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Welcome to the Jungle: Martin Popoff’s “Guns N’ Roses At 40” Book Blows the Roof Off Rock History
Four decades ago, a little band out of Los Angeles lit a match under the glam-metal scene and burned their way into rock ‘n’ roll immortality. Guns N’ Roses at 40, the new retrospective by rock historian Martin Popoff, dives deep into the chaos, creativity, and cultural impact of GN’R. From the sweaty Sunset Strip clubs of 1985 to the world’s biggest stadiums, Popoff curates 40 pivotal moments in the band’s history – and, in true GN’R fashion, there’s no shortage of triumph, tragedy, or tabloid-worthy tales.
This stunning hardcover book doesn’t just list dates and discography – it tells a wild, loud, and unapologetic story. Readers will find biographies of original members Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin, and Steven Adler, details of studio sessions and infamous incidents, plus insights into lineup changes and long-awaited reunions. With first-person interviews from Duff McKagan and Tommy Stinson, plus a gatefold timeline and stunning photography, this is the ultimate coffee-table tribute to the most dangerous band in the world.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan who lived through the Appetite for Destruction era or a newcomer discovering “November Rain” on vinyl, Guns N’ Roses at 40 is a must-have. As Martin Popoff has proven time and time again with his rock lit resume, no one charts the course of a legendary band quite like he does. This book is loud, proud, and absolutely essential.
Conan O’Brien Gets the Last Laugh — And the Mark Twain Prize
Conan O’Brien, the towering, flame-haired king of late night absurdity, has officially joined comedy royalty. The 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor now belongs to the man who gave us Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the “Walker, Texas Ranger Lever,” and the most delightfully awkward remotes in TV history. On March 25, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was filled with the sound of applause, laughter, and probably a few well-placed string dance moves.
And if you missed it? Don’t worry — the celebration streams exclusively on Netflix starting Sunday, May 4, 2025. So grab your legally distinct bear costumes, your Harvard diploma, and a healthy disdain for corporate synergy, and prepare to laugh, cry, and wonder how someone this funny also managed to be one of the kindest people in the business. Mark Twain would be proud. Probably confused, but proud
60th ACM Awards Nominations Announced: Ella Langley Leads The Way With 8 Nods
The Academy of Country Music (ACM) and Dick Clark Productions (DCP) today announced nominations for the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards on TODAY, with Ella Langley, Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen, and Lainey Wilson receiving the most nominations. Hosted by 16-time ACM Award-winning entertainment icon Reba McEntire, the 60th ACM Awards will stream live exclusively for a global audience across 240+ countries and territories on Prime Video on Thursday, May 8 at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT/5 p.m. PDT from Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The monumental anniversary show will celebrate six decades of Country Music and feature unforgettable performances by the genre’s most legendary and multi-award-winning stars, including Blake Shelton, Eric Church, and Lainey Wilson.
A limited number of tickets to the 60th ACM Awards are available now at SeatGeek, offering fans exclusive entry into a night packed with their favorite Country stars performing the biggest hits.
Fans can also stream the Official ACM Awards playlist available now on Amazon Music in celebration of this year’s nominees. Fans can listen to country music’s biggest stars, such as Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, and Jelly Roll, directly on the Amazon Music app HERE.
Nominee Highlights for the 60th Academy of Country Music Awards
- First time ACM Award nominee, Ella Langley, leads with eight nominations including Female Artist of the Year, New Female Artist of the Year, and six nominations for her song with Riley Green, “you look like you love me,” which include Single of the Year, Song of the Year as an artist and songwriter, Music Event of the Year, and Visual Media of the Year as an artist and director.
- Cody Johnson ties for the most nominations for a male artist with seven nominations, including his second nomination for Entertainer of the Year, and his third year in a row being nominated for Song of the Year, with “Dirt Cheap” being nominated in the category, as well as Single of the Year and Visual Media of the Year. Johnson is competing with himself in Visual Media of the Year, as his collaboration with Carrie Underwood, “I’m Gonna Love You,” is also up for the award. Johnson’s seven nominations this year mark the most ACM Award nominations he has ever received in one year and make him the most-nominated Texas-born artist this year.
- Morgan Wallen ties for the most nominations for a male artist with seven nominations, including his third consecutive nomination for Entertainer of the Year. Wallen received four nominations for his collaboration with Post Malone on “I Had Some Help,” which includes three artist nominations and one songwriter nomination for Wallen.
