Like a Rock (Meta)

Nice one! I had a moment after filling in top half of the grid, getting down to 71A and thinking, hey, that's funny, his nickname is ... before it dropped on my head like a, well, rock.

Nice one Peter!

Nice one, Peter! Really enjoyed it.

Was it just coincidental that emerald (March = 3), topaz (Oct = 10), and Garnet ( Jan = 1) spells the rock group R. E. M.? .... But I don't understand their connection to the rest of the meta. Fun puz. Thanks, Peter!

Peter, you ROCK! This one's a real GEM. Thanks!

Nicely done. It clicked with Grave Stone and Stone Age.

Nice. Thanks, Peter.

First rabbit hole: Each STONE is turned into some other stone, leaving no STONE unturned. But that's not a group.

Second rabbit hole: Searching the Internet to find out of there is a rock group (repeat, ROCK group) called the Stone Masons or Masons. Apparently there isn't.

Finally, I conneced the Dots and got Mason's.

Good one!

I tried applying the metanism one more time and submitted stonemasons first.

Wow! Original! And tough.

Just one bit that was outside my wheelhouse, but it’s always good to learn about pro wrestling! In case it comes up on my Jeopardy! appearance.

Enjoyed this one. Stone Cold Steve Austin was my "aha" moment. Cluing was very clever as well. Thanks for the puzzle, Peter!

Tough grid, but I can understand why! Those were some creative long themers! This was more challenging than my Monday work break had time for, and I just HAD to finish it, so I hold you completely responsible for my delay in getting work out to clients as promised today. ( :

Nice! I had to regroup after concluding that Arcade Fire, Coldplay, Rolling Stones could not extend past those three...

You are a rockstar, Peter. Thanks for the MMM!

"But wait! There's more!" I was getting GMC at first (well, at least it was better than MSN) until I doubled my efforts. Totally missed the "gems" in the middle! End result -- I love it. Thanks, Peter!

Before I even started I laughed at 1D.

Was there any meta component to the middle gems other that “they’re stones?’ I had M_AS_ON_S for a bit before I was like, oh, yeah.

Finally, if I order a steak rare, not going to send it back because it’s still good meat, but I am NOT going to be happy if it’s pink.;)

fell for the easy way out......stones as always great puzzle and meta.

I was SO sure that there was some significance to the primary colors (in light that is). I tried all sorts of combos with GBR, RBG (that one is familiar) to no avail.

Then I noticed the GREEN is anagrammed in BERGEN. All I needed to do was find three more like that. NO.

Then, of course I had to check out birthstones, anniversaries, MOHS hardness, etc.

I finally figured out that there was a reason for the cryptic form of the theme clues.

And success!

Quite a workout but a fun day and a half.

Great midmorning snack of a puzzle!

Excellent!

Very very nice. No nudges needed, but have been buried at work so only had about 10 minutes to look at this since Monday. Obviously saw the center stones during/right after completing the grid, but didn't see them as STONEs either then or during a 5 minute second look yesterday. Only took a minute or so to see it this morning--which frustratingly happened right as I needed to leave my office to go teach. Spotted MICHELIN before I had to go, tidied up the rest after class. Liked the 1A/1D/42D/51A clues, but especially the 12D one . Fun stuff, thanks.

Very nice, Peter! Love the mechanism. My first submission was "STONE MASONS", since that was my father's occupation.

Very nice! I went the ROLLING STONES way first but when that did not work (and I really didn't think it would) then I was doing rock groups (like silicates) and all when it hit me, "use stone" and FIRESTONE made me pivot immediately to MICHELIN. I looked for Mick, or Brian or CHarlie when I remembered the clue for Music magazine that I had never heard of, only one I know is - well I'll be darned. So I ended up with MSN, which is a group of sorts, but that felt tepid. I got no further until I was driving the wife to a medical appointment and STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN hit me. Of course Peter used it twice, the entries were just too odd not to have.

Like the "group" thing, very "hey look over here" of you. Fun puzzle and AHA!

Very cool. Needed the nudges- but a great solve from there!