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B-Sides Report for 08/27/2016


Unusual Arrest At Blink-182 Concert

(Radio.com) 10 concert goers were arrested at the Blink-182 concert at Michigan's Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Wednesday night (Aug 25) including an arrest for biting.

Genesee County Sheriff's Office posted a list of the law-breakers with some surprising infractions. Crimes include trespassing, fighting, marijuana possession, harassment, and biting a Live Nation employee.

Unsurprisingly, the alleged culprits range in age from 19-30. In contrast, only two were arrested at the ZZ Top concert in Darien the night before. Read more here.

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Bruce Springsteen Plays His Two Longest U.S. Concerts Ever

(Radio.com) At 66 years old, Bruce Springsteen is still looking for ways to top himself. On Tuesday (August 23), he kicked off a short string of U.S. stadium dates with the first night of a three show stand at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, playing his longest U.S. show ever, at 3 hours and 52 minutes.

And on Thursday night (August 25), he topped that, breaking the four hour mark with an epic show that saw him sharing the stage with new fans, old friends and celebrating a big birthday.

He and the E Street Band--bassist Garry Tallent, drummer Max Weinberg, pianist Roy Bittan, guitarist/singer Steven Van Zandt, singer/guitarist Patti Scialfa, and guitarist Nils Lofgren, along with guitarist/singer/violinst Soozie Tyrell, keyboardist Charles Giordano and saxophonist Jake Clemons--hit the stage in style at 8:01 pm, accompanied by a string section, opening with 1973's classic "New York City Serenade" (which they also opened Tuesday's show with). A slow--but beautiful--song that is more classic pop than rock and roll, it clocks in at about ten minutes, and isn't the usual opening song. But Springsteen has conditioned his fans to expect the unexpected at his shows. Which wasn't to say that he avoided the classics at this marathon concert.

From there, he launched into "Prove It All Night" and then reminded the audience that it was the 41st birthday of his breakthrough album, Born to Run; he then launched into "Night" from that record. He then dipped into his other "Born" album--1985's Born in the U.S.A.--with the classic "No Surrender." Read more here.

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Fetty Wap Forced To Cancel Festival Appearances

(Radio.com) Fetty Wap was scheduled to perform at the Reading and Leeds Festivals Friday (August 26) and Saturday (August 27), but he had to cancel due to doctor's orders.

The rapper developed a rather severe ear infection that he can not quite shake, and learned that air travel would put him at serious risk for hearing loss.

Fetty was tweeted out an apology and further explanation for missing out on the major British gigs. "I've been fighting a horrible ear infection, and my doctor ordered me to come in before I flew again," he wrote. Fetty tried to push back that visit until after his appearance at the festival, but his doctor informed him that he risked rupturing his ear drum or doing even greater damage." Read the full statement here.

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Metallica's James Hetfield Looks Back At 'Master of Puppets'

(Radio.com) To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Master of Puppets, Metallica will be releasing the book Metallica: Back to the Front, an impressive journey through their making of the album told through anecdotes, never-before-seen pictures and more.

The 276-page book includes interviews with James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett, as they recount opening for Ozzy Osbourne on tour and the stunning loss of bassist Cliff Burton in September 1986. Other voices who contributed to the recollection include managers Cliff Burnstein and Peter Mensch, Faith No More guitarist Jim Martin and Anthrax band members Scott Ian and Charlie Benante.

In a new video, Hetfield reflects on the album, "I think Master of Puppets signifies for a lot of people, and it does for me as well, the pinnacle of the Cliff Burton era with Metallica, obviously. But also it was still rebellious, back then it was just still four of us in a van out to conquer the world."

Metallica: Back to the Front will be available September 13. Fans can pre-order a copy today. Listen to Metallica discuss how they view Master of Puppets and the lasting legacy they created with that album here.

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Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa Sued After Concert Railing Collapse

(Radio.com) A lawsuit has been filed against Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa, as well as the owner of BB&T Pavilion stemming from the collapse of a security barrier at their August 5 concert in Camden, New Jersey, reports Rolling Stone.

