Even in his formative stages Eric Clapton was earning a rapturous, rabid following and inspiring generations of guitarists to come. “He was already a star,” says veteran music journalist and author Chris Welch.

Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Tito — the Jackson 4? — will tour this summer for the first time since 1984′s Victory project, with plans to honor their late brother Michael, who died in 2009.

For some time, co-founding drummer Bill Ward has said he’s waiting on a “signable contract” before joining the rest of Black Sabbath for its pending reunion project. Now, he’s ready to reveal the sticking points

Ready for Beatlemania, one time removed? James McCartney, aspiring rocker son of one Paul McCartney, says he is.

There’s never a correct genre to classify this group: They’re not classical, they’re not rock, and they’re certainly not shitty so they don’t qualify for the “new age” label under which they generally get stuck.

Kenny Garrett’s place in jazz history was secured long ago as the last in the line of one of the most prestigious clubs in all of jazz

I’m trying to remember when it was. It was definitely during a pop-music fad that involved a lot of synthesizers and other electrical accoutrements. Maybe it was the New Wave era … or maybe when The Prodigy hit it big.

Huge in their mother land of Australia, but virtually unknown elsewhere, the Master’s Apprentices simply lacked the promotion muscle to obtain the universal visibility they so richly deserved.