There’s no denying, Kurt Cobain was a cultural icon of the 1990s. Not only did Nirvana take alternative rock into the mainstream in September 1991, but they also introduced fans to underground music of the 70s and 80s. This gave some of Cobain’s major influences a platform in the 90s to join the mainstream. Notably, bands such as Pixies, Sonic Youth, and Melvins directly influenced the band and get the most recognition for doing so. Here are 3 bands that Kurt Cobain also loved that deserve another listen and more credit.

The Vaselines

The Vaselines are a Scottish alternative rock band, formed in 1986. The duo, based in Glasgow, featured songwriters Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee. Kurt Cobain once claimed The Vaselines are “his favorite songwriters in the whole world.” Nirvana covered a handful of songs from the group, including “Son Of A Gun” and “Molly’s Lips”, included on their 1992 compilation Incestide. They later covered “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam” live on MTV Unplugged in November 1993.

Beat Happening

It’s general knowledge that Cobain emerged from the underground scene in the Pacific Northwest. He notably lived in Olympia, specifically during Nirvana’s formative years. One of his favorite local groups was Beat Happening, an indie pop band from Olympia. The band formed in 1982, with band leader Calvin Johnson co-founding K Records that same year. It’s an independent record label out of Olympia that later released early releases by artists such as Modest Mouse, Built To Spill, Beck, and more.

Cobain loved K Records so much that he got their shield logo tattooed on his forearm. He did so to remind himself where he came from as a youth, hanging around the local DIY scene in Olympia.

Cheap Trick

As much as Cheap Trick gets their due recognition in the world of classic rock, they don’t get nearly enough credit for their influence on alternative rock. Countless alternative bands of the 90s, including Nirvana, openly admitted their love for Cheap Trick. This may be lesser-known, though, as the band had a variety of different sounds in their heyday. It’s often overlooked, but Cheap Trick’s influence contributed heavily to the creation of grunge and even predicted it in songs such as “Auf Wiedersehen”.

In the liner notes of the 1992 compilation Incesticide, Cobain stated: “I’ll be the first to admit, we’re the 90s version of Cheap Trick.” He used this mentality to explain to producer Steve Albini which direction he wanted Nirvana to go for their third album, In Utero. Albini was notably a massive Cheap Trick fan, and it was known by anyone who worked with him.

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It’s undeniable that L7 were one of the most important bands of the 90s alternative rock movement. Now, decades later, the grunge icons are hanging it up. But not before frontwoman Donita Sparks does a little reflection on their legendary career, as well as on their friendships with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

Speaking to Guitar World, Sparks discussed the band’s legacy, starting with what the early days of the Seattle grunge scene were like. “Sub Pop [records] did well, mainly because of Nirvana and Soundgarden,” she said. “When they signed us, they said, ‘You’re in the inner circle of Sub Pop now.'”

Sparks quipped that “everyone got huge, except for Mudhoney,” and added, “There was so much hype, especially in the UK. We’d show up to a club and instead of saying ‘L7’ it would say ‘Sub Pop Artist’ or ‘Sub Pop’s L7.’ It was like the label was getting bigger than the bands were.”

L7 signed to Sub Pop Records in the late 80s

In 1992, L7 released Bricks Are Heavy, their third—and possibly most crucial— album. Butch Vig produced the record, fresh off having just done Nirvana’s Nevermind. When asked how his production style impacted L7’s music, Sparks explained, “We always had a very powerful sound on stage. You can’t put that in a bottle. Producers and engineers would go to an L7 show, after they worked on our record for months, and be like, ‘What the f**k?'”

“Butch was great because he encouraged our melodic stuff,” she continued. “When we started, we wanted to play hard music sans melody because we were tough cookies; then melody came in. Nirvana and the Pixies gave me more confidence to throw my musical roots into the stew. I love a lot of 50s/60s pop; I love a lot of country.”

Among her reflections, Sparks shared about playing a big benefit show in the mid-90s with Pearl Jam and Neil Young & Crazy Horse. “We met Neil Young that night,” she recalled. “I remember Pearl Jam asked us on stage because they were singing ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’, but I f**ked up my verse by one line!”

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Finally, Sparks spoke about L7’s Last Hurrah farewell tour, which they’re currently on. The run comes after longtime bassist Jennifer Finch died in July, following a battle with aggressive brain cancer.

“The finality is starting to hit me,” Sparks said. “The emotion becomes overwhelming at times. I can hold it together until I get backstage – but every once in a while, there’s a little weepiness. We’re doing meet-and-greets for the first time to supplement the tour. People are saying how long they’ve followed us. One woman said, ‘You’ve taken me from puberty to menopause!'”

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On Saturday, November 7, 2026, Richard Lloyd lost his battle with cholangiocarcinoma, a form of bile duct cancer. He had been diagnosed earlier this year in March. Lloyd is best known as a founding member and guitarist for the foundational punk rock band, Television. They were a band at the center of the punk rock movement in New York City in the mid-to-late 90s. Television pioneered art punk, standing out among the other punk acts from “The Big Apple” at the time.

Their 1977 debut album, Marquee Moon, has been widely acclaimed for decades, inspiring countless artists. Following their sophomore release, Adventure, they disbanded in 1978. In 1991, the band briefly reunited and released a self-titled album in 1992. Following this, the band called it quits once again until another reunion a decade later in 2001.

Lloyd’s guitar work allowed their other guitarist, Tom Verlaine, to front the group as the singer as well. Lloyd also played solos, splitting the lead guitar role in half, but his role was mainly to hold down the rhythmic side of the band. Additionally, he greatly contributed to the arrangement of their tracks. To this, he claimed in his final interview that he didn’t receive the credit he deserved.

