“Rock journalism is people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read” (Frank Zappa)

“Rock journalism is people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read”

  ̃Frank Zappa  ̃

Taken from ponderabout.com

Musical legend, Frank Zappa, was passionate about advocating freedom of speech and was highly against censorship. In the age of rock journalism, there was much criticism of many rock artists who flaunted dangerous lifestyle choices such as drugs and sex through their music. The so-called “prudish” mindsets of most rock journalists at this time meant that rock music took the rap and some even mentioned censorship of such “devil” music. Zappa was one to receive a lot of criticism, perhaps sparking the above quote. Critic bashing critics...

Although, Zappa holds some truth in this quote, it is a bold generalisation and therefore should be taken with a pinch of salt. I believe the point he was trying to make was that people cannot write objectively and properly about music if they themselves are not musicians or don’t have the insight and that the people that these articles are written for, are generally not interested in reading about music because they would rather listen to it. I believe he also alludes that rock musicians are made to make music and aren’t so good at talking about it. All somewhat true, but perhaps a bit harsh!

Taken from ponderabout.com

There are undoubtedly some incredible rock journalists of that time who generated much exposure for rock music. Perhaps Zappa was just afraid that the critical rock journalists would spark an age of censorship over the genre. Then again, perhaps he was just one of those people he talks about in his quote, a person getting interviewed “who can’t talk”!