- Lainey Wilson ties for the most nominations in different categories, earning nods in six separate categories, including her first nomination for Artist-Songwriter of the Year. Wilson’s nominations for Song of the Year mark her fourth consecutive year being nominated and her seventh total nomination (including artist and songwriter credits) in the category.
- Luke Combs is a nominee for Entertainer of the Year. A win for Combs in this category will also clinch the coveted Triple Crown Award, which consists of an Entertainer of the Year win, plus wins in an act’s respective New Artist (Male, Female, Duo or Group) and Artist (Male, Female, Duo or Group) categories. Past ACM Triple Crown Award recipients include Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, and others. This is the sixth year in a row that Luke Combs has been nominated for both Male Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.
- Chris Stapleton receives six nominations, including his tenth consecutive nomination for Male Artist of the Year, an award he’s won four times in the past, including at the 59th ACM Awards.
- Old Dominion receives a nomination for Group of the Year, making this the tenth consecutive year they have been nominated in the category. The group has taken home the title every year for the last seven years.
- Brothers Osborne’s nomination for Duo of the Year marks their 18th ACM nomination and their eleventh year in a row being nominated for ACM Duo of the Year, an award the pair has brought home four times.
- Kacey Musgraves’ three nominations this year brings her total nominations count to 30, including nine nominations for Female Artist of the Year. She won the award in 2018, the same year she won Album of the Year for Golden Hour.
- Kelsea Ballerini receives her first ever Entertainer of the Year nomination in addition to nominations for Female Artist of the Year and Music Event of the Year as an artist and producer. This is her eighth time being nominated for Female Artist of the Year.
- Little Big Town earns their 19th nomination for Group of the Year, which is one nomination shy of tying the record for the most nominations in the category, a record held by Alabama. Little Big Town has been nominated in the category every year since 2005, with the exception of 2011.
- Rascal Flatts receives their first nomination for Group of the Year since 2017, having most recently won the award in 2009 for the seventh time.
- Shaboozey receives his first ACM Award nominations, including a nomination for Best New Male Artist and Single of the Year for his record-breaking hit song “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
- First-time artist nominees include Gavin Adcock, Dasha, Noah Kahan, Ella Langley, Jessie Murph, Muscadine Bloodline, Shaboozey, Zach Top, The Red Clay Strays, Treaty Oak Revival, and Tucker Wetmore.
The following is the full list of nominees for the ACM Main Awards, Studio Recording Awards, and Industry Awards categories:
MAIN AWARDS:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Jelly Roll
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Kacey Musgraves
- Lainey Wilson
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- Cody Johnson
- Jelly Roll
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
DUO OF THE YEAR
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Muscadine Bloodline
- The War And Treaty
GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Flatland Cavalry
- Little Big Town
- Old Dominion
- Rascal Flatts
- The Red Clay Strays
NEW FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Kassi Ashton
- Ashley Cooke
- Dasha
- Ella Langley
- Jessie Murph
NEW MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
- Gavin Adcock
- Shaboozey
- Zach Top
- Tucker Wetmore
- Bailey Zimmerman
NEW DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
- Restless Road
- The Red Clay Strays
- Treaty Oak Revival
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine) – Megan Moroney
Producer: Kristian Bush
Record Company-Label: Columbia Records / Sony Music Nashville
- Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll
Producers: BazeXX, Brock Berryhill, Zach Crowell, Devin Dawson, Charlie Handsome, Ben Johnson, mgk, The Monsters & Strangerz, Austin Nivarel, SlimXX, Ryan Tedder, Isaiah Tejada, Alysa Vanderheym
Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Republic Records
- Cold Beer & Country Music – Zach Top
Producer: Carson Chamberlain
Record Company-Label: Leo33
- F-1 Trillion – Post Malone
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records
- Whirlwind – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jay Joyce
Record Company-Label: BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville
SINGLE OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey
Producers: Sean Cook, Nevin Sastry
Record Company-Label: American Dogwood / EMPIRE
- Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson
Producer: Trent Willmon
Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville
- I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records
- White Horse – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton
Record Company-Label: Mercury Nashville
- you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Producer: Will Bundy
Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records
SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Songwriter(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
- 4x4xU – Lainey Wilson
Songwriters: Jon Decious, Aaron Raitiere, Lainey Wilson
Publishers: Louisiana Lady; One Tooth Productions; Reservoir 416; Songs of One Riot Music; Sony/ATV Accent
- The Architect – Kacey Musgraves
Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves, Josh Osborne
Publishers: Songs for Indy and Owl; Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing
- Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson
Songwriter: Josh Phillips
Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing; Write or Die Music; Write the Lightning Publishing
- I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
Songwriters: Louis Bell, Ashley Gorley, Hoskins, Austin Post, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen, Chandler Paul Walters, Ryan Vojtesak
Publishers: Bell Ear Publishing; Master of my Domain Music; Poppy’s Picks; Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing; Universal Music Corporation
- you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Songwriters: Riley Green, Ella Langley, Aaron Raitiere
Publishers: Back 40 Publishing International; Langley Publishing; One Tooth Productions; Sony/ATV Tree; Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp
MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company–Label(s)]
- Cowboys Cry Too – Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan
Producers: Kelsea Ballerini, Noah Kahan, Alysa Vanderheym
Record Company-Label: Black River Entertainment
- I Had Some Help – Post Malone, Morgan Wallen
Producers: Louis Bell, Charlie Handsome, Hoskins
Record Company-Label: Mercury Records / Republic Records
- I’m Gonna Love You – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood
Producer: Trent Willmon
Record Company-Label: CoJo Music LLC / Warner Music Nashville
- we don’t fight anymore – Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton
Producers: Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, Carly Pearce
Record Company-Label: Big Machine Records
- you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Producer: Will Bundy
Record Company-Label: SAWGOD / Columbia Records
VISUAL MEDIA OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
- 4x4xU – Lainey Wilson
Producer: Jennifer Ansell
Director: Dano Cerny
- Dirt Cheap – Cody Johnson
Producer: Dustin Haney
Director: Dustin Haney
- I’m Gonna Love You – Cody Johnson, Carrie Underwood
Producers: Christen Pinkston, Wesley Stebbins-Perry
Director: Dustin Haney
- Think I’m In Love With You – Chris Stapleton
Producers: Wes Edwards, Angie Lorenz, Jamie Stratakis
Director: Running Bear (Stephen Kinigopoulos, Alexa Stone)
- you look like you love me – Ella Langley, Riley Green
Producer: Whale Tale Music
Directors: Ella Langley, John Park, Wales Toney
ARTIST-SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
- Luke Combs
- ERNEST
- HARDY
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
- Jessi Alexander
- Jessie Jo Dillon
- Ashley Gorley
- Chase McGill
- Josh Osborne
STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS:
BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- T. Cure
- Mark Hill
- Rachel Loy
- Tony Lucido
- Craig Young
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR
- Fred Eltringham
- Tommy Harden
- Evan Hutchings
- Aaron Sterling
- Nir Z
ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Tim Galloway
- Todd Lombardo
- Mac McAnally
- Bryan Sutton
- Ilya Toshinskiy
PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Dave Cohen
- Ian Fitchuk
- Billy Justineau
- Gordon Mote
- Alex Wright
SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Dan Dugmore
- Jenee Fleenor
- Josh Matheny
- Justin Schipper
- Kristin Wilkinson
ELECTRIC GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Kris Donegan
- Jedd Hughes
- Brent Mason
- Sol Philcox-Littlefield
- Derek Wells
AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
- Brandon Bell
- Drew Bollman
- Josh Ditty
- Buckley Miller
- Reid Shippen
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
- Dave Cobb
- Ian Fitchuk
- Charlie Handsome
- Jon Randall
- Alysa Vanderheym
INDUSTRY AWARDS:
CASINO OF THE YEAR – THEATER
- Deadwood Mountain Grand – Deadwood, SD
- Foxwoods Resort Casino – Mashantucket, CT
- Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort – Cherokee, NC
- The Theater at Virgin Hotels – Las Vegas, NV
- Yaamava’ Theater – Highland, CA
CASINO OF THE YEAR – ARENA
- Golden Nugget Lake Charles – Lake Charles, LA
- Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena – Atlantic City, NJ
- Harveys Lake Tahoe – Stateline, NV
- Mystic Lake Casino Showroom – Prior Lake, MN
- Turning Stone Resort Casino – Verona, NY
FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
- C2C Country to Country – London, England
- CMC Rocks – Ipswich, Queensland
- Stagecoach Festival – Indio, CA
- Two Step Inn – Georgetown, TX
- Windy City Smokeout – Chicago, IL
FAIR/RODEO OF THE YEAR
- Calgary Stampede – Calgary, AB
- California Mid-State Fair – Paso Robles, CA
- Cheyenne Frontier Days – Cheyenne, WY
- Minnesota State Fair – Falcon Heights, MN
- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo – Houston, TX
