How Bob Dylan Found His New Country Voice on ‘Nashville Skyline’

In June 1969, two months after Nashville Skyline landed in stores, Bob Dylan told Rolling Stone founder Jann S. Wenner that he’d originally had a different name in mind for his latest album. “The title came up John Wesley Harding, Volume II,” he said. “We were gonna do that.” As usual,…

Flashback: Merle Haggard Nails Johnny Cash and Buck Owens Impressions

As country music reacted to the loss of the legendary Merle Haggard, who died on his 79th birthday this week, many of the tributes focused on the singer-songwriter’s influence as a “poet of the common man.” While the moniker certainly fits, it’s easy t…

Our Favorite Songs Right Now: Zayn Malik, Sturgill Simpson and More

What’s currently rocking Rolling Stone HQ? Zayn Malik’s laid-back track, Sturgill Simpson’s transformative cover of Nirvana’s “In Bloom” and Tacocat’s “Men Explain Things To Me,” which channels Pacific Northwest punk forbear Kathleen Hanna. Check out these tracks, plus new cuts from Matthew Pritchard, a Grateful Dead cover by the National and others,…

Samaris Introduce The Colorful Words They ‘Wanted 2 Say’

Within months of forming in their teens in Reykjavik in 2011, Samaris had won both the Icelandic Músíktilraunir and Kraumur music awards. The release of their two Icelandic EPs as the eponymous Samaris in summer 2013 served as their first introduction to the wider world. Their debut album

SFX Bankruptcy Court Allocates $15 Million In Payments To Artists

The judge overseeing the SFX bankruptcy gave top tier EDM artists and their agents reason to celebrate this week with the allocation of $15 million to be paid to artists performing at the beleaguered promoter’s festivals this summer. By Dave Brooks of touring industry trade Amplify The judge overseeing the…

Giovanni James: Hard Work, Happiness & “Shame On You”

His pop style combines the timeless swagger of a classic Hollywood icon like James Dean with the wailing soul of Joe Tex or Little Richard, but Giovanni James is an unconventional artist all his own. His debut EP, Whutcha Want, forthcoming March 25 via…