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

Moving To the Grooving: The Wild Cherry Smash, ‘Play That Funky Music’

The 1976 song’s fresh sound, with its recurring horn riff and outrageous lyrics, came from a midwestern rock band.

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When Blind Faith Made Their Live Debut For 100,000 People

The British supergroup chose to make its live debut at a free concert in London’s Hyde Park. Watch several clips from their performance.

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The Rolling Stones’ Summer of ‘Satisfaction’

In 1965, the Stones hit #1 for a 4-week run. Can later generations even comprehend what it felt like for those of us growing up back then?

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The Cars’ Debut: Just What We Needed

When they first emerged in 1978, some critics were perplexed but rock fans loved this Boston quintet. The song made them a band to watch.

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Sweet: The British Glam Band That Also Blitzed America

They earned worldwide success in the 1970s with such hits as “Little Willy,” “Ballroom Blitz” and “Fox on the Run.”

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Jim Gordon: From A-List Drummer to Convicted Killer

He played on hundreds of hits but you wouldn’t find any gold records on his wall: Since the ’80s until his death in 2023, he was locked away for murder.

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When Suzi Quatro ‘Stumbled Into’ a Pop Hit

The Detroit native had a series of hit U.K. singles in the 1970s. But it wasn’t until her recurring role on a popular sitcom, that she finally had a U.S. hit.

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The Marketing of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Darkness On the Edge of Town’: The Inside Story

The Columbia Records product manager takes us behind the scenes of working with the star for the follow-up to Born To Run.

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Carlos Santana, Violinist? Fate Had Other Plans: Book Excerpt

‘Carlos Santana: Love, Devotion, Surrender—The Illustrated Story of Santana’s Musical Journey’ totals more than 400 oversized pages, with 100s of photos—many never before published.

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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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