New Music: Popular Creeps, Bird Streets, New Riders of the Purple Sage

Three terrific releases are featured in my column this week.

Artist: Popular Creeps
Title: All Of This Will End In Tears (Big Stir Records)

You might like if you enjoy: The Strypes, The Replacements, The Plimsouls, Cheap Trick

Tell me more: Detroit-based rock outfit Popular Creeps has released the terrific album All Of This Will End In Tears, one of the last notable new releases of 2022. Popular Creeps' hybrid of melodic songcraft and garage rock bite proves to be a winning formula across the fast-moving 11-track disc. There is an immediacy heard on the straightforward "Black & Blue," "Gone By 45," and "Wait & See" that bewitches with a single listen. Elsewhere the jangly "Window" and "Split Decision," wistful "Keep It To Myself" (the latter enhanced by stunning guitar work including an extended solo to cap the song's rousing finale), countrified folk rocker "Wait Forever," punk rocker "Tear Me Apart" and emotional closer "Favorite Picture" add to the far-flung magic. The members of Popular Creeps (guitarist-vocalist Lenny Grassa, guitarist-vocalist Andrew Colvin, bassist Joe Heaphy and drummer Dave Nantais) have an obvious musical chemistry that is both impressive and palpable. Information: BigStirRecords.com.

Artist: Bird Streets
Title: Lagoon (Sparkle Plenty Records/Deko Entertainment)

You might like if you enjoy: Big Star, Jason Falkner, Crowded House, Pugwash, Bird Streets' 2018 self-titled debut

Tell me more: Bird Streets — the moniker for singer-songwriter John Brodeur — is back with the ambitious Lagoon. An album of luxurious and literate songs aimed at "separation, rumination, regret and recurrence," the artistic scope of the dozen track collection is elevated by an incredible list of notable collaborators who guest on the project. Indeed, Brodeur's considerable talents as lead singer and guitarist are bolstered by the likes of Aimee Mann, Jody Stephens (Big Star), Ed Harcourt, John Davis, and Buddy Judge (The Grays) along with the production skills of Patrick Sansone (Wilco), Michael Lockwood (Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple), and Zach Jones (Sting) and Oscar Albis Rodriguez (A Great Big World). While the initial recording of Lagoon spanned from the earliest sessions in Nashville in 2019 through time at Ardent Studios in Memphis in February 2020, the sudden arrival of the COVID-19 global pandemic ultimately found Brodeur turning to Los Angeles-based producer Lockwood to work on the project via remote technology for the home stretch. Each and every song on Lagoon hits its mark; the confessional opener "Sleeper Agent," emotive "The Document" (the latter one of the most striking breakup songs in memory), soaring "Let You Down," haunting "Leave No Trace" (featuring Davis' artful sitar playing), confessional "Disappearing Act" and Baroque pop sortie "Unkind" are among the wonderful songs on the masterful collection. Information: birdstreetsmusic.com.

Artist: New Riders of the Purple Sage
Title: Lyceum '72 (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: The Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Gram Parsons

Tell me more: A magical trip back 50 years awaits music fans who check out New Riders of the Purple Sage's Lyceum '72, a previously unissued opening set from the last night of the Grateful Dead's 1972 European Tour. New Riders of the Purple Sage — whose original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead —shine across the 17-track concert recording that was recorded on a 16-track machine by Dead engineers Betty Cantor, Janet Furman, Bob Matthews, Rosie McGee and Wizard. The quintet's take on country music is infectious and many of the selections here are familiar beyond the Americana genre. The rowdy "Hello Mary Lou," uptempo "Truck Drivin' Man," infectious "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)" and countrified take on The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women" are among the wonderful tracks on the disc. Lyceum '72 is available on audio CD and digital with packaging containing photographs and a reminiscence from Sam Cutler, tour manager of The Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead and New Riders of the Purple Sage.  Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Robert Kinsler

Dead & Company set dates for 2017 Fall Tour

The music of the Grateful Dead truly lives on through the powerful performances of Dead & Company. Read my review of the group's terrific performance at Irvine Meadows in July 2016 here. I first caught the band earlier that year at a strong performance at the Fabulous Forum; you can read my review of that show here.

