Bobzilla

"That was the toughest bunch of opening acts we've ever had to follow," noted Roger Daltrey midway through the Who's set on Saturday night at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. It can't be easy having to follow your own best material, but they did so anyway, capping off a spectacular VH1 Rock Honors taping that began with heartfelt tributes from Incubus, Tenacious D, Foo Fighters, Flaming Lips and Pearl Jam. The annual Rock Honors program has...

Neil Innes is nothing if not a gentleman, a distinctly British one at that. Innes was - literally - the John Lennon of the Rutles, recently memorialized here with a thirtieth anniversary showing of the great Beatles-taunting mockumentary All You Need Is Cash that put the four principal actors on stage together for the first time. The anniversary of the film was also marked with the premiere of a multi-media stage show, Rutlemania, that featured...

Beach Boys fans are well acquainted with author Domenic Priore, who performed the heroic feat of gathering every word ever written about the Beach Boys' Smile, and publishing all of it, with minimal but insightful commentary, as Look! Listen! Vibrate Smile! in the mid-1990s. It was nothing if not thorough, kind of like a researcher's entire file drawer dumped on your desk with notes attached to each artifact. His latest book shows he hasn't lost...

Richie Hass and wife Michelle Richie Hass has lost his battle with cancer. Richie was a founding member of local art-band Zoogz Rift And The Amazing Shitheads, and played a number of instruments in a number of bands, most recently seen on vibes in Saccharine Trust, behind the drums with the Page Turner Band and playing bass for Freehead. Richie was an incredibly natural musician, proficient on every instrument he picked up. On the...

Last night Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by none other than Justin Timberlake. In another unusual spin, she chose The Stooges, fronted by Iggy Pop to perform two of her hits, "Burning Up" and "Ray of Light.". Stooges bass player and occasional LAist contributor Mike Watt rocks out in the above clip. Stay tuned at the end of the video for some backstage scenes from last night's induction,...

Prior to the Melvins' eardrum-shattering and patriotically inspiring performance at the Echoplex, Buzz Osborne was kind enough to share his thoughts on the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, the digital revolution, and the potential for "peculiar" art in today's world. Video by Bob Thompson for LAist...

With all the seasonal emphasis on warmth, love and need-gratification, it's no surprise your nether regions are jingling right along. It is The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year after all. Go ahead and unwrap something nice a day early, you could use the stress relief. We submit six not-safe-for-work entries to inspire reindeer games beneath the tree. CLARENCE CARTER - Back Door Santa &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/Clarence Carter - Back Door Santa.mp3"> HOME GROWN - Christmas Crush...

Christmas Eve is here. And today is no time for cynicism, irony or nastiness of any sort. Time instead to make something nice to eat, clink your glass with a loved one, and count your blessings with total sincerity. Preparation is over. The moment to let it go and be happy starts now. To help set the mood, we offer twenty of the most joyous, uplifting, totally Christmasey of all Christmas songs known to man....

Power-pop is above all feel-good music, designed to hit all your pleasure centers at once, which makes it a natural fit for Christmas time. Click below for five super-charged riffs to restore your faith in humanity. THE SHITBIRDS - Christmas is a Comin' (May God Bless You) With a name like that you may be expecting sonic assault, but this local troupe, led by elfin chanteuse April March, aims for maximum joy and adorable-ness. &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/Shitbirds...

Need some butt-rock to motivate your ass out the door to finish shopping? Luckily it's not just Satan, Satan, Satan all the time with these guys. TWISTED SISTER - Heavy Metal Christmas (Twelve Days of Christmas) That's quite a swag bag Dee Snider's accumulated by day twelve... twenty-two pairs of spandex pants, thirty studded belts, thirty-six quarts of Jack... but one wonders where he can possibly fit twelve Ozzy tattoos on his body. &righticonhover=0x333232&text=0x333232&slider=0xF2F2F2&track=0xFFFFFF&border=0xFFFFFF&loader=0x838383&soundFile=http://aprodxn.com/laist/10 Heavy...