Thomas Q. KelleySoft Punk: What Daft Punk’s Split Says About the Past and the FutureI have followed the rise of electronic music for 30 years. Daft Punk needs no introduction. Yet their career could use more context that…Feb 27, 2021Feb 27, 2021
Thomas Q. KelleyDecoding ‘Dubnobasswithmyheadman’: Stories Behind the LyricsThis sidebar story is part of a deeper dive feature on the techno band, Underworld. Along with other journalists who revisited the band’s…Jan 25, 20181Jan 25, 20181
Thomas Q. KelleyCall It A Manifesto: Frankie Bones’ Techno Classic Still Rhymes to the Future“It Started In Detroit / But I Had to Exploit / The Way I Hear It! / Techno House Is the Sound / From the Dance Cult Underground / I Know…Dec 7, 20172Dec 7, 20172
Thomas Q. KelleyRave in the Machine: The Story of Skylab2000’s Dennis Barton“WHAT do YOU want to DO!?” a voice shouts. “RAVE!” answers another, followed by “Happy! Happy!” “Joy! Joy!” from the cartoon Ren & Stimpy —…Aug 2, 20172Aug 2, 20172
Thomas Q. KelleyI Was There: Daft Punk’s Coachella 2006 and the Return of the FutureI started the Museum of Lost Tales blog in 2006. It kicked off primarily when I saw Daft Punk blow open popular culture at Coachella that…Aug 2, 2017Aug 2, 2017
Thomas Q. KelleyDesert Dawn Dancers: Colonizing the Future Under a Full MoonThis brief history of California’s Moontribe collective was a unique chance to chart two sides of the West Coast rave story, one that…Aug 2, 20171Aug 2, 20171
Thomas Q. KelleyRabbit Moons, Violet Dawns and the Call of the DesertAfter going to Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas in 2013, it was clear to me how much of a role the desert has played in the drama of…Aug 2, 2017Aug 2, 2017
Thomas Q. KelleyFrom Organic ’96 to the Hollywood Bowl: The L.A. History of UnderworldThis story was the culmination of two years of reporting on Underworld’s history and current projects. It was published before their…Aug 1, 20171Aug 1, 20171
Thomas Q. KelleyA Peace Out West: Mourning the Late Michael Kandel of Tranquility BassThis remembrance was first written in May 2015. Michael Kandel, one of the great pioneers of West Coast electronic music psychedelia, had…Aug 1, 20171Aug 1, 20171
Thomas Q. KelleyDJ Dan Looks Back on 20 Years of Dance Floor MayhemThis interview was originally done in February 2015. I have talked to DJ Dan (Daniel Wherrett) several times. I recall first seeing him…Aug 1, 2017Aug 1, 2017