By Mike Bachmann ’17

Who’s Hot?

Foo Fighters: Since when are the Foo Fighters not a hot topic among the rock world? Dave

Grohl always has new tricks up his sleeve. After releasing their eighth studio album “Sonic Highways,” Grohl created an HBO series celebrating the band’s 20th year in the business. This rockumentary uncovers the history of American music, ranging from many cities around the United States and how it has impacted the band. The Foo Fighters were also nominated for two Grammys this year: Best Music Film (Sonic Highways) and Best Rock Performance (Something From Nothing). In my opinion, the Foo Fighters are one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands in history. If you love driving, high energized rock and beautiful ballads, then check out Dave Grohl and the iconic Foo Fighters.

Breaking Benjamin: This summer, Breaking Benjamin has teamed up with Disturbed and Alter Bridge for what may be the most epic concert of the summer. With Disturbed coming off a four year hiatus, Breaking Benjamin topping the rock charts with “Dark Before Dawn” after six albumless years, and Alter Bridge just being a shreddin’ band, this is a concert you do not want to miss. This is Breaking Benjamin’s first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. With almost an entirely new group backing up frontman Ben Burnley, it was definitely one of my favorite albums of 2015. Tickets are selling fast, so make sure you pick them up soon.

Who’s Not?

Puddle of Mudd: It’s been a while since Puddle of Mudd has been in the news about their music. However, frontman Wes Scantin has not been evading media in recent years. If you didn’t know, the band is in the middle of recording their sixth studio album. Scantin’s bizzare actions and psychotic attitude has created a mask covering what the band is doing musically. Instead, all of the news is on Scantin and his lip syncing, being drunk on stage, destroying equipment, and so much more. The list is endless. You name it, he’s probably done it. Puddle of Mudd has not been my favorite band, but they just keep dropping farther and farther on my list.

Staind: Whatever happened to Staind? Honestly, I feel like they just fell off the face of the rock world. The band has not produced any material since 2012, and now it has been announced that they will be taking a break, but not breaking up. Turns out frontman Aaron Lewis is falling off the face of the rock world and has “graduated” to country music. No one knows if the band will ever record again. To me, Staind was a pretty standard rock band. To all the fans though, the status on the band’s future will be up in the air for months, possibly years. You can still catch a few of their old hits running on DHA. That’s about as good as you’ll get right now.