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Aimee Mann Returns With 'Charmer,' Talks Working With Tom Sharpling & Jon Hamm

Sheryl Nields From her initial success as the spiky-haired singer-bassist of 'Til Tuesday to an acclaimed string of solo albums, Aimee Mann has proven herself one of the most talented and consistent singer-songwriters of the last 25 years. This month, Mann returns with Charmer, a straightforward pop-rock outing that includes such winners ...

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Remembering Fleetwood Mac's Bob Welch: A Tribute to the Underrated Guitarist

Michael Putland, Hulton Archive When I heard about Bob Welch's death on June 7th -- allegedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound -- I was both sad and shocked. But it went beyond that. First, June 7th happens to be my birthday. Second, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bob more than once. The first time was when I was writing a daily oldies ...

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Lynyrd Skynyrd Reminisce About Fallen Bandmates, Reflect on Being the 'Last of a Dyin' Breed'

Clay Patrick McBride For nearly 40 years, the name Lynyrd Skynyrd has been synonymous with Southern Rock. Songs like "Sweet Home Alabama," "That Smell," "Gimme Three Steps" and the anthem "Free Bird" provided the soundtrack for a generation of Americans. Though tragedy has trailed the band throughout its existence, Skynyrd has soldiered on. ...

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Joe Jackson Steps Out With Iggy Pop, Questlove on Duke Ellington Covers Album

JoeJackson.com Joe Jackson arrived on the music scene in 1979 and had a hit single right out of the box in the form of "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" His debut, Look Sharp! was also the first of three albums he made with his original band: Jackson on keyboards and vocals, Gary Sanford on guitar, Graham Maby on bass and Dave Houghton on ...

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Patti Smith Opens Up About 'Banga,' Johnny Depp, Amy Winehouse and Romanticizing Self-Destruction

Sony Few musicians in rock 'n' roll history have been as influential or eclectic as Patti Smith, from her first album, Horses, to her National Book Award-winning memoir Just Kids. This week, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer returns with the release of Banga, her first studio album since 2007 and her first disc of new material since 2004's ...

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Susan Justice: From Cult Escapee and Subway Busker to Major-Label Artist

Russell James Every musician has a unique story, but Susan Justice's is more interesting than most. The singer-songwriter's parents are members of a religious sect called The Family -- sometimes known as Children of God -- and Susan, the second oldest of 10 kids, was born into this group. Her childhood was spent moving from place to place, ...

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Roberta Flack Sings the Beatles, Recalls the Origin of 'Killing Me Softly'

Andy Kropa, Getty Images If singers like Tina Turner and Millie Jackson represented the raunchier side of '70s soul, Roberta Flack represented its refined antithesis. The singer's latest effort is 'Let It Be: Roberta Flack Sings the Beatles,' which, as the title suggests, finds her tackling a dozen songs by the Fab Four and drastically ...

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