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

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Frank Zappa was famously known as a highly prolific artist. He gained widespread critical acclaim and had numerous albums that were considered essential in rock and jazz history.

Zappa was and still is regarded as one of the most original guitarists and composers of his time. Furthermore, he also remains a major influence on musicians and composers. In 1995, Zappa was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 1997, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Zappa expresses his opinion about Rock Journalism and states that it is a form of journalism by none journalistic people aimed at interviewing people who don’t really know how to talk for people that just want to read the article because the person is famous for no other reason. However, I believe this quote is not only controversial but undermines journalism inspired by Rock and Roll.

Rock Journalism might be a bad form of writing aimed at a specific genre of people who like the rock star lifestyle, but  I still feel the quote from Zappa is crude and a bad generalisation of Rock and Roll journalists as well as fans.