Big in China band at Suzy Que’s BBQ – Sat. June 9

The Big in China Band will return to Suzy Que’s Barbecue in West Orange this Saturday, June 9, with a Family-friendly start time of 8:30. Due to the vagaries of five summer schedules, this will be our last performance for a while, so come…

Big in China excerpt: Teaching “Tight but Loose.” Introducing my Chinese bandmates to the Allman Bros.

Signed copies of Big in China are now available directly from me. Click here to order, or for more information about the book. A little background before we get to the Big in China excerpt, inspired by One Way Out: The Inside History…
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One Way Out: An Oral History of the Allman Brothers Band

"No one knows the ins and outs of the Allman Brothers Band better than Alan Paul.”              --Warren Haynes One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band will be released by St. Martin’s on February 18,…

Time to appreciate Chris Bosh – an interview

Basketball Thoughts Chris Bosh explains how his view of the League has changed and much more. Seeing how the Heat have struggled since Chris Bosh's injury, it seemed like a ripe time to look back at my interview from earlier this year. Originally…

Robby Krieger breaks down The Doors’ LA Woman – final album recorded with Jim Morrison

LA CONFIDENTIAL Originally published in March, 2012 issue of Guitar World. The Doors were at a low point in December 1970, when they gathered to record their sixth studio album. They had been banned from performing after singer Jim Morrison’s…

Andy Aledort with Big In China: 5-18 in NYC

I am really proud and excited to announce that guitarist Andy Aledort will be joining Big in China at Uncle Mike's in downtown New York on Friday, May 18. You can see details on the event here. WHAT: Andy Aledort with Alan Paul and Big…

Behind the scenes of James Brown’s “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)”…Yep, I interviewed him.

In 1999, Guitar World devoted an entire issue to the 30th anniversary of 1969, which we proclaimed the greatest year in rock. I wrote the histories of several landmark albums, including James Brown's "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)."…

Almost Dead: The Furthur interviews

Almost Dead: The Furthur interviews Bob Weir and Phil Lesh revive the spirt of the Grateful dead with some serious help from guitarist John Kadlecik and some other young guns. Originally appeared in Guitar World, March 2012. Reposted…

Stephon Marbury wins a Chinese championship

This is just so cool in so many ways. Video below tells a sweet story. Details here at the indispensable NiuBBall.com.

About This American Life, Mike Daisey and Chinese factory workers…

This whole story about monologist Mike Daisey lying throughout his piece about Apple’s Foxconn factories in China is just awful. This story explains why rather well. But all you really have to do to understand the whole thing is to…