Bill Rieflin, Drummer for REM, Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, and King Crimson, Dead at Age 59


Bill Rieflin, who had a four-decade career as a drummer across Punk, Alternative Rock, Industrial Metal, and Progressive Rock has died. He was 59. Initial reports of his passing made no mention of a cause of death, but his Wikipedia page reported a battle with cancer, confirmed by his friend, session drummer Kevin Chamberlin. Most recently Bill was the drummer for King Crimson and the news was reported by KC founder Robert Fripp in a very sad and touching memorial via Facebook. Fripp wrote that Rieflin’s wife, Tracy, called him with the news. “Tracy told Toyah (Fripp’s wife) and me that the day was grey, and as Bill flew away the clouds opened, and the skies were blue for about fifteen minutes. Fly well, Brother Bill! My life is immeasurably richer for knowing you.” Rieflin’s career began in his hometown of Seattle, where he drummed with a variety of local acts, notably the punk rock group The Blackouts. The band’s final EP was produced by Ministry’s Al Jourgensen, with whom Rieflin became friends with. Jourgensen recruited the Rieflin to join Ministry when Blackouts broke up, and Rieflin played on the band’s 1988 album The Land of Rape and Honey, an industrial music iconic album in the genre. He continued as a member of the group through the mid-90s, contributing to five of the band’s LPs. Following his departure from Ministry in 1996, he played with KMFDM, New York experimental band Swans and folk group Angels of Light. Rieflin also played on Nine Inch Nails’ 1999 double album The Fragile. Also that year, he released his debut solo album, Birth of a Giant. It was during this time that a publicist introduced him to R.E.M.’s Peter Buck. The drummer would then join and contribute to R.E.M.’s final three albums — 2004’s Around the Sun, 2008’s Accelerate and 2011’s Collapse Into Now. Rieflin had previously collaborated and remained friends, announced that the drummer had joined King Crimson in 2013. Rieflin would tour with the group and appear on five of their ensuing live albums, released between 2015-18. He had been absent from the group since taking an indefinite sabbatical in 2019. Bill was an incredible drummer and kind soul. Not many artists can say they wrote and performed with three Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acts (King Crimson, R.E.M., and Nine Inch Nails) as Bill did.  Many artists paid tribute to Bill, including fellow Seattle musician Krist Novoselic of Nirvana. We send out condolences to Bill’s family, friends and many fans at this time.Continue reading


Pantera Crosses The One Billion Streaming Mark


Pantera has shared a post to social media thanking fans for the band reaching 1 Billion streams across platforms such as (in alphabetical order) Amazon, Apple, Deezer, Google, and Spotify. The band joins notable recent bands such as Metallica, Guns N Roses, and Nirvana with over one billion streams. Pantera was founded in 1981 and released nine studio albums total and a live album (not counting compilations and boxed sets), coming to prominence with their fifth and major-label debut, Cowboys From Hell. The band was disbanded by the late brothers, Darrell Lance “Dimebag” Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott in 2003. Getcha pull and celebrate!Continue reading


The Video for “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana Approaches 1 Billion Views on YouTube


Nirvana’s star-making video for ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ which catapulted the band to rock superstardom is approaching one billion video views on YouTube. ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ was the lead track and single from Nirvana’s breakthrough release Nevermind (Geffen/UMe) which hit No. 1 around the world, selling more than 30 million copies worldwide. The single made its radio debut on August 27, 1991.Continue reading


EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Turkey Vulture – “In the Pines – Acoustic Demo”


Connecticut Americana-Punks Turkey Vulture are back with a complete left turn from their excellent previous release, their EP, Boxer. Today Ghost Cult teams up with the band as we share their amazing rendition of ‘In The Pines’ (aka ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’ or ‘My Girl’). Its author is officially unknown, but it lives in the American songbook and was popularized by Bill Monroe and Led Belly. The song had new life breathed into by Nirvana, as they included it in their MTV Unplugged concert and album. Turkey Vulture does its own special spin on the track with sparse instrumentation, earthy percussion, heart-rending cello, and a lot of character. Check it out! Continue reading


Foo Fighters Are Working on A New Album for 2020!


Right after sharing a surprise covers EP last week, Foo Fighters make news again, announcing they are working on a new album. During their set for Brazil’s Rock In Rio festival, Dave Grohl teased that the band was about to begin work on the follow-up to 2017’s Concrete and Gold. It’s as the band also gears up to celebrate their eponymous debut album’s 25th anniversary, which is happening next year. Continue reading


Watch Clips of Nirvana from “Live and Loud” 1993


Nirvana has shared professional quality concert footage of the band from their entire Live and Loud performance in 1993, during the tour for In Utero (Geffen Records). The full album is releasing today.  In Utero turned twenty-five years old last year. Continue reading