I read Let It Blurt years ago. I again bought it about a year ago forgetting about my 1st copy. One of my favorite stories is the night he did a Live concert review of J. Geils Band. He even brought his Smith-Corona typewriter on stage at one point.
Tim, thanks for the remembrance. I read his Village Voice pieces in the late 70s and still have "Psychedelic Reactions and Carburetor Dung" on my bookshelf. I remember when he formed his band VOM saying it was time to "be the product" instead of just reviewing the product. I miss his take on all the music that has followed his passing. "What would Lester think about that?"
Thank you. I do have to correct you on one point, however: VOM was Richard Meltzer's band, not Lester's. Lester did have bands, but VOM was not one of them. I appreciate you reading and commenting. Please drop by anytime. :-)
Thanks Tim. You are correct. I read R. Meltzer in the Voice as well and mixed them up. It was almost 50 years ago. Senior moment or maybe the fog of the 1970s!
Hey, it only just showed up on my feed. That's part of the problem. You got 9,655 guys writing re-assessments of Dylan, Beatles, Beach Boys, whatever; and they land everywhere, but the guys writing about today's music, today? Can't get no space. Even search won't always bring 'em up.
✊🏼
Kick out the jams, motherfucker! :-)
Great read!
Thanks, Joe. You rule.
Great piece. Funny, I just started plowing through Psychotic Reactions & Carburetor Dung again. Loved that guy.
I read Let It Blurt years ago. I again bought it about a year ago forgetting about my 1st copy. One of my favorite stories is the night he did a Live concert review of J. Geils Band. He even brought his Smith-Corona typewriter on stage at one point.
They definitely broke the mold on Bangs!
Lester Bangs, truly a legend
Tim, thanks for the remembrance. I read his Village Voice pieces in the late 70s and still have "Psychedelic Reactions and Carburetor Dung" on my bookshelf. I remember when he formed his band VOM saying it was time to "be the product" instead of just reviewing the product. I miss his take on all the music that has followed his passing. "What would Lester think about that?"
Thank you. I do have to correct you on one point, however: VOM was Richard Meltzer's band, not Lester's. Lester did have bands, but VOM was not one of them. I appreciate you reading and commenting. Please drop by anytime. :-)
Thanks Tim. You are correct. I read R. Meltzer in the Voice as well and mixed them up. It was almost 50 years ago. Senior moment or maybe the fog of the 1970s!
Yeah, he was a legend all right. Where are his successors, tho'?
He'd tell you himself that, just like the bands he wrote about, what he was doing was 95% attitude and being around; no special gift required.
There's writers like him out there; who's gonna bring them where they can be read like he was?
Where they can change lives, like he changed yours?
You come to my Substack, months after this ran, and ask "where can they be read?" Do you understand how insulting you are?
Hey, it only just showed up on my feed. That's part of the problem. You got 9,655 guys writing re-assessments of Dylan, Beatles, Beach Boys, whatever; and they land everywhere, but the guys writing about today's music, today? Can't get no space. Even search won't always bring 'em up.
God bless Lester Bangs! Highly recommend the DeRogatis bio "Let It Blurt".
Thanks, enjoying the playlist right now. (Well, not Metal Machine Music)