Library Rock's Backpages

Howie Klein

Jack Basher is a pseudonym for Howie Klein
Howie Klein

Howie started writing about bands he was booking to play his college concerts in the mid to late 60s-- The Fugs, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Country Joe, Big Brother, Hendrix, Byrds, Yardbirds, Who, Pink Floyd, Joni Mitchell, Tim Buckley, Jackson Browne, The Dead, Otis Redding, Sandy Bull, John Hammond... all the good old dance bands of the day. Then he went to Afghanistan and India and Nepal and Amsterdam for a few years. When he came back-- having missed the degradation of "corporate rock"-- he found the Ramones which him back into music. He was one of the co-founders of the first "punk" radio show in America, on KSAN in San Francisco, an indie label, 415 Records, and a new wave fanzine, NEW WAVE. And he wrote about the music he loved. Then he became the general manager of Sire Records and then the president of Reprise. Now he's a professor. From the ‘60s ‘til now his favourite singers are the Ali Brothers.

27 articles

List of articles in the library

By date | By artist | Most recently added

Thin Lizzy (1977)

Interview by Howie Klein, Rock's Backpages audio, 1977

Phil Lynott and Scott Gorham, mid US tour, talk about playing live, writing songs, punk, and English taxes!

File format: mp3; file size: 40.8mb, interview length: 44' 33" sound quality: ****

Cheap Trick (1977)

Interview by Howie Klein, Rock's Backpages audio, March 1977

Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander, playing San Francisco for the first time, talk about their whacky image and stage personas, being well supported by record company Epic, and how they should be written about in the Gay press!

File format: mp3; file size: 31.4mb, interview length: 34' 18" sound quality: ****

Mink DeVille: Slick Fur Fury

Interview by Howie Klein, Creem, October 1977

"MINK PIE, how's that!" challenged Willie, whose darkly silent, sinewy presence dominated the dimly-lit cold-water flat in Oakland. The band had been up speeding for ...

AC/DC Hit California

Report and Interview by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, November 1977

AC/DC PLAYED their West Coast debut at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles, with the club fully living up to its legend ...

The Jam: Environmental Music

Profile and Interview by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, November 1977

LAST MONTH the Jam travelled to America for a short promotional tour, playing dates in established new wave centers, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and ...

The Dils: West Coast Waves: The Dils

Interview by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, November 1977

THE ENGLISH NEW WAVE appears to be firmly rooted in the politics of frustration. It should be no shock that the acutely class-conscious British have ...

Alice Cooper (1978)

Interview by Howie Klein, Rock's Backpages audio, 1978

Eight months into recovery, Alice talks about coming off the booze, what it means to be "Alice Cooper", praises Etta James' cover of 'Only Women Bleed', chats about President Ford (and voting for Nixon), and opines about Patti Smith and punk rock.

File format: mp3; file size: 51.5mb, interview length: 56' 12" sound quality: ***

DMZ: Boston's Best Eschew Message

Interview by Howie Klein, Waxpaper, 1978

I SPENT FEBRUARY in London working on stories about the Clash and Tom Robinson, probably the most politically relevant things to hit rock & roll ...

The Commodores: Come Funk With Us! (But Bring Your Led Zep Records)

Interview by Howie Klein, Creem, January 1978

"NOW YOU take a group like Fleetwood Mac or the Zep," offered Benny. "It's another thing that the audiences get off into. I don't understand ...

The Sex Pistols: Sex Pistols: Tour Notes

Report by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, February 1978

In case you were incommunicado for the last month, the much-ballyhooed Sex Pistols American tour has come and gone. ...

The Clash, Joe Strummer: The Clash's Joe Strummer (1978)

Interview by Howie Klein, Rock's Backpages audio, February 1978

A typically splendid Strummer interview: He explains Ska! He digs Steve Miller! He prefers the Sun to the Guardian! He's in hospital with hepatitis! Plus stuff on gobbing, politics, the upcoming 2nd Clash album etc.

File format: mp3; file size: 25mb, interview length: 27' 17" sound quality: ***

The Nuns: Whisky a Go Go, L.A.

Live Review by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, February 1978

SOMEHOW THE NUNS manage to transcend the traditionally (like in "traditionally moronic") rivalry between San Francisco and LA. Perhaps that’s because the Nuns are as ...

The Clash's Paul Simonon (1978)

Interview by Howie Klein, Rock's Backpages audio, 4 February 1978

The Clash's bassman talks about his life pre-Clash; the Clash's politics (personal and public); his development as a musician and a showman, and a whole lot more.

