A former Creem magazine colleague of Lester Bangs remembers -- and members of the Doors, the MC5, Blondie and the Mekons respond to -- the late, great rock critic's bracing vitriol.
After reading Lester Bangs' collection, you have to wonder: What would the legendary critic, who believed that music mattered, make of today's Britney and P.Diddy ludicrousness?
Jim DeRogatis' solid new biography argues that "America's greatest rock critic" spawned a generation of self-absorbed hacks -- and a neutered music press that wouldn't have a place for him anymore.
The author of "Dino," "Hellfire" and the forthcoming "The Devil and Sonny Liston" talks about the Mysterious Pig Iron Man, Hollywood and snake wrangling in Florida.
The big Bangs
"Some sliver of authenticity from the truckloads of stinking garbage"
Gritty city