Nick DeRiso

When asked in 1989 about restaging 'The Wall,' @RogerWaters said he'd do it "if they ever take the wall down in Berlin." In November of that year, they did. Waters kept his word, staging a show 35 years ago today that helped reclaim his @PinkFloyd legacy: ultimateclassicrock.com/roger-waters-t…

.@yesofficial ended the '70s in disarray. Who'd have guessed they were on the way to chart-topping success? Their best moments from a turbulent era managed to balance competing personalities and career objectives. Here's my new look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/yes-80s-songs/

Released by @PinkFloyd 45 years ago today, "Comfortably Numb" was the U.K.-platinum third single from 'The Wall.' Later, it became the last song performed by the classic-era lineup. On these things, all are in agreement. Everything else? Not so much: ultimateclassicrock.com/pink-floyd-com…

.@DavidBowieReal found his first widespread fame with the space-alien glam rock of 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.' Then Bowie leapt off the bandwagon. The result, his first No. 1 single 'Fame,' arrived 50 years ago today: ultimateclassicrock.com/david-bowie-fa…

It's a bad sign when the biggest music event of the year (according to the media) is a cheating couple at a Coldplay concert.

.@OzzyOsbourne became a huge television star between celebrated stints in Black Sabbath. There was more than a fair share of cursing and also an incident where something – no, not a bat – gets its head bitten off. Here's a look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/ozzy-osbourne-…

.@Toto99com's new song is not by Toto. @SteveLukather4 confirms that he had an AI-created instrumental taken down from the band's official Spotify account: ultimateclassicrock.com/toto-name-this…

Next month promises an embarrassment of rock concert riches, with live releases from the Who, Jethro Tull and Roger Waters, among others. Upcoming box sets from Van Halen, Elvis Presley and Deep Purple include more rehearsals and songs from the stage: ultimateclassicrock.com/august-2025-ne…

Presented as an avian-themed project, @STYXtheBand's 'Circling From Above' is instead a love letter to their influences. The LP comes out on Friday. Here's my review: ultimateclassicrock.com/styx-circling-…

Talking favorite local stages over at UCR so, of course, I chose @SaengerNOLA. A memorable date saw @STYXtheBand record 'Caught in the Act' under the domed ceiling's constellation of stars. More recently, @PaulSimonMusic made an incredible comeback there: bit.ly/3Ivlt2T

.@QueenWillRock followed one of Live Aid's signature moments. They also took the stage 40 years ago today at London's Wembley Stadium without much expectation. Then something unbelievable happened: ultimateclassicrock.com/queen-live-aid/

.@LedZeppelin's album-opening songs are as varied and interesting as the LPs that followed. Together, they provide a road map as the band transcended their foundational influences to redraw the rules for what hard rock could be. Here's my ranked look back: ultimateclassicrock.com/led-zeppelin-a…

An upcoming career-spanning @RonnieWood anthology will feature solo material and songs with the @RollingStones, Faces and @jeffbeckmusic Group. Check out one of four included never-before-heard songs. This is Woods' first new music since 2010: ultimateclassicrock.com/ron-wood-fearl…

.@JerryGarcia played his final @GratefulDead show 30 years ago tonight at Chicago's Soldier Field. Hoarse and tired, his shaky visage spoke to the health problems that would soon consume him: ultimateclassicrock.com/jerry-garcia-l…

I wrote about this very goofy moment in Bob Dylan history. good.is/bob-dylan-dhar…

Wife’s out of town, so..

For UCR's list of Top 15 Rock Songs of 2025 (So Far), I wrote about a pair of incredible – and incredibly unsuspected – studio reunions. Two Rock Hall members also put out quieter, off-pace recordings that connected because of their nervy simplicity: ultimateclassicrock.com/top-rock-songs…

.@GeorgeHarrison began the '70s with a multi-platinum LP and ended the '80s with a pair of them. In between, there were notable successes, long disappearances and some obvious duds. Through it all, his opening songs were just as varied and unpredictable: ultimateclassicrock.com/george-harriso…

Released 50 years ago today, 'The Basement Tapes' was genius finding itself – in @BobDylan, once more; in @TheBandOfficial, for the first time. These recordings were a foundation for everything they'd do over the next years. Otherwise, it's complicated: ultimateclassicrock.com/bob-dylan-band…

Peaking on the charts this month in 2011, 'Ramble at the Ryman' offered an important rejoinder: Songwriting credits may have gone elsewhere, but Levon Helm-sung Band songs are utterly inhabited by his carnal drawl. They were again on this stirring night: bit.ly/46bjjPz