What Do Jimi Hendrix, Eminem and Coldplay All Have in Common?

 

You know you’ve made it big in the music industry if your face graces the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner, who is still editor and publisher, Rolling Stone is still considered the big-dog of the music journalism scene today.

The magazine mostly feature Billboard Chart hot musicians on it’s cover, but fairly represents pop, rap and rock music alike. Sometimes Rolling Stone switches things up and features actors on the cover, such as Jennifer Aniston, and frequently covers  in-depth political stories.

One thing with Rolling Stone is very consistent though- the photograph on the cover always ROCKS. I am a huge fan of photo-journalism, and of course love sending picute-texts. Sometimes a picture can describe so much more than a 2,000 word feature article can. Rolling Stone never fails to capture the true essence of the musicians in their cover-shots.

Here is what I present to my readers:  A two-part mini series of the greatest Rolling Stone covers from the 90’s and today. We’ll kick things off  with honoring the greatest rock and rap music <em>Rolling Stone covers and continue tomorrow with the hottest pop music covers.

Get ready to rock!

 

Jimi Hendrix- courtesy of RollingStone.com

1.) JIMI HENDRIX- Dubbed the greatest electric-guitarist of all-time by Rolling Stone, Hendrix did not make it on the cover of the magazine until 1992, despite the immense popularity he attained after headlining Woodstock in 1969 and untimely death in 1970. Oh well, better late than never. Rolling Stone chose a very appropriate photo of Hendrix for the cover.

Green Day. Courtesy of RollingStone.com.

2.) GREEN DAY- Ah, back to 1995 when Green Day’s music wasn’t so depressing. New fans listen up- the band’s older albums such as Dookie and Insomniac are a far cry away from the emotional ballads of American Idiot. Despite the music-style change, Green Day is still a huge influence to power-punk bands. And judging by this cover shot, the guys are loving every second of it.

Tupac. Courtesy of RollingStone.com.

3. TUPAC- The life and death of Tupac is depicted in this 1996 issue of Rolling Stone. The rap-king of the West Coast still has a substantial influence on the music-scene today. His “thug-life” nature but yet sweet-disposition is eloquently depicted in this somber picture.

Blink-182. RollingStone.com.

4. BLINK 182- Mark, Tom and Travis. Will there ever be a more dynamic trio than these three  hilariously-charming rockstars? The answer is no, Blink 182 has been owning the game since release of their debut album Cheshire Cat in 1994. With the success of Enema of the State, Blink was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone in 2000.  The original punks of alternative rock have dabbled in writing more serious music, but Blink-182′s wild attitude always shines through.

Eminem. Courtesy or RollingStone.com.

5.) EMINEM- He’s vicious, crude and bears no mercy when poking fun at other celebrities. But hey, atleast Eminem is honest! This foul-mouthed protege of Dr. Dre was undoubtedly the first “white-boy” to make it big in the rap-scene. Em showed fans in 2003 that he could not only write and deliver genius music, but could actually act too with the release of his movie 8 Mile. This was Marshall Mather’s second Rolling Stone cover.

Coldplay. Courtesy of RollingStone.com.

6.) COLDPLAY- This British band gained popularity in the US with the release of their 2000 album Parachutes. Coldplay won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album shortly after. Lead singer and Gwenyth Paltrow’s hubby, Chris Martin, impresses listeners with his melodic voice and intimate songs. The always sharply-dressed blokes have won many Grammys since. Check out Coldplay’s newest album, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends.

Fall Out Boy. Courtesy of RollingStone.com.

7.) FALL OUT BOY- Despite their recent break-up, Fall Out Boy still has quite a few award-worthy albums under their studded-belts. Hailing from Chicago, Fall Out Boy wow-ed listeners with their first album Fall Out Boy’s Evening Out With Your Girlfriend in 2003. The band’s music went from High School break-ups woes to a much more distinguished sound with the release of their album Infinity on High in 2007. The success of this masterpiece earned Fall Out Boy a Rolling Stone cover shot and a new-found respect in the music world.

Music Saved The Morning

 

I have never heard of him before today, but I have a new favorite radio DJ. His name is Kaiser from WMRQ 104.1 and he transformed my terrible commute to Hartford this morning in to pure alternative-rock bliss.

Expecting to have the day off from work due to the alleged “severe winter storm” that was supposed to hit all of New England today, I did what any other college senior would have done last night. Stay out partying until the crack of dawn knowing that it didn’t matter because I could just sleep the whole next snow day away.

No such luck.

I set my alarm for 7 am to check the weather just incase. Good thing I did because when I awoke at that un-Godly hour and looked out my window, not a single snow flake had fallen. As I flicked on the weather channel I was informed by the obnoxiously-chipper weather man that snow would not be hitting the Hartford area until later that afternoon. I shoved a couple Advil down my throat, muttered a few choice words at the TV and hopped in the shower.

As I scanned through a few radio stations to find a weather report on my way to work, I heard a familiar tune when the dial hit WMRQ 104.1. It was Glycerine, by Bush. My mood automatically changed from miserable to absolutely rapturous! I am a complete sucker for 90’s British alternative.

Courtesy of RollingStone.com

The next four songs that followed could not have happened by coincidence. It was as if this Kaiser dude could read my mind and knew exactly what it would take to make me happy on the cold Connecticut morning. Each and every song he played in that five-song rock block was exactly what I was in the mood to listen to. If you love alternative rock, like I do, and love listening to a variety of beats from the 90s and today, then listen to Kaiser in the Morning, Monday- Friday, 6am- 9am. The portion of Kaiser’s show that I tuned in for was so epic that I am going to have to replicate it right here, right now:

1. Glycerine- Bush. The band was started by Gavin Rossdale (also of No Doubt, another 90s classic) and Nigel Pulsford in London in 1992. Glycerine is also featured on the album Buzz Ballads, a compilation of about 20 great 90’s rock ballads.

 

2. Float On- Modest Mouse. Excellent song from an excellent album, Good News For People Who Love Bad News. Modest Mouse was started in Seattle in 1996 but didn’t hit the main-stream scene until they released The Moon and Antarctica in 2000. Another stellar album to check out is We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank.

3. Stir It Up- Bob Marley. This artist needs no explanation. If you do not know that Marley is the King of reggae-rock, get off my blog!

4. Again- Flyleaf. This group from Texas is fairly new to the rock scene and has a female lead-singer, Lacey Mosley, which is always a fun change. Flyleaf’s self-titled album debuted in 2005 and the group has since been featured in many major music festivals such as Bonnaroo and The Bamboozle.

 

5. She- Green Day. Twenty years after their first album was released, Green Day is still making constant hits and are featured in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. She, a track from Green Day’s 1994 album, Dookie, is accompanied by many other hits such as Longview, Chump, Welcome to Paradise, Basket Case and When I Come Around on the album. Lead singer and song-writer, Billie Joe Armstrong, is still cranking out the hits with the band’s new album, 21^st Century Breakdown. Check out the song 21 Guns.