[kj] Getting in touch w/ jaz and his likelihood of responding

[Alex Smith]

At this stage of the proceedings, I'm pretty far removed from the existing Punk community --- is this DIY/egalitarian aesthetic still the norm?

Another name-droppy true fact: MARTIN ATKINS also called my home and talked to my Mom. He was NOT so polite. I'd interviewed him over the phone for a go-nowhere music rag called EXIT circa EXTREMITIES. He was -- as always -- very chatty. A week or so later, he called looking for me and again -- I wasn't home. Turns out, Martin was under the impression that I'd be writing up an article for a *DIFFERENT* magazine called EXIT (a more art/counter-culture mag with an odd fondness for gratuitous swatika use). He called me up to pitch a fit about how he'd be led to believe something or other else, and ended up chatting with my dear ol' long-suffering Mom. I called back the number and spoke to Martin, explaining that I was -- at the time -- just a hapless music journalist trying to provide coverage for my favorite band and what exactly was so wrong about the article going in this OTHER Exit magazine? He calmed down. If I recall correctly, the EXIT I was writing for fucking FOLDED before the article could ever actually run.

Ah, the fast-paced, exciting life of the slackjawed music journalist. Good times.

A in NYC




-----Original Message-----

>From: "B. Oliver Sheppard" <bigblackhair at sbcglobal.net>

>Sent: Jun 12, 2008 3:20 PM

>To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)" <gathering at misera.net>

>Subject: Re: [kj] Getting in touch w/ jaz and his likelihood of responding

>

>Yeah, that is the kind of cool thing that DIY-minded folks will do, in 

>my book, and in theory. People that are used to rock stars insulating 

>themselves from the public, being inacessible, etc., and just take that 

>as the "norm" are less likely to understand why I think it's  hilarious 

>a Penny Rimbaud letter would go on eBay for $70 USD -- for its "superb 

>musical content," no less (as if it were a Hallmark card that played 

>music, maybe "Big A Little A," when opened).

>

>That is a different ethos, etc., tha the types of folks who would say, 

>if you were interested in an interview, "Well, why don't you talk to my 

>people, and they'll see f I can do it." "Their people" (publicists) look 

>into the journalist, their paper, and see if it's worth a damn (has high 

>circulation, etc.) The old punk thing was the opposite of that.

>

>But you know this.

>

>-Oliver

>

>

>

>Alex Smith wrote:

>> True story: Ian MacKaye called my home. I'd called Dischord records to see if I could interview the man for a cover story for the crappy music mag I was writing for at the time. About two weeks later, Ian called my home (this is, like, 1989). I wasn't home, so he ended up talking to my Mom. She said he was a very polite young man.

>>

>> Alex in NYC

>>

>>

>>   

>>

>>   

>

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