Michael Azerrad in Person By Jeanne Fury (2002) Michael Azerrad is the author of two books, Come As You Are: The Story Of Nirvana and Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes From The American Indie Underground 1981-1991, which recently came out in paperback. Our Band covers the canon of American indie punk bands that birthed do-it-yourself culture. And it was indeed a culture: Azerrad’s book uncovers the sociology of … Continue reading From the Archives: Michael Azerrad (2002) (II)

His Book Could Be Your Life: Michael Azerrad by E-Mail By Scott Woods (2002) Michael Azerrad’s Our Band Could Be Your Life is, for me, that rare breed of scene-and-place rock chronicle–as opposed to an all-over-the-map critique–that I actually didn’t get the urge to put down after a few dozen pages. As reportage on a specific musical moment, I’d rank OBCBYL in a league with Like Punk Never Happened (Dave Rimmer), England’s … Continue reading From the Archives: Michael Azerrad (2002) (I)

Making It Up As We Go Along: Interview With John Morthland By William Crain (December 2002) John Morthland, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, was an active participant in the mid-wifing of rock writing. He assisted its transition from teen magazine coverage and the occasional uncomprehending daily paper piece to something more vital and alive, which attempted to capture the spirit and concerns of both … Continue reading From the Archives: John Morthland (2002)

Online Exchange with Simon Frith (September 2002) Simon Frith is perhaps best known to fans of rock criticism as the author of Sound Effects (titled The Sociology of Rock in an earlier incarnation) and Performing Rites, the book that asks–in much further-out detail than the question was ever asked before–“what do we talk about when we talk about music?” (PR is also the only known book of pop scholarship that can … Continue reading From the Archives: Simon Frith (2002)

Out of His Pen: The Words of Richard Williams By Simon Warner (September 2002) In U.S. culture, the rock critic is valued, even venerated. From Lester Bangs to Dave Marsh, from Ben Fong-Torres to Greil Marcus, the voices that have emanated from the pages of magazines like Rolling Stone and Creem have assumed a significant status in popular culture’s stampede; their commentaries have helped to cast light, not just on … Continue reading From the Archives: Richard Williams (2002)

L.A.Times Kinda Guy: Interview With Steve Hochman By Steven Ward (September 2002)  Los Angeles Times music writer Steve Hochman earned my eternal respect when he penned the introductory essay for the liner notes of Rhino’s 1996, five-disc prog-rock box set, Supernatural Fairy Tales: The Progressive Rock Era. Here was a major mainstream rock critic–a guy who’s been published in Spin, Entertainment Weekly, and Rolling Stone–writing a piece entitled, “I Was A Teenage Prog-Rock Geek.” … Continue reading From the Archives: Steve Hochman (2002)

Rick Johnson Is Alive and Well and Living in Macomb By Andrew Lapointe (July 2002) Former rock critic and Creem magazine writer, Rick Johnson, is alive and well. Many followers of rock criticism have wondered where on earth he’s been hiding all these years and what he’s been up to. Turns out he’s living quietly in Macomb, Illinois, where he manages a newspaper and cigar shop, wakes … Continue reading From the Archives: Rick Johnson (2002)

The Goldberg Variations: Neumu Editor Addicted to Criticism By Barbara Flaska (July 2002) Michael Goldberg has stacked up so many fine achievements that reading through his biography can be alternately humbling and inspiring. He served a long apprenticeship in print publishing, freelancing for many years before ending up, in 1984, as Senior Writer and Associate Editor with Rolling Stone. In 1994, back when the Internet was a fledgling medium, … Continue reading From the Archives: Michael Goldberg (2002)

Rolling Stone Editor Nathan Brackett Snubs Breakfast Reviews, Predicts Klezmer Kraze By Jason Gross (June 2002) You may not think you know who Nathan Brackett is but trust me, you know his work. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that you’ve heard of a magazine calledRolling Stone. Claiming a seven-digit circulation, any release that’s written up in its record reviews section is bound … Continue reading From the Archives: Nathan Brackett (2002)