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
Download New Slayer Song ‘Implode’ for Free
Last night, we reported that Slayer surprised attendees and viewers of the Revolver Golden Gods Awards with an unannounced show-opening set that included the brand-new song 'Implode.' Today, the news gets better for Slayer fans, as the legendary band has made the tune available for free download!
Loudwire Music Festival Set to Launch in 2015
Get ready to rock! We are proud to announce that the inaugural Loudwire Music Festival will take place in Summer 2015 at the 240-acre Jam Ranch in Grand Junction, Colo. While we're not set to reveal the exact date or the lineup right now, we can promise the event will feature big names from the worlds of hard rock, metal, classic rock and alternative rock.
Godsmack Complete Work on New Album
Big news from the Godsmack camp, as frontman Sully Erna has revealed that the band has completed work on its upcoming sixth album. Moreover, the singer promises that the disc's first single will be surfacing soon.
Nirvana Members Perform at Small Brooklyn Club Following Rock Hall of Fame Ceremony
Those in attendance at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony at the Barclays Center arena last night were certainly treated to a nice surprise when the surviving members of Nirvana performed with various female singers to close out the event. But an even bigger thrill came for those lucky enough to make it into a tiny Brooklyn bar for an after-party where the Nirvana members performed a full set!
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Wrestling Legend The Ultimate Warrior Dead at 54
Sad news to report from the world of professional wrestling, as former WWF champion The Ultimate Warrior suddenly passed away at the age of 54 on Tuesday (April 8). The wrestling legend had just made a triumphant return to the WWE with a series of high profile appearances over the past few days.
Aerosmith + Slash Set to Announce 2014 U.S. Tour
Two of hard rock's legendary acts are teaming up for a 2014 U.S. summer tour, as Aerosmith will hit the road with Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators. The news was revealed Friday (March 21) via tweets from members of Aerosmith, as well as Slash himself.
Metallica Debut New Song ‘The Lords of Summer’ at 2014 Tour Kickoff in Bogota, Colombia
As promised, Metallica debuted a brand-new song 'The Lords of Summer' during their 2014 tour kickoff in Bogota, Colombia. The metal legends rocked the tune in the midst of their set at their concert on Sunday night (March 16).
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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Guns N’ Roses Confirm 2014 Las Vegas Residency: ‘No Trickery! An Evening of Destruction’
After teasing fans with clues and billboards throughout the past few weeks, Guns N' Roses have confirmed that they will indeed perform a second residency at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas in 2014. Axl Rose and company's latest Sin City invasion will take place over nine shows running in late May and early June.
AC/DC Reveal Plans for New Album and Tour
For those about to rock, here's some big news: AC/DC have been relatively quiet these past couple of years, but it looks like 2014 is gonna be a big year for the legendary hard rock act. Singer Brian Johnson says the band plans to hit the studio this spring, as well as plan a new tour.
2014 Grammy Awards Snubs Late Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman During ‘In Memoriam’ Segment
As it does every year, the Grammy Awards paid tribute to the musicians who passed away over the past 12 months with an 'In Memoriam' segment toward the end of Sunday night's ceremony. However, there was at least one glaring omission, as there was no mention of late Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman.
Ministry Mastermind Al Jourgensen to Enter Rehab for Alcohol Abuse
Legendary Ministry mastermind Al Jourgensen, who helped pioneer the industrial rock movement, has announced that he is checking into a rehab facility on Feb. 3 to combat his alcohol abuse. The rock frontman, who has infamously battled addictions to drugs and alcohol throughout his career, announced the news via a series of colorful Facebook posts.