Rock Is Lit

In this episode of Rock is Lit, I’m thrilled to welcome novelist, playwright, visual artist, and songwriter Jeff Jackson, author of the novel 'Destroy All Monsters: The Last Rock Novel', which centers around the killing of bands as they perform on stage by members of their own audience. Later, Nathan D. Duvall, host of the Lucid show on 103.3 Asheville FM, joins the podcast to talk about real-world examples when this kind of violence has erupted at live shows. Highlights:Jeff and I talk about some amazing musicians/bands, including Wire, The Raincoats, Throbbing Gristle, Dog Faced Hermans, Destroyer, Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground, Suede, The Smiths, Johnny Ace, Fugazi, The Beatles, Pavement, and Robert Johnson.Jeff and I discuss what makes a good rock novel and list some examples, including 'Paint It Black' by Janet Fitch, 'Black Card' by Chris L. Terry, 'The Ruins' by Mat Osman, and my own rock novel 'Searching for Jimmy Page'. Additional topics Jeff and I cover include the style and narrative of Jeff’s book 'Destroy All Monsters: The Last Rock Novel'; the link between violence and music; fandom and obsession; the primal nature of music; mythology surrounding certain musicians; the diminishing power of music in the culture; Jeff’s band Julian Calendar.For more examples of Jeff's favorite rock novels and for a bonus interview with Jeff about Julian Calendar's political songs, bop on over to the Rock is Lit Vault.Nathan and I talk about real-world historical precedent for the fictional premise of Jeff’s novel, fans attacking musicians as they perform on stage, and give some examples, including the murder of Dimebag Darrell of Pantera and Damagebag.Songs played during the episode in order of appearance: "Keep Your Laws Off My Body" by Dog Faced Hermans "Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace "Blue Boys" by Julian Calendar "In Your Love" by Julian Calendar Contacts:Jeff Jackson’s website, http://deathofliterature.com/Jeff Jackson Instagram, @deathofliteratureJeff Jackson Twitter, @DeathofLitJulian Calendar at Bandcamp, https://juliancalendar.bandcamp.com/My review of 'Destroy All Monsters' in 'North Carolina Literary Review'Nathan D. Duvall’s Lucid show, https://www.ashevillefm.org/show/lucid/Nathan D. Duvall Facebook, @nathan.duvall1Christy Alexander Hallberg website, christyalexanderhallberg.comChristy Alexander Hallberg Instagram, @christyhallbergChristy Alexander Hallberg Twitter, @ChristyHallbergChristy Alexander Hallberg YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/christyhallbergRock is Lit Vault Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Rock is Lit, Suzi Quatro talks about her favorite 'Happy Days' episode, being a Detroit girl, Bobby Darin, seeing the psychedelic ‘60s band Blues Magoos when she was 15 years old, learning a lot about being an entertainer by seeing Wayne Newton perform, what Suzi would ask Elvis if she could, loving Bob Dylan's music, Jackie Collins’ advice to Suzi about writing a novel, how Suzi feels about gender and how she dealt with sexism in the music business, the first time she saw Elvis on TV, the most irritating encounter she’s had with a fan, Suzi’s paranormal experiences, the 2019 documentary about her called 'Suzi Q', her complicated relationship with her sisters and parents, Suzi’s analysis of my astrological sign, and how she and I are soul sisters.In the final segment, Katherine Turman, who is a music journalist and producer of Alice Cooper's syndicated radio show 'Nights With Alice Cooper', joins the podcast to talk about Suzi’s role as a pioneer for female musicians and her place in rock ‘n roll history and possible reasons she hasn’t been inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame yet.Suzi Quatro songs in the episode in order of appearance: "Devil Gate Drive" "Can The Can" "The Wild One" "Stumblin' In" (duet with Chris Norman) Suzi Quatro’s website: http://www.suziquatro.com/Suzi Quatro Instagram: @suziquatrorealSuzi Quatro Twitter: @Suzi_QuatroKatherine Turman’s website: https://katherineturman.com/Katherine Turman Instagram: @katturmanKatherine Turman Twitter: @KatherineTurmanChristy Alexander Hallberg website, christyalexanderhallberg.comChristy Alexander Hallberg Instagram, @christyhallbergChristy Alexander Hallberg Twitter, @ChristyHallbergChristy Alexander Hallberg YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/christyhallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I really tried to create a band that I would love, if they were real”— Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones & The SixFiction writers have long been seduced by the anarchy, defiance, and raw power of rock ‘n roll, creating stories about music, the people who make it, and the characters who love it with the same intensity as the most ambitious concept albums. But until Rock is Lit first aired in September 2022, there had never been a podcast devoted to this art form—the rock novel—and the show remains a singularity.In each episode, host Christy Alexander Hallberg, author of the award-winning rock novel Searching for Jimmy Page (Livingston Press, 2021), interviews authors about craft and the musical inspiration behind their work, then brings in music experts, like legendary groupie Pamela Des Barres, to add real-world context to the bands or musical periods featured in the novels. Hallberg has quickly earned a reputation as a meticulous researcher and creative producer, frequently garnering compliments from guests such as Rex Weiner, author of The (Original) Adventures of Ford Fairlane: “You’re so well versed in what I wrote and, of course, your own rock ‘n roll history is pretty terrific.”The podcast’s growing roster of rock novels includes: Dana Spiotta’s National Book Award-nominated Eat the Document, works by BIPOC authors like Chris L. Terry’s Black Card, metal-centric novels like John Wray’s Gone to the Wolves, YA LGBTQ debuts like Jessamyn Violet’s Secret Rules to Being a Rockstar, Scifi rock novels like Sarah Pinsker’s Nebula Award-winning A Song For A New Day, rock novels adapted to film like Garth Risk Hallberg’s City on Fire, and celebrity rock novels like the legendary Suzi Quatro’s The Hurricane.Tune in to Rock is Lit and join the mounting number of Lit Listeners on their quest to find the very best rock novels.Watch the trailer on YouTube.Find Christy Alexander Hallberg and Rock is Lit on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices