Forty years on, the record sounds as good as ever — In the early days of MTV, Def Leppard was inescapable. Their videos for “Photograph” and “Rock of Ages” both spent quite a long time in heavy rotation. For many people my age, this was our onramp to the band (and, in my case, harder rock). Pyromania was released 40 years…

And how to avoid it. — Like most beginners, I made a lot of mistakes when I first started writing my newsletter. But the biggest one, by far? Not having a specific topic Here’s what happened: When I first started writing, I was (more or less) writing for myself. I would put together things that I found interesting, and hope that…

Most successful people share the same handful of things in common: They are disciplined with their time They know how to stay focused on one goal at a time They have mentors and other influential people they can turn to for advice They have mastered one (or multiple) valuable skills …

The writer edition — It’s that time of year again! The time when parking is terrible at your gym, and your social media feeds are packed with “new year, new me” memes- both earnest and tongue-in-cheek. And, of course, people commit to finally “writing that book” or starting that newsletter. In my case, the…

What a long, strange year it's been — For someone that loves newsletters, I sure don't send this one very often. In fact, other than to announce our upcoming monthly record discussions, I can’t remember the last time I did. So why am I writing now? It’s the end of the year, and before the odometer clicks over…

Excellent cover versions of excellent songs. — Ah, the veritable cover song. When done right, it will outshine the original. Do it wrong, and it will be a cloud over the rest of your career. Doing it mediocre? Congratulations- you’re one of the 5 million bands playing “Gimme Some Lovin’” at the county fair. Not a writing…

Fifty-five years on, the singer’s legacy endures — Walking down Madison, Wisconsin’s State street, flyers for upcoming shows are everywhere. They paper over ones that have recently happened, and those too paper over older ones. It’s part of the fabric of downtown — almost a civic wallpaper. Countless bands have advertised this way, and up until not too…