Lloyd’s FInal Interview

In December 2025, Richard Lloyd was interviewed for the final time. Andrew Daly of Guitar World conducted the final interview. Lloyd detailed how he learned guitar from someone who was learning directly from Jimi Hendrix. At one point, his friend put him on the phone with Hendrix himself to prove this to be true. He also took Lloyd to a Jimi Hendrix concert around the same time. Additionally, he discussed joining John Lee Hooker on stage, learning a thing or two in the moment ahead of his own career.

On the band’s debut album, Lloyd claims he contributed more than he received credit for. On the album’s opening track “See No Evil”, Lloyd stated, “Tom was fooling around with octaves, and I came up with the rest. There have been debates on that – I didn’t get a penny for the songwriting, nor the other ones that I was responsible for. A real drag, because publishing is where you can actually make a living.”

When asked to elaborate, Lloyd said, “Tom went by the argument that everything is the melody and the lyrics, and that there was nothing deserving of credit for what he called ‘the arrangement.’ I debated that. For instance, with “Guiding Light”, I wrote the part that runs through the whole song. That was the final straw. I said, ‘You’ll either give me credit for this, or you can come up with something else because I won’t play it if you don’t give me credit.’ I got half credit on that. I fought him over “See No Evil” and “Friction”, but he went behind our backs – you’d find out he put it under his own name.”

Lloyd expressed that despite this, he kept Television as his main priority throughout his career. Even at times when working with Verlaine would “drive him nuts”, he’d drop his solo efforts for any reunion with the band.

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Clawfinger, an infamous rock band from the 90s, refuses to perform one of its biggest songs these days. Their singer explains why they made that decision, and I, for one, wholeheartedly support the decision to leave this one in the past.

Hailing from Sweden, Clawfinger is a rap-metal band that dropped their debut album, Dead Dumb Blind, in 1993. The very first track on that record is titled “N****r,” and yes, it’s exactly the n-word you think it is. Listening to the lyrics, the song feels like it’s discouraging use of the word while also using it so, so, so much.

It is quite the conundrum, because the song is also one of their most popular. Right now, on Spotify alone, that song has more than 7.5 million streams. However, any fans who actually want to hear the song live should not hold their breath.

During a recent interview on the IMPACT Metal Channel, Clawfinger frontman Zak Tell was asked if he thinks Clawfinger would ever perform the song again. “I do not know,” he replied. “Times have changed since we released that song. There’s a whole new wokeness, and people are a lot more aware.”

One of Clawfinger’s biggest hits is a condemnation of racism with a very controversial title

He then mentioned the “Black Lives Matter” movement and offered some additional context on why the band doesn’t play the song. “I think one of the problems today is that things get taken out of context,” Tell said. “Nobody cares about the big picture; nobody cares about background. People get stuck up on words and small things instead of seeing the big picture.”

“I mean, we’re totally fine with the song,” he continued. “We know what we stand for. We know we’re not a bunch of racist idiots. The problem is everyone else out there who doesn’t know.”

Tell lamented that a “10-second TikTok clip” featuring only the “chorus” creates a misconception of the song. “It gets taken totally out of context,” he said. “I think it creates more problems than it creates solutions. And also it’s about being respectful to the fact that the times have changed, and people do see things differently. And maybe it’s a topic that’s more important than a three-and-a-half-minute song. It deserves to be addressed properly.

“Maybe we shouldn’t be the people addressing it anymore, if we ever should have been. But maybe now and here is not our time and place to be the agitators,” Tell added. “It’s not really our job to educate people about it, I feel.

“So it’s mostly just out of being respectful that we chose not to play it anymore,” Tell concluced. “Not because we don’t believe it’s a good song, ’cause we do. But it’s not our time and place anymore, the way the world is now. Maybe in the future that’ll change and people will understand the bigger picture more, and realize that it’s okay to say basically anything, as long as your intentions are good. But I don’t see the world working that way right now. Unfortunately.”

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In early November, Olivia Rodrigo released her first Christmas song, inspired by “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses. But some fans online claim that she lifted some of it from Robbie Williams’ 2012 hit song “Candy”. Amid calls for copyright claims and writing credits, Williams sent a message to both the fans raising suspicions and to Rodrigo herself.

Essentially, Williams said he wasn’t “going after” Rodrigo about the similarities between their songs. That’s allegedly what people online were calling for, but Williams proved he had a different mindset. In his expletive-laden way, of course.

“I love Olivia Rodrigo,” he began his post on Instagram. “It sounds to me as though she may have accidentally stumbled across a musical echo of mine in one of her new songs. And do you know what? I couldn’t care less.”

He continued, “I don’t know whether there’s technically a publishing issue, a copyright issue, or no issue whatsoever. And I don’t want to know. I’m not going after her. Because I think at some point, some f***ing sanity has to prevail.”

Williams went on to explain that there’s so much music in the world that an artist will “inevitably find [themselves] somewhere somebody else has been.” That’s how songs with similar melodies, riffs, or chords come about.

“Genuine theft is genuine theft. Artists deserve to be protected,” he added. “But there’s a difference between protecting your work and treating every vaguely familiar sequence of notes as a winning lottery ticket.”

Robbie Williams Posts Sweary Insights into Music Copyright issues After Fans Claim Olivia Rodrigo Copied One of His Hits

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The post continued, “We all stand on the shoulders of people who came before us. Sometimes consciously. Sometimes without even knowing it. If we keep punishing people for accidentally arriving somewhere somebody else has already been, eventually we’re going to frighten the creativity out of everyone.”

