“This Is Spin̈al Tap,” courtesy. Director Rob Reiner has confirmed he’s making a sequel to classic parody film “This Is Spin̈al Tap.” Lots of people are apprehensive, but I think this is great, and not just because I’m close personal friends with bassist Derek Smalls and can confirm he…

The Verve Pipe, courtesy Jamie Geysbeek. On the day this conversation was first supposed to happen, The Verve Pipe vocalist and bandleader Brian Vander Ark was driving to guitarist Lou Musa’s house in Western Michigan so that the two could both participate. Maybe it was fate, then, that Vander…

Row 1: Neil Peart, Riley Gale, Martin Birch, Peter Green, Lee Kerslake. Row 2: Ken Hensley, Pete Way, McCoy Tyner, Billy Joe Shaver and Bill Withers. Row 3: Little Richard, Eddie Van Halen, Ennio Morricone, Andy Gill and John Prine. Row 4: Florian Schneider, Fredderick ‘Toots’ Hibbert, Adam Schlesinger, Bones Hillman and…

Editor’s note: Publicist Ken Weinstein shared this message with his friends last week, and has granted permission for RIFF to share it publicly. Adam Schlesinger passed away last week of complications from COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus. He was 52.   I can’t believe I’m sitting here again thinking…