Archive for the Features Category

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Happy Birthday to Chynna Phillips of Wilson Phillips!

Posted in Features, Guilty Pleasures, Happy Birthday with tags , on 02/12/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
Wilson Philips (L-R) Chynna Phillips, Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson

Beloved chanteuse Chynna Phillips, daughter of the Mamas & the Papas linchpins John and Michelle Phillips, turns 58 years young today. Chynna, along with Brian Wilson’s daughters Carnie and Wendy Wilson, shattered nepo-baby stereotypes by delivering one of the best Top 40 tunes of 1990: “Hold On.”

You might be wondering why this website is paying homage to Wilson Phillips, a defiantly mainstream pop trio that some consider to be cringe-level saccharine. The Bad Penny‘s retort? We’re all entitled to a few guilty pleasures, and it’s a safe bet that this writer isn’t the only one who both adores extreme heavy metal and knows the lyrics to “Hold On” by heart.

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On Tyranny: Mylo Bybee Frontman Insists ‘We Won’t Let Fascism Crush Creativity’

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags , , , , , on 02/11/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Creativity is the driving force in the musical works created by Boise rock musician Tyler Schlagenhauf of Mylo Bybee. He recently checked in with The Bad Penny to talk about Trump’s Authoritarian America and the fear that is sweeping across the country (and even the world). Schlagenhauf shares one of the more positive outlooks in The Bad Penny‘s On Tyranny series. “My North Star is that It can’t get to the point where it’s crushing artists’ creativity, because it is that outlet that we’ve seen over and over again can bring people together,” he says.

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Happy Birthday to Meshuggah Co-Founder and Lead Guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, and BRMC Chief Peter Hayes!

Posted in Features, Happy Birthday with tags , , , , on 02/11/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

🎈Fredrik Thordendal🎈

Fredrik Thordendal, Meshuggah’s lead guitarist who also cofounded the band in 1987, turns 55 today. Meshuggah toured exhaustively and exhaustedly in support of their last studio album, Immutable, following its release in April 2022. They haven’t played in concert since June 27, 2025, probably because they’re finally getting some well-deserved rest.

🎈Peter Hayes🎈

Meanwhile, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club frontman Peter Hayes turns the big 5-0 today. Since releasing 2018’s Wrong Creatures, the slick rock band has focused on touring instead of releasing new material. The closest BRMC came was packing their three-LP, 20th anniversary deluxe edition box set of Howl with previously issued songs, copious photos, handwritten lyrics, and more goodies from the era.

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On Tyranny: Top 20 Protest/Activist Musicians, From Marvin Gaye to Billie Eilish

Posted in Features, Lists, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags , , , , , , , , , on 02/10/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

1. Woody Guthrie

2. Bob Marley

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On Tyranny: ‘It Feels Like the Deck Is Stacked Against Us … I Wish We Could All Just Get Along,’ Band VTB Says

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags on 02/10/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

It’s true and well-known that most Americans don’t know the nitty-gritty of government and politics. But we can distinguish between what is moral and not, and for that reason, we must fight for what we believe is right. VTB make a case for that claim — which every American should know –– during part of an interview The Bad Penny conducted on Wednesday with the grungy alt-rock-with-a-smattering-of-noise-and-post-punk.

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Pet Sounds #80: ‘Dogs Are Like Tattoos … You Get One and You’re Hooked,’ Saetia’s Tom Schlatter Says

Posted in Features, Interviews, Pet Sounds with tags , , , , on 02/10/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Welcome to the 80th installment of The Bad Penny‘s Pet Sounds series. We have a very special one for you today, because the pet owner who graciously participated has had such an immense impact on hardcore punk and screamo, the genres might have gone in different directions were it not for him.

The gent in question is one Tom Schlatter, a major character in the proverbial book of hardcore music. Since 1997, he has served as a member of, or otherwise collaborated with, 16 bands as a guitarist, bassist and drummer. His loyalty and integrity were tested when one of those bands, Saetia — which formed in broke up in October 1999 two and a half years after they formed.

Lucky for Schlatter — and the screamo community, Saetia reassembled in 2022 and, last year, released its first song in 26 years, much to the delight of punk-rockers listeners (especially those who were sold on the band in the first place, a quarter-century prior). Two more songs followed, and an EP should be on the way.

