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Defector

Books

Defector At The Movies

Music

Arts And Culture

Lauren Theisen

Rays Week

‘Ray Of Light’ Turned Madonna From Star To Legend

Dave McKenna

Less-Renowned Kink Revisits Feud With Brother Ray, Alien Abduction In New Memoir

<a href="https://twitter.com/robertfoconnell" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert O’Connell</a> is a writer from Kansas living in New York. His work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, The Atlantic, The New York Times, and elsewhere.

Robert O’Connell

Craig Finn of The Hold Steady performs at Ottobar in Baltimore.

Craig Finn Returns To The Scene

Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including Point B. Handsomest man in the world.

Drew Magary

LAS VEGAS - AUGUST 05: Fans react as Papa Roach performs at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel &amp; Casino August 5, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The rock group is touring in support of the platinum-selling album "Getting Away With Murder." (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Funbag

We Don’t Need Concert Encores Anymore

Barry Petchesky

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors poses for a picture with Grateful Dead musician Bob Weir following Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center on April 18, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

This Is So Stupid

Someone Out There Probably Wants To See This Photo Of Steph Curry And Bob Weir

Albert Burneko

I Demand A Goth-Sludge Chipmunks Cover Of Every Great Pop Song, Immediately

Luis Paez-Pumar

Mitski releases Laurel Hell, her sixth album.

Mitski’s Most Formidable Opponent Is Still Herself

ATLANTA - FEBRUARY 8: Singer 'Meatloaf' performs at the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk Contest during the 2003 NBA All Star weekend at Philips Arena on February 8, 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

If It Weren’t For Meat Loaf, I Might Not Be Here

My Long Lost Pedal Returned At Just The Right Time

Defector Staff

Year In Review

The Best Things We Heard In 2021

Diana Moskovitz is Defector&#8217;s investigations editor. You can contact her at diana@defector.com or dfmoskovitz@protonmail.com. She&#8217;s also on Signal @dmoskovitz.99

Diana Moskovitz

Concert-goers watch BTS perform onstage during iHeartRadio 102.7 KIIS FM's Jingle Ball 2021 presented by Capital One at The Forum on December 03, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.

You Don’t Need Permission For Joy

Amos Barshad

Capital

These Musicians Are Angry, Organized, And Coming For Spotify

Titus Andronicus Made Me Feel At Home In The Mosh Pit Again

Kelsey McKinney

Taylor Swift Confronts Her First Draft

<a href="https://twitter.com/ericnus">Eric Nusbaum</a> is a writer based in Tacoma, Washington. He is the author of the book <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/stealing-home-los-angeles-the-dodgers-and-the-lives-caught-in-between-9781541742222/9781541742215">Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught in Between</a>. He is also a former editor at Vice.

Eric Nusbaum

Illustration of Chris Ballew, performing as Caspar Babypants, by Adam Villacin

Dadfector

Chris Ballew Went Platinum On The Way To Becoming Caspar Babypants

Fran Hoepfner is a writer and teacher.

Fran Hoepfner

We All Came To See Each Other At The Harry Styles Show

Tom Ley

‘Dave’ Is Too Sad To Redeem Lil Dicky

MUNICH, GERMANY - JUNE 4: Drummer Charlie Watts Perform at the opening night of the European leg of The Rolling Stones Forty Licks Tour at the Olimpiahalle Spiridon on June 4, 2003 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Getty Images)

Charlie Watts Knew It’s Not The Drummer, It’s The Song

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

I Miss My MTV

Triptych of McGruff, an ad promoting McGruff's album, and McGruff again

History

This McGruff Drug Album Might As Well Be By Weird Al

BTS performs during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2020 on December 31, 2019 in New York City. All seven members are standing on a lighted staircase and smiling after their performance.

At Bang Bang Con 2021, BTS Told Its Own Story

Maitreyi Anantharaman

CFDA Fashion Icon Award recipient US singer Jennifer Lopez and fiance former baseball pro Alex Rodriguez arrive for the 2019 CFDA fashion awards at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City on June 3, 2019.

A-Rod Handles Breakup With J.Lo In A Normal And Human Way

circa 1945: Elvis Presley (1935 - 1977) standing between his parents outside of their home in Tupelo, Mississippi. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

When Elvis Presley Was A Shabbos Goy

Carman Tse is a Giants fan living among Dodgers fans in Los Angeles. He was the former editor of LAist and his writing has also appeared on Hyperallergic.

Carman Tse

Feeding Your Record Collection In A Pandemic Always Comes With A Cost

SOPHIE performs at Mojave Tent during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival