Nick DeRiso is UCR's assistant managing editor, and author of 'Journey: Worlds Apart.' He has been named columnist of the year five times by the Associated Press, Louisiana Press Association, and Louisiana Sports Writers Association, and previously oversaw a daily newspaper section that was named Top 10 in the nation by the AP.
Nick DeRiso
5 Reasons Fela Kuti Should Be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
His sharp mixture of traditional West African sounds, soul, R&B and jazz formed the foundation of Afrobeat.
Reggae Legend Bunny Wailer Dies at 73
He was a quiet figure who became one of the genre's founding fathers.
5 Reasons the Go-Go’s Should Be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
There was time when an all-female group didn't write its own songs or play its own instruments.
40 Years Ago: Billy Idol Leaves Generation X For Solo Stardom
He took their manager, their producer and their final single, which he remixed into a U.S. dance hit.
40 Years Ago: The Who Score a Final Hit With ‘You Better You Bet’
This was one of the few moments during the early '80s when Pete Townshend shared a truly great track with the band.
Miles Davis’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Connections
His link with the genre began at the turn of the '70s, during heralded shows with Neil Young and Grateful Dead.
March 2021 New Music Releases
Neil Young looks back, while members of the Beatles, Kiss and Iron Maiden offer new sounds.
How R.E.M. Hurtled to Superstardom With ‘Losing My Religion’
Anyone looking for the match-light moment when they exploded onto the national scene need to search no further.
40 Years Ago: Eric Clapton Rebounds on ‘Another Ticket,’ Then Falls Again
He came into the sessions without any real direction. He left the project behind in even worse shape.
35 Years Ago: Electric Light Orchestra Blow Apart on ‘Balance of Power’
The dark and downbeat album proved to be perfectly named.
40 Years Ago: John Lennon’s Mind-Bending Final Solo Sparks ‘Walking on Thin Ice’
He started by pulling out the famous Rickenbacker from the Beatles' appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show.'
35 Years Ago: Space Shuttle Challenger Breaks Apart on Live TV
We've been told that a nation watched in horror as the space shuttle exploded. But that's not exactly what happened.