Cover Story

Bush Apologizes

W. finally leaves the White House on January 20th. But before he escapes, RS nabbed an "interview" in which Bush came clean — on his daddy issues, Condi's farts and the time Dick waterboarded the houseboy.
By Matt Taibbi

Fail to the Chief! Saying Goodbye to George W.: From "Mission Accomplished" to the door that wasn't, the reasons we laughed (when we weren't crying) during the past eight years.

What Obama Must Do: A Letter to the New President

Many presidents have been forced to deal with crises, but very few have inherited — on Day One — a country on the brink of catastrophe. What should Obama do?
By Paul Krugman

Paul Krugman on Bush's Money Woes: The Nobel Prize-winning economist analyzes George W.'s worst offenses, including the "Fake Crisis" Bush created to kill Social Security.
• Voodoo Economics
• How Bush Gets Away With It
• The Fake Crisis
• The Great Wealth Transfer
• Audio: The Rolling Stone 40th Anniversary Issue

FEATURES

Ray LaMontagne's Deep-Woods Soul

Chickens, vintage typewriters and 85 acres of woods — at home with the acclaimed singer-songwriter on his Maine farm. By David Browne

Benicio Del Toro: Unusual Suspect

In movies like Traffic and The Usual Suspects, Del Toro has never been a conventional actor. Now, with a staggering performance in the controversial epic Che, he secures his place as Hollywood's revolutionary rogue.
By Erik Hedegaard

Robin Williams Hits the Road

After a six-year hiatus, a high-profile divorce and a drinking relapse, the Oscar-winning comedian returns to thestage — and this time the jokes are personal.
By Jason Gay

Three Decades of Robin Williams in RS:
• The Rolling Stone Interview: Robin Williams
• Robin Williams Heads for the Hills
• Gallery: Comedy on the Cover

Sex, Lies and Phys Ed

He was a star athlete at Hammonton High, she was the hottest teacher in school — and the sparks were instant. What happens when every boy's fantasy becomes reality? By Sabrina Rubin Erdely

School Sex Scandal: Behind the Story: Writer Sabrina Rubin Erdely on a star athlete, a gym teacher and an affair gone wrong. Plus, watch an exclusive clip from the upcoming documentary After School.

Rock and Roll

In the Studio with U2

Bono and Co. give us the exclusive first listen to their explosive new album

TRACK-BY-TRACK: The band breaks down the songs on No Line on the Horizon

IN THE STUDIO: Inside the making of Bruce Springsteen's new Working On a Dream

INDUSTRY: Petty and the Stones saw their sales rise after playing halftime. Will Bruce?

TOURS: Artists slash prices as recession rocks the concert business

SIDE PROJECT: Working under his Fireman alter ego, Paul McCartney crafts a psych-pop gem

Paul McCartney Calls In the Fireman: The Beatle opens up about his experimental side project in a lengthy Q&A: how his lyrics recall William Burroughs and how the group channels the spirit of Revolver's "Tomorrow Never Knows."

INFLUENCES: Stephen Malkmus' Gold Sounds

BREAKING: Meet Adele, the U.K.'s newest soul star

PROFILE

Antony Hegarty

Lou Reed's favorite transgender torch singer battles for Mother Earth

Q&A

Jason Mraz

The mellow pop singer on scoring a hit single, practicing Buddhism and his addiction to avocado smoothies

RECORDS

Fall Out Boy Get Reflective

The emo kings philosophize about narcissism and megastardom — and have a blast doing it.

PLUS: Animal Collective, Soulja Boy, Glasvegas, the Derek Trucks Band, Clipse, Titus Andronicus, Plies, Antony and the Johnsons, Anthony Hamilton, Ladyhawke, A.C. Newman, Kevin Rudolf, Keyshia Cole, The Roots of Hip-Hop, The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 11A: 1971, The Best of Chess Records and the Cadillac Records Soundtrack

MOVIES

War Stories

Waltz With Bashir and Defiance take on warfare without making truth a casualty.

PLUS: Nothing But the Truth, Last Chance Harvey, Marley & Me, Bedtime Stories, Yes Man, The Day the Earth Stood Still

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

Taibbi on Bush: Bid George W. adieu with our political correspondent's most scathing features:

• The Top Five Bush Rumors
• Bush Like Me
• Post-Bush Syndrome
• The Great Iraq Swindle
• The Magical Victory Tour

Introducing 'Live at Rolling Stone': Weekly video premieres on iTunes and RS: Kaiser Chiefs, Love as Laughter, Little Joy and more of our favorite bands play exclusive, stripped-down gigs at the magazine's offices.

Is Donald Trump Neil Young's Biggest Fan?: RS hunted down the mogul after spying him sitting front row at Young's gigs. "His voice is perfect and haunting," Trump says.

Movie Awards: Behind the Madness: Peter Travers' guide to making sense of the Oscars and the Globes.

The Ting Tings Live at the S.S.: The band plays its hit from the iPod ad in an exclusive set at the RS offices.

Inside the Biggie Smalls Biopic: Stars of Notorious reveal secrets to portraying hip-hop royalty like B.I.G. and Puffy.

Scott Weiland Live: Exclusive photos and a full report from the Stone Temple Pilots frontman's solo tour.