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Iman Lababedi

Iman Lababedi

In 1975, Iman Lababedi left a wild Civil War in Lebanon for the place of his birth, Manchester, England, just in time for punk pock. And his life was changed forever. Within four years he was living in New York City, editing the music pages of the East Village Eye, writing for the Village Voice and a contributing writer at Creem, (as well as for any one who would pay him and many who wouldn't). He then bought New York Rocker and ran it into bankruptsy within six months (a long story). In 1989, he changed careers and became an advertising rep, which he stills does. During all those years, he never stopped writing, seven full-length novels, and 100s of short stories. In 2007, he wrote his final novel, a supernatural story that takes place after death and also after a devastating end of a romantic relationship. In 2009 he started a music blog, rocknycliveandrecorded.com, which he now co-edits and has a staff of contributors, the youngest of whom was 12 years old when she started writing for it. Iman Lababedi hates typos and calls them neo-logisms.

Rock NYC

List of articles in the library by artist

Altered Images: Clare Grogan's Altered Images: Thank Heaven For Little Girls

Interview by Iman Lababedi, Creem, January 1983

"I just wanted to get to know her, really. She was just kind of fascinating."— Director Bill Forsyth, explaining why he cast Clare Grogan in ...

Bananarama: These Charming Girls

Interview by Iman Lababedi, Creem, December 1986

"Who steals my purse steals trash, 'tis something, nothing; 'twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands. But he who filches from me ...

Bangles, The: Bangles For Sale

Interview by Iman Lababedi, Creem, June 1985

AT THE CBS building in Manhattan guitarist Susanna Hoffs (all black tights and mini-skirt) explains the Bangles' modus operandi:"It's hard to work keeping your sense of ...

Beastie Boys, The: The Beastie Boys: Licensed to Ill

Review by Iman Lababedi, Creem, May 1987

THE MOST EXCITING white rock album since Never Mind the Bollocks has lousy politics. ...

Clash, The: Heart & Mind: The Paul Simonon Interview

Interview by Iman Lababedi, Creem, May 1981

WHATEVER YOU think of the Clash — and I haven't much cared for them since 'White Man In Hammersmith Palais' — a couple of things ...

Marshall Crenshaw's True Pop Ways

Profile and Interview by Iman Lababedi, Creem, September 1982

"I don't try to hang anybody up or get anybody over-involved in my hang-ups. I don't try to bore people with my problems. The main ...

Elvis Costello: The Palladium, New York

Live Review by Iman Lababedi, Creem, December 1982

IT HAD been 10 months since I last saw Elvis Costello; in between I'd watched him play footsie with Tom Snyder, straight man to George ...

Fabulous Thunderbirds: The Fabulous Thunderbirds: They're Tearing It Up Again!

Interview by Iman Lababedi, Creem, July 1983

THIS IS WHAT we call the irresponsible rock crit at his worst, enjoying the company of the band he's talking to so much he doesn't ...

Lita Ford: From Runaway To Metal Goddess: Lita Ford's Got BLOOD If You Want It!

Profile and Interview by Iman Lababedi, Creem, August 1983

Out Of The Blue (Stepping Out) ...

Grace Jones: Are You Ready For A Brand New (Disco) Beat?

Interview by Iman Lababedi, Creem, April 1983

IF I WAS writing in Australia for Tie Yer Kangaroo Down rock mag, or in Germany for Ach Tung – Der March Goes On, or ...

Killing Joke: The Killing Joke Goes On (Forever)

Interview by Iman Lababedi, Creem, March 1983

NEW YORK—During the summer of '81, I wrote a review of London band Killing Joke's second album What's This For...! for the Village Voice; in ...

Romeo Void: It's A Condition (415 Records)

Review by Iman Lababedi, Creem, August 1981

IF YOU TORE Romeo Void's debut LP down to its essence, what you'd get wouldn't be a million miles away from a collection or torch ...

Taylor Swift: Madison Square Garden, November 22nd, 2011

Live Review by Iman Lababedi, RockNYC, November 2011

STANDING ON A PLATFORM in the middle of the Arena, Taylor Swift looked genuinely amazed. A young girl in the cheap seats randomly began to ...

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