Lester Bangs

The music writer sees a populist potential in rock music. If anyone can pick up a guitar, he claims, then anyone can make something full of emotion, regardless of their technical abilities. He recently published a book about the band Blondie.

Jim DeRogatis is the author of “Let it Blurt: The Life & Times of Lester Bangs, America’s Greatest Rock Critic” (Broadway Books). Bangs wrote about rock ‘n’ roll for the Rolling Stone, Cream, and The Village Voice. DeROGATIS describes him as, “the great gonzo journalist, gutter poet, and romantic visionary of rock writing—its Hunter S. Thompson, Charles Bukowski, and Jack Kerouac all rolled into one.”

Rock Critic Greil Marcus. His new book is a compilation of the writings of the late rock critic Lester Bangs, who, from 1969 until his death in 1982, wrote prodigiously for publications such as Rolling Stone, Creem and The Village Voice. Marcus is also the author of the highly-acclaimed Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'n Roll Music.