CLUB OF THE YEAR
- Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX
- Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN
- Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK
- Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
- Joe’s on Weed St. – Chicago, IL
THEATER OF THE YEAR
- The Caverns – Pelham, TN
- MGM Music Hall at Fenway – Boston, MA
- The Met Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA
- The Rave/Eagles Club – Milwaukee, WI
- Tennessee Theatre – Knoxville, TN
OUTDOOR VENUE OF THE YEAR
- BankNH Pavilion – Gilford, NH
- CMAC – Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center – Canandaigua, NY
- Saint Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, FL
- The Wharf Amphitheater – Orange Beach, AL
- Whitewater Amphitheater – New Braunfels, TX
ARENA OF THE YEAR
- Dickies Arena – Fort Worth, TX
- Moody Center – Austin, TX
- TD Garden – Boston, MA
- Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center – Knoxville, TN
- Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR
- Deana Baker
- Bobby Clay
- Gil Cunningham
- Weston Hebert
- Stacy Vee
- Taylor Williamson
PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
- Brent Fedrizzi
- Alex Maxwell
- Patrick McDill
- Anna-Sophie Mertens
- Rich Schaefer
- Aaron Spalding
Korn Announces 2025 Canadian Tour Dates With Special Guests Gojira And Loathe
On the heels of their hugely successful 2024 tour run, two-time GRAMMY-award winning band Korn will bring their show to fans across Canada this fall with Korn: Kanada Tour 2025. Produced by Live Nation Canada, the 8-city tour kicks off on Wednesday, September 17 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, making stops in Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary and more before wrapping up in Vancouver at Rogers Arena on Wednesday, October 1. GRAMMY-nominated group Gojira and UK’s Loathe will join the band as special guests.
Korn celebrated their 30 year milestone with a massive 2024 North American tour to coincide with their self-titled, debut studio album turning 30 on October 11, 1994. Playing 25 dates in arenas and amphitheaters across North America alongside Gojira and Spiritbox, the rock cultural icons captivated audiences in cities including Detroit, Los Angeles, Toronto, Houston, and more, marking one of their largest tours yet.
More recently, the band is set to deliver electrifying performances at a handful of major festivals this summer, headlining Welcome To Rockville in Daytona Beach, Download Festival in the UK, Lollapalooza in Chicago, and more. This year will be Korn’s first time hitting the iconic Lollapalooza stage since 1997. In addition, the iconic rock band will perform two stadium shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey with System Of The Down on August 27 and 28th, 2025.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available starting with artist pre-sales beginning Tuesday, March 25 at 10am local time. Additional pre-sales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on-sale beginning Friday, March 28 at 10am local time at KornOfficial.com
KORN: KANADA TOUR 2025 DATES:
Wed Sep 17 – Ottawa, ON – Canadian Tire Centre
Fri Sep 19 – Quebec City, QC – Videotron Centre
Sat Sep 20 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre
Mon Sep 22 – London, ON – Canada Life Place
Thu Sep 25 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
Sun Sep 28 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
Mon Sep 29 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Wed Oct 1 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival Announces Exciting Line-Up Additions To Round-Out Vancouver Weekend
The Great Outdoors Comedy Festival (GOCF) is bringing even more excitement to the Vancouver weekend with today’s thrilling new additions to the lineup. As the homegrown GOCF continues to celebrate its Canadian roots, cultural icons Trailer Park Boys will bring their signature chaos to the stage on Sunday, September 14 (afternoon), with Bubbles & The Shitrockers performing live tunes from their new album, and a stand-up set from special guest Jeremy Piven. To cap off an unforgettable weekend, Tony Hinchcliffe and the infamous Killers of Kill Tony will take the stage Sunday evening, delivering high-energy stand-up comedy that captures the outrageous spirit of the legendary Kill Tony podcast.
GOCF Vancouver kicks off on Friday, September 12 with the outrageous Bert Kreischer, alongside Whitney Cummings and Derrick Stroup. On Saturday, September 13, catch comedy superstar John Mulaney, along with Mike Birbiglia, Nick Kroll, and Fred Armisen.
This year, GOCF celebrates its fifth consecutive year, with previously announced Canadian markets Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Calgary, and Vancouver set to welcome one-of-a-kind outdoor experiences, alongside the return to Spokane for its sophomore weekend, newly announced today. This year, GOCF is introducing new festival enhancements, including VIP Table service, the exclusive VIP Club, and the Skip+ experience, offering fans more ways to enjoy the festival in style. Additionally, limited 3-day passes for all ticket tiers are available, giving fans the opportunity to secure their spot for the entire weekend.