Check out the media release before on details on the troupe's next series of concert dates...

Tickets on Sale Beginning Saturday, September 16, 2017, at 10 a.m.

Fresh off their highly acclaimed summer tour, DEAD & COMPANY has added a fall leg to its 2017 tour beginning with two shows at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, November 12, and Tuesday, November 14, and running through Friday, December 8, at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. Tickets go on sale for most concerts starting Saturday, September 16, at 10 AM through Ticketmaster, unless otherwise noted. Tickets for the Orlando and Sunrise concerts go on sale Saturday, September 23, at 10 AM. A full listing of tour dates can be found below.

Dead & Company performing at Irvine Meadows on July 26, 2016.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

The celebrated group features original Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann and Bob Weir alongside singer/guitarist John Mayer, Allman Brothers’ bassist Oteil Burbridge and Fare Thee Well and RatDog keyboardist Jeff Chimenti. Continuing in the tradition of the Grateful Dead, the group draws from the Dead’s vast catalog of songs and is taking the iconic music catalogue to new heights.

To ensure fans get tickets in their hands directly, Fan Registration will be available for the fall tour dates beginning today, September 7, at Noon ET, through Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program; supplies are limited, further information here. Presale opportunities will be available beginning Tuesday, September 12, at 10 AM.  

American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Tuesday, September 12, at noon through Friday, September 15, at 10 PM in all markets except in Orlando and Sunrise, Florida. In Orlando and Sunrise, American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public Tuesday, September 19, at noon through Friday, September 22, at 10 PM.

Dead & Company has once again partnered with CID Entertainment to offer VIP Experiences & Seamless Packages on tour including a premium concert ticket with early venue entry, a limited edition, screen printed poster, and a commemorative concert ticket and case. For full package details, visit CID Entertainment.

Check deadandcompany.com for complete ticketing information.

The inaugural Dead & Company tour, in the fall of 2015, kicked off with two sold-out shows at the legendary Madison Square Garden, which Billboard dubbed as "magical,” followed by three highly successful U.S. tours. Dead & Company is “potent enough to enrapture the faithful and convert the skeptical” (Boston Globe).

Dead & Company Fall Tour 2017 Dates:

SUN    12-Nov             New York, NY            Madison Square Garden                 

TUE     14-Nov            New York, NY            Madison Square Garden     

THU    16-Nov            Philadelphia, PA        Wells Fargo Center**

FRI      17-Nov             Boston, MA                TD Garden    

TUE     21-Nov            Washington D.C.       Capital One Arena    

WED   22-Nov            Hartford, CT               XL Center**

FRI      24-Nov           Detroit, MI                  Little Caesars Arena 

SAT     25-Nov            Columbus, OH           Nationwide Arena    

TUE     28-Nov           Charlotte, NC             Spectrum Center      

WED   29-Nov           Atlanta, GA                 Philips Arena 

FRI      1-Dec               Dallas, TX                   American Airlines Center    

SAT     2-Dec              Austin, TX                   Frank Erwin Center**

TUE     5-Dec              New Orleans, LA       Smoothie King Center          

THU    7-Dec              Orlando, FL                Amway Center++     

FRI      8-Dec              Sunrise, FL                 BB&T Center++

**Tickets are not available through Ticketmaster for these concerts.

++Tickets go on sale Saturday, September 23, at 10 AM.

Music heroes come alive on the printed page

Fans of power pop and progressive rock as well as "Deadheads" all have some choice titles to check out.