Robbie Williams concluded his response with a concise message for Olivia Rodrigo. “Olivia, if you’re reading this,” he wrote, “I think you’re f***ing brilliant.”

Elsewhere in the post, Williams addressed the fact that the same accusations have been levied against him in the past. “I’ve had plenty of people coming after me over the years because something I’ve released apparently sounds like something somebody else released,” he wrote. “And sometimes I listen and think, fair enough, I can hear that. Other times I think, are you having a f***ing laugh?”

The lengthy post provided some enlightening insight into how copyright infringement has turned into “ambulance chasing” in the music industry. Essentially, seeking out similarities between songs and filing an infringement lawsuit for writing credit and an easy royalty payout. Robbie Williams’ perspective echoes many others in that space, but the copyright infringement trials and accusations are often louder than those opinions.

However, Williams’ post had a bit of levity in it as well. He first explained that he’s been a fan of Olivia Rodrigo since her 2021 single “Brutal”. He wrote, “What a f***ing record. I wish I’d made it”, before adding, “Also, I can’t believe how much she swears on stage. And that’s coming from me.”

He noted that her penchant for swearing is making him “look like a Victorian schoolmistress.” Of course, Williams concluded his post by bringing that up again, writing, “Please stop swearing so much. It makes me feel like I have to keep up. And frankly, I’m already swearing much more than is necessary.”

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Silly Goose has gone viral multiple times for their bizarre, high-energy pop-up concerts across the US. The band is known for their pop-up concerts in parking lots of gas stations or fast food restaurants. Typically, these locations are outside of concerts at large venues in the area. They’ll catch the attention of concert-goers leaving a concert, creating a high-energy metal show atmosphere wherever they can, whether they’re welcomed or not. Now, the metal band, which is reviving nu-metal, has aimed to capitalize on a famous unconventional show location.

Back in May of 2013, a hardcore punk band named Live Without performed in a spot that went viral on the internet. The punk band performed inside a Denny’s restaurant in Houston, Texas. At the beginning of the set, their frontman Kris famously announced, “What the f*ck is up, Denny’s?” seconds before their set. With this, the crowd and pit opened up, and the band became internet legends.

The video went viral, and has inspired multiple bands to perform in outrageous locations since. Also, the expression “What the f*ck is up, Denny’s” became an internet meme and a common thing to say ahead of any band’s set. A decade later, on October 26, 2023, iconic pop-punk band Blink-182 performed a surprise one-song concert at a Denny’s in Long Beach, California. They sought corporate approval for the concert, which promoted their 2024 album One More Time.

Silly Goose’s Denny Performance After Crashing a Corporate Conference

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On November, 7, 2026, Silly Goose finally got their chance to continue the Denny’s concert legacy. The bands frontman, Jackson Foster, crashed the restaurant’s corporate conference in September. He campaigned for a collaboration with the restaurant chain called “Goose Slam.” At a Denny’s location in Norcross, Georgia, Silly Goose filmed a music video for “Goodnight”, a single from their album released back in May.

Normally, Silly Goose doesn’t ask for permission for their pop-up shows. At times, this has resulted in a clash with the owners of these establishments. For this performance at Denny, it marks the first time the band has been granted permission beforehand. The band has also announced “Goose Fest”. It’s an upcoming festival that’ll take place on January 16th in the bands home city, Atlanta, Georgia.

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Former Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain recently dropped his memoir, Hello Boys And Girls! The book recounts McBrain’s life, career, and experience with the legendary metal band. Interestingly, after the book was published, he said management feared one chapter in particular would upset bandmates.

In a November 2026 interview with Dave Kinchen and Shane McEachern for Rock Of Nations, McBrain was asked if he’d spoken to any of his bandmates about the contents of the book while he was writing it.

“No,” he confessed, then adding that he hasn’t even read Iron Maid Bruce vocalist Bruce Dickinson’s autobiography. “For the sole reason, McBrain explained, ” [that] I didn’t wanna get influenced by any of his stories or how he’s written it.

Nicko McBrain apparently had some stories that worried Iron Maiden’s manager

“I do have a copy,” the drumming icon added, as transcribed by Blabbermouth. “He signed a copy for me, and I will grab that and probably read that in the next couple of weeks. Now I’ve finished my book, I can delve into his. And I didn’t want any influences from any of the other guys in that respect.” He then said, with a laugh, that he “did start to read” Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith’s book, “but it’s more about fishing than anything else.”

“But, no, I didn’t approach any of the guys,” McBrain continued. “I wanted it to be my memories carte blanche and without any influences from anybody else. [Iron Maiden manager] Rod [Smallwood] mentioned a couple of things, and he got them wrong, actually.”

Finally, the heavy metal legend revealed how his conversation with Smallwood went when the manager encouraged him to make changes. “There was a couple of instances where he didn’t want me to write a particular chapter because it would upset the band,” McBrain recalled “And I said to him, ‘Rod, this is my story. It’s not yours. I appreciate what you’re saying.”

Smallwood said that McBrain was “still part of the family.” To which the drummer replied, “And I still will be, even though I’ve written this book. And you may not like it, but it’s going in. And if it upsets someone, they will tell me. They will tell me, and then I’ll deal with it. But it’s going in. It’s going in.”

Hello Boys And Girls! is out now; published by Harper Nonfiction on October 22, 2026.

