Mark Ronson Welcomes Rhymefest, Phantom Planet at Lollapalooza

Mark Ronson and company marked the final date of their 16-month tour in funky style. The English guitarist/deejay had a host of international guests in tow — ncluding Liverpool's Candie Payne, Australia's Daniel Merriweather and all of Phantom Planet — and treated a small but fervent crowd to "a bunch of covers of indie-rock songs with trumpets on [them], blah blah blah." A horn section and string section — each dolled up in ballroom attire — manned opposite sides of the stage while Ronson, looking all of 14 years old, inhabited the roles of master of ceremonies and rhythm guitarist. Getting a little help from their friends, they turned the Kaiser Chiefs' "Oh My God" and Radiohead's "Just" inside-out. Ronson's lone misstep? Putting Rhymefest out to open rather than close the show. The dynamic Chicago emcee smoldered on an "innerversion" of Britney Spears' "Toxic" and leapt into the audience on "Brand New," during which he free-styled verses while surfing atop the crowd.

More Lollapalooza Coverage: Rock 'N' Roll Diary

• 
  MUSIC The Top 25 Teen Idol Breakout Moments
• 
  MOVIES & TV 'Game of Thrones': The Show Vs. the Books
• 
  POLITICS Matt Taibbi: Facebook IPO vs. Shareholders
• 
  VIDEOS Exclusive: Garbage Rip Through 'I Think I'm Paranoid'

Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter