Cover Story

Brad Pitt: The Rolling Stone Interview

On the set of Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds, the actor opens up about his new movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Barack Obama's presidential victory and raising a family with Angelina Jolie. By Mark Binelli

GALLERY: A History of Heartthrobs on the Cover of RS
1999 COVER STORY: The Unbearable Bradness of Being
1997 COVER STORY: Top Dog Brad Pitt
1994 COVER STORY: Slippin' Around on the Road With Brad Pitt
1992 FEATURE: Hot Actor — Brad Pitt

YEARBOOK 2008

The Year in Music

The biggest news from 2008: Bruce Springsteen rocks for Obama, the Police's epic farewell tour, the return of Britney Spears, Jonas Brothers-mania and the great hippie-beard takeover.

Tributes

Remembering the music legends we lost this year: Bo Diddley, Danny Federici, Odetta, Jerry Wexler, Isaac Hayes, Levi Stubbs, LeRoi Moore and others.

A Year on the Edge

From a marijuana field found at a Girl Scout camp to Ted Turner's prediction that global warming will lead to cannibalism, the year's strangest and most disturbing headlines.

The 50 Best Albums

Lil Wayne delivered the most eagerly anticipated hip-hop record of the decade, John Mellencamp released his darkest album in years, and Vampire Weekend brought the hooks. But no one nailed the current mood of the world like TV on the Radio.

The 100 Best Singles

Beyoncé demanded a ring, My Morning Jacket reached the cheap seats, and Coldplay ruled the world: 2008's hottest tracks.

Reissues of the Year

From a Beach Boy's gripping solo album to the (very) early days of U2. By David Fricke

The Best Movies

The top 10: Milk, The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire and more. Plus: The year's 10 biggest letdowns.
By Peter Travers

National Affairs

Bush's Final F.U.

From allowing loaded guns in national parks to gutting the Endangered Species Act, Bush is rushing through last-minute regulations to ensure that his cronies benefit for years to come. By Tim Dickinson
PLUS: Bush's Most Dangerous Judges

FEATURES

The Legend of Master Legend

Crime has a new enemy: Real Life Superheroes — clad in spandex and armed with only the power of self-invention. By Joshuah Bearman

The Killers Inside

Hanging out in Vegas with Brandon Flowers, the biggest, most insecure Mormon rock star ever. By Brian Hiatt

Willie Nelson: On the Soft Path

At 75, the country legend tours 200 days of the year, smokes weed nonstop and is trying to launch a biodiesel revolution. On the bus with the world's mellowest man. By Vanessa Grigoriadis

SPECIAL SECTION

The Great Rock & Roll Gift Guide

From box sets to lunchbox amplifiers to robotic guitars, 34 essential gifts for your favorite music fan

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

2008 — Year in Review
• The Year in Random Notes: 2008's Wildest Rock Photos
• The Year Onstage: 2008's Best Live Shots
• Critics' Picks: RS Reviewers' Favorite Albums and Songs
• Artists Picks: Chris Martin, Lars Ulrich, Taylor Swift

Go Backstage With Coldplay: Exclusive photo gallery: Go behind the scenes with Chris Martin and Co. as they play pingpong, tune their guitars and get pumped for a gig on their Viva la Vida tour.

The Hottest New Year's Eve Gigs: From My Morning Jacket in New York to Stone Temple Pilots in Los Angeles to the Wu-Tang Clan in Baltimore, the night's biggest shows across the States.

Behind the Scenes With Brian Wilson: Rolling Stone's cameras captured the Beach Boy's pre-show rituals, including his intimate spiritual circle, before a recent New York gig. Also, Wilson recounts frightening Elvis with a judo chop.

More Gear: Rock & Roll Gift Guide Blowout Even more must-have gadgets, from high-end headphones to touch-screen cellphones and the brand-new portable Guitar Hero.

Obama's First RS Interview: In 2004, Barack Obama was a newly elected Illinois senator who was emerging as a major player in the Democratic Party. Read Amanda Griscom Little's revealing Q&A about the future president.

Little Joy Live at the Smoking Section: The Strokes' Fab Moretti's new band plays a gig at the RS offices.

Snow Patrol's Secret Influences: Singer Gary Lightbody on AC/DC, Nirvana and the other unlikely music that changed his life.

Killers Hit the Road: Exclusive photos and a full report from the band's new tour supporting Day & Age.