Main Lines, Blood Feasts, and Bad Taste: A Lester Bangs Reader

by Lester Bangs

Before his untimely death in 1982, Lester Bangs was inarguably the most influential critic of rock and roll. Writing in hyper-intelligent Benzedrine prose that calls to mind Jack Kerouac and Hunter S.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375713670
• ISBN13: 9780375713675
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.1" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Main Lines

Main Lines by Lester Bangs ***** Main Lines is the superior release from the now dead greatest rock n' roll critic to ever live Lester Bangs. Main Lines is a collection of writings and journal entries from the early 1970's and early 1980's. The first section of the book is made of of Lester album reviews of some of musics greatest albums of all time as well as some of it's worst. The second section is a series of articles about The Rolling Stones, and Lou Reed, and Miles Davis over a period of time and how his views on each artist has changed. The final section is a collection of writings from Lester's travels around the world and what he discovered along the way. Mains Lines is far better than that of Psychotic Reactions not only because the writing is superior but because the style of writing and subject matter is more varied. Lester's style of writing is very unique and his views are interesting to say the least, and as an aspiring critic this is and amazing addition to any readers collection.

Supercharged rock writing

The rock writer Joh Morthland has compiled a companion volume to Psychotic Reactions And Carburettor Dung, the first collection of the writings of Lester Bangs, rock `n roll's most influential critic and the one who defined the genre.The book is divided into the following sections: DRUG PUNK, including previously unpublished writings on Andy Warhol and autobiographical ruminations on Bangs' adolescence; HYPES & HEROICS includes pieces on the MC5, Beatles, Bob Dylan, Grace Jones, Patti Smith's album Horses, Wire and Jello Biafra.PANTHEON contains pieces on The Rolling Stones, Miles Davis, Captain Beefheart, Nico's Marble Index album, Brian Eno, Jim Morrison and Lester's famous review of Lou Reed's notorious Metal Machine Music album. TRAVELOGUES includes impressions of his trips to Paris, Jamaica, Austin and California.The last chapter is titled RAVING, RAGING AND REBOPS and contains writings on the roots of punk, The Mekons (Bad Taste Is Timeless) and an excerpt from the previously unpublished All My Friends Are Hermits from 1980.Lester's adrenalin charged writing has lost none of its appeal. He wrote with an enthusiasm that transcends the decades. I highly recommend this book to all rock fans that are passionate about the music. I also recommend the great biography by Jim DeRogatis, titled Let It Blurt: The Life And Times Of Lester Bangs and The Dark Stuff by Nick Kent.

The Big Bangs

This + PRACD = essential purchases for Lesterphiles. Trying to choose between the two is like trying to choose between "In a Silent Way" and "Fun House". or "The Ramones" and "The Clash". It's ALL essential. Be greedy.

better than dung vol.1

i don't know what some other reviewers are talking about, this is better than Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung, this book has some great early writing by lester about america during the time of bobby kennedy's assasination, also has some great writing about the evolution of the punk scene and what exactlly is punk, and his love (lust) letter to Cherie Currie is one of the funniest things i have ever read...

Back With A Bangs

Lester Bangs is back from the dead with a companion piece to the cult 1987 collection of his writings, Psychotic Reactions And Carburettor Dung. And this new collection is just as good.MLBFABT eschews the tack that editor Griel Marcus took in PRACD, ie telling Lester's tragically truncated life story through pieces that explained his life and drug-fueled outlook. Here editor John Morthland simply includes new pieces that he thought should not have been missed out from PRACD - heretic pieces on Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, a great section of Lester's infamous cough syrup-enhanced teenage novel Drug Punk - and cobbles together an excellent new tomestone for Lester's incredible linguistics ability. If you liked (or, like me, LOVED) PRACD you simply HAVE to have this new volume. You will love it - it's as simple as that. Jim DeRogatis, writer of Bangs bio Let it Blurt, complains on his site ... that there are many pieces not in this new chaotic emotional compendium that he would have included from Lester's estate. This simply says one thing to me: there is room for another volume after this one.And I for one cannot wait for it.Lester Bangs RIP, man. You could write like an inkspiller wordplayboy-a-go-go m'main manic maniac man.