E196: Daniel Wolff & Danny Alexander on Dave Marsh + Curtis Mayfield

Listen to this episode from Rock's Backpages on Spotify. In this episode we welcome not one but two guests and ask them to talk about their long-time friend and mentor Dave Marsh. Daniel Wolff and Danny Alexander co-edited 2023's Marsh anthology Kick Out the Jams: on the eve of his 75th birthday they reflect on his powerful writing, his impassioned politics and his career from Creem and Rolling Stone to the Rock & Roll (subsequently Rock & Rap) Confidential newsletter he launched in 1983. An audio clip of Dave being interviewed by Daniel for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame takes us back to the former's championing of his Detroit contemporaries the MC5 and the Stooges. Meanwhile pieces about Creem itself and about his friend and frequent biographical subject Bruce Springsteen prompt our guests' amused thoughts on Dave's trenchant opinions and general combativeness.  A 1990 Vox piece about 'The Star-Spangled Banner' leads us to clips from a 1996 audio interview with one of Marsh's many Black music heroes: the sainted Curtis Mayfield. On the 60th anniversary of the Impressions' 'People Get Ready', we talk about the Chicago soul star's songs, politics, guitar-playing — and the sheer wisdom and serenity of the man. (News of the death of Mayfield's old friend and fellow Impression Jerry Butler only reached us the day after this episode was recorded.) After we've paid our respects to Jam drummer Rick Buckler, Jasper quotes from recently-added library interviews with Lil' Kim (1997) and Hipgnosis boss Merck Mercuriadis (2021). Many thanks to special guests Daniel Wolff and Danny Alexander. Kick Out the Jams: Jibes, Barbs, Tributes and Rallying Cries from 35 years of Music Writing by Dave Marsh is published by Simon & Schuster and available now from all good bookshops. Pieces discussed: Creem Reflects Detroit Rock 'n' Roll, Barry Kramer 1943–1981, Sour Creem, Bruce Springsteen: Shouldn't He Be Famous?, The Incredible Story of Iggy & the Stooges, 'The Star Spangled Banner', Curtis Mayfield audio, Rick Buckler, Lil' Kim and Merck Mercuriadis.