Blog
Mia Zapata’s Killer Has Died
Rolling Stone published my story breaking the news on Sunday. It marks an end to one of the darkest and most tragic episodes in the history of rock music. To put Mia Zapata’s life and legacy into perspective, I interviewed Gits drummer Steve Moriarty, Gits friend and Evil Stig collaborator Joan Jett, and NPR music…
Read MoreSirius XM Radio Interview on December 4
Mark your calendars… I will be on the Sirius XM Volume show “Feedback” on Tuesday, December 4 talking about Alice in Chains: The Untold Story. Turn on Sirius XM channel 106 at around 9:20 a.m. Eastern time to listen.
Read MoreAlice in Chains Paperback Edition Is Here
Happy Black Friday! If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer for that special someone, the paperback edition of Alice in Chains: The Untold Story is available now at all book retailers.
Read MoreProduct Placement
My brother sent me this screenshot. Here’s the link to the original source.
Read MoreSome Thoughts About Chris Cornell's Death and the Seattle Grunge Scene
I was interviewed several weeks ago by Paste Magazine for a story about the death of Chris Cornell in the context of the Seattle grunge scene. You can read it here.
Read MoreThe Origin of Layne Staley's Middle Name
Nancy McCallum – Layne Staley’s mother – did an interview with Northwest Music Scene recently. This particular exchange caught my attention: Early bands: “In 5th grade, he borrowed his Uncle Bob’s trumpet, so that was his first instrument. Then, our family friend Fred loaned him a drum set, and he loved the drums. He wasn’t…
Read MoreJim Elmer Remembered
Jim Elmer, Layne Staley’s stepfather, passed away in his home in Long Beach, Washington last week from heart failure, according to his son Ken. He was 72 years old. He was born in Spokane, Washington on March 28th, 1945 at home, but spent most of his life in the Seattle area. Jim had Bachelor’s and…
Read MoreThe Story Behind the Story: Was Layne Staley Going to Audition for Audioslave?
I recently read this article by Michael Christopher regarding the 15th anniversary of Layne Staley’s death and it got me thinking about something I reported in my book two years ago: that Layne told a friend of his about a year before his death that he wanted to try out for the band that would…
Read MoreChris Cornell Remembered
I was shocked and devastated when I received a news alert from a friend late last night informing me Soundgarden singer/guitarist Chris Cornell had passed away a few hours after performing a show at a Detroit theater. It was even more shocking and devastating to find out today that the coroner concluded Cornell had committed…
Read MoreDispatches from Kansas
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSrhUW7BL3b/?taken-by=daviddesola I was in Wichita the past few days covering the final stretch of the special election to fill Mike Pompeo’s former seat in the House of Representatives. Here’s all my reporting on the subject: Ron Estes Wins Kansas Special Election Republicans Make Last-Minute Push to Defend Kansas Seat Down to the Wire in Kansas…
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