File format: mp3; file size: 53.4mb, interview length: 58' 16" sound quality: ***

Fleetwood Mac, Bob Welch: Case History No. 099: Bob Welch

Interview by Howie Klein, Creem, March 1978

FLEETWOOD MAC CAUSES BRAIN DAMAGE ...

Boomtown Rats: Boomtown Rat: A Cup of Instant with Modest Bob Geldof

Interview by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, April 1978

THE LINE IN front of the 100 Club snaked endlessly down Oxford Street. The idea of standing on it — and for a Rich Kids ...

Roky Erickson (1978)

Interview by Howie Klein, KSAN San Francisco, 1 April 1978

The deeply batty Mr Erickson terrorizes KSAN's presenters, shouts at listener's phoning in, and breaks into "song".

File format: mp3; file size: 41.1mb, interview length: 44' 48" sound quality: ****

Generation X, Billy Idol: Generation X's Billy Idol (1978)

Interview by Howie Klein, Rock's Backpages audio, May 1978

The Generation X frontman talks about the evolution and nature of the band, and extemporises about the nature of punk rock and the power of rock'n'roll.

File format: mp3; file size: 46.6mb, interview length: 50' 54" sound quality: ***

Patti Smith (1978)

Interview by Howie Klein, Rock's Backpages audio, 14 May 1978

Ms Smith regales the listeners to KSAN, San Francisco, with stories about Tina Turner, Sandy Pearlman and the Clash; sings the praises of Fred 'Sonic Smith and Tom Verlaine; gives respect to Bill Graham. She also makes Public Service announcements, and comments on the commercials!

File format: mp3; file size: 81.9mb, interview length: 1h 29' 27" sound quality: ***

The Cramps, The Mutants: The Cramps/The Mutants: Napa State Hospital, Napa CA

Live Review by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, July 1978

"LET'S DRIVE UP to the funny farm. The Cramps and Mutants are doin' a concert for the nuts; should be lotsa yuks." I wanna take ...

Chaka Khan (1978)

Interview by Howie Klein, Rock's Backpages audio, 10 October 1978

Just having left Rufus, Chaka talks about making her solo debut (featuring 'I'm Every Woman'), her Chicago roots, her dislike of disco and her surprising love of punk rock.

File format: mp3; file size: 33.9mb, interview length: 36' 59" sound quality: ***

Alice Cooper Is Back From Hell

Interview by Howie Klein, BAM, 15 December 1978

FIRST THE reality — huge smokestacks are belching soot and grime into the cramped grayish sky. It looks like a job for the Environmental Protection ...

Chaka Khan: The Risk Pays Off

Interview by Howie Klein, BAM, 15 December 1978

LOS ANGELES – In the stately Beverly Hills suite of offices which houses B and B Associates, Chaka Kahn's prestigious management firm, the air is ...

Aynsley Dunbar, Jefferson Starship, Journey: Aynsley Dunbar: Let There Be Drums!

Interview by Howie Klein, BAM, 16 February 1979

SAN FRANCISCO – Within the world of rock and roll there are certain performers whose distinctive virtuosity transcend their individual works recorded with a particular ...

The Clash, Bo Diddley, Pearl Harbour & The Explosions: The Clash, Bo Diddley,Pearl Harbor & The Explosions: Community Theater, Berkeley CA

Live Review by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, April 1979

EXCEPT FOR the fact that they're probably the best performing band around, there's something almost superfluous to Clashness about the band's shows. Wait a minute ...

The Clash: The Fillmore, San Francisco

Live Review by Howie Klein, New York Rocker, April 1979

EXCEPT FOR THE fact that they're probably the best performing band around, there's something almost superfluous to Clashness about the band's shows. Wait a minute ...

Blondie: They're A Group! Not A Girl!

Comment by Howie Klein, Relix, June 1979

SEE THE PICTURE of the blonde? That's Debbie Harry. That's NOT Blondie. Blondie's Clem Burke (drums), Jimmy Destri (keyboards), Debbie Harry (vocals), Nigel Harrison (bass), ...

Ellie Greenwich: Rock Music Legend Sandy Pearlman On The Passing Of Feminine Culture Power Source, Ellie Greenwich

Obituary by Howie Klein, Huffington Post, 6 September 2009

ON MY FIRST DAY of college freshman orientation I met the president of the student body, Sandy Pearlman. He had long hair and I figured ...

back to LIBRARY

COPYRIGHT NOTICE