Weathering membership changes and big-time success, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are back with a new album, Pay Attention, that once again finds them trying new things while still sounding distinctly Bosstones. Julio Diaz spoke with the ever-personable Dicky Barrett about life as a Bosstone in the year 2000.

Coming off the Spit Kickers tour with De La Soul and Biz Markie to his new album, Like Water for Chocolate, going gold, it’s clear that Common’s message and his hip hop grooves are finally making it to a wider audience. So what is his message? That’s what Nirav Soni found out, as they discussed politics, inspirations, and spirituality.

Let’s face it: we’re all sinners. And nobody knows that better than Tammy Faye Starlite, who’s come to preach her fire and brimstone gospel with her distintive brand of country music blasphemy. Frank Mullen repents.

Kitty in the Tree manage to sound instantly familiar and completely fresh all at the same time. How do they do it? Well, according to frontman Orion Simprini, they’re aliens! Ian Koss discusses time travel and the fine art of waiting tables with this incredible extra-terrestrial.

Don’t let the stage name fool you: Monsieur Leroc isn’t French, he’s really Arne Drescher, and he’s from Germany. And don’t let the label fool you, either: while his new record, Le Slow Motion Boogie Woogie may be on Cornerstone R.A.S./Skunk (best known for Sublime and Long Beach Dub All-Stars), Leroc’s opus is a funk/hip hop/jazz collage set against interesting beats and electronics. Phillip Haire corresponded with Leroc to examine the contradictions.

Starting an indie label is a risky prospect. Being able to sell your stuff at an affordable price and put out all the records you want to is even tougher. So how does the eclectic and intriguing Blackbean and Placenta Tape Club label make it work? Mike Landucci reveals some of the secrets of his success to Andrew Chadwick.

More and more, rock bands are adding DJs to their arsenal of musicians, using cuts, scratches, and samples to fill out their sound. Christopher R. Weingarten talked with one of the first rock DJs, DJ DNA of Urban Dance Squad, and one of today’s young guns, DJ Kilmore of Incubus, to explore the roots of the phenomenon.

Nerds of the world, unite! Nerf Herder are here to take Nerd Core to new heights! Julio Diaz corresponds with frontman Parry Grip about Star Wars, punk rock, Jonathan Richman, and all thigs nerdly.

Be true to your school! Fresh-faced and clean-cut Junior Varsity are gonna rock the sock hop with their energetic, hip ’50s rock sound! Now the Ink 19 J.V. Athletic Supporters (Ian Koss, Julio Diaz, Phil Bailey, and Andrew Chadwick) are matching wits with the J.V. squad for an e-mail pep rally!

“I was fired from every band I was in before, so the only way I can think of to not get fired was form my own band.” So says Lemmy Kilmister of the legndary Motšrhead, as he talked 25 years of rock n’ roll with Matt Thompson.

Liza Hearon caught up with Link 80 vocalist Ryan Noble during the band’s recent stint on the Plea For Peace tour to discuss day jobs, touring, and late singer Nick Traina.

Nathan T. Birk talks with guitarist Bjorn Gelotte of the Swedish metal legends about the Gothenburg scene and the meaning of death metal.

What’s emo? Don’t ask Sunny Day Real Estate drummer William Goldsmith, as he claims not to understand the label. Instead, he spoke to Gail Worley about Yoga, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and his band’s creative process.

Poison guitarist Cecil “C.C.” DeVille has cleaned up his act, and is back with a new trio called Samantha 7 that hearkens back to his (bleached blonde) glam roots. Cindy Harper caught up with the flamboyant rocker to get the full story.

Apparently, if you grow up in Portland, you wither become a serial killer or a cartoonist. Thankfully, Bill Plympton chose the latter. Carl F. Gauze took a moment out of the Florida Film Festival to catch up with the Oscar-nominated animator.

After a nice rest period following the release of their most recent album, Nimrod, Green Day are hitting the road with the Warped Tour to warm up for the recording of their next album, tentatively titled Warning. Jason Feifer got a preview of what to expect when he spoke with drummer TrŽ Cool, just prior to the tour’s kickoff.

If you’re over the age of 25, you probably grew up with the music of Duran Duran. Remember the hysteria, the screaming girls, the videos? Gail Worley sure does, and asked keyboardist Nick Rhodes about all of it in this extensive, in-depth interview.

Michael Crown gets under the Mexican wrestling mask of guitarist Eddie Angel to find out what makes the smoking instrumental rock sound of Los Straitjackets tick.

The Delta 72 are all about the rock. And the funk. And the soul. And the blues. And the kitchen sink. Holly Day catches up with Gregg Foreman of the eclectic rockers.

Bend are making quite a name for themselves on the Atlanta scene, with high-profile gigs opening for the likes of Ministry and Powerman 5000. Andrea Thompson bends the ears of vocalist Scott Dodds and guitarist Jason Grover of the up and coming alt-rock quintet.