Title: Play On! Power Pop Heroes: Volume No. 4
Author: Ken Sharp
Publisher: Jetfighter
Softcover: 528 pages
Tell me more: Play On! Power Pop Heroes: Volume 4 marks the fourth installment of author-musician Ken Sharp's ambitious series celebrating the legacy of the power pop genre. This volume features a number of artists who scored enduring commercial and/or cult success with melodic rock in the 1980s and '90s. This volume allows some of the genre's best (and best-known) architects to tell their story via their own words courtesy of insightful interviews conducted by Sharp and exclusive to Play On! Power Pop Heroes: Volume 4. There are also specific albums highlighted, where the artists provide a track-by-track overview of the songs. Several of this writer's favorites – The Bangles' All Over the Place and Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend – are among the classics featured. What's more, the hefty title is adorned with rare photographs and images of handwritten lyrics ("Blood and Roses" by The Smithereens' Pat DiNizio and  "Warren in the '60s" by Tommy Keene immediately come to mind). Among the other greats featured in the essential volume are Crowded House, the Go-Go's, Michael Penn, Teenage Fanclub and The Three O'Clock. Other memorable artists profiled in the book include the dB's, the Producers, and Redd Kross. The book is available for a limited time only and available exclusively at: http://www.goodmusicguy.com/play-on-power-pop-heroes-volume-4/
Information: ken-sharp.com.

Title: Close to the Edge: How Yes's Masterpiece Defined Prog Rock
Author: Will Romano
Publisher: Backbeat Books
Softcover: 304 pages
Tell me more: With Yes finally set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 7, 2017, now is a perfect time to catch up on the British band's history with a read of the enthralling tale of the progressive rock troupe's seminal 1972 masterwork Close to the Edge. Author (and well-known music journalist) Will Romano takes a look back at the events 45 years ago that shaped the creation of the London-spawned ensemble's fifth studio album, using both archival and original interviews with guitarist Steve Howe, singer Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire and other key players to provide rich insight into the album's creation. Romano's well-written book not only gets inside the creation of the album, but really provides insight into each of the players and their own far-flung backgrounds that ultimately provided the necessary ingredients for Close to the Edge. Information: backbeatbooks.com.

Title: Gratefully Deadicated Pin Art Coloring Book
Authors: Art by Gary Kroman with Leslie D. Kippel
Publisher: Backbeat Books
Softcover: 96 pages
Tell me more: When it comes to the Gratefully Deadicated Pin Art Coloring Book, the proof is in the pages. With an introduction about artist and a short history of "cloisonné pin art," Leslie D. Kippel gets things off to a quick start before music fans will get to delve in and complete the forty-six Gary Kroman illustrations featured in the book. The images (including many of the late great singer-guitarist Jerry Garcia) are featured on single-sided printing on high-quality paper to reduce the chance of bleed-through. Information: backbeatbooks.com.

Title: Fifty Years of Deadhead Art
Authors: Art by Gary Kroman with Leslie D. Kippel
Publisher: Backbeat Books
Softcover: 96 pages
Tell me more: The Fifty Years of Deadhead Art coloring book is the perfect companion to the aforementioned Gratefully Deadicated Pin Art Coloring Book. This volume features some amazing images created by artist Gary Kroman that capture the legacy and imagery associated with the '60s and '70s counterculture embraced by the Grateful Dead and their dedicated fans. A brief introduction by Leslie D. Kippel (the long-time editor of the Grateful Dead fan publication Dead Relix) provides insight into the psychedelic stylings featured in the book. Information: backbeatbooks.com.




Robert Kinsler

Jackie Greene finds perfection in San Juan Capistrano

Jackie Greene performing at the
Coach House on Dec. 11, 2016.

Jackie Greene
Where: The Coach House, San Juan Capistrano, CA
When: Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016
Next: Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY on Dec. 14, 2016; the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma, CA on Dec. 29 and 30, 2016

It isn't often an artist is flawless over the length of a full-length concert.

But that is exactly what Jackie Greene and his terrific three-man band displayed during every thrilling twist and turn of a fast-moving and inspiring 100-minute outing at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Sunday night (Dec. 11, 2016).

An artist able to masterfully craft material blending roots rock, blues, pop, Americana, folk and R&B with authentic ease, the Northern California native displayed virtuoso chops on guitar, keyboards and harmonica across his set, while showcasing lead vocals fully up to the task of delivering his top-tier songs.

From left, drummer Fitz Harris, guitarist Nathan Dale, guitarist
Jackie Greene and bassist Jon Cornell at the Coach House.

