Nick DeRiso is UCR's assistant managing editor. He was named columnist of the year five times by the Associated Press, Louisiana Press Association and Louisiana Sports Writers Association during a lengthy career in the newspaper industry, and previously oversaw a daily section that was named Top 10 in the nation by the AP.
Nick DeRiso
35 Years Ago: Van Halen Leave Planet Earth on ‘Love Walks In’
This wasn't Sammy Hagar's first song about aliens, but it was by far the biggest.
How R.E.M. Threw Out the Rule Book Then Became Superstars With ‘Out of Time’
Gutsy and creatively free, 'Out of Time' did things other R.E.M. albums hadn't.
5 Reasons the Go-Go’s Should Be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
There was time when an all-female group didn't write its own songs or play its own instruments.
How R.E.M. Hurtled to Superstardom With ‘Losing My Religion’
Anyone looking for the match-light moment when they exploded onto the national scene need to search no further.
35 Years Ago: Space Shuttle Challenger Breaks Apart on Live TV
We've been told that a nation watched in horror as the space shuttle exploded. But that's not exactly what happened.
5 Years Ago: David Bowie Transforms Once More, Then Vanishes
He orchestrated this departure with a familiar sense of mystery and panache.
How Neal Schon Made Peace With Jonathan Cain to Revive Journey
If the band was going to survive, it would have to rebuild a relationship that dates back to the "Don't Stop Believin'" era.
Tanya Roberts Confirmed Dead at 65 After False Initial Report
Roberts' death was confirmed following an earlier incorrect report.
How ‘Please Come Home for Christmas’ Emerged From Eagles Time-Out
Sessions for a follow-up to 'Hotel California' were dragging on, and their label was growing concerned.
35 Years Ago: ‘Spies Like Us’ Falters When It Gets to the Spy Part
This action comedy actually began life as a sort of homage to the legendary 'Road' pictures starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.