Being Marginalized Is a Blessing: An Interview with Author Dan Kennedy

Popshifter: Even though you aren’t a rock journalist—though you’ve talked about liking Creem and Circus magazine—do you like Lester Bangs’ writing?

Dan Kennedy: I hate to say it but. . . I’m really under-read when it comes to rock writing. My temptation is to lie and say yes.

Popshifter: What about Chuck Klosterman?

Dan Kennedy: I don’t think I’m cool enough to get it?

Popshifter: Well, yeah, he’s a little detached at times, I think.

Dan Kennedy: Yeah, he’s a nice guy and a cool guy, but I’m just not that cool. (laughs) I’ve never been that untraditionally handsome brainy guy in the dorms, going, “I’m totally gonna give you my thesis on a kitsch album.”

Popshifter: (laughs)

Dan Kennedy: I totally fucking respect it, but it’s just way over my head. It’s a clique that I wouldn’t be let into. (laughs)

Popshifter: I tend to feel like that a lot; I know what you’re saying.

Dan Kennedy: I generally steer away from anything that reminds me of the alienation of my college years.

Popshifter: How bad was it?

Dan Kennedy: The alienation? It was. . . it was bad. I mean, in my so-called “college years” I wasn’t even in college. I had a college radio show—

Popshifter: Oh, that’s right and you weren’t actually a student; I remember reading that.

Dan Kennedy: I had one best friend and one girlfriend, basically. You’re supposed to have more than one girlfriend—

Popshifter: At the same time? (laughs)

Dan Kennedy: (laughs) I don’t think that’d be good. My best friend Dave and I pretty much just had bottle rocket wars and just hung out at this cottage we rented behind some normal people’s house, in Seattle. That was college!

Popshifter: Well, getting back to when you read Circus and Creem. . .

Dan Kennedy: Yeah.

Popshifter: I actually read those when I was small, although unfortunately I missed the heyday of Creem because I wasn’t quite old enough. That’s what started me wanting to write about music and I’m still pretty fond of magazines. But I’ve seen some recent discussions where people—from an environmental perspective, from a material possessions perspective—have suggested that magazines are not the thing and that it should be done on the Internet. Since you’ve had experience publishing a book and writing for the Web, do you think that’s a valid criticism or prediction? That print magazines will go by the wayside?

Click to read more from Dan Kennedy on. . .

Cruel Shoes by Steve Martin
The alienation of the “college years”
The death of print media?
The Motown commercial and music now
Being in the slow lane
Definition for mayhem
What’s next?

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