John Lennon Audio

Human rights icon Natan Sharansky is a former Soviet dissident and political prisoner; he’s also served as a senior minister in the Israeli government. He says that strong identity is vital to a healthy democracy, and valueless cosmopolitanism is very dangerous. His new book is Defending Identity . Event : Natan Sharansky will be speaking and signing books Wednesday, June 25 at 7 pm Congregation Rinat Israel 389 West Englewood Avenue Teaneck, NJ

It's a list that only Blender magazine could dream up: 25 of music's most reprehensible liars, cheaters, scammers, and shysters. Blender.com editor Mike Errico reveals the chief offenders. Our blog : John Schaefer on music villains

In an age when famous rock groups can charge $100 or more for a concert ticket, their tribute band imitators offer an accessible outlet for hardcore fans. In his aptly-titled book Like A Rolling Stone: The Strange Life of A Tribute Band, New York Times reporter Steven Kurutz chronicles one of the most-established acts, Sticky Fingers. He joins us to talk about the ongoing popularity of bands like Lez Zeppelin, Van Heineken, and Mini Kiss. Also joining us is Kevin Gleason , from the Stony Rollers, a Rolling Stones tribute band; and Lesley Wolf , a bassist with Slayer tribute group Slaywhore. Weigh in : Do you attend tribute band concerts? Are you in a tribute band? Tell us why you do or don't like them. 
 
 Our blog : John Schaefer offers his ambivalent view of the tribute band phenomenon

John Lennon's lyrics for Give Peace a Chance are to go under the hammer at an auction at Christie's this summer. The lyrics were handed to comedy writer Gail Renard, who was then 16, at Lennon and Yoko Ono's Montreal "bed-in" in 1969, along with other mementoes. She joins us to share the remarkable story. More : view images of the lyric sheet.

Every war has had its songs of battle, but in Iraq today they are coming from iPods and being played through communications systems of tanks. What are soldiers listening to and what does music mean on the front lines? We’ll be talking with NYU music professor Martin Daughtry , who is one of a number of scholars researching these questions, and a solider and musician about his first-hand experiences and the music he has created as a result of his service. Our Blog : John Schaefer on music and military might

The poet and philosopher George Santayana once said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." To ensure that future generations don't forget the triumphs and tragedies of pop music's past, we host another Soundcheck Smackdown over the musical legacies of baby boomers and Generation X. Joining us in studio are Jeff Gordinier , editor at large at Details magazine and author of "X Saves the World," and music critic Anthony DeCurtis , contributing editor at Rolling Stone and author of "In Other Words: Artists Talk About Life and Work." Tell us : Who has the better musical legacy -- baby boomers or generation X? Why?

The aftershocks of Abu Ghraib. In “Standard Operating Procedure,” filmmaker Errol Morris tells the story of the soldiers who posed and photographed abuses of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. In a strange twist of timing, U.S. military prisons are the subject of another movie being released this weekend; this one, however, is a comedy. “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” details the misadventures of two White Castle-loving potheads who find themselves the subjects of racial profiling.

The aftershocks of Abu Ghraib. In “Standard Operating Procedure,” filmmaker Errol Morris tells the story of the soldiers who posed and photographed abuses of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. In a strange twist of timing, U.S. military prisons are the subject of another movie being released this weekend; this one, however, is a comedy. “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay” details the misadventures of two White Castle-loving potheads who find themselves the subjects of racial profiling.

Why do some songs mercilessly stick in our heads and repeat themselves over and over? What makes these hooks so hooky? And how does a songwriter will a song forth from the ether? In this episode , nightmarish stories of musical hallucinations, songs that transcend language, and the triumphant return of the Elvis of Afghanistan. If you do not see flash audio player please install the latest flash player. Download MP3

Who was the best Beatle after all? What is the worst song that each of them wrote? Joining us for a Lennon and McCartney debate: Mark Rozzo , freelance music writer and editor at Men's Vogue, and David Samuels , contributor at Harper's magazine and the New Yorker. Plus, we take your calls. Weigh in : Are you a "John" person? Or a "Paul" person? Why?