Alex Summers articles

With a stunningly powerful voice and an onstage presence to match, it’s not an overstatement to say that Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest rock frontmen of all time. But behind the scenes, Mercury’s life was wildly different than what fans saw. From secret pain and heartache to controversy to the jaw-dropping tragedy of his untimely death, Mercury’s story isn’t for the faint of heart.

For most of the history of the recording industry, artists rarely owned the master recordings of their music. In recent decades, however, more artists have begun challenging that system, and their legal battles have reshaped conversations about artist ownership and creative freedom. The musicians below chose to fight against the system—and won.

Nicolette Larson sang her way to success in the 70s, but her career and life were cut tragically short.

With a career spanning decades, many of us grew up with Robin Williams. Whether it was Mork & Mindy, Dead Poets Society, or Jumanji, Williams’ frenetic charm and his ability to jump between the hilarious and the heart-wrenching made him an unforgettable part of our lives. When we lost Robin Williams, we lost a little bit of brightness in the world, but we’ll never forget the laughter and joy he brought us. However, there’s so much more to Williams’ story than his most memorable parts or his tragic end—and these facts are proof.

The 2000s were a wild, colorful era for pop music. It was the decade when glossy dance beats, hip-hop influence, and larger-than-life personalities ruled the charts. Whether blasting from iPods, clubs, or car stereos, these songs helped define what pop music sounded like during the first decade of the new millennium.

Vivien Leigh was a fighter. She fought for the role of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind and fought to be with the man she loved. But her most vicious battle was with mental illness: Few people realize that Leigh struggled with bipolar disorder.

Classic TV fans, step up. It’s time to put your small-screen smarts to the test. ‘Question’ the right ‘answers,’ and you’ll prove once and for all that you’re a true TV legend. Ready. Set. Go.

Folk music has always belonged to the people. It carries protest, heartbreak, humor, faith, and history in melodies simple enough for anyone to sing but powerful enough to move generations. Whether born from traditional roots or written during the great folk revival of the 20th century, these songs endure because they tell the truth plainly.

Ernie Kovacs was a comic hero to the likes of Monty Python, Chevy Chase, and Johnny Carson. More than that, he created some of the most memorable comedy during the classic age of television in the 1950s. Yet even those who grew up with him hardly know his name today—because underneath the laughs, Kovacs’ story is one of shock and tragedy.