Since 2021, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival, produced by Trixstar LIVE, has donated over $550,000 to local charities across its markets, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and safe environment that highlights all forms of performance comedy. Through the Great Outdoors Community Fund, the festival continues its commitment to supporting local causes, creating job opportunities, and evolving its green event practices, ensuring accessibility for all attendees.
Great Outdoors Comedy Festival Vancouver:
Friday, September 12 – Bert Kreischer, Whitney Cummings, Derrick Stroup
Saturday, September 13 – John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, Nick Kroll, Fred Armisen
Sunday, September 14 (Afternoon) – Trailer Park Boys ft. Bubbles and the Shitrockers, with special guest Jeremy Piven
Sunday, September 14 (Evening) – Tony Hinchcliffe & The Killers of Kill Tony
5 Surprising Facts About Madonna’s ‘Ray Of Light’
When Ray of Light dropped in 1998, Madonna remixed the whole idea of what pop could be. Think synths, Sanskrit, and soul-searching wrapped up in a glittery, transcendental sonic journey. It wasn’t just an album; it was a spiritual rave for your headphones. Here are 5 unknown facts about Ray of Light that might just blow your speaker cones.
1. “Swim” Was Recorded the Day Gianni Versace Was Killed
When Madonna stepped into the vocal booth to track “Swim,” the world had just lost fashion icon Gianni Versace. The emotion? Palpable. William Orbit remembers the vibe in the studio as electric but somber—so it’s no wonder that “Swim” carries an almost meditative depth. As synths wash in like tidewater and her vocals stretch out over haunting beats, you can feel the weight of grief turned into art. That’s dance floor therapy, if you ask me.
2. The Sanskrit Track Sparked a Language Lesson
“Shanti/Ashtangi” wasn’t just a bold fusion of techno and ancient scripture—it was also a pronunciation challenge. After some early missteps, Madonna reportedly got a crash course in Sanskrit over the phone with Indian scholar Vagish Shastri. Imagine dialing into enlightenment while sipping yerba mate in LA. The result? A thumping, sacred chant that goes harder than most 3 a.m. club closers.
3. “Candy Perfume Girl” Almost Got Left Off the Album
Buried in the tracklist like a glitchy treasure, “Candy Perfume Girl” almost didn’t make it. The song, which blends grunge guitars with electronic weirdness, was considered too out-there—even for Ray of Light. But Madonna fought for it, seeing it as a bridge between the analog and the experimental. It’s one of the most daring cuts on the album and proof that even pop queens can get weird (and win).
4. The Album Cover Happened After Madonna Said “No”
Photographer Mario Testino remembers Madonna shutting down the shoot after saying she was “done.” But he pushed back, kept shooting, and boom—the iconic Ray of Light cover was born. That image of her in a flowing blue raincoat, hair windswept like an EDM festival goddess ascending into the astral plane? Total accident. Total magic. Total Madonna.
5. The Album Was Nearly Called Veronica Electronica
No, really. Before settling on Ray of Light, Madonna considered the name Veronica Electronica, which sounds like a DJ alias who opens for Aphex Twin at Burning Man. Another contender? Mantra. Cool, but not quite cosmic enough. Ultimately, Ray of Light captured the vibe—a spiritual awakening set to synths, bass drops, and neon starlight.
Ray of Light is a metaphysical trip through BPMs and belief systems. Twenty-six years later, it still slaps, glows, and elevates. Whether you’re meditating or moving, just remember: this album didn’t just change Madonna—it changed the game.
Let there be light. Let there be bass.
HBO Original Documentary BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES To Debut This Summer
The HBO Original two-part documentary BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES, directed by Emmy winners Susan Lacy (HBO’s “Jane Fonda in Five Acts” and “Spielberg”) and Jessica Levin (HBO’s “The Janes” and “Jane Fonda in Five Acts”), will debut on HBO and will be available to stream on Max this summer.
BILLY JOEL: AND SO IT GOES is an expansive portrait of the life and music of Billy Joel, exploring the love, loss, and personal struggles that fuel his songwriting. With unprecedented access to never-before-seen performances, home movies, and personal photographs, along with extensive, in-depth one-on-one interviews, the documentary intimately explores the life and work of Joel, whose music has endured across generations.
Susan Lacy, director and producer, says, “For those who think they know Joel’s story, as well as those who are not as familiar, I believe this two-part film is both a revelation and a surprise. I was drawn to his story as someone who knew little at the outset, and was astounded at how autobiographical his songs are and how complex his story is. We are gratified that Bill trusted us with his story, which we have told as honestly as possible, diving into territory which has not been explored before.”