Opening with "I Don't Live in a Dream" off his 2008 album Giving Up the Ghost, Greene somehow blended tinges of melancholy pop into the acoustic blues gem. While many artists often get things going on a harder note, Greene and company opted to build to that with the second offering "Medicine" off his outstanding 2010 disc Till The Light Comes. A song that wouldn't be out of place on a Beck disc, "Medicine" was bolstered by an undeniably catchy groove throughout its verses and choruses, Greene also unleashed great lead guitar work during the song.

Greene turned things around quickly again for his third track, the breezy "Another Love Gone Bad," which had the sonic feel of a Grateful Dead song with guitarist Nathan Dale and drummer Fitz Harris adding some sterling vocal harmonies (his band was rounded out by bassist Jon Cornell).

So the night went, with Greene changing it up armed with his superb set of originals, able to move from acoustic to electric guitar, from electric piano to organ when the music or mood demanded it. 

Jackie Greene using slide

One of the most powerful performances of the night came relatively early and courtesy of "Silver Lining," a confessional where Greene sang of the realities and myths of being a musician, of life on the road and following dreams: "Our feet don't touch the ground/I'd like to believe after all this I'd end up a millionaire/But not that's where it's at/Anyway it don't work like that." Armed with his electric guitar, Greene launched into the song with a brief bluesy solo, and continued to feature nuanced and affecting electric guitar work using a slide to enhance the song's theme: "Where's my silver lining," he sang.

Greene pleased long-time fans by reaching back for the infectious "Gone Wanderin'," and "By the Side of the Road, Dressed to Kill," both off his 2002 break-through release Gone Wanderin'. But based on the cheers, and intensity of the audience reaction throughout the set, it is likely every selection was somebody's favorite. There was authentic country ("Light Up Your Window"), straight-up blues ("Seven Jealous Sisters," with Dale and Greene each performing multiple lead guitar solos), beautiful piano-anchored ballads (notably "Shaken" and the exquisite "You Can't Have Bad Luck All the Time"), gospel ("Hallelujah") and Memphis soul ("So Hard To Find My Way," that had Greene working the keyboards and blues harmonica).

Greene's encore was a hard-hitting take on his "Cold Black Devil / 14 Miles," a freewheeling country-blues rocker that allowed Greene and his band to flat-out rock.

Opening the night were the Cordovas, a Nashville-based quartet that mined the sonic territory of the Grateful Dead for 45 minutes, delivering some impressive musicianship, great harmonies and solid original material before closing with a strong take on the Dead's "Truckin'."

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photography courtesy of Bob Steshetz

Dead & Company conjure up past glories in Irvine

Dead and Company perform at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on July 26, 2016.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

EDITOR'S NOTE: Robert Kinsler's review originally was posted on The Orange County Register Web site on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. A special "thank you" to Bob Steshetz for the use of his awesome photographs taken at the performance.

John Mayer performing at Irvine Meadows.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Dead & Company
Where: Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
When: Tuesday, July 26

What may have started as little more than a one-off tribute to the Grateful Dead in late 2015 has developed into something special. Launched by founding Grateful Dead singer-guitarist Bob Weir and modern-day singer-guitar hero John Mayer, the aptly-dubbed Dead & Company performed a marathon-length performance before an enthusiastic and near-capacity retro-attired crowd at Irvine Meadows on Tuesday night. In addition to those celebrated talents, Dead & Company features founding Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart (drums) and Bill Kreutzmann (drums), as well as bassist Oteil Burbridge and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti. 

As strong as the troupe was in a headlining tour stop at The Forum last December (READ THAT REVIEW HERE), the Irvine performance easily outdistanced that show. While both performances clocked in at about 3-1/2 hours (including a 40-minute intermission) and each allowed ample time for the band to revisit a plethora of Dead favorites, there was a musical explosiveness that set the outdoor date in Irvine apart. 

Bob Weir at Irvine Meadows.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

Opening with the laid-back blues-rock gem "Cold Rain and Snow," Mayer's nuanced lead vocals and sterling guitar work were a perfect fit with the band's loose jam approach. The follow-up song "Jack Straw," allowed Mayer and Weir to share lead vocals; the psychedelic blues vibe allowed the song to build from a more sparse section to a stronger rock 'n' roll finale, with Mayer's speedy guitar leads blending beautifully with Chimenti's fluid playing on a grand piano.

