On July 31, 1982, The Police headlined the Rock on the Tyne music festival at Gateshead International Stadium, during the Ghost in the Machine World Tour. Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland tore through an 18-song set drawing from all 4 studio albums released to that point, augmented by a horn section that added a distinctive texture to the already electrifying show. The performance carried extra significance for Sting, who noted at one point “I was born over there, just across the river,” making it as close to a hometown show as The Police ever played. It’s one of the great captured performances of a band at the absolute peak of their powers.
Drumeo Breaks Down How Bill Ward’s Jazz Background Made “War Pigs” One of Metal’s Heaviest Tracks
“War Pigs” has been rattling speakers since 1970, and this Drumeo breakdown hosted by Brandon Toews finally explains exactly why Bill Ward’s drumming on the track feels so crushing, tracing the jazz techniques, Buddy Rich hi-hat tricks, and unlikely funk beats that Ward borrowed from his background to create a drum part unlike anything else happening in heavy music at the time. It’s a compelling argument for Ward as Black Sabbath’s secret weapon, and essential viewing for anyone who’s ever wondered why that band sounds like no one else.
Video: The Cure Deliver an Intimate Full Concert for BBC Radio 2 Featuring ‘Songs of a Lost World’
The Cure took over the BBC Radio Theatre in London’s Broadcasting House for an intimate full concert broadcast for Radio 2 In Concert, and the full show is now available to watch, blending tracks from ‘Songs of a Lost World’ with a deep run of classics including “Pictures of You,” “Lovesong,” “Just Like Heaven,” “Lullaby,” “Friday I’m in Love,” and “From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea,” in front of a small audience that made the whole thing feel genuinely special.
Drumming Legend Simon Phillips Breaks Down His Recording Philosophy and Technique With Rick Beato
Simon Phillips has played behind some of the biggest names in rock, from Judas Priest and Jeff Beck to The Who and Toto, and in this Rick Beato interview he pulls back the curtain on exactly how he approaches the recording process, demonstrating how decades of refinement have shaped both his technique and his kit setup to maximize what ends up on tape. For drummers and music obsessives alike, it’s a genuinely fascinating look at the craft behind one of the most respected drummers of his generation.
Video: Jazz Legend Sarah Vaughan Captured at Her Absolute Peak in Rare 1969 Copenhagen Concert Recording
This is what it sounds like when one of the greatest voices in jazz history is completely in her element. Sarah Vaughan’s live recording from the 1969 Copenhagen Jazz Festival, featuring her trio of pianist Johnny Veith, bassist Guss Mancuso, and drummer Ed Pucci, is a 15-song document of an artist operating at the peak of her powers, moving through classics like “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Misty,” “Body & Soul,” and “All of Me” with the kind of effortless authority that made her one of the most celebrated vocalists of the 20th century. If you haven’t heard this, clear your afternoon.
Video: Laufey Brings Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” to Life With the BBC Concert Orchestra in Stunning Piano Room Session
Laufey has always had an instinct for choosing the right song at the right moment, and her BBC Radio 2 Piano Room performance of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now,” arranged and conducted by Joe Duddell with the full BBC Concert Orchestra, is one of the most quietly breathtaking things she’s committed to camera. The orchestral arrangement gives the already timeless song an added layer of depth and sweep, and Laufey’s vocal sits inside it with the kind of ease and emotional intelligence that makes her one of the most compelling young artists working in this space right now.
David Letterman Discovers Just How Expensive It Is to Play Eagles Music on Television
Long before streaming made music licensing feel invisible, David Letterman found out the hard way exactly what it costs to play an Eagles song on network television, and the answer was enough to send the Late Show scrambling for workarounds. This classic clip from the Late Show archives features Letterman, Paul Shaffer, and the crew wrestling with the exorbitant licensing fees required to use Eagles music on air, weighing the legal risks, exploring creative alternatives, and ultimately debuting a CBS-commissioned knockoff that is exactly as absurd as it sounds. It holds up beautifully.
Rush Are Back: Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson Talk UK Tour, New Music, Anika Nilles, and Honouring Neil Peart
Rush are heading back to the UK for the first time in nearly 13 years, and Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson sat down with Planet Rock’s Darren Redick to talk through everything that entails. The conversation covers the band’s plans to tribute the late Neil Peart, Geddy’s new music writing, drummer Anika Nilles joining the lineup and her reaction to playing “Tom Sawyer” for the first time, and The Who’s keyboard player coming aboard for the tour. For any Rush fan, this is essential viewing, a candid, wide-ranging conversation about what the band means now and where it’s heading next.
David Gilmour Opens Up About Pink Floyd’s Legacy and His Creative Process in Stunning Studio Interview With Rick Beato
Rick Beato sits down with David Gilmour for an in-depth studio conversation that goes deeper into the Pink Floyd catalog than almost any interview has before, covering every seminal album in the band’s history while breaking down Gilmour’s process for writing songs and finding the guitar tones that created some of the most expressive soundscapes in rock history. For anyone who has ever wondered how those sounds came to be, this is the interview they’ve been waiting for.
Blues Living Legend Buddy Guy Brings 90 Years of Fire to NPR’s Tiny Desk With Miles Caton
Buddy Guy walked up to the Tiny Desk and reminded everyone exactly why he’s the last man standing among the architects of the blues, opening with “Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues” and “Hoochie Coochie Man” before being joined by Miles Caton, his co-star from the 16-time Oscar-nominated film ‘Sinners’, for a playful, powerful exchange that captures the full arc of a musical tradition passing between generations, with the 9-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer wailing on his polka dot Stratocaster like a man who turns 90 this year and has absolutely nothing to prove and everything still left to play.