Chapter 18. Interviews

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I have found that I can basically get anyone on the phone. It ain't that hard for me for some reason. I could have interviewed a lot more people who sold a lot more records, but chose not to. I was more concerned with integrity and attitude than record sales. ^[1.]

^[1.] It's funnySomeone actually criticized me for having about seven percent of my last book interviews and quotes, like it was cheating. In reality, I consider it collaboration and expanding on my limited world view, and it's not cheating. It actually takes me more time (and care) to proof and format the work of others than to just barf up more of my stuff. Writing's easy for me (my editor cut 90 pages out of $30 Film School to trim it down to a svelte 520 pages!). Editing takes work. I just think using outside opinions and interviews make the whole thing stronger.

I'm also personally a fan of all these people's music.

I'm mainly into interviewing people who have had between 10 and 20 years of what I consider success, on their own terms, and am avoiding top-ten kiddies no one will remember in a year.

These people are in it for the long run, in music and in life.

Henry Rollins

London May

Janis Tanaka

Dave Brockie

Joan Jett

Peter DiStefano

Jonathan Richman

The opinions in this chapter belong to the interviewees and do not reflect the opinions of Michael W. Dean, his publisher, editor, agent, or cat.

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