Dave Lifton, who writes for both Ultimate Classic Rock and Diffuser, is a podcaster and author of several books. A native of New York, he now lives in Chicago, where he's usually staring out at Lake Michigan from his apartment or getting into arguments with Bears fans. Also, he likes Bruce Springsteen and pulled pork sandwiches.
Dave Lifton
Elton John Cancels Alabama Concert For Medical Reasons
Elton John's concert in Birmingham, Ala. on Friday (March 15) night was canceled due to unspecified medical reasons. The announcement was made hours before the show at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena was to begin.
Billy Joel Sings ‘New York State of Mind’ with Fan
Although has sworn off the idea of doing another full-scale rock tour, Billy Joel still does his acclaimed 'An Evening of Questions and Answers and a Little Bit of Music' series at colleges. At a recent event, a fan wound up playing one of Joel's signature songs with the legendary musician.
Ron Wood’s Ex-Wife Dishes Dirt in Autobiography
It's no secret that Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones has lived a true life of sex, drugs and rock n' roll. But the true extent of his decadence is being revealed in a new tell-all memoir by his ex-wife, Jo Wood.
Stevie Nicks Performs ‘You Can’t Fix This’ on ‘Letterman’ With Sound City Players
As we've been reading about the concerts by the Sound City Players, the supergroup assembled by Dave Grohl to help promote 'Sound City,' his movie about the Los Angeles studio, we've become intrigued by a new song he co-wrote with Stevie Nicks, 'You Can't Fix This.' Last night, the two performed the song on CBS' 'The Late Show with David Letterman.'
Rod Stewart Named ‘Dull Man of the Year’
In his career, Rod Stewart has received many honors. He's won various lifetime achievement awards, been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and been named a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II. Now he has another accomplishment to add to the list.
50 Years Ago: The Beatles Record (Most of) the ‘Please Please Me’ Album in 13 Hours
The notion of artists taking their time in the studio has become so ingrained in the recording process that it's hard to believe that musicians used to bang out killer albums in a hurry. There is perhaps no more famous example of that than the Beatles debut album, 'Please Please Me,' the bulk of which was recorded in less than 13 hours on Feb. 11, 1963.
Rod Stewart Postpones 2013 Tour
We were looking forward to seeing Rod Stewart's 'Live the Life' tour this spring. However, we will have to wait a little bit longer. News coming out of the singer's camp says that he has had to push back the tour to the fall. The new dates are listed below.
49 Years Ago: The Beatles Land in America
In October 1963, the word "Beatlemania" was coined in Britain to describe the reactions of screaming young girls every time they heard the Beatles' music, either in performance or on the radio. On Feb. 7, 1964, the U.S. got its first proper taste of Beatlemania, as the group arrived in America for the first time.
55 Years Ago: George Harrison Joins John Lennon and Paul McCartney in the Quarry Men
The third part of the equation that would become the Beatles fell into place on Feb. 6, 1958. George Harrison joined the Quarry Men, the John Lennon-led group that Paul McCartney had joined as a second guitarist and singer the previous summer.
Mitch Ryder Involved in Car Crash
Mitch Ryder, who merged rock and soul in the mid-'60s with hits like 'Devil with a Blue Dress On,' was involved in a car crash on Friday (Feb. 1) night. Neither Ryder nor his wife nor a third passenger in the car were seriously hurt.
Ringo Starr to Appear on New ‘Powerpuff Girls’ Special
Few things seemed more incongruous on children's television in 1989 than Ringo Starr's time on PBS' show, 'Shining Time Station' (apart, of course, from when George Carlin took over for Ringo a year later). Starr is about to make the year spent as 'Mr. Conductor' look perfectly normal later this year when he lends his talents to a Cartoon Network special of 'The Powerpuff Girls.'
44 Years Ago: The Beatles Perform Live for the Last Time, On a London Rooftop
"I'd like to say 'Thank you' on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we passed the audition"
Mercedes-Benz ‘Diner’ Teaser Commercial – What’s the Song?
Rock fans tuned into yesterday's (Jan. 20) football playoff games got a shock when, during a break in the action, the familiar opening of the Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil' rang out of their television speakers.
The Beatles – 2012 Box Set of the Year Winner
In the tightest race of the 2012 Ultimate Classic Rock Awards, the Beatles' 'Stereo Vinyl Box Set' takes home the prize for Box Set of the Year. The award was voted on by our readers.
50 Years Ago: The Beatles Release ‘Please Please Me’
"Congratulations, gentlemen. You've just made your first No. 1."
100 Copies of Bob Dylan Outtakes Record Released to Circumvent Copyright Laws
A set of 86 Bob Dylan outtakes from 1962 was discovered on shelves in European record stores last year. But while albums of unreleased Dylan are nothing new -- 1969's 'The Great White Wonder' is considered to be the start of the bootleg industry -- this is actually an official release, albeit in a limited edition, rare for an artist of Dylan's stature.