Songs frequently stretched to 10 minutes or more, and while that might not work for simple compositions, Dead & Company's prowess to blend solos amidst intricate textures in involving and hypnotic ways kept things interesting. While blues is at the heart of much of the band's sound, the infusion of rock, jazz, folk, psychedelic and even gospel elements made sure things never got boring.

John Mayer, left, and Bob Weir.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

The Delta blues-tinged "Big Boss Man" was a key highlight of the group's first set, with Mayer proving that even when using a clean (non-distorted) tone on his electric guitar, he could tear it up. Both solos in the song allowed him to showcase his speedy and affecting lead guitar work. The next tune, the New Orleans-styled "Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo," was marked by the beautiful vocal harmonies blended by Mayer and Weir. 

The second half of the concert offered just as much magic, allowing the crowd to cheer and sway to the rhythms during potent performances of "Fire on the Mountain," "Dark Star," and a flat-out rocking "U.S. Blues" that closed out the second set.

The memorable and fast-moving encore included a beautiful version of "Brokedown Palace" with Mayer and Weir once again blending their voices as the gospel Americana soundscape played out around them.

Dead & Company at the end of their concert.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

With Weir on lead vocals, Dead & Company wrapped up the magical night with a rollicking cover of Chuck Berry's iconic "Johnny B. Goode," Mayer once again unleashing masterful guitar work while Chimenti pounded away on his keyboards and the talented band of players infused the song with layers of rhythm and textures in true Dead fashion. 


Robert Kinsler

Sights and Sounds: Biffy Clyro, The Gloaming, 'Day of the Dead' tribute

Whew! Lots of big news to share...

Biffy Clyro are set to release their seventh studio album titled Ellipis on July 8, 2016 via Warner Bros. Pre-orders for the album are now open with the first single "Wolves of Winter" now streaming and available as an instant grat track. Click here to pre-order. Click here to view the "Wolves of Winter" Trailer.

 

As is tradition, writing sessions for the album saw Biffy Clyro -Simon Neil (vocals/guitar) and the Johnston brothers James (bass) and Ben (drums) working in the intimate environment of their practice room. They then headed to Los Angeles for recording sessions with producer Rich Coste (Muse, My Chemical Romance, Sigur Ros).

 

Citing influences as diverse as Tears For Fears' Songs From The Big Chair album, DJ Arca and Deafheaven, Simon Neil has described Ellipsis as "more of a punch to the nose than a big cuddle." Lyrically, the album's songs tackle personal issues with the idea of "fighting back" a recurring theme.

 

Such themes are also apparent in the album's visceral first single "Wolves of Winter" which captures Biffy Clyro's famous blend of angular riffs, pummelling rhythms and strident hooks. Says Neil: "'Wolves of Winter' is about us being wolves on a patch and if you come onto that patch, we'll tear you limb-from-limb."

 

An Ellipsis (most commonly depicted as ...) indicates a continuation: in this case, Biffy Clyro's new body of work is an ongoing representation of everything that the band have stood for since first debuting in 2002 with the Blackened Sky album.

 

Ellipsis will be available digitally and on CD and vinyl editions.

 

Opposites saw Biffy Clyro flourish with their first U.K. #1 album and another U.K. Top 10 single with "Black Chandelier". The band's live shows soared to new heights with highlights including debut festival headline sets at Reading, Leeds, Radio 1's Big Weekend, Isle of Wight and T in the Park; a triumphant sold-out UK arena tour; and extensive touring across six continents.

http://www.biffyclyro.com/

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Irish-American super group The Gloaming are touring the Southeastern United States in March — and following it up with a June appearance at Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center. Most shows will be promoted by prestigious university presenters & at the emerging breed of artfully-curated festivals such as Big Ears.

