Real Conversations, No.1 (Henry Rollins Jello Biafra Lawrence Ferlinghetti Billy Childish) (Real Conversations (Re/Search)) [Paperback]

Billy Childish (Author), Jello Biafra (Author), Lawrence Ferlinghetti (Author), Henry Rollins (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1889307092 | ISBN-13: 978-1889307091 | Publication Date: April 2, 2001

First in a series of in-depth interviews by pop culture icon V. Vale: Four leading figures in social movements discuss the state of Western culture and what led to its demise, with firsthand accounts of their own experiences, including subjects that concern every creative artist and thinker: The Internet and social change; why everyone must paint(!); mind control, marketing, branding and consumerism; corporate chain stores and the problem of Amazon; punk rock history; the rise of Do-It-Yourself (D-I-Y) culture production; fame and its downside; sex and relationships.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A countercultural media activist and founder of RE/Search Publications, V. Vale presents Real Conversations 1, a collection of lengthy interviews with indie-media luminaries Henry Rollins, Billy Childish, Jello Biafra and Lawrence Ferlinghetti that will be the first in a series of interview books. These punks and poets extemporize passionately, angrily, hopefully, fearfully and humorously on how to stay independent in a corporatized world, covering everything from SUVs, the WTO and the prison industry to visual art, punk music, independent presses, and artistic and political protest. Filled with controversial, sometimes conflicting and occasionally unexpected commentary born of years of artistic, industry and political experience, this book will appeal to a broad cross-section of progressive artists, writers, independent publishers and producers, skateboarders, intellectuals and activists. 30 photos and illus.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Like most RE/Search books, Real Conversations 1 flies by." -- Maximum rock'n'roll

"Real Conversation 1 will stir something in the reader, be it creative juices or righteous indignation." -- Weekly Planet

"Very, very funny. Enthralling reading." -- A & F Quarterly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Re/Search Publications (April 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1889307092
• ISBN-13: 978-1889307091
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #701,154 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read for these times, October 17, 2001

By 

Mark Nettesheim (St. Louis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Conversations, No.1 (Henry Rollins Jello Biafra Lawrence Ferlinghetti Billy Childish) (Real Conversations (Re/Search)) (Paperback)

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Essentially, the best thing about "Real Conversations No. 1" is that it's just that -- a good chunk of honest dialogue between a guy and four other guys who sound like they're pretty close friends with him, talking about what's on their minds and in their lives (both theirs and his) in ways that are sometimes entertaining, sometimes thought-provoking and sometimes even illuminating. And, yes, at least two of the people talking in this book have figured somewhat prominently in the entertainment and pop culture landscapes for the past few years. But guess what? They actually say stuff that doesn't totally sound like part of their act! Henry Rollins, for all the macho, stoic bluster that he gives off, turns out to be pretty funny and down-to-earth, as well as enthusiastic to the point of geekdom when it comes to archiving bootlegs of bands that he admires and/or played with. Jello Biafra's comments are obviously more political and exhibitionist, but he does make light of how he got that way in the first place, and how he was just as inspired by other people in the anti-WTO protests in Seattle as they were by him. Besides that, the most wholly "inspirational" words probably come from Billy Childish, who advocates "doing it yourself" (and "thinking and taking responsibility for yourself" as well) not just as a moral or even as a craft, but as something that fits into enjoying the simple fact that you're alive. And Lawrence Ferlinghetti comes off almost as the wise grandfatherly figure who has a wealth of stories to tell about the past but knows pretty clearly about what the future entails.

But really, the total effect of all these conversations for me wasn't so much hero worship or a privileged glimpse into the workings of complicated minds. It was more the idea that, if I ever had the chance, I'd wanna hang out with these people and talk about some of this stuff with them myself. (Of course, in some ways, I'm not sure that I could even get a word in edgewise, but that's another matter.) I guess that's one of my personal reasons for being glad that I bought this book directly from Re/Search in San Francisco, almost beyond the whole deal of supporting the independents: When I called the place up to inquire about my order right after the attacks happened, I thought at first that I'd gotten a particularly thoughtful and conversational assistant who sounded vaguely like Jello Biafra on the phone. It turned out to be Vale himself, and we talked for maybe half an hour about the attacks, how they'd played out on CNN and the likelihood that any chance for progressive politics was dead now. He seemed as interested in what I had to say as I was in what he had, and I think it probably helped get us both out of the shell-shock and thinking clearly again.

So maybe some of these good things still aren't quite out of reach yet. Or, if they are, then maybe now we'll scramble a bit more to get hold of them again.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars revive the independent and order directly from ReSearch, August 23, 2001

By 

Kate (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Conversations, No.1 (Henry Rollins Jello Biafra Lawrence Ferlinghetti Billy Childish) (Real Conversations (Re/Search)) (Paperback)

This is a brilliant book. But if you really want to check it out you should order from ReSearch's own homepage and support them so that they will be around and continue to publish interesting work that large pub. houses do not. I ordered some other things and got a personal email from V.Vale himself. Their site is great ...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Conversations: an envigorating and inspiring book!, April 28, 2002

By 

Pen Name? "fluxus" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Real Conversations, No.1 (Henry Rollins Jello Biafra Lawrence Ferlinghetti Billy Childish) (Real Conversations (Re/Search)) (Paperback)

I've been familiar with Biafra/Rollins/Childish and Ferlinghetti for a long time, but can't say I'm a huge fan of any of the four, but in reading through these interviews, I have a whole new respect for all of them. Vale talks about so many issues of political importance, artistic integrity, life, and everything with them. What comes through is not esoteric or academic, not something only appealing to punks or poets, but a feeling of being alive. All four are very smart, funny, engaging and interesting individuals and Vale really knows how to bring out their personalities. This is like a bible of common sense from 4 great prophets of the eternal underground. If you yearn to be creative and find your own happiness outside of the constraints of a 9-5 job and mainstream culture, this book will hopefully be an inspiration to you. It's also refreshing to hear people talking about important political and philosophical issues in a way that makes you believe that you can be involved and help make culture and live how you want. We also glimpse into their lives outside of the public eye through some wonderful storytelling. Vale helps to put the nail in the coffin of the "dumb punk" notion: these guys are geniuses. You need this book!