, Willie Nelson

Judas Priest singer details a career-long struggle with his sexuality

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Rock 

Betting on Music at the Royalty Exchange

September 21, 2020March 24, 2022 Ken Kurson 5 Comments Antony Bruno, Ariana Grande, BMI, Brian Swindle, Chief Keef, David Pullman, Domingo Padilla, Drake, Green, Have Mercy, Hipgnosis Songs Fund, I Saw Her First, KRS One, Lil' Uzi Vert, Little Steven’s Underground Garage, Macklemore, Masta Ace, Megadisc, Mills Music Trus, Misfits, Mux Mool, My Sister Jane, REO Speedwagon, Richard Lloyd, Rodney Bingenheimer, Royalty Exchange, SiriusXM, Studio 19, the Doobie Brothers, The Lilacs, The Lilacs Endure, The Returnables, Three Doors Down, Tony Defries, White Soul

The song’s the thing

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Glam Punk Remembrance 

Heartbreakers Guitarist Walter Lure Has Died

August 24, 2020March 28, 2022 Ken Kurson 6 Comments Andy Shernoff, Azalia Snail, Binky Philips, Black Sabbath, Bobby Rondinelli, CBGB, Charlie Sox, Eliot Kidd, Heartbreakers, Hilly Crystal, Jerry Nolan, Johnny Thunders, L.A.M.F., Martin John Butler, Mike Mindless, Mike Rappoport, Pandora, Rainbow, Rent Party, Rowan Bishop, The Demons, The Dictators, The Last Ditches, The Planets, The Waldos, Tony Coiro, Walter C. Luhr Jr., Walter Lure

Tributes pour in for NYC fixture who lived uncharacteristically clean and productive rock n roll life

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Surf 

GEAR TALK: Beach Boys Guitarist Rewires a Classic Amp

July 10, 2020March 24, 2022 Ken Kurson 8 Comments amplifiers, Bruce Johnston, Buddy Holly, gear, John Cowsill, Magnatone, Mike Love, Scott Totten, The Beach Boys

Scott Totten uses shelter at home to fix up a ’57 Magnatone

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Hard Rock 

Listen to the Music: Producer Ted Templeman’s Vivid, Likable Memoir

July 6, 2020March 24, 2022 Ken Kurson 0 Comments Donn Landee, Doobie Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Greg Renoff, Harpers Bizarre, Lenny Waronker, Nicolette Larson, Ted Templeman, Van Halen, Warner Bros.

The A&R guy who signed the Doobie Brothers and Van Halen looks back on a ‘Life in Music’

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Heavy Metal Remembrance 

Guitar Pick Giveaway Reveals a Grieving Nation

April 19, 2020May 29, 2020 Ken Kurson 5 Comments Altar of Bedlam, Judah Spears, the Suncharms

Singer of Ohio Christian death metal group dies and bandmates carry on in his honor

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Remembrance 

Paul K, 1962-2020

March 16, 2020March 24, 2022 Ken Kurson 16 Comments Amphetamines and Coffee, Curriculum Vita, Dave Shapson, Jockey Club, Ken Katkin, Ken Kurson, Lilacs, Lounge Ax, Mo Tucker, Paul K and the Weathermen, Paul Kopasz, Res Ipsa Loquitor, Sotto Voce, The Lilacs

A peerless songwriter — and an unforgettable human being — has died

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Chicago Music Journalism 

Greg Kot’s Exit from the Tribune Leaves a Hole in Chicago’s Heart

February 6, 2020March 24, 2022 Ken Kurson 0 Comments Alden Global Capital, Bloodshot Records, Carmél Carrillo, Chicago Tribune, Denver Post, Eleventh Dream Day, Freakwater, Greg Kot, Janet Beveridge Bean, Jeff Lescher, Jeff Lescher founder of Green, Jim DeRogatis, Mekons, Nan Warshaw, R. Kelly, The Waco Brothers, who co-hosts “Sound Opinions”

Departure of peerless music critic latest sign of collapsing news industry

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Rock 

John Mellencamp Goes for Mike Bloomberg

February 5, 2020February 10, 2020 Ken Kurson 1 Comment Andrew Yang, Ariana Grande, Bernie Sanders, Bruce Springsteen, Childish Gambino, Christine Taylor, Farm Aid, John Kerry, John Mellencamp, Mike Bloomberg, Nick Corasaniti, Pete Buttigieg, Ronald Perelman, Vampire Weekend

The Globe solves mystery of why Indiana songsmith snubbed Mayor Pete

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Post-Punk 

Dave Riley, Bassist of Big Black, Has Died

December 25, 2019March 24, 2022 Ken Kurson 0 Comments Big Black, carcinoma, Chris Bjorklund, Dave Riley, Don Hedeker, Material Issue, Mike Zelenko, Naked Raygun, Racer-X, Rachel Brown, Santiago Durango, Steve Albini

Versatile musician succumbs to cancer at 59

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jazz New Wave Pop Rock 

Steve Elson: David Bowie’s Sax Appeal

November 12, 2019February 26, 2022 Ken Kurson 2 Comments Ashes to Ashes, Blackstar, Borneo Horn, Bowie asked Rodgers, Bowie on Arsenio Hall, Bowie playing sax, China Girl, David Bowie, Heroes, Ken Kurson, Lenny Pickett, Let's Dance, Lodger, Low, Modern Love, Nile Rodgers, Pete Townsend, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Saxophonist Steve Elson in the East Village, Scary Monsters, Serious Moonlight, Slickaphonics, Space Oddity, Stan Harrison, Steve Elson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Texas Flood, The Boreno Horns, Tony Visconti

It’s not really work / It’s just the power to charm

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