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During a show in Philadelphia, Geese paid tribute to co-founding Television guitarist Richard Lloyd, who died on November 7, 2026. Lloyd passes away at his home in Tennessee after being diagnosed with bile duct cancer in March 2026. He was 75 years old.

New York alt-rock prodigies Geese have often been compared to fellow New Yorkers Television. The band formed in 1973, with their most consistent lineup being Tom Verlaine, Billy Ficca, Richard Lloyd, and Fred Smith of Blondie. Their art-punk sound influenced many bands after them, and they were a crucial fixture in the NYC punk clubs like CBGB.

On November 7, Geese briefly honored Lloyd with a cover of the 1978 Television song “Ain’t That Nothin'”, captured on video by fans in the crowd. Vocalist Cameron Winter acknowledged the tribute by saying, “Rest in Peace Richard Lloyd” before launching into a short rendition of the song.

Geese have cited Television as an influence on their sound in the past, and also covered other songs of theirs. In 2024, they performed a rendition of “Marquee Moon”, the title track of Television’s 1977 debut album. Speaking to GQ in 2025, Geese noted the comparisons to Television, but added that they deliberately try not to be a “rip off” of the punk icons.

Geese, Johnny Marr, and Others Pay Tribute to Iconic Television Guitarist Richard Lloyd

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Following Richard Lloyd’s death, many artists expressed grief and shared condolences for the loss. Artists like Johnny Marr has often cited Lloyd and Tom Verlaine’s paired guitar playing as a notably influence on many guitarists of his generation. Lloyd’s style also influenced U2’s The Edge, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, and The Pixies’ Joey Santiago.

Lloyd and Verlaine’s intertwined dance of guitars drew from many different musical influences that their peers weren’t exploring. Sources like jazz and art-rock that would influence how they approached their riffs. This technique set Television apart in an era of fast, loud, pummeling chords.

In a tribute on Instagram, Johnny Marr wrote called Lloyd “a seeker and finder and a true inspiration with and without the guitar. It was an honor to know him and a blessing to have been a fan.”

Richard Lloyd was with Television until their split in 1978, after their second album Adventure. The band reunited in the early 90s and released a self-titled album in 1992, but disbanded again shortly after that. Lloyd released several solo albums throughout his career, including Alchemy in 1979, Real Time in 1986, and The Countdown in 2018. He was also a session musician, contributing guitar most prominently on six of Matthew Sweet’s albums.

Lloyd also taught guitar from his New York studio, and produced albums for many local bands. These included Rocket From the Tombs, The Blondes Inc., Christopher Purdy, Miss Mother USA, Jim Neversink, and many others.

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Typically, to be named a principal at a school, the school needs to be open first. That wasn’t the case in New York this year. In January 2026, Next Generation Technology High School hired Caleb Haraguchi-Combs to be the “project director.”

Despite the school not even existing yet, the New York Post reports that Haraguchi-Combs earned a $50,000 raise to principal-level compensation. In most cases, the project director of a school that is still under construction becomes the new school’s principal. What’s different about this scenario is that the planned school has been denied.

The proposed school, Next Generation Technology High School, would be located in the Financial District of New York. It would focus on artificial intelligence and computer tech. The new school has never been approved, and New York Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels shot down the proposal in April 2026. The proposed school received significant backlash due to fear of AI and its “merit-based admissions model.”

Who Is Haraguchi-Combs?

Aside from being an educator by day, Haraguchi-Combs is a rapper at night. Under the stage name Cal Combs, he has released two rap albums. In 2017, his album Carmel was named after a city in Indiana where Haraguchi-Combs once lived. It tells the story of a drug deal in the area, from which he had to flee due to gunfire. In another song, “Roundabout”, the song focuses on drug use and excessive drinking.

Previously, Haraguchi-Combs was an assistant principal at Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics in East Harlem. According to public records reported by The Post, Haraguchi-Combs made $141,960 a year in this role. Despite the school not even existing yet, Haraguchi-Combs received a $50,000 raise when accepting the role. This has been particularly frustrating for the Department of Education, as it has been an excessive waste of taxpayer money.

The DOE has questioned, “What was the plan? There are a lot of schools that could use a principal; there are opportunities to appoint principals since then, it’s a huge waste of resources.” They also added, “Unless a principal has tenure, they get bumped back to AP if their schools don’t open.” They also claim Haraguchi-Combs should have “never named a principal before the school was approved.”

New York Post tracked down Haraguchi-Combs, spotting him outside his high-ride in Brooklyn. In this confrontation, Haraguchi-Combs refused to say where he worked.

Photo credit: LinkedIn/CalebCombs

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Indie rock duo Babehoven shared tragic news on social media on November 4, 2026. The band, consisting of Maya Bon and Ryan Albert, updated fans ahead of their tour, which began on November 5. Bon penned the message, signed by both her and Albert, revealing that they’d lost their unborn baby.

“Ryan and I want to share some personal news ahead of our tour starting tomorrow,” the message began. “The past 11 weeks, I’ve been growing our baby in my body. We were so excited to almost be at the second trimester and get to share this news. We were surprised and thrilled to find this being was joining us.”

Bon continued, “We nicknamed them Bongo. We’ve been talking to them every day, writing songs for them, preparing our world for them. Two days ago, we learned that my latest ultrasound showed that Bongo no longer has a heartbeat and that my body hasn’t recognized they’ve passed to the next realm.”

Indie Duo Babehoven Shares Heartbreaking Update With Fans Ahead of First Headlining Tour in Two Years

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The heartbreaking news from the Babehoven duo came the day before they were set to start a new tour. But they were only two days removed from learning the news themselves. Maya Bon’s message went on to share their reactions and next steps.

