While any music fan would likely be hard-pressed to recognize the name of Thomas Erdelyi, his contributions to the Ramones, the birth of punk rock and rock ‘n’ roll as a whole long ago earned him a critically important place in the American musical pantheon. Continue reading
Pete Seeger never looked like a revolutionary. Sporting squinty eyes, usually dressed in bland, workman-like clothes and with a banjo on his knee, Seeger had none of the flash and theatrics of others who brazenly go against society’s currents. Continue reading
Lou Reed might be remembered as a master songwriter, sonic pioneer and a bonafide Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, but he wasn’t perfect. Continue reading
As rock gods go, Lou Reed remained an odd fit in rock music’s pantheon. In a popular art form that so persistently champions the thoughts and feelings of rebellious outsiders, Reed always stood far out from the pack. Continue reading
James Brown’s death last month concluded a career and influence in 20th Century pop music that few figures could equal. But in the rush of eulogies, the truth depth of Brown’s musical legacy was typically waxed over. Soundbytes’ David Hyland remembers Soul Brother No. 1 by examining a few of his overlooked masterworks. Continue reading
News broke Tuesday that Pink Floyd co-founder and longtime musical hermit Syd Barrett had died last week, concluding one of pop music’s great vanishing acts. Although his creative output totals only a few dozen psychedelica-infused songs, Barrett’s influence permeates not only his ex-bandmates’ classic albums but countless artists today. Continue reading
Soundbytes remembers Al Aronorwitz, the so-called “the godfather of rock journalism,” who played a critical role in the careers of many ’60s music legends. Continue reading
Ten years ago today, Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain committed suicide in his Seattle home. And despite the passage of time, the man who was baptized as the “voice of his generation” in the 1990s is still a figure of reverence and fascination for the public and media. Soundbytes olumnist David Hyland examines his legacy. Continue reading
Thirty years after he was part of turning rock music on its head, Rick Danko, bassist and vocalist for the Band, died on Dec. 10. Though Danko’s and the Band’s fame have been mostly forgotten in recent years, their legacy and vital importance in rock music can’t be understated. Continue reading
Soundbytes Music Column 