• Mar 24: Savannah Music Festival — Savannah, GA
• Mar 26: Duke University —  Durham, NC
• Mar 29: Texas A&M — College Station, TX
• Mar 31: Big Ears Festival 2016 — Knoxville, TN
• Jun 04: The Kennedy Center — Washington, DC

In Ireland and throughout the world, the band is a critical & popular phenomenon, capturing the overall #1 slot on the Irish album charts in their debut week of release, unseating Adele and charting over artists like Justin Bieber and The 1975. However, The Gloaming’s commercial & cultural impact in the United States should not be understated — their first two albums have made top 10 debuts on the American world music charts, and their records — both consistent sellers — have seen spikes after appearances on multiple NPR Album of the Year lists in 2014, and after singer Iarla O'Lionaird had a prominent vocal cameo in the film Brooklyn, a Best Picture nominee at the revet 2016 Academy Awards telecast.

The Gloaming is a collaboration between Martin Hayes (violin, fiddle), Thomas Bartlett aka Doveman (piano), Iarla O'Lionaird (vocals), Dennis Cahill (guitar) and Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh (hardanger fiddle). Ranging in age from 30-something to 50-something, that they live in America and Ireland, and have won individual renown as master musicians. Coming together as The Gloaming in 2011, the band have merged the ambiance & drama of Sigur Ros, a virtuosic command of Irish traditional folk forms, and the emotional power of sean-nos traditional singing to create an entirely new world of sound — one some critics have called “a new kind of Irish classical music.” 

On May 20, 2016, 4AD will release Day of the Dead -- a celebration of the Grateful Dead's music created and curated by brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National. Today 5 of the album's 59 tracks have been made available via instant grat with album pre-order, on streaming services and accompanied by a series of videos directed by Michael Brown, Nick Ciontea, and Christopher Bartlett.  (Pre-order links are available below.)

The five songs shared today include the first new music from The War on Drugs since 2014's critically-acclaimed Lost In The Dream with a cover of the Grateful Dead's 1987 hit 'Touch of Grey'. Phosphorescent and Jenny Lewis combine with the backing of the in-house band (featuring 4/5 of the National) that contributed to numerous recordings on the compilation, to cover 1971's 'Sugaree'. Former Grateful Dead member Bruce Hornsby collaborates with Justin Vernon and DeYarmond Edison, Justin's reunited first band including Phil and Brad Cook and Joe Westerlund of Megafaun, for ' Black Muddy River.Courtney Barnett puts her characteristic slant on 'New Speedway Boogie', off the back of numerous accolades for 2015's GRAMMY-nominated album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit.  For today's finaltaste of the full album, The National cover Bonnie Dobson's 'Morning Dew', a Grateful Dead staple since 1967, one of two songs that they contributed to the compilation.

Pre-Order Information

Pre-order CD

Pre-order from iTunes

Pre-order from Amazon

Pre-order from Google Play

Stream on Spotify

The compilation is a wide-ranging tribute to the songwriting and experimentalism of the Dead which took four years to record, features over 60 artists from varied musical backgrounds, 59 tracks and is almost 6 hours long. Day of the Dead will be released digitally, on a 5 X CD, and as a limited edition vinyl boxed set. Additional details forthcoming. All profits will help fight for AIDS/ HIV and related health issues around the world through the Red Hot Organization, a 501(c)3.

More information on Day Of The Dead can be found at http://4ad.com/news/17/3/2016/dayofthedead

 FOLLOW DAY OF THE DEAD HERE:
www.dayofthedeadmusic.com
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ABOUT RED HOT ORGANIZATION:

Red Hot is a not-for-profit, 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS through pop culture. Its mission is to raise awareness and money around the AIDS crisis and related health issues. It was started in 1990 by Leigh Blake and John Carlin with the Cole Porter tribute album Red Hot + Blue, which raised millions of dollars, helped reduce the stigma around AIDS at the time and supported organizations and efforts such as ACT UP and T.A.G., which took a stand and made the world pay attention and develop medication that let people with AIDS survive.

Over the past 25 years, over 500 artists, producers and directors have contributed to 20 compilation albums of original music, videos, events and media to keep people thinking about the implications of the AIDS epidemic as well as donate millions to organizations around the world.