“I need to get a surgical procedure done called a D&C to remove them,” Bon wrote candidly. She added later in the message that she would receive the procedure between the New York City and Chicago tour dates. “Our bandmates arrived an hour after we got this update. The timing of all of this has been hard. This tour means so much to us. We are so excited to play all of this new music in a fresh form, adding our friend Seamus on fiddle, reimagining songs.”

On September 18, 2026, Babehoven released their third album, I See Them, They See Me. The upcoming tour was in support of that album, sharing their new songs with fans and reimagining others, as Bon stated. This is Babehoven’s first headlining tour in two years, with Bon adding that she suffered “covid, laryngitis and then vocal fold paralysis from the two combined” on their last headliner.

The post noted that they have been “so looking forward to having a clean slate on this tour and bring all of our best energy to it. We are still going to move forward. We love music. It revitalizes our hearts, it makes us feel renewed, connected and alive.

“We just wanted to keep y’all in the loop so you know what’s going on with us and what we’re dealing with. We are feeling tender and dazed but we still can’t wait to play these shows,” the post added. “We’re dedicating this tour to our Bongo Angel,” Bon wrote in conclusion. “We love them and are honored they chose their life to be alongside us. They’ve taught us so much.”

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Veteran drummer Bobby Taylor, a staple of the St. Louis rock scene, has died. His passing comes after a years-long cancer battle. His family announced Taylor’s death in a heartbreaking tribute.

“Love is knowing when to let go,” Taylor’s wife, Jami, wrote in a Facebook post. “Rest in peace, my beautiful sweet husband. You don’t have to fight or suffer anymore. Fly high, my love. We WILL be together again one day. Bobby Taylor lost his fight today. He fought until the bitter end. He was NOT going without a fight! Even the hospice nurses couldn’t believe what they were witnessing with his tenacity and to fight and hold on!”

St. Louis drum legend Bobby Taylor has passed away

Local music group Jamming.LIVE STL also shared an online memorial to Taylor. “Bobby Taylor wasn’t just a drummer,” they wrote in a Facebook post. “He was an absolute BEAST behind the drums!” the post read. “His energy, passion, and talent could light up any stage, and his powerful presence left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of watching him perform. But beyond the music, Bobby was a genuinely kind soul with a big heart. He loved his wife deeply, and that love was just as powerful as the music he played.”

“Bobby fought a heroic and courageous battle with cancer, showing incredible strength and determination along the way,” the post added. “Though his battle has come to an end, his legacy will live on through the music, the memories, and the countless lives he touched. We extend our deepest condolences to his beloved wife, family, friends, and fellow musicians. The stages may be a little quieter without Bobby, but the beat he left in our hearts will never fade.”

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Finally, Taylor’s bandmates in the band Foreplay issued a statement on his passing. “The original Foreplay is mourning as a band,” they wrote. “We have lost a bandmate, a brother, a friend and an enormously talented drummer. He is loved and will be missed more than words can express.”

“When Bobby Taylor joined Foreplay, it was like finding the missing piece of a puzzle. He made us complete. It was at that moment that the magic began. He loved playing drums with Foreplay. This is how we will remember Bobby,” the statement concluded. “May his memory always be a blessing!”

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After 20 years with ’80s rock band The Cult, drummer John Tempesta announced his departure from the group. He shared the news with fans on social media, posting a message on Facebook. This decision comes in the wake of tickets going on sale for The Cult’s upcoming U.S. tour.

“After 20 years, my chapter with The Cult has come to an end,” Tempesta wrote in his post. “So many unforgettable shows, experiences, and memories. I’m incredibly thankful to every single fan who was there along the way. Your support has meant so much to me.”

He continued, “I’m looking forward to getting back out there, playing music and seeing where the next chapter takes me. Here’s to 2027! Wishing the guys all the best!”

The Cult has a tour planned with A Perfect Circle for 2027, and Tempesta’s departure comes just several weeks after ticket sales went live. Currently, Tempesta has not shared the reason for his departure, and the remaining members of The Cult have not responded. Fans should keep an eye on the band’s social media pages for the latest updates on the tour and the drummer.

Beloved Drummer of 80s Rock Band The Cult Announces Departure Ahead of Upcoming U.S. Tour

The Cult formed in Bradford, England in 1983, and their blend of post-punk and goth rock earned them acclaim in the U.K. and U.S. John Tempesta joined on drums in 2006, after getting his start as a drum tech for Anthrax’s Charlie Benante in the 80s. From there he joined Exodus in 1989, then Testament. He later performed with Rob Zombie, Tony Iommi, Helmet, and Zakk Wylde.

The comments of Tempesta’s announcement were full of fans sharing support for the drummer. Many also posted speculations about what he would do next, with the most popular theory being a White Zombie reunion.

“Reuniting with Rob Zombie to complete the original solo band line-up?” on comment asked. Another wrote, “White Zombie getting back together????” Other fans simply shared encouragement, such as, “Excited to see your next chapter!!” and “You’re without doubt the best drummer the Cult have ever had.”

Other comments mentioned Pearl Jam’s drummer situation. “Pearl Jams looking,” one person wrote. Another commented, “You would be awesome in Pearl Jam!” A more confident fan posited, “I’m guessing he’s already had an offer. Probably Pearl Jam.”

But among all the suggestions that Tempesta join Pearl Jam, only one person mentioned how his drumming style would sound with the 90s grunge icons. They compared Tempesta’s drumming to a high-powered Rolls-Royce engine, and Pearl Jam to a three-wheeled fiberglass car from the 70s.

“So many people saying about Pearl Jam needing a drummer,” they wrote. “I love PJ but it would be like putting a Merlin Engine in a Reliant Robin.”

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A typical Los Angeles late-night outing turned very scary for former boxing star Adrien Broner. During a livestream with Blueface (captured by TMZ), he was completely out of it while attending a Skilla Baby concert. Though it’s not certain if it was a health crisis or if he was grappling with substances, he clearly couldn’t act on his own volition.

Consequently, an EMS worker and Broner’s friends lifted him off a couch and carried him down a flight of stairs. Slowly but surely, he started to regain composure. Then, he was transported to a wheelchair before leaving the venue completely and heading into a car.

Adrien Broner was best known for his days as a professional boxer. In his prime, he was a history maker; in 2015, he was the second-youngest boxer to win a world title in four different weight divisions. His amateur career saw him win 300 times out of 319 fights. In his professional career, he won 35 fights out of 42. 24 of those wins came by knockout.

Nowadays, Broner is an online streamer. He’ll make frequent appearances with fellow celebrities and streamers like Ray J and Blueface on platforms like Kick.

Adrien Broner Gets Carried Out of Skilla Baby Concert While on Stream with Blueface

This is one of many wild instances to take place during a Blueface stream in 2026. Most recently, he was arrested following a swatting call while wearing a Mr. Incredible costume. While perusing Santa Clarita, California on his Kick stream, someone called the police claiming a man was pointing a gun around.

By the end of the investigation, authorities determined it was a swatting call. But because Blueface made the process difficult, they still ended up bringing him in.

Experiencing swatting calls during his Kick streams has been constant for the West Coast rapper. For instance, during another ugly experience in Santa Clarita, he was at a seafood restaurant with his then-girlfriend Nevaeh Akira and their son. Reports at the time indicated there was severe violence and the police responded accordingly with their guns drawn.

However, the entire exchange proceeded relatively smoothly. Both Blueface and the officers went through the procedure as usual and sorted out any confusion at the time. Moreover, even the police themselves seemed familiar enough with the rapper to determine that these kinds of swatting calls are frequent.

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Everyone has their go-to movies when the holiday season commences. It’s a Wonderful Life, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Home Alone, maybe you throw a slight curveball and go with Die Hard. Another popular Christmas film is the Will Ferrell comedy Elf in 2003, where he learns he’s actually a human instead of one of Santa’s elves.

In an age of constant sequels and remakes, it’s a shocker that no one in Hollywood attempted to reboot it. However, apparently, someone already tried it: David Howell Evans, aka The Edge in U2.

According to comedian Andy Richter on Obsessed: The Podcast, producer Shauna Robertson received a message from Evans that he wrote a script for Elf 2. Obviously, neither the script nor the film ever came to fruition. However, apparently, the script is completed, and no one has ever seen or read it.

“Somebody reached out to her and said, ‘The Edge from U2 has written a sequel to ‘Elf,’ and he wants to talk to you about it,’” Richter recalled. “It’s the weirdest story, but apparently it was fully written. Somewhere in the world there is an Edge-penned ‘Elf 2’ out there… I would love for that to make the light of day. It never happened. It’s one of those things where she’s like, ‘All right, sure, I’ll meet him.’ Then it just petered out and never happened.”

The Edge Once Channeled His Christmas Spirit for an ‘Elf 2’ Script

Ultimately, Richter and all parties involved in the original Elf found it was for the best that they never made a sequel. “Now that time has passed, the movie has become so special that I think that people, rightfully so, are loath to mess with it because we all can think of movies that have been tarnished by their sequels. And this is so special and so perfect and so beloved… Why risk it?” he said.

As far as The Edge is concerned, he hasn’t addressed any secret Elf 2 script. Moreover, he has never been connected to another film before or since as a writer. Instead, he has maintained his position as lead guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist for U2. He’s recorded all 15 albums with the band as well as one solo effort. Moreover, his legacy largely revolves around his instrumentation, recognized as one of the most prominent and acclaimed guitarists in rock.

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There are tons of precautions fans have to take when attending a concert. Any health concerns have to be worked around beforehand and during the show. Dehydration is a massive concern; countless fans have passed out trying to watch their favorite artists. That’s before you even consider any mosh pits and generally awful concert etiquette from others.

But for one Kanye West fan, there were a ton of variables at hand that would’ve resulted in his death if staff didn’t take care of him. In a post on X, professional boxer Steven Nelson shared his experience watching Ye in concert. In some of the videos, it seems like the kind of blockbuster experience you’d come to expect at one of his shows.

However, due to all the smoke in the air from Kanye West’s pyrotechnics, Nelson nearly died. “I had a severe asthma attack and EMS had to come get me. Y’all don’t understand how happy I am to still be here. Thank you to the paramedics for having an emergency albuterol kit,” he wrote.

Then, in a follow-up post in the thread, Nelson couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of dying at a concert after all he’d been through.

Smoke From Pyrotechnics at Kanye West Show Nearly Killed Professional Boxer

“Kept thinking as I’m fading, I survived the hood, been shot, survived the military, been deployed, jumped out of planes, flew planes, been shot at, blown up in a IED explosion, been an elite boxer, and done all types of extreme stuff… ALL THAT TO DIE AT A KANYE WEST CONCERT,” he added.

