Mars Williams
Lisa Torem recollects meeting, interviewing and enjoying Chicago-based saxophonist Mars Williams’s music and endearing personality over the years.
Jerry Lee Lewis
Lisa Torem recalls the positive effects that Jerry Lee Lewis had on her musical career and why he should be forever remembered.
Jann Klose
Lisa Torem profiles the extraordinary new single and video 'Sugar My' from singer-songwriter Jann Klose.
Andrew Môn Hughes, Grant Walters and Mark Crohan
Lisa Torem examines a new book 'The Bee Gees in the 1960s’ which examines their early career.
Laura Shenton
Lisa Torem is impressed with Laura Shenton's well-researched and informative book about progressive rock band Curved Air's early history in the 1970s.
Beatles
Lisa Torem, in the second of two articles on the Beatles' new epic documentary, that you’d be wise to watch Get Back,’ where the Beatles exhibit patience and utter genius.
Common
Chicago-raised rap artist, Common, lays bare his spiritual growth in his sophomore book, ‘Let Love Have the Last Word’ in 'Raging Pages'.
Little Richard
Lisa Torem reminisces about one of her favourite rock ‘n’ roll heroes, Little Richard, who died in May.
Miscellaneous
Pennyblackmusic magazine editor John Clarkson talks to Lisa Torem on its twentieth anniversary about the formation and history of our website.
Alice Cooper
Brigs Jones is a musician, mastering engineer, a composer and arranger for eclectic, artistic clients – occasionally a bespoke guitarist and sound recording teacher, and looking forward to returning t
Alice Cooper
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Alice Cooper Group, Pennyblackmusic has assembled greetings from essential friends and players.
Leon Wildes
Leon Wildes, author of 'John Lennon vs the USA', immigration attorney and winner of this groundbreaking case, talks about working with Lennon and Yoko Ono, legal challenges and the effects on posterity.
Michael Bloomfield
Mike Bloomfield was once known as a Chicago blues icon, playing with The Butterfield Blues Band, The Electric Flag, and as a soloist. Lisa Torem listens to two newly-released albums of his stunning work.
Simon Townshend
Lisa Torem examines British singer-songwriter Simon Townshend's albums, 2012's ‘Looking Out Looking in’ and 2014's ‘She Asked Me’, both of which he has re-released in remastered and expanded editions on his own Stir label
Pretty Things
Lisa Torem finds that several new reissues and remasters by 60's act the Pretty Things speaks volumes about their versatility and progressive attitude towards rock
Cream
Lisa Torem reflects on the short but prolific career of 60's supergroup Cream, who have just ahd most of their work released in a new vinyl box set
Simon Davies
Simon Davies, former director of UK-based Teenage Cancer Trust and now executive director of America-based Teen Cancer America, discusses the organisation's goals, current focus and the involvement of Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend from The Who in it
Beatles
Lisa Torem pays a personal tribute to Cynthia Lennon, the first wife of John Lennon, who died in April
Beatles
Lisa Torem speaks to Louise Harrison, the older sister of George Harrison, about the Beatles tribute band which she manages and her recent memoir
Rod Stewart
Lisa Torem reflects on the early solo career of Rod Stewart, whose five first albums have just been re-released in a vinyl box set
David Bowie
Lisa Torem reflects upon the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago's new David Bowie exhibition, 'David Bowie Is'
Johnny Thunders
Lisa Torem watches poignant new DVD documentary 'Looking for Johnny', which is about the life of late New York Dolls and Heartbreakers' guitarist Johnny Thunders
Miscellaneous
Lisa Torem talks to Michael Darling, the chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, about the 'David Bowie Is' exhibition, which after its run at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, is now about to open there
George Wein
Lisa Torem speaks to pianist and Newport Jazz Festival founder George Wein about his seminal festival, which is now celebrating its sixtieth anniversary
Julia Baird
Lisa Torem talks with John Lennon's half-sister Julia Baird about her reissued memoir, 'Imagine This: Growing Up with My Brother John Lennon'
Fabulous Thunderbirds
Lisa Torem reflects on the history of Texas blues rockers the Fabulous Thunderbirds, who have recently had most of their back catalogue re-released on CD
Jill Hughes Kirtland
Lisa Torem talks to author Jill Hughes Kirtland about her new book on female heavy metal musicians, 'Not Just Tits in a Corset: Celebrating Women in Metal'
Ufo
Lisa Torem enjoys Neil Daniels' thoughtful and informative new book on underrated British rock act, UFO
Heirs
Lisa Torem talks to film director Kevin Fitzgerld about his hip-hop documentary, 'Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme'
Miscellaneous
Lisa Torem is impressed by new documentary 'Medora', which tells of the mixed fortunes of an Indiana basketball team and which comes with a remarkable soundtrack
Joe Edwards
Lisa Torem talks to St Louis club owner Joe Edwards who has now put on at his club Blueberry Hill nearly two hundred shows with the legendary Chuck Berry
Buddy Guy
Lisa Torem enjoys Buddy Guy's autobiography, which tells of his remarkable rise to fame from his early poor background on a farm in rural Louisiana
Perry Bax
Chicago-based sound engineer Perry Bax speaks about his experiences working for the Rolling Stones on their 2003 fortieth anniversary tour
Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren recently spent a week at Columbia College in Chicago working with its music students both at a recording session and also on preparing for a show. In the first part of a two part profile Lisa Torem sits in on the recording session...
