Brian Siedlecki started as an Saturday Night Live intern in 1996 and became the longtime music booker for the last 25 years.
Along the way he curated and programmed the most watched stage in live US television bringing a wide variety of musicians into the homes of millions around the world.
This month it was announced he and the show are parting ways, so let's look back at a few highlights during his reign.
Prince, "Fury," 2006
If there is a smoother, casually frenetic, and piercing guitar solo echoing the best of Jimi, but sexier, then reveal it.
Why does Prince have those dancers? To dare you to look away from his majesty. That's why.
Kendrick Lamar, "i," 2014
Kendrick Lamar and those black contacts two weeks after Halloween was just the beginning of the presentation on 11/15/14 as the Compton rapper moved from the good kid, m.A.A.d city era toward what would become To Pimp a Butterfly.
KDot delivered "i" which made it into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and later won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the Grammys.
Beyoncé, "If I Were A Boy," 2008
Three days before the release of her third solo album, I Am... Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé performed "If I Were a Boy" on 11/15/08. It would be the last time she would be musical guest at the show.
The song would go on to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached #1 in the United Kingdom.
Beyoncé was working at the time with her all-female Suga Mama band which included Bibi McGill (guitar), Divinity Roxx (bass) and Nikki Glaspie (drums).
Jack White, "Don't Hurt Yourself / Jesus Is Coming Soon," 2020
After answering the last minute call to replace Morgan Wallen, who was removed from the show for violating COVID-19 safety protocols, Jack White appeared on 10/10/20, ready to rock.
Due to the plague, he was not supporting a tour or album, his last being 2018's Boarding House Reach. It was great to see White alongside Dominic Davis (bass) and Daru Jones who likes to play those weird upside-down drums.
Jack is back on the road in September. Get tix on his site.
Billie Eilish, "bad guy," 2019
Billie was just 17 years-old when made her SNL debut on 9/28/19, opening Season 45 with Woody Harrelson as host. "bad guy" had already reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, ending the record-setting 19-week run of Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road."
To do things differently, she sung in a rotating room synchronized to a camera that went right along with it, giving an illusion that she was dancing on the ceiling like Lionel Richie.
Halsey, "Eastside," 2019
Halsey did double duty on 2/9/19 when she hosted and served as musical guest
"Eastside" had been released as the lead single from Benny Blanco's Friends Keep Secrets. It peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually reached #1 on Billboard's Pop Songs airplay chart.
Halsey made it fun by painting a woman's face upside-down on the floor.
She's in Brazil next month. Get tix here.
Kanye West, "Runaway," 2010
About two months before the release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Ye performed "Runaway" on 10/2/10, his fourth appearance as musical guest.
He was joined by Pusha T and ballerinas. Just another in his long list of visually dazzling trips to 30 Rock.
Ye is in Khazitzstan tonight and heads to the US at the end of the month. Grab tix on his website.
Taylor Swift, "All Too Well," 2021
One day after releasing Red (Taylor's Version), Taylor Swift did something very different on 11/13/21 to promote the re recorded version of the album.
Instead of doing the traditional two songs on the show, Taylor performed the entire "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" which debuted at #1 on the singles chart making it the longest song ever to top the chart.
Behind her was the accompanying short film starring Sadie Sink (who you should catch in the new Spider-Man) and Dylan O'Brien.
Childish Gambino, "This is America," 2018
Donald Glover hosted Saturday Night Live and performed as Childish Gambino on 5/5/18. It was both Glover's hosting debut, Childish Gambino's musical-guest debut on SNL, and the song's live debut.
"This Is America" had been released that day along with the Hiro Murai-directed video. The song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first chart topper.
Olivia Rodrigo, all-american bitch, 2023
Olivia Rodrigo made a (fun) mess during her appearance on 12/9/23 while promoting her second album, GUTS.
Then just 20, Rodrigo in a pink dress began the song sitting at lovely table set up for tea. But soon she got into it, climbed on the table and went ham on the deserts, shanking a cake and wiping her frosting hands all over herself.
Speaking of, Olivia's Unraveled Tour starts next month. Get on the waiting list.
Bonus extras:
Post Nirvana, "Smells Like Teen Spirit," 2025
Who knew the guy with the Kurt Cobain tattoos would rock out so hard with the remaining members of Nirvana?
Sabrina Carpenter, "Manchild," 2025
It was nice she brought the saxophone back into our lives.
Kacey Musgraves, "justified," 2021
Is that happens when the wardrobe department is defunded?
Kacey's North American tour starts rolling next week. Get tix on Kacey's website.
Middle of Nowhere Tour
8/21 United Center, Chicago, IL
8/24 Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON, Canada
8/28 TD Garden, Boston, MA
8/31-9/1 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
9/4 Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
9/5 CFG Bank Arena, Baltimore, MD
9/8 PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
9/9 Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH
9/11 Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
9/12 Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
9/22 Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
9/23 T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO
9/25 Bourbon & Beyond, Louisville, KY
9/27-9/28 Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
9/30 State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
10/2 Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
10/5 Toyota Center, Houston, TX
10/7 Moody Center, Austin, TX
10/10 American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
10/13 Ball Arena, Denver, CO
10/15 Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
10/17 Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
10/18-10/19 Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
10/23 Oakland Arena, Oakland, CA
10/26-10/27 Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA
