Michael Azerrad

Michael Azerrad, music writer and editor of The Talkhouse, poses questions about the state of political songs. Plus, a slew of listeners ask questions of their own.

In the early ‘80s, audiences at hardcore punk shows began pushing, shoving and slamming into each other – in the friendliest way, of course. Musician, critic and author Michael Azerrad joins us to talk about the evolution of moshing - plus we hear from Jack Rabid, editor of the music magazine The Big Takeover.

Earlier this year, we heard from the filmmakers behind “Roadie,” a new feature film about a fictional member of Blue Oyster Cult’s road crew. Today, we hear about real life for the hard-touring techs who get paid to haul gear, tune guitars and look tough. Music journalist Michael Azerrad talks about the view from backstage, Roadie Palooza founder (and “Roadie for Life”) Karl Kuenning explains the rules of the roadie, and Styx’s lighting director Libby Gray tells us about spending the last 20 years on tour.

Michael Azerrad’s 2001 indie rock history “Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981-1991” told the story of a group of hardworking bands -  including Sonic Youth, The Replacements and Dinosaur Jr. Those bands went on to become hugely influential – as did the book. Azerrad joins us to reflect on the tenth anniversary of the book’s publication.

Last week, we heard from the filmmakers behind “Roadie,” a new feature film about a fictional member of Blue Oyster Cult’s road crew. Today, we hear about real life for the hard-touring techs who get paid to haul gear, tune guitars and look tough. Music journalist Michael Azerrad talks about the view from backstage, Roadie Palooza founder (and “Roadie for Life”) Karl Kuenning explains the rules of the roadie, and Styx’s lighting director Libby Gray tells us about spending the last 20 years on tour.

Dormant rock acts like Pavement, Soundgarden and Faith No More are reuniting for summer tours. But as music writer Michael Azerrad explains, not all fans want their favorite musicians...

The job of a tour manager is never done. They triple-check itineraries, collect money, pilot the tour van and much more. They can get tough with a stingy clubowner -- and mediate interpersonal conflicts. Today: a look at some of the hardest working men and women in show business. Guests ...

Fifty years ago this month, the William Burroughs novel Naked Lunch was first published in Paris. It was unlike anything many readers had ever encountered, and controversy soon followed. Today: how Naked Lunch's frank subject matter, unusual storytelling technique, and dark humor influenced artists like Laurie Anderson, Sonic Youth, and ...

The Lord of the Rings cast a spell on Led Zeppelin. Don Quixote started Richard Strauss on a musical journey. And Moby Dick became, well, Moby. Author and music journalist Michael Azerrad joins us for a look at great novels that became great music, in the first installment of the ...

Lurking in every music fan's collection is an album that changed a life in some way, big or small. Today we ask you to tell us about an album that compelled you to pick up an instrument, start a career in music, or make a big decision. Music writer Michael ...

Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird and music writer Michael Azerrad join us today to talk about "gateway albums," those curiosity-sparking releases that compel a listener to dig deeper into a particular genre or artist. Check out their personal lists of gateway albums below. Tell us: What's your gateway album? What did it help you discover?

Lurking in every music fan's collection is an album that changed a life in some way, big or small. Today we ask you about "The Album That Changed Your Life," a record that compelled you to pick up an instrument, start a career in music, or make a big decision. ...

Michael Azerrad has built a career writing about musicians in books like "Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana" and the indie-rock history "Our Band Could Be Your Life." Now, a songwriter has written about him -- and lyrics are a tad scary. Azerrad joins us in the studio.

...

Soundcheck Smackdown: Music critic and author Michael Azerrad claims R.E.M.'s fourteenth album, "Accelerate," is their hardest-rocking ever. Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis is not convinced. In the first of a new weekly series of musical debates we have both on to discuss the return of one of the most ...

The journalist Michael Azerrad conducted 25 hours of late-night interviews with alt-rock hero Kurt Cobain for a biography published prior to the singer's 1994 suicide. Thirteen years later, Azerrad has revisited the tapes for the documentary "Kurt Cobain: About a Son," in which Cobain narrates the story of his life ...

Sonic Youth recorded “Daydream Nation” nearly 20 years ago. But the album’s impact is still being felt in indie rock circles today. Greg Kot, pop critic for the Chicago Tribune, and Michael Azerrad, author of "Our Band Could Be Your Life," join us to discuss how a collection ...