Episode 1005 - Writer Rob Janicke
This is what words are for.
In what seems like a lifetime ago, I began the Abandoned Albums podcast with
and we had a ton of fun doing it. But then he went off to write his spectacular new book Slacker 1991, Teen Spirit, Angst and the Generation It Created:
Like Rob, I am of the generation of which he writes about and I found Slacker to be a great read. Not only a great read about an era in American culture that has a deep well of interpretation, but the book also helped me understand the man I shared a mic with for about a year.
It’s Rob’s personal stories woven throughout the book that give Slacker a unique intimacy.
As he was finishing the book we re-connected and obviously we had to have him return to the show.
Now, much has been made about video and podcasting in the past year, and I generally eschew the video component. But since Rob is photogenic, I thought I would post the video of our conversation here on the ‘stack (it’s also available as an audio only podcast and on the YouTubes). In the video, you’ll see why I tend to stick with straight audio - I look like a doofus and am invariably drinking something and chewing gum (a big no no in the interview rule book).
In this interview you get the trifecta - doofus, drinking (tea & water), and chewing gum.
But hey, Rob looks good and that’s what matters.
You can buy Rob’s book HERE… and you should.
Nice work you guys! I listened to this on a flight last night, and found myself nodding and saying "yes" a lot. I must've looked strange to the people seated around me. lol.
Jokes aside, this was a blast to listen to, and incredibly relatable on a lot of different levels.
And no spoilers, but that Nirvana as Van Halen comparison/revelation? That's *exactly* what seeing the band in the early days felt like. Hearing the opening riff of "Negative Creep" was a kick to the side of the head in all the best ways. This was (finally!) music for people like us by people like us, and I think everyone in the club that night recognized we were seeing the first stages of something incredible.
This was so much fun…thank you Keith!!