Brian Boone

Jan 13, 2025 | grunge.com | Brian Boone

Busting out of California in 1978 with its first, self-titled album, Van Halen became one of the best-selling and most influential rock bands of the late 20th century. Pioneering the shredding but melodic style that many other groups would imitate in the years to come, Van Halen made heavy metal more pop, and it made pop more heavy metal.

Jan 9, 2025 | grunge.com | Brian Boone

One of the main things that people get wrong about the 1970s : It wasn't all disco and boundary-pushing. The pop charts and primetime TV schedule were both dominated by unabashed corniness in the form of bubblegum pop and glitzy musical-comedy variety shows. It's in both of these worlds that the Osmonds flourished. Overcoming the tragic history of Mormonism , the outwardly religious and squeaky-clean group of nine churchgoing siblings from Utah made entertainment the whole family could enjoy.

Jan 7, 2025 | grunge.com | Brian Boone

Since 2012, the Adult Swim mainstay "The Eric Andre Show" has taken both prank TV and talk shows to absurd, uncomfortable highs. On a set he destroys at the beginning of every episode, actor and comedian Eric André brings in big celebrities and makes them instantly regret their decision to come, unnerving them with bad questions and hostile acts. André also presents envelope-pushing street-side pranks perpetuated on unwitting strangers.

Dec 9, 2024 | grunge.com | Brian Boone

Into the musical landscape of the mid-1990s, already at a peak of edginess with the arrival of punk-inspired grunge rock, came Marilyn Manson. That's the name of both a Floridian goth-shock-hard-metal-sleaze band and socially critical performance art collective, as well as its front man, singer, chief songwriter, and creative director.

Dec 9, 2024 | grunge.com | Brian Boone

Some actors achieve household name status by getting really good at pretending to be other people in big movies and TV shows, while other performers are of the character actor ilk. The latter can be so good at what they do that they may disappear into a role entirely, with only discerning viewers recognizing them when they pop up on screen, yet remaining largely anonymous. In the middle is a rarefied area occupied by people like Dean Winters.