So, how did he handle all that turbulence, not to mention the pivotal roles he played in a plethora of other acts? Well, with pets, of course; they make everything better. Schlatter has more than most — two cats and two dogs — but, as he told The Bad Penny, he wouldn’t want it any other way. He explained why (and divulged a whole lot more) in an email we received on Friday.

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Osie
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Metallica Fans Commemorate Death of Beloved Bassist with Community-Friendly ‘Cliff Burton Day’

Posted in In Memorium, News, The Visionaries, Videos with tags , on 02/10/2026 by Kurt Orzeck
Ex-Bassist Cliff Burton is remembered as a pivotal force in the most popular band of all time
Cliff Burton

For many, today will be somber, sober and sad, as it marks the 40th anniversary of late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton. Perhaps the fastest-rising star in the metal community, a bus accident cut his life short in 1986 in Sweden. He was only 24 years old. All metal fans, whether or not they liked Metallica, mourned Burton because of the tragic accident and because of his stunning gift at playing guitar. Burton continues to a hero in his hometown of Castro Valley California, the city holiday has received more attention

The city in which Burton lived is hosting Cliff Burton Day 2026, which will tangentially recognize the 40th anniversary of Metallica’s Damage Inc. tour. It’ll take place at the Chabot Theater. Starting at 7 p.m. PT, Burton’s family members, family members and work pals will share stories and memories about the family member so tragically lost. The event will feature live music too. Check out The Chatbot for more info.

That’s all the news we have right now, so we’ll leave you with three rad videos: the first, with Burton crushing it for 25 minutes; a discussion among haters who eventually came around to recognize Burton’ brilliance; and a pro-cam taping of Metallica playing “Orion,” a song primarily written by Burton.

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Happy 83rd Birthday to ‘Office’ Actor and Folk Musician Creed Bratton!

Posted in Features, Happy Birthday, Interviews with tags , on 02/08/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Feliz cumpleaños to Office actor and folk musician Creed Bratton, who turns 83 years old today. (Yes, that really is his age.) Creed (real name William Charles Schneider) portrayed a psychologically troubled but hilarious social misfit who occasionally popped his head out from his cubicle to uproarious effect.

The Bad Penny found it fitting to give Creed some love and attention because he’s also an honest-to-God musician. He made his recording debut in 1966, playing guitar for the Grass Roots on their album Were You When I Needed You. Nine years later, after making many more LPs with Grass Roots, he devoted almost his artistic energies on making solo material – and taking a stab ata professional acting. It’s widely considered that Creed was the most bizarre and perhaps side-splitting characters on The Office. His tenure with the series ended when The Office itself closed its doors in 2013.

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Pet Sounds #79: NORMANS Mastermind Insists ‘You Will Be a Better Person’ for Rescuing a Pooch

Posted in Features, Interviews, Pet Sounds with tags , , , on 02/06/2026 by Kurt Orzeck


Matthew Reid handles vocals and plays guitar and bass for his noise-rock band NORMANS. But as much as he loves music, we’re pretty sure he prefers playing with his two gorgeous dogs. The L.A. band consists of former members of FEELS, Prissy Whip and Blonde Summer and released their self-titled debut through Solid Brass in January 2024. Fans of the Jesus Lizard, Metz and IDLES will appreciate and get hooked on NORMANS’s penchant for creating cacophonies.

A press statement said NORMANS tap into the “terrified animal caged within us all.” But Reid’s limitless love for his dogs ensures they rarely get terrified, if at all – and he’s not the type of dog owner who would coop up his pooches in cages. For this edition of Pet Sounds, Reid answered our questions via email, resulting in the most superb writing of any installment in the series thus far. It’s hard to decide which is more breathtaking, Reid’s superbly poetic writing or the photos he provided. Either way, enjoy this consummately beautiful entry in Pet Sounds.

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On Tyranny: Jesus Christ Taxi Driver Say Humor Is the Greatest Threat to Trump and MAGA’s Authoritarian Coup

Posted in Features, Interviews, On Tyranny, On Tyranny, Videos with tags , , , , , on 02/06/2026 by Kurt Orzeck

Denver’s Jesus Christ Taxi Driver isn’t just a band with one of the best monikers in the music universe – they’re also dead serious about resisting the Trump administration and MAGA’s destruction of American values, the federal government and even the country itself. But as The Bad Penny learned in an interview conducted just two days ago, the punk-rock band believes humor might the best response to America’s transformation into a fascist country.

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