MUSIC HISTORY

DNA Analysis of Beethoven’s Hair Reveals New Clues About His Death

The composer suffered from hearing loss and a number of mysterious ailments before his death at age 56. His hair is providing some answers.

Posters from a Jeff Tweedy concert (left) and Lotus concert (right).

Higher Ground—Burlington, Vermont’s Beloved Music Venue—Is Releasing a Book Full of Its Iconic Concert Posters

Burlington, Vermont’s Higher Ground has a long history of producing iconic concert posters in collaboration with local arts organizations.

7 Christmas Songs Banned in the Past

The debate about banning “Baby It’s Cold Outside” rages on, but it’s not the only problematic Christmas carol to land on the do-not-play list.

Protestors or carol singers? The answer's not so simple.

Carol of the Bells: How a Ukrainian Protest Song Became a Christmas Staple

"Carol of the Bells" was adapted from the Ukrainian composition “Shchedryk,” a New Year’s ballad that doubled as a cry for independence in the aftermath of World War I.

A Rare Recording of Stephen Sondheim’s 1948 Musical Satire ‘Phinney’s Rainbow’ Was Just Unearthed

When he was an 18-year-old sophomore at Williams College, Stephen Sondheim satirized college life with a musical about a fraternity that tries to swap out philanthropy for more parties.

Unraveling the Many Mysteries of New Order's "Blue Monday"

Equal parts happy accident and technological triumph, “Blue Monday” is a supremely weird and brilliant song that continues to pack dance floors and transfix listeners 40 years after its original release.

Swedish rockers Rednex perform in Hamburg, Germany.

The Murky Origins and Controversial History Behind the Song “Cotton Eye Joe”

Rednex's fiddle-fueled '90s hit “Cotton Eye Joe” was a reworking of an old American folk song that do-si-doed all the way to No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Punk rock fans are about to have a museum to call their own.

Vegas Calling: The World’s Only Permanent Punk Rock Museum Is Set to Open in Las Vegas in Early 2023

The museum will feature a bar, wedding chapel, and tattoo parlor.

Tablecloth featuring doodles by The Beatles.

A Tablecloth Covered in The Beatles’ ’Acid-Inspired’ Doodles Is Headed to Auction

Before their final concert, The Beatles splattered a tablecloth with food and marked it up with doodles. Today the item is worth at least $15,000.

Lizzo plays Madison's crystal flute at the Library of Congress.

How Lizzo Came to Play James Madison’s 200-Year-Old Crystal Flute During a D.C. Concert

“I want everybody to make some noise for James Madison’s crystal flute, y’all!” —Lizzo, international pop star and classical flautist.

Nirvana might have led the grunge movement, but other bands helped define the era, too.

10 of the Most Influential Grunge Artists of the ‘90s

Bands like Nirvana, Mudhoney, and Pearl Jam helped bring grunge to the mainstream in the ‘90s and defined the era.

Things went a little off the rails at times for these hard rock performers, but sometimes that's how it goes on tour.

Sympathy for the Devils: 8 of the Wildest Tour Stories in Rock Music History

From Ozzy Osbourne biting the head off a live bat during a show to Keith Richards nearly burning down the Playboy Mansion, these tour stories are some of the most notorious in rock music history.

Aerosmith and Run-DMC broke down walls—and musical barriers—with "Walk This Way."

How Aerosmith and Run-DMC's "Walk This Way" Forever Altered the Landscape of American Music

In the '80s, the destruction of two walls changed the course of human events. One was the Berlin Wall, which came down on November 9, 1989. The other was the wall separating Aerosmith from Run-DMC in the 1986 music video for "Walk This Way."

When Motley Crue became Mötley Crüe, they had no idea the umlaut "was a pronunciation thing."

From Motörhead to Mötley Crüe: A History of the Umlaut—Rock's Most Peculiar Punctuation

Where did the gothic garnish that became a trademark of rock bands like Mötley Crüe and Blue Öyster Cult get started?

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performs during the halftime show at 1999's Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami.

Flipping Out: Revisiting the 1990s Swing Revival

In the late ’90s, young people across America fell hard for swing, a musical genre that hadn’t been popular since before their parents were born.

Picture this: A punk rock icon who wasn't even a natural blonde.

10 Facts About Blondie's Debbie Harry

Debbie Harry became a rock icon as the lead singer and co-founder of the band Blondie, but here are some things you might not know about this natural redhead.

Thank You for the Music: Unpacking ABBA's Everlasting Appeal

When ABBA took an indefinite hiatus in 1982, they couldn’t have predicted the goodwill they’d garner over the next several decades.

How Kenny Loggins Became The King of '80s Movie Soundtracks

After helping to invent the supremely chill, lightly funky sound known as “yacht rock” in the ’70s, Kenny Loggins went full speed into the ’80s and took the highway to the danger zone of movie soundtracks.

Kurt Cobain performing (with a different guitar) in Paris in 1992.

For Sale: Kurt Cobain’s Iconic “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Fender Guitar

The Nirvana frontman didn’t just play the blue Fender Mustang in the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video—it was also his favorite kind of guitar.

Why Are So Many Pop Songs Roughly Three Minutes Long?

The roughly three-minute limit dates back to the early 20th century—but the digital music landscape is affecting the custom.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a musical pioneer.

Gibson Is Paying Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock, With a Line of Merchandise

A gospel singer who rose to national fame in the 1940s, Rosetta Tharpe's work on the electric guitar inspired the likes of Elvis and Johnny Cash.

Watch Paul McCartney Write "Get Back" While Waiting for John Lennon

The new Beatles documentary 'Get Back' shows Paul McCartney writing one of the band's greatest hits on a day when John Lennon was running late.

Billie Holiday performs at the Downbeat in New York City in 1947.

How Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" Shocked Listeners With Its Brutal Confrontation of Racism

Named the “song of the century” by TIME in 1999, “Strange Fruit” continues to devastate listeners nearly a century after its original recording.

Hell On Heels: How Madonna's Shoe Mishap Scandalized the 1984 MTV VMAs

Madonna wasn't yet a household name when she opened the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards by humping the stage, leading some people—including her own management team—to believe her career was over.

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