Louder: The secret history of rock’s wildest stage prop

March 14, 2026

	By Caryn Ganz

I have seen Madonna emerge from a giant glittering disco ball, Phish fly across an arena in a jumbo hot dog and SZA float the length of Madison Square Garden in a life raft. So I can only image the collective awe when George Clinton emerged from one of the most groundbreaking stage props in music history nearly 50 years ago: the Mothership. To mark the anniversary of the intergalactic onstage mind blower, Steve Knopper chatted with the P-Funk leader and many of those responsible for bringing his wild vision to life.

Speaking of surprises, Popcast’s sit-down with Jack Harlow about his new album, “Monica,” is full of them: After making his name as a chart-topping rapper, Harlow is swerving with an album of R&B built on rules: No bragging. No rapping. No cursing. No digital tricks. And Alex Marshall learned a shocker or two in his interviews with Kneecap, the Irish rap group that attracted global attention for their pro-Palestinian views, but would really like to be known for its music. (A new album is coming next month.)

And Ben Sisario spent the week reporting from the Live Nation antitrust trial. After an unexpected settlement with the Justice Department, a coalition of states couldn’t reach their own agreement with the concert giant, so their case will continue Monday in the same New York courtroom — after private Slacks between ticketing employees calling fans “so stupid” for paying inflated charges for parking and V.I.P. upgrades were revealed.

George Clinton, in a multicolor robe, enters a prop spaceship onstage.

David Corio/Redferns, via Getty Images

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Max Miechowski for The New York Times

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Harry Styles performs onstage wearing a shirt and tie and wide black pants with a pattern of narrow white stripes.

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Kacey Musgraves sits at a mic and plays an acoustic guitar, dressed in a white dress.

Seth Herald/Reuters

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THE LIVE NATION TRIAL

Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

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An office building on a California street with a sign out front reading Live Nation.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

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A series of private exchanges in the messaging system Slack were revealed as exhibits in the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against the concert giant.

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A sign outside a tall building in Los Angeles reads Live Nation.

Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

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The agreement, which requires a judicial sign-off, would avoid a breakup of the concert giant. But states that joined the suit object to the terms.

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United Archives, via Getty Images

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Emily Shur for The New York Times