On Wednesday (August 24), lawyers representing 17 of the people injured at the show filed suit in Philadelphia. "The safety of patrons at concerts must always be paramount," attorney Robert J. Mongeluzzi says in a statement. "The failure of this railing at the concert venue was caused by a failure in planning and execution. A second stage was located beneath a lawn area with no seat or aisles, leading to crowd surge when Snoop Dogg screamed, 'Everybody in the motherf-- lawn, bring your ass down here.'"

Mongeluzzi says two primary factors led to the collapse: "a dangerous location of the second stage beneath the uncontrolled lawn area with no barricades controlling crowd flow" and "the artist screaming for fans to surge to the area, which they did."

The lawsuit blames the accident on lack of proper precautions to ensure the safety of concertgoers. Read more here.

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Chris Brown Releases 'Grass Ain't Greener' Video

(Radio.com) Chris Brown released his new music video for "Grass Ain't Greener" on Friday (August 26), and the video finds him in one of his favorite spots, the strip club.

This particular strip club, however, is not like the others. Once Brown talks his friends into entering with him, they're caught up in a futuristic-type setting that's part club, part house party and part strip club.

Even though Brown sings about "green," the video is all done up in neon pinks to lend it an extra-seedy and extra-surreal feeling."That grass ain't greener on the other side/ I been there/ Oh yeah, I been there," he sings on the chorus, lamenting how much things have changed with a girl he used to love.

Brown shows off his slick dance moves with two sequences that literally shake things up. Thanks to a special camera technique, the shot shakes every time Brown and his dancers stomp on the floor. Watch it here.

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Miranda Lambert, Alicia Keys, More Added To ACM Honors

(Radio.com) The 10th Annual ACM Honors has seriously upped the ante. As if it weren't exciting enough that Blake Shelton and Toby Keith are slotted to join Dierks Bentley and Keith Urban for a tribute to Glen Campbell.

The Academy of Country Music announced that another round of performers will be helping celebrate the special honorees on Tuesday, August 30. Miranda Lambert, Alicia Keys, The Band Perry, Chris Young and Dan + Shay will all perform.

Other performers previously announced include Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Cam, Maren Morris, Cole Swindell and hosts Lady Antebellum. Read more here.

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Britney Spears' 'Carpool Karaoke' Goes Online

(Radio.com) Shortly after releasing her new album Glory to the world, Britney Spears joined James Corden for his popular segment on The Late Late Show, 'Carpool Karaoke."

The sketch began with a sing along of "Oops I Did it Again," after which Corden asked the pop star what the lyrics really meant. "Oops, you did what again?"

'I don't know, I think it's just a song," she replied. The pair also dueted on "Womanizer" and "Toxic," and Spears laughed almost as much as she sang. When Corden asked about some of the aliases Spears has used at hotels, she revealed that she had checked in under the name Anita Dick. Corden responded that he would go with 'it's Britney, b--."

Then the television host asked if Spears' sons have seen her Las Vegas show. He explained that he wondered what they thought of her dressed in racy clothing, and added, "I saw my mum in her underwear once � I can't shake the image from my brain."

The clip wrapped up with 'Baby One More Time," with both the singer and the television host dressed in the legendary school girl and braids outfits. Watch it here.

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Shawn Mendes Explains Controversial Interview

(Radio.com) When it comes to fans, artists know how much they owe their listeners for helping them succeed, which is why Shawn Mendes wasn't too happy when he learned how a recent interview left his fans seeing red.

Mendes appears on this week's cover of Billboard, and on Thursday (August 25) he took to Twitter to clarify a statement he made in the interview which, according to him, ended up looking much different in print. Billboard teased its cover story by claiming Mendes said his fans don't really know him. One user questioned that assertion, retweeting Billboard's original link with a "b-- what?" added on for good measure.

