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
Two People Killed and Many Injured as Car Plows Into Crowd at South by Southwest Festival
Horrific news to report out of the popular South By Southwest (SXSW) Festival in Austin, Texas, when a driver attempting to avoid a drunk driving stop smashed through a barricade and plowed into a crowd waiting to get into one of the many venues taking parking in the festival. More than 20 pedestrians were injured outside the Mohawk nightclub and two people traveling on a scooter were killed.
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Open Letter to the Grammys: Give Metal and Hard Rock the Respect They Deserve
We recently published an open letter to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, asking them to consider some of the greatest hard rock + metal acts ever for induction. But now we point our dissatisfaction at the 2014 Grammy Awards, which took place Sunday night, Jan. 26, and featured one rock and metal snub after another.
Metallica To Begin Work on New Album “In a Couple of Weeks”
One of the most repeated questions in the metal world over the past couple years has been, "When is the new Metallica album coming out?" Now, at least we have an answer as to when the legendary act will commence work on the new disc.
Steel Panther Dish Out Full Details of New Album ‘All You Can Eat’
Steel Panther fans, get your appetites ready, because the band has just unveiled full details of their upcoming album, 'All You Can Eat.' The disc hits stores April 1, and its artwork is an early contender for album cover of the year.
Black Label Society Tap Dario Lorina as New Rhythm Guitarist
One month after announcing the departure of guitarist Nick Catanese, Black Label Society have revealed his replacement, Dario Lorina of the band Lizzy Borden.
Lou Reed Dead at 71: Rockers React
As we reported earlier today, legendary Velvet Underground frontman and solo artist Lou Reed has died at the age of 71. The veteran rocker had undergone a liver transplant in May, but no cause of death has been officially announced.
Avenged Sevenfold’s New Album ‘Hail to the King’ Lands at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart
Hail to Avenged Sevenfold! The California rockers have topped the Billboard 200 album chart with their latest album, 'Hail to the King.'
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 on 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.
Newsted Dropping Off Gigantour for a Week to Recover From Walking Pneumonia
Tough news for Jason Newsted and his fans. The singer-bassist and his eponymous band are dropping off the Gigantour trek for a week so that Jason can recover from a current bout with walking pneumonia.
Metallica Unleash New Trailer and Poster for 3D Film ‘Through the Never’ at Comic-Con
Metallica made a mighty appearance at Comic-Con on Friday (July 19) in San Diego. All four members of the band attended a panel discussion along with the film's director Nimrod Antal, producer Charlotte Huggins and lead actor Dane DeHaan.
Pearl Jam’s Countdown Clock Suggests New Album and Tour News on the Way
There is buzz in the Pearl Jam universe, as the veteran rockers have set a countdown clock on their official website. There's been talk of a new Pearl Jam album for several months now, and it looks like Monday, July 8, might be the day the band's fans hear the first official news of a new disc and possibly a new tour.
Scott Weiland Gets Married
Congratulations go out to rocker Scott Weiland, who married photographer Jamie Wachtel on Saturday evening (June 22) at their home in Los Angeles.
Weiland, 45, and Wachtel, 35, met in 2011 when she worked on shooting photographs on the sets of his Christmas album videos...