MUSIC HISTORY

Jim Morrison and his The Doors band mates—Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, and Robby Krieger—pose for their first album cover in 1967.

11 Surprising Facts About Jim Morrison

Jim Morrison was the self-styled Lizard King, a leather-pants-loving rock deity who fronted the Doors and represented the dark and druggy flipside of the utopian ’60s dream.

Janis Joplin in Columbus, Ohio in the summer of 1970.

11 Surprising Facts About Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin didn’t have a long or prolific career. The freewheeling Texas blues-rock howler recorded just four albums between 1967 and 1970. But in that short time, she left an indelible mark on rock ’n’ roll history.

BrAt_PiKaChU/iStock via Getty Images; MTV Networks, Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons

20 Fascinating Facts About The Launch Of MTV

Although MTV has more recently become synonymous with reality TV and cheap clip shows, there was a time when the network truly did live up to its name. And it all began at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981.

Paul Stanley of Kiss brandishes his mangled axe at a New York concert in 2019.

A Brief History of Guitar Smashing, From Pete Townshend to Phoebe Bridgers

The road to Jimi Hendrix’s guitar fire, The Clash’s ‘London Calling’ album cover, and other epic guitar smash moments began in London’s Railway Hotel.

The Graceland mansion in Memphis, Tennessee.

9 Rockin’ Facts About Elvis Presley’s Graceland

Elvis Presley’s Graceland hasn’t changed too much since he lived there—the last record he ever listened to is still in the record player.

The Supremes—Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson—pictured in 1967.

15 Facts About History's Most Popular Girl Groups

“Girl Groups” is one of those musical genres that’s difficult to define, but that has been incredibly influential on pop music as a whole throughout the decades.

8 Facts About ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing,’ the Black National Anthem

“Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the so-called Black national anthem, was written by 20th-century novelist/poet/songwriter James Weldon Johnson as a rallying cry for perseverance and social justice.

Dolly Parton winning MusiCares Person of the Year in 2019.

Tennessee Is One Step Closer to Getting a Dolly Parton Statue on Capitol Hill

After funding COVID-19 vaccine research and donating millions of books to kids, Dolly Parton definitely deserves a statue or two.

The Backstreet Boys—Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, and Kevin Richardson—photographed in 1995.

25 Swoon-Worthy Facts About Famous Boy Bands

Although they’ve never been taken too seriously, boy bands have been a force ever since The Beatles took the stage on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and the world witnessed female "hysteria" at its best.

'Take on Me' by a-ha helped redefine music videos for MTV.

Penciling in the History of A-ha's 'Take on Me'

The biggest hit that pop band a-ha ever had was actually a reworked idea. 'Take on Me' had failed three times before.

Along with Mr. Zip, The Swingin’ Six made ZIP codes mainstream.

How The Swingin’ Six Helped Introduce ZIP Codes to the American Public

With upbeat songs and catchy lyrics, the 1960s band The Swingin’ Six helped usher in a new era for the United States Postal Service.

A stained-glass image of John Newton, the man who wrote "Amazing Grace."

From Stormy Seas to Civil Rights: The Surprising History of 'Amazing Grace'

Though strongly associated with the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, the popular hymn was born off the shores of Buncrana, Ireland.

The Rolling Stones and Rice Krispies once collaborated.

Snap, Crackle, Keith: When the Rolling Stones Recorded a Rice Krispies Jingle

Before the rock band hit it big, they wrote and performed a commercial jingle for the popular rice cereal.

12 Surprising Facts About Selena

By the time of her tragic death at the young age of 23, Selena Quintanilla—better known simply as Selena—was already an American icon.

20 Memorable One-Hit Wonders

There are a million no-hit wonders who’d gladly trade places with these one-hit wonders, which thrilled us for a short time, filling holes in our souls that we didn’t know existed, then got out of the way—voluntarily or otherwise.

Kieran Culkin and Jeremy Strong in HBO's Succession.

The Surprising Stories Behind 11 TV Show Theme Songs

The 'Succession' theme song has a sleigh bell in it, and 'The Sopranos' intro is actually about a woman who killed her husband.

Marjut Valakivi, Public Domain // Wikimedia Commons

Jimi Hendrix’s Connection to Hogan's Alley—Vancouver's Lost Black Neighborhood

Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle but spent much of his childhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, where his grandparents lived in Hogan's Alley—a historical Black neighborhood that was lost to time and urban renewal.

Frieda Belinfante (left) and Henriëtte Hilda Bosmans, her then-partner.

When Europe's First Female Orchestra Conductor Foiled the Nazis While Defying Gender Expectations

Frieda Belinfante realized she wasn’t destined to be a part of the orchestra—she was meant to lead it. But the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands during World War II put her career on hold.

A photo of Radiohead members Phil Selway, Jonny Greenwood, Thom Yorke, Colin Greenwood, and Ed O'Brien in 1995.

10 Facts About Radiohead’s 'Kid A'

When Radiohead released 'Kid A' on October 2, 2000, few people were prepared for the album—or the lasting effect it would have on the music industry.

B.I.G. as the (K.O.N.Y), taken by Barron Claiborne.

The Notorious B.I.G.'s Iconic "King of New York" Crown Is Expected to Fetch More Than $200,000 at Auction

The photo of Biggie Smalls crowned “King of New York” was taken just three days before his death in 1997.

The Clash—Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon, Mick Jones, and Nicky 'Topper' Headon—in New York in 1978.

10 Facts About The Clash's 'London Calling'

Rolling Stone named 'London Calling,' the landmark third album by English rockers The Clash, #1 on its list of the 100 Best Albums of the 1980s—and with good reason.

Elvis Presley in concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on April 27, 1977.

5 Bizarre Elvis Presley Concert Appearances

Elvis Presley spent a portion of his later years behaving somewhat erratically during his live performances, insulting his back-up singers and even changing lyrics to lash out at the hotel hosting him.

The Surprising Stories Behind 12 Classic Pop Songs

Bonnie Tyler was singing about lovestruck vampires long before Twilight’s Bella and Edward came along.

Who let the dogs out? In 2000, it was the Baha Men—but the novelty song's origins could date back much further.

Unraveling the 20-Year Mystery of How 'Who Let the Dogs Out' Became a Global Phenomenon

It's been 20 years since 'Who Let the Dogs Out' was released, and its impossibly infectious hook is no doubt still lodged inside your brain. But two decades later, we're still no closer to answering the question.

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