When Mendes saw that response, he began tweeting how parts of his interview had gotten twisted. Mendes explained, "I have no idea why they would say that. I did not say that!!!" He said he'd initially told Billboard something different. "I explained how im growing up and so are you guys and how it takes time for you all to fully understand me and me to understand you," he wrote.

He clarified, "Its really unfortunate when what you say gets turned into the bad version of it. Im sorry guys." Read the full explanation here.

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Usher Announces New Album 'Hard II Love,' Shares New Song

(Radio.com) Usher took to Twitter to share the announcement that his eighth studio album Hard II Love will be available September 16th and premiered a new song "Missin U".

The track has a touch of 1970s Stevie Wonder about the chorus, but starts out quite differently. In the opening seconds, Usher describes his perfect woman. "I mean everybody wants somebody that's got confidence, you know, it's in her attitude, the way she walks-nice legs.

"She's gotta be beautiful, nice thin waist, fat a-, ooh and them soft little lips," he says. That phrase, "little lips" becomes looped, dropping in speed over a heavy bass track before Usher comes in with his smooth R&B flare. Read more here.

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Carly Rae Jepsen Releases Surprise 'Emotion Side B' Album

(Radio.com) Carly Rae Jepsen's euphoric brand of pop music hit a fever pitch last year with the release of Emotion, which featured hits like "Run Away With Me" and "I Really Like You."

Now she has stunned fans with a surprise release of Emotion Side B, containing eight new tracks from "Side A" sessions. It's the double album you didn't expect but couldn't have wanted more.

'Emotion Side B almost never was," Jepsen writes in the liner notes. "Well, technically all the songs existed I just didn't think to share them until we toured. But meeting many of you face to face, getting to share in one of the most joyful touring experiences of my life, all I wanted was to give back more of the feelings you all gave me."

Listen to the "extra tunes made for Emotion" here.

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Florence + the Machine Share Full 'Wish That You Were Here' Song

(Radio.com) Florence + the Machine have teased fans with snippets of "Wish That You Were Here" since the release of the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children trailer back in March.

On Thursday (Aug 25), the English band have released the full 6:44 version of the song set to a still image from the Tim Burton directed film. While the song will be available for purchase August 26, film fans will have to wait until September 30 to see Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

In a statement, Welch had the following to say about Mr. Burton. "I've always been a huge fan of Tim Burton's. We have a very similar sensibility. It's the kind of dark, dark romance of his work--so beautiful and whimsical, but with an element of darkness to it. That's something that I always try and achieve in my work, too. I knew we would get along really well working together and we did. I feel like we're coming from a similar place of quite frantic imaginations trying to get the words out before the pictures in our heads disappear. He feels like a kindred spirit. I actually sent him a note about six years ago. I was in Australia on tour there for the first time and visited an exhibition of all his work. I wanted to leave him a message and all I had on me was an x-ray of my hand, as I had just broken my finger. So I wrote on the x-ray and gave it to the gallery to pass on and never knew if he got it. When we met for the first time, he told me it's been hanging up in his office ever since."

Watch the film's trailer and listen to Florence + the Machine's new track here.

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Ellie Goulding Releases 'Still Falling For You' Video

(Radio.com) Ellie Goulding has released her new single and video, 'Still Falling For You," from the 'Bridget Jones's Baby" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which hits theaters September 16.

The video finds Goulding singing interspersed with clips from the upcoming film staring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth and Patrick Dempsey. The new film in the romantic comedy series based on creator Helen Fielding's heroine finds Bridget unexpectedly expecting.

Hopefully this single will tide fans over until Goulding releases her next album, although a date had yet to be announced for her followup to 2015's release, Delirium. Watch the video here.

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Grouplove Streaming New Song 'Traumatized'

(Radio.com) Grouplove released a new song "Traumatized" off their upcoming third album Big Mess on Thursday (August 25). The album will be released on September 9th.

The intro has a slightly more punk rock feel guitar-wise before things take off toward a poppier vibe for the chorus. "Traumatized" grows quiet on the bridge, as Christian Zucconi sing-whispers, "And I just want to tell you, my mother was traumatized/ Yeah, I just want to tell you, my father was traumatized/ I just want to show you, I love you, yeah every single night/ Yeah, I just want to show you, I'll show you, I'll show you my life." Vocalist Hannah Hooper joins him for an added harmony.

Grouplove will be embarking on a World Tour beginning in late September, but before that they'll be celebrating their newest album with a busy schedule in New York and Los Angeles. Read more and listen to "Traumatized" here.

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Christina Grimmie's 'Deception' Video Released

(Radio.com) Before her untimely death in June, Christina Grimmie filmed a visual EP to accompany her posthumously released four-track EP, Side A. Her family has been releasing the four installments--altogether called The Ballad of Jessica Blue--throughout August and Thursday (August 25) marks the final part, "Deception."

The Ballad of Jessica Blue follows the titular character as she journeys through her life, which includes the highs and lows of romance, self-discovery and more. "Deception" shows Grimmie as Blue becoming distracted over her troubled relationship. But she finds solace in her music.

As she confesses her worries to her mother, she receives a lovely piece of advice. "There are some things you can never lose once you find them," her mother says. "Your voice is one of them." On that note, she sits down at a baby grand piano and begins playing, singing about the woes that have plagued her regarding her boyfriend. Watch the video here.

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Missy Elliott Pays Tribute To Aaliyah

(Radio.com) Missy Elliot took to social media to acknowledge the 15 year anniversary of the passing of her close friend Alaliyah. The R&B singer was killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas at the age of 22.

Elliot post a photo of herself standing in from of Aaliyah's portrait with the following caption: "Aaliyah 15 years later to me feels like just yesterday.. I can still hear your laughter I can clearly see us dancing in the studio me u @timbaland @ginuwine Magoo the whole clique we miss u so much there's not a day u aren't thought of! I look around and see u are still inspiring new generations musically and style!

Although there can never be another u it warms my heart to see kids who never got a chance to see your greatness love u now because of your undeniable Catalogue of classic hits u have shared with the World." Read the full comments and see the photo here.

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Ariana Grande And Nicki Minaj Teaming Up At MTV VMAs

(Radio.com) Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj will team up at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards to perform "Side to Side" from Grande's Dangerous Woman. It's not the first time they've shared the VMA stage--in 2014, the pair performed their hit "Bang Bang" (feat. Jessie J.) at the show.

Grande is nominated for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video, Best Editing, and Best Cinematography for this year's "Into You," as well as Best Collaboration Video for "Let Me Love You" feat. Lil Wayne.

Also performing at this year's VMAs: Britney Spears featuring G-Eazy, Nick Jonas featuring Ty Dolla $ign, Future and Rihanna. Grande announced her upcoming performance with a special video for fans. See it here.

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Taylor Swift Shares Birthday Wishes To Blake Lively

(Radio.com) Taylor Swift knows how to melt hearts. Swift posted a birthday wish to her friend and squad member, Blake Lively. The Gossip Girl actress turned 29 on Thursday (Aug 25).

Swift posted a photo of the two caring for a koala captioned, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAKE! You're a wonderful friend, to humans and koalas alike.

But Swift's birthday note wasn't the most interesting directed to Lively today. A tweet from Lively's husband Ryan Reynolds undoubtedly incited some laughter. See it here.

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Drake Announces New Short Film 'Please Forgive Me'

(Radio.com) Drake has a new short film titled Please Forgive Me coming in September. On Instagram Friday (August 26), Drake shared a still clip from the project. It looks like a crowded, but colorful, street scene.

He captioned the post, "'Please Forgive Me' a short film by Drake and Anthony Mandler featuring musical score by Noah '40' Shebib coming September 30th."

Shebib has directed some of Drake's previous music videos including 'Over" and "Miss Me." Drake last released a short film "Jungle" in February 2015. Read more here.