HBO Documentary Films presents a Pentimento Production in association with Hazy Mills Productions and Playtone Productions. Directed and produced by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin; executive producers, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, Todd Milliner, Sean Hayes, Steve Cohen; producer, Emma Pildes; edited by Kris Liem, James Pilott, Steven Ross. For HBO: executive producers, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez.
Max To Debut HBO Original THE LAST OF US With American Sign Language
Max has announced that season two of the HBO’s Emmy-winning original drama series THE LAST OF US will be available to stream in American Sign Language (ASL) alongside the show’s episodes each week beginning with the season debut on SUNDAY, APRIL 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET. Season one of the series will be available to stream in ASL starting FRIDAY, MARCH 31, just in time to catch up before the debut of season two.
This marks the first time that HBO’s original programming will be available to stream in ASL on Max, following the ASL versions of Warner Bros. films such as Barbie, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. This expansion in availability of ASL programming continues to build on Max’s commitment to create a premium and accessible streaming experience for all subscribers.
THE LAST OF US with ASL is performed by Daniel Durant (Academy Award®-winning “Coda,” “Green Day’s American Idiot,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “Flash Before the Bang“) and Leila Hanaumi (Deaf Austin Theater (DAT) and ZACH’s “Cinderella,” DAT’s “Tiny Beautiful Things,” DAT and Ground Floor Theatre’s “The Laramie Project”), who delivered a highly-acclaimed performance in Barbie with ASL — the first film available on Max with ASL interpretation. Hanaumi also directed the first season of THE LAST OF US with ASL.
“With ASL” titles, including THE LAST OF US, will be displayed on the Max app along with key art featuring the sign language symbol. The Max platform also offers features such as audio descriptions, closed captions, screen reader compatibility, magnification, keyboard navigation, and color contrast to ensure an accessible streaming experience.
“We are thrilled to expand our ASL program and debut our first HBO Original series in ASL with The Last of Us,” said Naomi Waibel, SVP of Global Product Management at WBD. “This debut brings the show to life in an authentic and fully accessible way for Deaf audiences and is another meaningful step towards our goal of offering an inclusive streaming experience.”
THE LAST OF US, based on the acclaimed video game franchise developed by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation consoles, is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is also executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells; with writer/co-executive producer Halley Gross. Production companies: PlayStation Productions, Word Games, Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.
HBO Original Comedy Special Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night Of Your Life Debuts This April
The HBO Original comedy special BRETT GOLDSTEIN: THE SECOND BEST NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE will debut this April on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
Brett Goldstein, star and executive producer, says “I’m so excited to do my first special, not on TV but on HBf**kingO!”
Nina Rosenstein, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming, Late Night and Specials, says “We all know Brett as an incredibly gifted writer and actor, but his roots are in stand up. He has a razor sharp, dark sense of humor and is the perfect combination of British gentleman and cheeky troublemaker. We are so, so happy to work with him on his first special.”
Brett Goldstein, a breakthrough British creative force on and offscreen, has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after multi-hyphenates. Goldstein will next star as the lead opposite Imogen Poots in the film “All of You” for which he also produced and co-wrote. Debuting globally on Apple TV+ later this year, the humorous and heart-wrenching romantic drama first had its acclaimed world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival followed by the BFI London Film Festival. Brett is currently in production on his leading role opposite Jennifer Lopez in the irreverent romantic comedy, “Office Romance,” which he also produced and co-wrote with Joe Kelly. He has further wrapped production on the latest drama from acclaimed Hungarian filmmaker Kornél Mundruczó, “At the Sea,” alongside Amy Adams and Murray Bartlett. Goldstein is the creator and executive producer of the Apple TV+ cathartic comedy “Shrinking” alongside Jason Segel and Bill Lawrence; the acclaimed series was recently renewed for a third season. This follows his Emmy award-winning performance as the brash yet lovable Roy Kent in the Apple TV+ record-breaking series “Ted Lasso” for which he is also a co-executive producer and writer on. Goldstein is coming off the heels of headlining his first-ever standup comedy tour, “The Second Best Night of Your Life,” which sold out venues across the US and Canada with multiple night runs. The tour de force also hosts the iHeartRadio award-winning podcast, “Films to Be Buried With,” which finds him in candid conversation with special guests as they discuss the films that have shaped them. He has no time for dinner.