Spencer Kaufman is the Editor-in-Chief of Loudwire. He grew up playing stickball and basketball in Brooklyn, N.Y., before graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Communication Arts. He has been a professional music journalist for more than a decade in New York City. He digs punk, hardcore and industrial music, and fondly remembers the time Iggy Pop landed on him after a stage dive. His favorite movie is 'Taxi Driver' and he once played in a fictional college band called the Raging De Niros.
Spencer Kaufman
Pearl Jam Debut Two New Songs During Epic Show at Chicago’s Wrigley Field
What looked like a lost night turned out to be one to remember for Pearl Jam fans who attended the band's show last night (July 19) at Chicago's famed Wrigley Field. Seven songs into the set, torrential rain and lightning forced a nearly three-hour delay, but the band eventually returned to the stage to deliver an epic show that included two brand-new tunes.
Metallica to Promote 3D Film ‘Through the Never’ at 2013 Comic-Con in San Diego
Metallica will be roaming where they've never roamed before, as the metal giants are set to hit this summer's Comic-Con gathering in San Diego. The band will be there to promote their upcoming 3D film 'Metallica Through the Never,' which arrives in theaters this fall.
Nine Inch Nails Unveil Track List + Guest Musicians for New Album ‘Hesitation Marks’
More and more details are pouring out about the return of Nine Inch Nails. Now, the band has unveiled the full track list for their upcoming album, 'Hesitation Marks,' as well as a few guest musicians who appear on the disc.
Nikki Sixx Mourns Death of His Mother
Sad news to report, as Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx's mother Deana Richards passed away yesterday, June 8, at the age of 74. The musician announced the news via a simple tweet that reads 'RIP Mom 5-5 1939 to 6-8 2013.' No further details are known about her passing at this time.
Nine Inch Nails Announce 2013 North American Arena Tour Dates
The big news keeps piling in for Nine Inch Nails fans! Shortly after unleashing a brand-new single, 'Came Back Haunted,' and details of their new album, NIN have announced dates for a 2013 North American arena tour kicking off in the fall.
Scott Weiland Files Multimillion Dollar Countersuit Against Stone Temple Pilots Members
Scott Weiland's feud with his former Stone Temple Pilots bandmates seems to be getting uglier by the minute. After learning he had been replaced in STP by Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington and being slapped with a lawsuit by the band's three other founding members, Weiland has filed a multimillion dollar countersuit.
The Doors Keyboardist Ray Manzarek Dies at 74
Sad news to report as Ray Manzarek, the legendary keyboardist of the Doors, has passed away at the age of 74. The veteran musician died today in Germany after a long battle with bile duct cancer.
Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman Died of Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis; Band + Family Planning Memorial Event
Following last week's tragic passing of Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman on May 2, his official cause of death has been revealed to be alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver, according to a statement from the band. In the same press release, Slayer also announced that a public memorial will be held to honor Hanneman at a yet-to-be-revealed date.
Halestorm + David Draiman Perform Led Zeppelin Classic at 2013 Revolver Golden Gods
Halestorm rocked their Grammy-winning song 'Love Bites (So Do I)' and 'I Miss the Misery' at the 2013 Revolver Golden Gods on May 2, but really raised things to a fevered pitch by introducing Device's David Draiman. While many might have expected Lzzy Hale and Draiman to do their cover of 'Close My Eyes Forever,' they actually took on Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love,' a performance that showed of
Deftones Issue First Statement Regarding Death of Bassist Chi Cheng
The rock world was saddened over the weekend to hear the news that Deftones bassist Chi Cheng had passed away. The musician died after spending four years in either a coma or semi-conscious state as the result of a devastating 2008 car accident. After reactions and condolences from many in the rock community, the first official statement from Deftones themselves came today via a message from the b
Deftones Bassist Chi Cheng Dies at 42
It is with true sadness that we report that Deftones bassist Chi Cheng passed away early Saturday morning (April 13) after a four-year battle to survive following a car crash in 2008.
Alice in Chains Rock ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ with ‘Stone,’ ‘Man in the Box’ and ‘Hollow’
Fans lucky enough to attend last night's taping of ABC's 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' were treated to an outdoor gig by Alice in Chains. The televised portion of the show aired AIC's performance of their current single 'Stone' off their upcoming album 'The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here.' However, the band also rocked out their classic track 'Man in the Box' and their new album's first single, 'Hollow,' with th