Remembering Pere Ubu's David Thomas, a frontman who preserved chaos
Thomas' April 23 death at age 71 brings to a close one of the most significant avant-garde experiments ever conducted within the confines of pop music. Rock critic Ken Tucker reflects on his legacy.
'You Better Own This': How Rami Malek Came To Embody Freddie Mercury
Malek sang at the top of his lungs while playing Queen's lead singer in the new biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. Still, he says, "No one can sing like Freddie Mercury." Originally broadcast Nov. 21, 2018.
'In The Moment, You Just Fly': Jon Batiste Lets Loose At The Piano
Batiste, the band leader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, sits at the piano and demonstrates his "everything in the pot" style of playing. Originally broadcast Sept. 26, 2018.
'A Distinctive Voice': Tracey Thorn Goes On 'Record'
The Everything but the Girl singer uses music to explore feminist themes. She sings about the different stages of women's lives on her recent solo album, Record. Originally broadcast May 3, 2018.
Director Bo Burnham On Growing Up With Anxiety — And An Audience
The former YouTube star says he wanted his film, Eighth Grade, to take an "emotional inventory" of what today's adolescents are experiencing. Originally broadcast July 18, 2018.
Celebrating The Lives Of 6 Jazz Greats Who Died In 2018
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead remembers the musical contributions of Hugh Masekela, Jerry González, Roy Hargrove, Buell Neidlinger, Randy Weston and Vancouver Jazz Festival founder Ken Pickering.
'Reluctant Psychonaut' Michael Pollan Embraces 'New Science' Of Psychedelics
Author Michael Pollan experimented with mushrooms, LSD and other psychedelics while researching his latest book, How to Change Your Mind. Originally broadcast May 15, 2018.
A Roots And Rockabilly Holiday Concert With JD McPherson And His Band
McPherson never thought he'd make a Christmas album. Then, he says, "I got a bug in my ear." He and his band perform live in studio from Socks. Originally broadcast Dec. 11, 2018.
How Rodgers And Hammerstein Revolutionized Broadway
Todd Purdum's book, Something Wonderful, is about the creative partnership and strained personal relationship behind hit shows like Carousel and The Sound of Music. Originally broadcast April 9, 2018.
Venture 'Into The Spider-Verse' For An Exuberant, Visually Stunning Thrill
If you thought you'd seen enough characters in red masks and blue suits to last a lifetime, well, you ain't seen nothing yet: This new animated film puts a fresh spin on the Spider-Man saga.
Loudon Wainwright III Opens Up About The 'Exes & Excess' That Inform His Music
Wainwright's music centers on family, and how we hurt and heal each other. He spoke to Fresh Air in 1992 and '17 about his life as a husband, father and son. His new Netflix special is Surviving Twin.