Rock Journalism

Frank Zappa declared that, "Most rock journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read."



There are "Ten commandments of Rock Journalism”, these are:

1. Know your music


2. Know your metal


3. Be open to all forms of metal


4. It’s not just the riff


5. Listen/watch/read before you write


6. Have your say


7. Be you


8. Prepare to be hammered and to be hammer back


9. Go against the rules


10. Just be Metal

Rock journalism is a type of music journalism. Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as classical music. This aspect of music journalism, today generally classified as music criticism, comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of music and its performance. Modern music criticism is often informed by music theory consideration of the many diverse elements of a musical piece or performance, including its form and style, and as regards performance, standards of technique and expression.

One could apply the above "Ten commandments of Rock Journalism" to their lives and how they live them. One should be open to new ideas, should voice their opinions, and just be themselves. Most of us live these "closed" lives, not willing to budge from the known to the unknown. We don't budge out of fear for the unknown. After all, the known is safer and doesn't require us to take risks. But life would be boring if we don't take a chance.

Quotes form the Not Fade Away: the rise and fall of rock journalism's (a film by Jeremy Stulberg and Randy Stulberg) website:

It was a rock writer who introduced the Beatles to Bob Dylan.
A rock writer helped assemble the Sex Pistols.
Former rock writers lead the Smiths, the Pet Shop Boys and the Pretenders.
A rock writer launched global disco culture with a single magazine feature.
A former rock writer was responsible for organizing Live Aid.
A rock writer introduced Kurt Cobain to Courtney Love.

Rock Journalists are a true counterpart to the rock & roll star. They are the only people in the world who are as fully immersed in music and committed to rock culture as the performers are. Only the journalist is doomed to a rock & roll lifestyle and can articulate the complexity and intensity of it all.

Being obsessed with rock & roll is lonely. And no amount of sex, drugs, cars, toys and more drugs can fill a void for the musician quite like an exchange with their fellow traveler -- the rock journalist.

While the rock writer’s love for music is pure, they're not immune to being star-struck, seduced,
bribed, manhandled, slipped-mickeys and swindled. And yet a good rock critic will keep a musician on top of his or her game and prevent the yes men and spin doctors from wielding too much power.

"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture -
it's a really stupid thing to want to do."
--Elvis Costello