Todd Rundgren
.,.while in the second part she attends the gig
Nina Simone
Lisa Torem reflects on the career of soul/jazz icon Nina Simone, who is about to have a new double CD retrospective of her work, 'The Nina Simone Anthology' released
Coasters
Lisa Torem examines the career and legacy of 50's and 60's rock and roll group the Coasters, who have two new compilations out, 'The Definitive Coasters: A Sides and B Sides' and 'B Sides and Bonus Tracks'
Who
Lisa Torem assesses and reflects upon the work of Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend's charity Teen Cancer America, which has recently opened centres in the United States
Blues Band
Lisa Torem examines recent reissues from the Blues Band of their 1982 fourth studio album, 'Brand Loyalty', and 1983 live record, ‘Bye Bye Blues’
Who
Lisa Torem finds Pete Townshend’s new thoughtful autobiography self-aware and compelling
Dave Brubeck
Lisa Torem reflects on the career of jazz musician and pianist Dave Brubeck, who died in December
Miscellaneous
Lisa Torem attends a launch party in New York for ECR Music Group, which run by musician/producer Blake Morgan, also includes on its roster Janita, David Cloyd, James McCartney and 60's star Lesley Gore
Steve Miller Band
Lisa Torem assesses the late 60's and early 70's early career of the Steve Miller Band, who have just had their first five albums remastered
Blues Band
Lisa Torem looks back on the early career of the Blues Band, whose first three albums, 'The Official Blues Band Bootleg Album', 'Ready' and 'Itchy Feet'have just been re-released
EARLY MORNING BLUES AND GREENS
After winning an online competition, Lisa Torem recently met Ringo Starr. She reflects back on her long history with the Beatles drummer before then
ME
Michael Andrews put himself on the map after composing the soundtrack for the film, 'Donnie Darko', but his film scores have also included sci-fi, bio pics and romantic comedies. He talks to Lisa Torem about his film career, new releases and fatherhood
Bear in Heaven
Lisa Torem examines Detroit-born glam rock icon Suzi Quatro's four albums, 'Your Mama Won’t Like Me’,‘Aggro-Phobia’, 'Rock Hard' and 'Unreleased Emotion', all of which have been recently reissued
Joni Mitchell
Lisa Torem is impressed by Michelle Mercer's extensively researched new book on Joni Mitchell, which examines her career between 1971 and 1976
M Gira
Lisa Torem finds entertaining record producer and music publisher Randy Poe's autobiographical account of his attempts to pitch a ballad, penned by Leiber and Stoller, into the hands of country star Willie Nelson
Ronnie Montrose
Lisa Torem pays personal tribute to Montrose and Gamma guitarist Ronnie Montrose who died on March 3rd
Etta James
Lisa Torem looks back and reflects on the career and life of jazz artist Etta James, who died earlier this year
Miscellaneous
Lisa Torem visits Cuba and examines its music and some of its often surprising influences.
Beatles
Lisa Torem is impressed by Bruce Pollock's encyclopedic new book on the Beatles and the bands and other artists that they in turn influenced
Robin Trower
With three of former Procul Harum guitarist Robin Trower's albums, ‘What Lies Beneath’, ‘Another Day’s Blues’ and ‘20th Century Blues’, being re-released, Lisa Torem assesses each of them
Dusty Springfield
With a new box set just out, Lisa Torem reflects back on the career and highlights of British queen of soul and 60's icon, Dusty Springfield
Baron Wolman
Lisa Torem examines Baron Wolman's new book which compiles together and meditates upon his photography for 'Rolling Stone' magazine between 1967 and 1970