HD by design
The Black Keys
Black Keys Rising
How two Rust Belt refugees became an arena-size, supercharged stomp machine.
By Brian Hiatt
Photograph by Theo Wenner
No -one in this busy Hollywood organic coffee shop looks like they might have just sold out Madison Square Garden – least of all, perhaps, the compact, thick bearded dude in the denim jacket shuffling toward a corner table. Dan Auerbach’s looks are striking enough: sharp-angled nose, bright blue eyes, floppy reddish hair. But his denim-ondenim outfit says “parking-lot attendant” as much as it does “rock star” (“I’m not afraid of the Canadian tuxedo,” he says, although at least the pale blue jacket doesn’t match his black jeans).
Questlove
America's Bandleader
Questlove is the head of the world’s greatest hip-hop bandand the coolest man on late-night U.S. TV; he’s one text message away from Jay-Z, Prince and half of Hollywood. So why does he still get nervous around girls?
By Josh Eells
Photography by Peter Yang
The first thing you see is the hair. Even across an L.A. parking lot: a penumbra of black frizz sprouting over the headrest of his rented Mercedes. It’s the most recognisable thing about Ahmir Thompson, better known as Questlove; for a while, it was even his band’s logo. A lot of times when fans come up to hug him and take a picture,they end up snatching the Afro pick right out of his hair as a souvenir.
Florence & The Machine
The Good Witch
How arty, ethereal Florence Welch became the Stevie Nicks of the Twilight generation.
By Vanessa Grigoriadis
Photography by Nadav Kander
On a recent autumn evening, Florence Welch rushes into the back room of a downtown Manhattan restaurant to order a glass of red wine. “I’ve been looking forward to this all day,” she says, cupping her delicate hands around the stem. Her appearance is one of dignity and order, like an efficient clerk in an independent bookshop: her hair, which is the same colour as a car’s brake lights, is tiedback in a loose bun, and she wears a pressed vintage blouse under a short black kimono. Soon, though, she cradles her head in her hands.
Rolling Stone Issue 3
Sting
February 7, 1991
Gordon Sumner’s instinct for hooks made The Police one of theworld’s biggest bands. In this classic interview he muses on writer’sblock, mortality, faith, philanthropy and fame.
By Anthony De Curtis
This is my dog Willie and his brother Hector, ”Sting explains as his two dogsc areen down the road ahead of him, barking wildly, delighted to be liberated from the house. “They actually love each other, but they’re tearing each other apart right now. They’re a bitcrazy – apparently it’s the breed. They’re springer spaniels. I’m told Willie is very like me; he’s my familiar. They want to get him doctored, but I refuse to have that happen."