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Kanye West Amazes Fans With Floating Stage At Tour Kick Off

(Radio.com) Kanye West has raised himself above the crowd again, but this time it was literal. Thursday night (August 25), the rapper kicked off his Saint Pablo tour at Indianapolis' Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and astounded fans by delivering his set from a floating stage.

The lighted platform hung above the crowd on the arena floor. While other acts like Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift have found ways to go out into and over the crowd, West's magic carpet ride appears to be the first time an act has spent an entire show suspended in air, reports Billboard.

According to WTHR, fans waiting through a 90-minute delay to get inside. But once in the arena, they new something was different. West was tethered to the stage, which was dragged around the arena with a pulley system. During "Blood on the Leaves" a fan tried to grab the stage and West was forced to temporarily stop the show. Read more here.

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Vince Staples Releases New Single 'Smile'

(Radio.com) Vince Staples released his new EP Prima Donna Friday (August 26), but one day ahead of schedule he premiered the first single off that project, a track called "Smile."

The track takes from several different influences, mashing together rock, hip-hop and even a slight children's song feel to underscore the placating chorus, "Smile for me." Staples repeats that line over and over again on the chorus, suggesting that no matter what he goes through and what kind of violence he encounters in life, the world around him doesn't want to hear about that. They just want a facade.

"How ya feelin everybody? Hope you had a nice day/ Sometimes I feel all alone, sometimes I can't get away/ I feel my life is danger every night when I lay/ So can you do me a favor? Smile for me," he sings in the opening that takes a page out of rock's book before segueing into a harder hip-hop sound (via Pitchfork). Listen here.

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Stranger Things Millie Bobby Brown Covers Amy Winehouse

(Radio.com) Millie Bobby Brown, the actress who plays Eleven on Netflix's hit original series Stranger Things shared a great musical throw back on Thursday (August 25th).

The twelve-year-old actress posted a video clip of herself singing the Amy Winehouse song "Valerie," when she was just five.

"It's nearly Thursday so I am going to do a #throwbackthursday love you Amy Winehouse, she wrote. "Millie Bobby Brown, Age 5." Check out the clip here.

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OneRepublic Release 'Kids' Music Video

(Radio.com) OneRepublic have released their new music video for the song "Kids". Shot so as to look like one continuous take in an outdoor alleyway, "Kids" follows a Romeo and Juliet-like couple. No, they're not pursuing each other against their parents' wishes, but the boy follows the girl from afar until both end up on balconies looking across from one another.

In the meantime, OneRepublic burst in between shots that track the young hopefuls. Lead singer Ryan Tedder sings, sweeping his hands through his hair, while the band backs him acoustically. The video's deep reds, blues and golds give it an added romantic tone, as Tedder pines for the days when he and his girl were "kids."

Things take a turn when the young couple finally find each other in person, and the boy grabs the girls hands to race through the alley to what's become a concert with OneRepublic playing. As the stage lights swell, the colors that have formed the video's palette take on added effect for a sweeping, sparkling feel. Watch it here.

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Lorde's Next Album Is 'Written' And 'In The Production Stage'

(Radio.com) Lorde has finally given an update on her long-awaited sophomore album, thanks to the prompting of one pushy fan, reports Billboard. 'Do you think we will ever get another album or should we just give up on you as an artist?," asked Instagram user Gabatron9.

Lorde's response was buried in a post of the singer looking at a frog, which she shared with the caption 'shooting love heart eyes at the locals." But she responded to the query directly.

"Give up on me if you want to! I write a record when I have enough special stories to tell, and it's all me, every melody every lyric, not some team who just start the machine up every eighteen months like clockwork," she wrote. "The record is written, we're in the production stage now. I've worked like a dog for a year making this thing great for you guys." Read more here.

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Adele Accepts Invitation to Play Fan's Wedding

(Radio.com) British superstar Adele has been enchanting audiences every night of her Live 2016 tour by bringing a fan onstage with her and chatting with the lucky concert goer.

