Matthew Trzcinski

Music

What Linda Ronstadt’s ‘Different Drum’ Sounded Like When It Was Going to Be a Monkees Song

One of The Monkees wrote "Different Drum" but the band wasn't allowed to record it. Later, Linda Ronstadt and two of The Monkees each recorded versions of the song.

Movies

Steven Spielberg Calls This Movie His First That Didn’t ‘Go Better With Popcorn’

Steven Spielberg said 'The Color Purple' was more character-driven than his previous movies. The film didn't perform as well at the box office or the Academy Awards as 'Jaws'.

Music

How Linda Ronstadt Changed the Lyrics of The Rolling Stones’ ‘Tumbling Dice’

Mick Jagger didn't like The Rolling Stones' "Tumbling Dice." Later, Linda Ronstadt covered it. The world reacted differently to the two versions of the song.

Music

How Eggs Helped Inspire Paul Simon’s ‘Mother and Child Reunion’

Paul Simon's "Mother and Child Reunion" was his attempt to write a reggae song. A personal tragedy and his love for his wife helped him write the classic track.

Music

Why Linda Ronstadt Didn’t Think the Ramones Were as Good as The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger

Linda Ronstadt liked The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger and some punk rock musicians, but not the Ramones. She called them out for a very specific reason. Here's how The Rolling Stones performed on the charts compared to the Ramones.

Music

1 of U2’s Songs Was Inspired by Martin Luther King

U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love)" was about Ronald Reagan before Bono rewrote the lyrics to be about his hero, Martin Luther King. Bono explained why King meant so much to him,

Music

U2’s Bono Said This John Lennon Song Was Like a Hymn Written by an Atheist

John Lennon's album 'Imagine' connected with U2's Bono. He really loved one of its songs, "Oh My Love." Later, Yoko Ono said there was a major connection between Bono and John.

Music

How Elvis Presley Reacted When Priscilla Presley Considered an Abortion

Priscilla Presley had mixed feelings about the prospect of motherhood. She later told Elvis Presley of her pregnancy. He had strong feelings about their daughter.

Music

U2’s Bono Said The Who’s ‘Behind Blue Eyes’ Changed His Life

U2's Bono had a difficult childhood. As a teenager, The Who's "Behind Blue Eyes" resonated with him. Pete Townshend opened up about the song's meaning.

Music

How The Monkees’ Peter Tork Felt When the Sex Pistols Covered ‘(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone’

The Monkees' Peter Tork and Davy Jones weighed in on the Sex Pistols, a band who covered "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone." Here's how Americans and Brits reacted to different versions of the song.

Music

Keith Richards Wanted to Bring out the ‘Dryness’ in This Rolling Stones Song

The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards had a hard time perfecting "Street Fighting Man" but he really liked it and the British public seemed to like it as well.

Music

Why Fans Incorrectly Thought The Beatles’ ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ Inspired Strawberry Alarm Clock

Strawberry Alarm Clock had to use the word "strawberry' in their name for reasons unrelated to The Beatles. Here's how the world reacted to "Incense & Peppermints" and "Strawberry Fields Forever."

Music

The Monkees Were Forced to Change This Risqué Line from ‘Daydream Believer’

The Monkees recorded a song that wasn't written for them. They had to change the lyrics. Here's how the public reacted to the song in the 1960s and long afterward.

Music

The Beatles’ Paul McCartney Was Upset His Wife Couldn’t Be at His Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction

Someone who was important to Paul McCartney couldn't be at his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Here's how he felt about her absence — and what Stella McCartney did at the ceremony.

Music

Simon & Garfunkel’s Paul Simon Reacted to Disturbed’s Cover of ‘The Sound of Silence’

Here's a look at Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence," why Disturbed covered it, and what Paul Simon thought of the cover.

Movies

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Compared ‘Jungle Cruise’ to ‘The African Queen’ But Humphrey Bogart’s Son Isn’t Having It

Disney's 'Jungle Cruise' starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is connected to 'The African Queen,' starring Humphrey Bogart. Here's how Bogart's son and critics compare the films.

Music

The Beatles: John Lennon Said This Musician Did a Terrible Job on the ‘Let It Be’ Album

John Lennon hated how The Beatles' 'Let It Be' sounded at one point. He said this musician did a terrible job on it. Later, Phil Spector changed the album.

Movies

The Babadook Is Based on This Classic Character From a Lost Movie

A horror movie starring a major actor is lost forever, but the director of 'The Babadook' said it influenced her. Here is how the world reacted to her film.

Music

John Lennon Was ‘Irritated’ by Part of His 1st Album After The Beatles’ Breakup

John Lennon liked this album. Two versions of the same interview quote him saying different things about it. Here is how the British public reacted to it.

Music

Linda Ronstadt Felt Her Vocals on Her Only No. 1 Song Were ‘Terrible’

One of Linda Ronstadt's most successful songs is a cover. She wasn't satisfied with it. Here's how the public reacted to the cover.