This week on the Hardcore Humanism Podcast, I speak with singer, artist and writer Alison Mosshart about her life and career. Mosshart has been a touring musician for most of her life: early on in the punk rock band Discount, then performing indie rock in The Kills and blues-based rock in The Dead Weather. In addition to a new […]
#004 Alison Mosshart Read More »
“Don’t feel you’ve got to hide” From “Stay Hungry” by Twisted Sister I grew up fearing metalheads. Metalheads can be defined broadly as anyone who is either a fan or performer of heavy metal music. I would see metalheads at school and think that they looked … different. They had piercings, carried chains, wore black
How Heavy Metal Helped Me Break The Chains Read More »
“We’ve got the right to choose it There ain’t no way we’ll lose it This is our life, this is our song” From “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister Twisted Sister’s 1984 album Stay Hungry was certainly the band’s defining musical statement. Decades later, on the strength of hit songs like “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” “I
What I Learned From Heavy Metal Champion Dee Snider Read More »
Talked with heavy metal legend and Twisted Sister front man Dee Snider this week and, in retrospect, Twisted Sister’s 1984 album Stay Hungry was sort of a blue print for Hardcore Humanism: Songs like “We’re Not Gonna Take it” were letting people know that the metal community rejects the stereotypes and judgments placed upon it.
“Happy Days Are Here Again, The Time Is Right For Makin’ Friends, Let’s Get Together, How ‘Bout A Quarter To Ten, Come Tomorrow, Let’s All Do It Again” From “Good Times” by Chic What do we mean when we say “purpose?” In one sense, purpose can simply be a belief or a state of being – a passive
How We Can Invest In Our Purpose Read More »
“A better love you won’t find today” From “I Want Your Love” by Chic I wonder if Carl Rogers and Nile Rodgers ever met. The late Carl Rogers was one of the founders of Humanistic psychology. In a world where Freud was convinced that people were all lascivious, primitive id-mongers and Skinnner proposed that people
How Nile Rodgers Puts His Utopian Love Into Action Read More »
This week on the Hardcore Humanism Podcast we spoke with musician, songwriter, producer and activist Nile Rodgers. Many people know Nile as the co-founder of Chic, considered one of the best bands of the disco era, with anthems such as “Le Freak,” “Good Times,” and “I Want Your Love.” But Nile was also a co-writer,
#002: Nile Rodgers Read More »
The concept of what it is to be a “rock star” has certainly evolved over the course of my life. When I was growing up, the rock star concept was fairly universal. Simply put, the overwhelming majority of the world lived a fairly conventional existence. We were allowed to party and have fun until we
Rock Stars Re-imagined Read More »
“Why do I breathe? Why do I work?” From “Strange Things” by Big Black Steve Albini has lived a punk rock life. Not only is Albini a founding member of seminal punk rock bands such as Big Black and Shellac but he is also founder of Electrical Audio, an independent, DIY studio where he has
Steve Albini and the Power of the Punk Rock Mind Read More »
Musician, songwriter and recording engineer, Steve Albini is a founding member of seminal punk rock bands Big Black and Shellac as well as founder of Electrical Audio recording studio. He’s been the recording engineer for some of the most essential records in modern history including The Pixies’ Surfer Rosa, The Breeders’ Pod, PJ Harvey’s Rid
#001: Steve Albini Read More »