During a recent show in Los Angeles, she picked a man from the aisle in a beanie, because he was 'literally dancing like no one was watching," reports Billboard. He and his fiance' raced to the stage, where he told the singer that he dreamed this would happen.

Then the situation turned delightfully surreal. The couple invited Adele to play their wedding in September and she said, 'I would love to come." When asked about her rate, she said, 'Don't worry, I'll do it for free." Read more here.

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Madonna Makes Surprise Appearance At 'Truth or Dare' Screening

(Radio.com) Back in 1991, many viewers were shocked to see Madonna's audacious documentary Truth or Dare, both because of the bossy arrogance of the protagonist and because many of the scenes in the movie, which took place during her controversial Blonde Ambition Tour, were set up.

Today, in an age of reality television, such hubris and artifice are hardly a surprise. What's truly surprising is when a mega-celebrity--in this case Madonna--walks in unannounced for a 25th anniversary screening of her own movie.

That's what happened on Wednesday night (Aug. 24.) in New York City at the Museum of Modern Art, and viewers in the audience were slack-jawed, Billboard reports. At the screening, the pop superstar sauntered in, natural as could be, and started chatting with fans. Read more here.

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Paul Wall Offers All Olympic Winners A Free Gold Grill

(Radio.com) Even though the 2016 Rio Olympics are now over, any American athlete who won a medal has a chance to get a bit more gold. Rapper Paul Wall is offering everyone from Michael Phelps to Simone Biles a custom gold grill. And it's all for free.

Wall has been working with business partner Johnny Dang to run a custom grillz business for years, according to TMZ Sports. To celebrate the country's big win at the recent summer games, Wall and Dang are offering the custom flashy mouth pieces to all Olympic athletes who took home a gold, silver or bronze medal.

Dang & Co. sent out a memo to all medaled athletes with his contact info so that they could reach out if they were interested in the prize. Read more here.

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A Look Back At Boston's Self-Titled Debut 40 Years Later

(Radio.com) Boston's self-titled debut album, which has sold over 17 million copies, turned 40 on Thursday (August 25). Here, Radio.com discusses the album with legends from CBS Radio affiliate WZLX, Boston's classic rock: Carter Alan, the station's music director and DJ, and afternoon drive DJ Chuck Nowlin, currently celebrating 25 years with the station.

"I looked out this morning and the sun was gone," the late Brad Delp sings, with crystal clear tone, over mad scientist Tom Scholtz's delicate guitar picking. "Turned on some music to start my day/I lost myself in a familiar song/I closed my eyes and I slipped awaaaaaaaay�."

So begins "More Than a Feeling," the leadoff track and lead single from Boston, one of the most successful debut albums of all time. It's received massive play on classic rock radio (every song has gotten airplay, a rarity for any album by any band), and it happened almost immediately after being released, which was odd, as the band had no backstory. No one knew who they were, even in Boston.

The lyrics to "Rock and Roll Band" seemed to be telling the band's story. They sang about being "on the road and tryin' to make ends meet/Playin' all the bars, sleepin' in our cars." To hear them tell it, they were grinding in the clubs, just like any other band: "We practiced right on out in the street/No, we didn't have much money/We barely made enough to survive/But when we got up on stage and got ready to play, people came alive!" But strangely, no one could recall seeing Boston in concert. And there's a good reason for that.

WZLX's Carter Alan explains: "The lyrics are as fictional as the live audience sound effects that make it sound like a live track. The band had never played live when that song was written or recorded. A local Boston fanzine lists an August 27 show in Manchester, NH as the band's first official gig, in front of 200 people." That was two days after they released their debut.

So unlike the rock bands of earlier years, Boston didn't cut their teeth on the road: rather, bandleader Tom Scholtz labored over the album for years in his home studio, and recorded most of the instruments himself. As Scholtz told WZLX's Chuck Nowlin in a recent interview, "It was six years of experimenting and recording and spending all the money I could make, and working nights." Read more here.

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