Nick DeRiso

Nick DeRiso is UCR's assistant managing editor, and author of 'Journey: Worlds Apart.' He has been named columnist of the year five times by the Associated Press, Louisiana Press Association, and Louisiana Sports Writers Association, and previously oversaw a daily newspaper section that was named Top 10 in the nation by the AP.

40 Years Ago: Roxy Music Offer a Lush Farewell With ‘Avalon’

Things started getting edgy just as their music became smooth as glass.

How R.E.M. Threw Out the Rule Book Then Became Superstars With ‘Out of Time’

Gutsy and creatively free, 'Out of Time' did things other R.E.M. albums hadn't.

Lou Ottens, Inventor of the Audio Cassette, Dies at 94

"I got annoyed with the clunky, user-unfriendly reel-to-reel system," the Dutch engineer once admitted.

35 Years Ago: Space Shuttle Challenger Breaks Apart on Live TV

We've been told that a nation watched in horror as the space shuttle exploded. But that's not exactly what happened.

Bill Withers Dies of ‘Heart Complications’ at 81

Singer-songwriter scored a string of ageless '70s-era hits, including "Lean on Me," "Use Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine."

Peter Tork of the Monkees Dies at 77

He was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the tongue in 2009.

Prince Fully Inhabits the Holy Trinity on ‘I Would Die 4 U': 365 Prince Songs in a Year

This could easily be misconstrued as nothing more than messianic hubris from Prince, but there was much more to "I Would Die 4 U."

30 Years Ago: The Bangles Rock Out for ‘Less Than Zero,’ but Trouble Looms

A No. 2 hit cover of 'Hazy Shade of Winter' couldn't save the Bangles.

30 Years Ago: Bryan Ferry Finally Returns With More Upbeat ‘Bete Noire’

As with so much of Bryan Ferry's career, 'Bete Noire' took longer than he'd ever imagined.

Prince Finds a Kindred Spirit With Tommy James’ ‘Crimson and Clover': 365 Prince Songs in a Year

Though it seemed a bit out of left field, Prince must have felt a connection – perhaps on many levels – with Tommy James' "Crimson and Clover."