Richard Meltzer: An Interview

AS ONE OF the first people who decided that rock and roll was something that could and should be something that could be seriously written about in the sixties (instead of repeating press releases or glorified fan letters), Richard Meltzer helped open up the whole discussion for hordes of people to join in on.  Meltzer embodied the out-of-control, rebellious spirit of the music in his words as he thought aloud and shared (very) intimate, rambunctious details.  Along the way, he became confident to performers such as Blue Öyster Cult (writing lyrics for them), Patti Smith, Jefferson Airplane and Minutemen among others, all of whom would take his hard-edged outlook to heart.