The Scene:
The Scene features a variety of articles that explore a wide range of subjects, all of then delving into the many aspects of rock ‘n’ roll music, its artists and players, the music business and classic rock culture
I Get a Check From John Lennon
Our writer once got a check from the former Beatle for $15. Everyone insisted he never cash it. Yet what Lennon really gave him was priceless.
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The Radical, Socially Progressive Art of Rankin/Bass’ ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’
There is perhaps no Christmas special more beloved than this one from 1964.
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Musician Deaths of 2025
Many of our favorite recording artists, as well as other celebrities, were taken from us in 2025. We pay our respects.
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1979: The Year in 50 Classic Rock Albums
The tail end of the ’70s saw superb music being made by some of rock’s great veterans and by many who were new to the scene.
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The Beatles’ ‘Anthology 4’: Barrel Shavings for a Hot Take World
The 2025 collection, despite some standout tracks, is a release that the world deserves, and that’s not a good thing.
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Elton John and John Lennon at MSG in 1974: Behind-the-Scenes
Ray D’Ariano was just 25 when he got his dream job. One month into his gig at MCA Records, he was alone backstage with two of the world’s biggest music stars.
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Little Richard and Tom Jones Rip It Up
The rock ‘n’ roll star was 36 years old when he joined his 29 year-old host to perform a classic on This is Tom Jones.
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The Last Waltz: An Audience Member Revisits
The 1976 farewell performance by The Band is the stuff of rock lore. BCB’s editor was there that night and remembers it well.
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Elvis Presley’s Inspiring ‘If I Can Dream’: Behind the Song
There are many goosebump-inducing scenes in Elvis, the sensational 2022 biopic. One such chapter is his 1968 comeback TV special, and its culminating moment.
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When Jefferson Airplane Sang From a NYC Rooftop
When the French filmmaker Godard needed a band for his new film on radical culture in 1968, he invited San Francisco’s finest. They responded by waking up New York City.
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