Thirty years from his death on April 5 1994, the impact of Kurt Cobain and his band, Nirvana, and their values, still resonates in today’s culture and music. Nirvana were everywhere at the start of the 1990s, much like Taylor Swift’s omnipresence today. But unlike Swift, who has embraced and mastered the business side of… Continue reading Kurt Cobain is still shaping culture – 30 years after the Nirvana frontman’s death
The long-awaited Bob Marley biopic “One Love” will highlight important moments in the musician’s life – his adolescence in Trench Town, his spiritual growth, the attempt on his life. But as a music industry scholar, I wonder if the film is yet another extension of the Marley marketing machine. Marley died in 1981 at the age of 36.… Continue reading From rebel to retail − inside Bob Marley’s posthumous musical and merchandising empire
The inclusion of Kate Bush’s 1985 song Running Up That Hill in Stranger Things catapulted her (again) into the mainstream musical scene, experiencing a true resurgence in popularity. Kate Bush herself provided a response by issuing a rare message on social media about the whole affair, not only declaring her enthusiasm over Stranger Things, but… Continue reading Kate Bush’s ethereal, evocative, and inventive music spans generations
There is no doubt that Freddie Mercury was a genius: it’s clear in his music, his theatrical performances, and his eccentrically stylised persona. These different art forms constructed a full creative package and made Mercury an icon. As we mark 30 years since his death, we should celebrate the revolutionary lyrics, piano mastery and flamboyant… Continue reading Freddie Mercury 30 years on – remembering the theatrical, eccentric genius
