Essays

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Essays

The July issue of Between The Lines features a story my story on the Detroit Roller Derby League.

Derby players come in all shapes and sizes and there are two schools of thought about the ideal derby body type. One is that bigger is better (the arms race mentality). The second line of thinking is that speed skaters (who tend to have runner’s physiques) win the game. Either way, many players focus on their choice of gear to give them a competitive edge. The game's Mad Max level of self-protection can make it difficult to skate. Nevertheless, the body armor worn by derby players enhances the intimidating posture some of the skaters work hard at cultivating.

When asked what he likes best about being a referee for the Detroit league referee Tootie Tinwhistle says, “We're DIYing a brand new version of an old, deceased sport which has a great combination of shtick and raw adrenaline. Plus, I'm a part of a whoop-ass sub-culture of awesome people.”

May's issue of The Record: Detroit's Music Journal has my story on the first Stooges show in Detroit in over 33 years.

Later on Iggy was dragged across the stage by the mob and after that the same big guy got a hold of Iggy's mike and began shouting “The fucking Stooges, the fucking Stooges.” Until that moment the scene on stage had looked like an exercise in controlled chaos. When “No Fun” ended the stage was cleared Iggy said, “Good fucking evening! Yeah, alright, a little fucking informality in the evening…Good fucking god!” My sentiments exactly.

The Northeastern Anarchist (Issue 19)

This essay covers Lt. Watada, desertion and the tradition of dissent within the military.

Verbicide (Issue 20)
An artist profile of Sista Otis, the most nominated artist in the history of The Detroit Music Awards.

The Record: Detroit's Music Journal (February, 2007)

This month's article is an expose on the Dirty Show and how this celebration of erotic art intersects with the Detroit music scene. Interviews include Adam B. Forman (Dutch Rubb) and Ron Zakrin (Goudron) along with the show's founder Jerry "Vile" Peterson.

The Record: Detroit's Music Journal (April 2007)

WDET quit broadcasting daytime music in late 2005 and I still have the angry letter I wrote concerning their programming changes at that time. Here’s an excerpt from it, “who guessed that this year there would be a programming change which would undermine nearly all the station’s music shows? WDET’s freeform programming is unique not only in Detroit, but around the country where such a format is all but extinct. The only saving grace is Liz Copeland, who has invigorated the station for years. Although with the way things are going she’s probably concerned about being replaced by an overnight gardening show.” Close enough. The masterminds at WDET have chosen to lose the highly regarded Copeland in favor of BBC’s World Service.

The Record: Detroit's Music Journal (January, 2006)

Adult’s Trouble at The Magic Stick

My coverage of a less than successful show by one of Detroit's finest bands. Also, I evaluate their move from duo to trio and review Adult's newest release, "Gimmie Trouble".

The Record: Detroit's Music Journal
(April, 2006)

A Walk On The Mild Side

My examination of an unfortunate case of censorship at Detroit's "Classic Rock" station and the amorphous FCC regulations which fueled it.

The following is a brief excerpt from "A Walk on the Mild Side: WCSX feels pressure from the FCC"

As unlikely as it seems, I was shocked while listening to WCSX-FM the other day. The ‘classic rock station’ played Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side, but when they came to Candy who “in the backroom [was] everybody’s darlin’” they edited the words, “but she never lost her head, even when she was givin’ head”, cutting instead to “Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side.” Now it seems to me that this omission rendered the wild side absent from this song writ large. So I wondered why, after nearly two decades of playing this tune on motor city radio, did WCSX choose to edit those lines? Have we become such a conservative society that lyrics which were acceptable just a few years ago are now too racy for our airwaves, or is it just that the listeners of that station are too aged to appreciate an old fashioned blow job reference? In fact, I’d assume that with all the erectile dysfunction medications who advertise on WCSX they’d want this lyric played as often as possible in order to remind listeners of what they’ve been missing."

Social Anarchism (Summer, 2005)

"The Revolutionary Interzone"

An examination of the spatio/cultural location of revolutionaries within our society.

Verbicide (Issue 16)

The Alphabet Boys (fiction…sort of)

A tale of my run-in with the FBI and subsequent attempts to not speak with them. Surreal hijinx in the age of fascism.

The Record: Detroit's Music Journal (November, 2005)

"Motor City Punk: At Home At The 2500 Club"
A review of Detroit's newest, coolest and possibly most dangerous punk venue. It's like a bad habit you can't ignore.

Verbicide (Issue 14)

"Detroit Slack City: An Evening with The SubGenius Foundation"

An expose on the Detroit SubGenius Devival
focusing on The Amino Acids, LSDudes and others.
With much speculation on the psychedelic excesses
of the audience.

The Record: Detroit's Music Journal (August, 2005)

"Diversity Made Easy"

A comparison of Concert of Colors and Forth Street Fair, focusing on which functions as the more effective celebration of diversity.

Clamor (Issue 33)

"Thought Criminals on Campus"

A critical examination of David Horowitz's lecture at Bowling Green State University. Particular attention is paid to the Orwellian nature of Mr. Horowitz's ruminations on the development of a "Bill of Rights" which will curtail freedom in the classroom.

The Record: Detroit's Music Journal (July, 2005)

"Rock: Still An Outlaw"

An expose on the Detroit Chopper Show focusing on Leni Sinclair's rock photos and the classic poster art of Gari Grimshaw. Plus the Detroit Derby Team, Kenny Brown and the Bill Bondsmen.