Despite the traumatic experience, Ye’s concerts have seemingly gone off without a hitch. In fact, he’s spent a bulk of them reuniting with old friends and collaborators over the years. From Lupe Fiasco to Playboi Carti, his blockbuster concerts have essentially served as a comeback tour.

Evidently, the attempt at getting fans and past allies back in his corner has worked out for Kanye West. For instance, Kid Cudi, who previously vowed to never be friends with him again, warmly called him “my brother.”

“Damn near 2 decades of art and friendship,” he wrote back in September 2026. “Ive been around Ye, and I can honestly say talking to him now is how it use to be when I first signed to him, but even better. He was dealing w mental health struggles for years and now hes good. Everyone deserves some grace when they family. I was the hardest on him out of anybody. I held him accountable. He apologized and it was sincere.”

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There are generations of people who have no idea how great N.W.A. were in their prime. Ice Cube, Eazy-E, and MC Ren were all operating at the peak of their powers as rappers. Meanwhile, some of the best Dr. Dre beats you’ll ever hear reside on albums like Straight Outta Compton. But ugly contract disputes and group disagreements led to ugly beef.

Eventually, each member struck out on their own, with Cube and Dre carving out incredible solo careers for themselves. Now, they exist as rap royalty. But there was always a nagging question: would some iteration of N.W.A. ever reunite? Apparently, it’s all up to Dr. Dre.

In an interview with Complex, Ice Cube admitted that there’s nothing in the works when it comes to any new music from the group. However, he’s not necessarily against it. Ultimately, he places everything on what the Compton producer is interested in making.

“It has to come together organically,” Ice Cube told the outlet. “Who knows? I would love to get together with them dudes. It ain’t hard to find me on the microphone. I mean, I’m easy to find. And it’s all about Dr. Dre, where his head is, you know? If he feel like doing it, we do it. If he don’t, we don’t. Nobody wants a N.W.A song without Dr. Dre’s production.”

Ice Cube Wants an N.W.A. Reunion But Isn’t Sure Dr. Dre is Interested

There’s another conflict that might get in the way of a potential N.W.A. reunion too: what if Dr. Dre uses AI in his production? After all, Cube has been on the record about his distaste for the technological medium. Meanwhile, the G-Funk legend is all for it, arguing that anyone against it must clearly lack the imagination that is necessary for any creative person.

Ultimately, this led to a debate on Ice Cube’s new podcast with Mike Epps, Listen & Laugh. There, Dr. Dre said that using AI is no different than the art of sampling. He argued that it’s a natural progression of musical technology.

But Cube didn’t love the idea of being able to cut corners and remove the person from the creativity. If anyone could use AI to make something, how creative could it really be? But to Dr. Dre, the method didn’t necessarily invalidate the results.

“Why do you give a f**k about how we made records opposed to how the new generation is making them?” he asked Ice Cube. “What if that is just something new? This is what happens with guys that are our age. It’s like we don’t wanna take the time to learn a new technology, so we have a problem with the way they’re doing things.”

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Celebrities running for political office have become extremely normalized over the years. Ronald Reagan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Donald Trump all successfully made transitions into the world of politics. Additionally, artists like Kanye West have thrown their hat in the ring, all based on the gravity of their celebrity, not necessarily their policy proposals. Now, we can add Fred Durst to the pile of celebrities trying to leverage their fame for votes.

In a post on Instagram, the Limp Bizkit frontman reflected on the state of America after the midterm election results. There, he declared that it was time for citizens to stand in his corner so they could have someone hellbent on figuring out what happened in the world.

Consequently, he said he’ll be running. For what? That part isn’t very clear because there’s no confirmation of him filing paperwork for a political run. But it’s very possible we’ll see Fred Durst try and occupy a campaign trail one of these days. “Well, just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse… it’s time to vote Durst. I want to get to the bottom of all this bulls**t. I’m running,” he shared on his new VoteDurst Instagram account.

Fred Durst Might Be Running for some kind of political office Soon

What if this is all an elaborate rollout for the next Limp Bizkit album? After all, guitarist Wes Borland teased that they’ve been loading up some “ammo” for a new potential project with Fred Durst and company.

“We’re planning on going in [to the studio],” Borland said back in June 2026. “I think we have some time in August that we’re planning on going in and writing. We’ve had writing sessions, and there are parts [that we may end up using in some of the new songs].”

“Fred [Durst] and I were just listening to some riffs and some other sessions that we had from a writing session last year, and we were, like, ‘Oh, I forgot about that. I forgot about that.’ And so we’ve got some ammo to go in,” Borland added.

A new album from Limp Bizkit would come just in time for their upcoming stadium tour opening for Metallica in 2027. They took on the gig after James Hetfield revealed that Turnstile turned them down. “We wanted to get them on tour, and they said no. They’re doing good on their own already,” he shared.

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One of the biggest stars in 90s rock history just gave a massive life update on her end. During an appearance on the Handsome podcast, Alanis Morissette revealed to co-hosts Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin that she’s pansexual.

The news came when Feimster quipped about the relationships Morissette depicted in her songs. As much as she hates how the men she was with treated her, she was happy it turned into great music. Then, she inquired about whether such awful experiences with men ever made her want to be a lesbian.

The Jagged Little Pill singer nonchalantly confirmed, admitting that she’s actually pansexual. Immediately, the other podcasters’ jaws dropped in shock. When they said they wished they led with such a conversation, Alanis Morissette joked, “I like to leave it for the epilogue.”

Pansexuality removes specific sex or gender from any romantic or sexual attraction. Instead, it’s based more on whether or not they’re into someone as a person first and foremost.

