Plus: Liz Phair's Inspiration; Taylor Swift Tour

Keith Richards' Memoir "Life" Inspired Liz Phair To Tour
Liz Phair says she decided to return to the road next month after reading Keith Richards' new memoir Life, which she reviewed for the . "I was like, fuck it!" Phair told Spinner. "This is awesome. I'm actually part of it. I'm a rock 'n' roller too. It made me really invigorated for performing. I'm all into it right now. I wanna rock. I don't think I've ever said that my entire career." Phair released her newest album Funstyle in October. [Spinner]

James Taylor To Tour With His Son
Next year James Taylor will launch a tour with his son Ben Taylor — their first together — who is also a singer-songwriter. Only eight dates are on the books now (the first is February 26 in Tulsa, Oklahoma), but additional shows will be announced December 3. Ben has previously toured with his mother Carly Simon. He's currently finishing his new album Listening. [Press Release]

Tom Waits Contributes Poems About Homelessness To New Book
Tom Waits has teamed up with photographer Michael O'Brien on a book about homelessness in America; Waits wrote poems that are matched with O'Brien's photographs and interviews with homeless Americans. The book, Hard Ground hits stores this March. [NME]

Taylor Swift Launches World Tour in February
Taylor Swift is launching a massive world tour next year in support of her new album Speak Now. Most of the venues for the American leg hasn't been announced yet, but the tour will touch down in stadiums in at least six cities. At just 20 years old, Swift is one of the younger performers to headline a stadium in musical history. [Billboard]

Plus: '60 Minutes' Books Gaga; VMA Date Set

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  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
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  MOVIES 'Trance' Is Intelligent, Multi-Layered
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  TV Don Draper Exposed
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  POLITICS The Shame of Three Strikes Laws

Song Stories

“More Than a Feeling”

Boston | 1976

Boston mastermind Tom Scholz was as surprised by anyone when he sent his unsolicited demo to record labels and got back a positive response. Scholz said, “I couldn’t believe it. Nobody knew who we were, so I wouldn’t even say we were struggling. It was groveling.” Part of the credit for the interest must go to the anthemic rock number "More Than a Feeling." Inspired by the Left Banke's 1966 hit "Walk Away Renee," Scholz worked on the song for five years in his basement studio before it was released on this album.

More Song Stories entries »

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