For SPIN's November issue, readers are given a glimpse inside the phantasmagoria that is GWAR frontman Oderus Urungus's normally private "slave pit." But even alien thrash metal maniacs like to get out sometimes -- and when the codpiece-wearing cretin took a stroll through the streets of Richmond, Virginia, we were there, filming.

It's the toughest pickle in rock'n'roll: Can an influential band continue without their iconic frontman?

Just over a year ago, we predicted New York’s Lissy Trullie would be one of 2009’s breakout stars. It’s nice to be right sometimes.

Flint, Michigan, quartet the Swellers aren't the first aspiring rock outfit to try something crazy to land their big break. While they were performing Wednesday at SPIN's NYC office, Swellers frontman Nick Diener revealed how a giant bumper sticker helped his band work their way into the heart of Paramore singer Hayley Williams:

We definitely got closer to Wayne Coyne as we assembled our cover story on him and his band, the Flaming Lips. Heck, the man even hand-lettered the graphics on our cover, and within the story itself! But artistic talent wasn't all Wayne shared with SPIN.