If there is anything people know about me, it's that I love Sleater-Kinney - it is my favoritest band in the whole entire world and I was very sad when it broke up. Still am.
Years ago, when I was starting out as a rock writer, I was writing CD reviews for ROCKRGRL magazine and at this point had never written a feature article. I asked a publicist if he could send me a copy of the new (at the time) Quasi record (it was *Hot Shit*, by the way) and he e-mailed me back and said sure, he'd put it in the mail - oh, and by the way, would I be interested in interviewing Janet Weiss?
I thought that when it came to interviewing people, there was a progression you worked up to. You start out interviewing the bass player for the first band to play on a Tuesday night at Second Avenue Pizza (RIP) and then moved up from there. No way in hell did I think my first interview would be with the drummer for a band I've been obsessive with. (What in the world would I ask? Could I keep my stuttering under control?) I also didn't want to pass on that chance or have someone else interview her. When it was time to do the interview - like the very next week - I was a nervous wreck and just hoped that it would be rescheduled or she wouldn't answer when I called or something.
It went okay, all things considered, but I didn't like transcribing that interview sober.
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I've been okay when I've met a few people I really respect and admire - although "okay" is a relative term. I was fine when I met Annie in person, but not only was her record -*Anniemal* - my favorite record at the time (and is still on my top 10 ever list) she is also insanely beautiful. I was really fan-boyish, though, but didn't do anything terribly embarrassing - I am glad that when I interviewed her a few months before, it was over the phone.
In both of those interviews I couldn't help think that they were asking themselves "how did I get stuck on the phone with this idiot?"
I could barely stand it when I met Joan Didion at the Seattle Public Library almost 2 years ago. I couldn't imagine trying to interview her - I could barely utter "I love your books".
Reviews
ChrisB said on June 23, 2007:
If there is anything people know about me, it's that I love Sleater-Kinney - it is my favoritest band in the whole entire world and I was very sad when it broke up. Still am.
Years ago, when I was starting out as a rock writer, I was writing CD reviews for ROCKRGRL magazine and at this point had never written a feature article. I asked a publicist if he could send me a copy of the new (at the time) Quasi record (it was *Hot Shit*, by the way) and he e-mailed me back and said sure, he'd put it in the mail - oh, and by the way, would I be interested in interviewing Janet Weiss?
I thought that when it came to interviewing people, there was a progression you worked up to. You start out interviewing the bass player for the first band to play on a Tuesday night at Second Avenue Pizza (RIP) and then moved up from there. No way in hell did I think my first interview would be with the drummer for a band I've been obsessive with. (What in the world would I ask? Could I keep my stuttering under control?) I also didn't want to pass on that chance or have someone else interview her. When it was time to do the interview - like the very next week - I was a nervous wreck and just hoped that it would be rescheduled or she wouldn't answer when I called or something.
It went okay, all things considered, but I didn't like transcribing that interview sober.
______________
I've been okay when I've met a few people I really respect and admire - although "okay" is a relative term. I was fine when I met Annie in person, but not only was her record -*Anniemal* - my favorite record at the time (and is still on my top 10 ever list) she is also insanely beautiful. I was really fan-boyish, though, but didn't do anything terribly embarrassing - I am glad that when I interviewed her a few months before, it was over the phone.
In both of those interviews I couldn't help think that they were asking themselves "how did I get stuck on the phone with this idiot?"
I could barely stand it when I met Joan Didion at the Seattle Public Library almost 2 years ago. I couldn't imagine trying to interview her - I could barely utter "I love your books".
Jeez, that was a long answer!