Rolling Stone Interview: Chris Rock the Comedian on How He fi Nally Conquered fi Lm
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Issue 1224/1225 December 18, 2014-January 1, 2015 $5.99 TONY BENNETT & LADY GAGA DECEMBER 30 & 31 FOR TICKETS AND ROOM PACKAGES VISIT COSMOPOLITANLASVEGAS.COM PRODUCED BY LIVE NATION GLOBAL TOURING Management reserves all rights. Subject to change without notice. © 2014 The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. All rights reserved. When The Fun Stops.™ problem gamblers helpline. 1-800-522-4700. TheCosmopolitan @Cosmopolitan_LV “A ll the NEWS THAT FITS” FEATURES 47 The Secret Deal to Save the Planet Inside the high-stakes drama behind Obama’s China climate talks. By Jeff Goodell 52 Seth Rogen at a Crossroads Can he be a responsible adult and still make a living telling dick jokes? By Josh Eells 58 XCX Marks the Spot A wild night with Charli XCX, pop’s most exciting new star. By Caryn Ganz 62 The Rolling Stone Interview: Chris Rock The comedian on how he fi nally conquered fi lm. By Brian Hiatt 68 Afghanistan: The Making of a Narco State After 13 years of war, we haven’t defeated the Taliban, but we have created a nation ruled by drug lords. By Matthieu Aikins 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW Albums of the Year ..............................21 Singles of the Year ...............................32 Movies of the Year ...............................39 Television of the Year .........................40 DEPARTMENTS Rock & Roll ...........15 Record Reviews ....77 Random Notes ....43 Movie Reviews ....82 “White entertainers don’t ON THE COVER Seth Rogen photographed have a responsibility to a in New York on July 30th, 2014, by community. Nobody’s telling Mark Seliger. them to keep it real.” Set design by Rob Strauss Studio. Styling by Brian Coats at the —CHRIS ROCK PETER HAPAK PETER Wall Group. Grooming by Losi at Brydges Mackinney. Shirt by GANT. December 18, 2014-January 1, 2015 RollingStone.com | Rolling Stone | 7 ROLLINGSTONE.COM EDITOR AND PUBLISHER: Jann S. 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But The Whistle-Blower in Andy Greene’s Q&A, we also In “The $9 Billion Witness” [RS 1222], contributing editor Matt get to see what a serious guy Taibbi made a triumphant return to ROLLING STONE, with the Stewart is too. I can’t wait to explosive story of Alayne Fleischmann, a securities lawyer who watch Rosewater and experi- blew the whistle on massive fraud at JPMorgan Chase and ence how his curiosity and vi- helped trigger one of the largest Department of Justice fi nes sion have played out onscreen. in U.S. history. Thrilled and enraged, RS readers responded. Avery Cole, via the Internet the brilliant matt taibbi has always had a Jack Bruce, R.I.P. Taibbi has given us anoth- talent for taking financial is- er tool for understanding sues the mainstream press my heart really hurt our current economic mess proclaims are “too com- when I saw that Jack Bruce and who its culprits are. This plex” for us stupid, ordinary had died [Tribute, RS 1222]. Dylan’s Deep Cuts piece particularly needs to Americans and making them A truly visionary musician, be read by that Tea Party comprehensible without Bruce is rightly lauded as one david browne’s piece on uncle who likes to blame ever dumbing them down. of the greatest bassists ever to Bob Dylan’s Basement Tapes homeowners, welfare recip- Now what will it take for the play the instrument. But it’s his [“Dylan’s Accidental Master- ients or Greece for the 2008 American people to listen? voice that always got me. Crank piece,” RS 1222] was sensa- meltdown and the ongoing Wayne Martorelli “White Room” and hear classic tional. Dylan has enjoyed such aftereffects. Lawrenceville, NJ psychedelic rock at its finest. a long and fascinating career Jim Corbin Oscar Diaz, via the Internet – he’s still touring, and his Portland, ME together, taibbi and “found” music is better than Fleischmann refute the Allman Love 99 percent of what’s being pro- as usual, outstanding claim that the prosecution duced today. Nothing but re- reporting by Taibbi. as a longtime allman spect for a living legend. Thanks to Fleisch mann Brothers fan and RS subscrib- Daniel Bellay, via the Internet from those of us who er, I was very disappointed that wish that ethics and in- you didn’t give the Brothers the dylan cover story tegrity were not a com- the cover to celebrate the end was just the kind of inside- modity to be bought and of their 45-year ride [“The All- baseball reporting that we sub- sold like those scratch- mans’ Last Stand,” RS 1222].