Cover Story

Michael Jackson's
Final Comeback

In the last months of his life, the pop icon plotted an epic return with new songs and a huge tour. Behind the scenes of his last shot at redemption. By Claire Hoffman

From the Issue: The Comeback That Never Was
Video: Writer Claire Hoffman on her cover story
Remembering Michael Jackson: Photos, video and cover stories from the Rolling Stone archives tracing Jackson's remarkable career
Gallery: Watch his greatest moments from Motown to his pop coronation.

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Obama's Real Reform

The president is on the verge of shutting down the private lenders who prey on college kids — which would free up $87 billion in federal aid. By Tim Dickinson

FEATURES

Confessions of a Pop Star

With the release of his most personal album, Rob Thomas opens up about the past — the violent childhood, the drugs — and how he survived it. By Erik Hedegaard

Photos: The hitmaker's platinum-plated career, from wide-eyed Matchbox Twenty frontman to acclaimed songwriter to chart-topping solo artist.

Death of a Freerider

Sam Brown was a legendary extreme mountain biker who went from defying gravity to smuggling millions of dollars of pot across the U.S.-Canada border.
By Jesse Hyde

Rock & Roll

Rock Hall Turns 25

U2, Springsteen, Clapton and more to celebrate Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 25th Anniversary.

Live: Bruce Springsteen, U2, Metallica, Eric Clapton, More Set for All-Star Rock Hall Celebration
Video: A video retrospective of Bruce Springsteen's journey to immortality.

Q&A: Kid Rock on monogamy, Twittering and his new tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd

Profile: Levon Helm's Midnight Rambles set the stage for his best album in decades

Live: U2 Light Up Stadiums on World Tour

In the Studio: MGMT Get Experimental on Second LP. Plus: Beck and Colbie Caillat

Obituaries: Beatles, Stones Manager Allen Klein. Plus: Ali Akbar Khan, Sky Saxon

Checking In: Chickenfoot Claw Their Way to the Top

Hall of Fame: The Clash's Combat Rock

Audio: Clash drummer Topper Headon demonstrates how he wrote "Rock the Casbah" on the piano.

Books

The Bigger Lebowski

Going the Dude one better, reclusive mind-blower Thomas Pynchon elegizes the Sixties with the ultimate stoner-noir detective novel By Rob Sheffield

Special Section

Sports on the Edge

From NASCAR'S wild man to extreme surfers to Nitro Circus: Meet the world's most fearless athletes

Guide: From Superbowl quarterbacks to fiery pitchers, five more fearless athletes.
Photos: The fearless athletes in action.
Photos: Bonus shots of high-kicking cage fighter Gina Carano.
Profile: BASE jumper Jeb Corliss.

RECORDS

The Sound of Woodstock

New sets of discs present the most comprehensive account of the festival to date: Sly and the Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Johnny Winter and Santana. Plus: Woodstock — 40 Years On: Back to Yasgur's Farm

PLUS: Daughtry, Brad Paisley, Jordin Sparks, Demi Lovato, Kristinia DeBarge, Jeremih, Little Boots, Discovery, Florence and the Machine, Amazing Baby, Amanda Blank, Golden Silvers, Will Dailey, the Horrors, Miike Snow, J Dilla, the Fiery Furnaces, Wussy, Japandroids, Howling Bells, Factory Records: Communications 1978-1992 and the reissue of the Beastie Boys' Ill Communication

FRICKE'S PICKS: The Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood, Church, Open Strings: 1920s Middle Eastern Recordings/New Responses

MOVIES

'Funny People'

Judd Apatow snags Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen for his warmest, most personal film yet.

Plus: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, (500) Days of Summer, The Cove.

Video: Draco Malfoy himself, Tom Felton, visits Peter Travers for his latest "Off the Cuff" video.

The Travers Take: More movie news and reviews from our movie critic.

Travers Hits Twitter: Tap in for daily Twitter updates — juicy interview tidbits and knee-jerk reviews — from our film critic.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

The Return of Blink-182: Photos and a live report as pop punk's progenitors — Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker and Tom DeLonge — launch their reunion tour in Las Vegas (where else?).

The Fray Unplugged: Watch an acoustic set from the Denver group, including its hit "You Found Me" and a cover of Joan Osbourne's "St. Teresa.".

Juliette Lewis: The actress-singer debuts the results of her collaboration with the Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez-Lopez in our exclusive clip.

Art Brut: Video of the Brit punk band's set, including "Emily Kane" and B side "Positively 5th St."

All Points West: A breakdown of the bands you should not miss at the East Coast's premier rock festival (July 31st-August 2nd). Plus: photos and live reports.

Michael Jackson photographed at Neverland Ranch in 2005.
Photograph by Jonathan Exley