This isn’t the only instance in which Morissette tinkered around with sexuality in public. For instance, during an episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, she revealed she was the one who pitched kissing Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw in season three of Sex And The City.

Alanis Morissette comes Out as Pansexual Years After Infamous ‘Sex and the city’ moment

“I reached out to them, and I said, ‘Might it be a nice time for Carrie to experience a lesbian moment?’” Morissette recalled to podcast host Alex Cooper. “And they said, ‘Why yes, we were thinking the same thing!’… Anything that opens up and pulls us out of the locked binary is a loving act, I think.”

Nowadays, Alanis Morissette is in the middle of an ugly lawsuit with her former tour manager Keren Urinov. Urinov allegedly tried to frame the “Ironic” rocker for drug trafficking through a “calculated blackmail campaign.”

During her 2025 world tour, Urinov was frequently detained at European airports for carrying cannabis and xylazine. At every turn, though, the tour manager tried to implicate Morissette, claiming the drugs belonged to her.

Due to the frequent run-ins with the law, Alanis Morissette allegedly received “increasingly extortionate” letters from Urinov and her lawyers. Consequently, she sued Urinov for civil extortion, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation.

Moreover, she stressed that she wouldn’t comply with someone trying to throw her under the bus. “Morissette will not agree to work with an incompetent blackmailer for the next fifteen years or pay her a ransom under the gun,” the lawsuit read.

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Tragic news strikes the family, friends, and fans of post-punk legend Richard Lloyd. In a report from Rolling Stone, the Television guitarist passed away at 75 years old. He died peacefully in his Chattanooga, Tennessee home from cholangiocarcinoma, also known as bile duct cancer. “His loving wife Sheila and his dog Willie Mays were with him at the end,” his family wrote in a statement.

Lloyd was diagnosed with the illness back in March 2026. According to their GoFundMe, doctors found tumors in his liver and couldn’t safely remove it due to its proximity to a major blood vessel. Since their diagnosis, he was admitted into the ICU several times and endured numerous complications in his liver and kidneys.

Ultimately, Richard Lloyd’s family made the GoFundMe because he couldn’t properly tour due to his illness. That left his wife Sheila as their full-time caregiver and under extreme financial duress.

“I am usually a pretty upbeat person and I am taking this in stride, but it has become very difficult on our own and financially we are strapped,” Lloyd said at the time. “That’s why I’m asking for your help. If you can see your way clear to make a donation please do that. Otherwise, please pass it around to your friends that might help and people that know me.”

Richard Lloyd Passes Away at 75 After Battle with Bile Duct Cancer

Lloyd was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and eventually moved to New York, where he formed the extremely influential Television in 1973. Alongside Tom Verlaine, bassist Fred Smith, and drummer Billy Ficca, they were largely formative to the punk scene. Together, they drew influence from jazz and 60s rock legends like the Velvet Underground.

Their biggest and most impactful album was Marquee Moon in 1977. Richard Lloyd and co. admittedly recorded a bulk of the album as if they were performing live for an audience. The album could be traced back to some of the biggest, most influential bands in rock history, from Sonic Youth to U2.

When Television initially disbanded in 1978, Richard Lloyd embarked on his own solo career. By 1979, he released his debut album Alchemy. After the release of the record, he said he purposefully intended to try and separate himself from his band. “I had wanted to do a record of a different tambre than the two Television records, more Pop, sentimental and personal,” Lloyd shared in commentary for the album.

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No one has been as protective against AI quite like the Elvis Presley estate. Back in October 2026, they took Anthropic to court for allegedly stealing 274 songs to train their AI without permission. One of the songs they utilized is one of the most iconic ballads of all time, “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. According to lead attorney Richard Busch, they built their company off the backs of artists “at a scale never seen before.”

Now, in a new report from Variety, they’re taking another AI conglomerate to court. The Elvis Presley estate filed a litany of lawsuits against Suno for immense copyright infringement and exploiting the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Additionally, there’s a law in Tennessee that would effectively guarantee protection from companies like Suno cloning his voice.

Ultimately, the attorneys behind the lawsuit warned that if these companies remain unchecked, they can copy any music legend at a troubling precedent. Then, the future of image and likeness would essentially be lost forever.

“The next Elvis won’t pick up a guitar,” they wrote. “Suno’s ravenous race to the bottom aims to make human creativity obsolete, coldly replicating without a license in seconds what takes years to learn, struggle with, maintain, and endlessly attempt to make better and perfect, begging the question from future generations who would attempt to start what is already an arduous, uncertain, and not always lucrative creative pursuit: ‘What’s the point?’”

Elvis Presley Estate Takes Suno to Court for Immense Copyright Infringement

Meanwhile, Suno maintained that their AI tech training merely allowed the precedent for new, original music. Moreover, they insisted that they’ve never been against putting in the proper guardrails in order to maintain their progress.

“Suno exists to help people create new, original music, not to trade on anyone’s name or likeness,” a spokesperson responded to the Elvis Presley estate. “We prohibit any unauthorized use of an artist’s work. To protect against this, we do not allow prompts for specific artists’ names and songs and work with third-party providers to screen uploaded audio files and lyrics for potential misuse. We are always working to strengthen our guardrails and we will continue to add new safeguards that protect artists and our users.”

The Elvis Presley estate isn’t the only group taking Suno to court either. Eight Mile Style, a publishing company with rights to many classic Eminem songs, also filed their own lawsuits. They argued a similar case, that Suno was using the Detroit MC’s tracks to mirror his style for new songs. However, Eminem himself won’t be involved in the case.

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