Episode 16: Robert Duncan

In this episode of Rock is Lit, Robert Duncan joins me to talk about his rock novel ‘Loudmouth’, what it was like working as an editor for ‘CREEM’ magazine in the ‘70s, and his wild days with Lester Bangs, Patti Smith, Ron Wood and Keith Richards, Iggy Pop, KISS, Bruce Springsteen, and so many other rock icons!

Episode 16 Promo

Robert Duncan

Robert Duncan

At 22, Robert Duncan was managing editor of the notorious ‘CREEM’ magazine, working in Detroit alongside his friend Lester Bangs. He has contributed to ‘Rolling Stone’, ‘Circus’, ‘Life’, and dozens of publications and been singer, songwriter, and producer for several obscure bands, including 3DayBig&Tall. He is author of ‘The Noise: Notes from a Rock ‘n’ Roll Era’; a bio on ‘Kiss’; and ‘Only the Good Die Young’, profiles of dead rock stars.

Robert was story consultant and interview subject for the 2019 documentary, ‘CREEM: America’s Only Rock & Roll Magazine’, and appears in public TV’s ‘Ticket to Write’. He is anthologized in ‘Springsteen on Springsteen’. His poems have been published in ‘Maintenant: A Journal of Contemporary Dada Writing and Art’, and Patti Smith gave him a shout-out in ‘Year of the Monkey’.

He is founder of the advertising and design firm Duncan Channon and its Tip Records subsidiary.

Robert was raised in a Southern family displaced to New York City and lives now with his wife, the artist and rock photographer Roni Hoffman, near San Francisco.

‘Loudmouth’, which draws heavily on Robert’s music background, is his first novel.

About This Episode

EPISODE SUMMARY:

In this episode of Rock is Lit, Robert Duncan joins me to talk about his rock novel ‘Loudmouth’, what it was like working as an editor for ‘CREEM’ magazine in the ‘70s, and his wild days with Lester Bangs, Patti Smith, Ron Wood and Keith Richards, Iggy Pop, KISS, Bruce Springsteen, and so many other rock icons!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• The blurred lines between the novel ‘Loudmouth’ and Robert’s real life

• Robert’s wild boy big brother—“the original rock ‘n roll guy”—Rusty

• Scratch inspections and Robert’s friend with a special talent at summer camp (get ready to laugh)

• Robert and I playing a drinking game on the episode, and the phrase I coined for it

• Robert having tea with Lester Bangs at MC5’s Rob Tyner’s house

• Getting drunk at Patti Smith’s and Allen Lanier’s apartment near Washington Square in NYC with Jim Carroll, author of ‘The Basketball Diaries’

• How Robert became a music journalist and got the job at ‘CREEM’

• Lester Bangs—and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s portrayal of him in ‘Almost Famous’

• The time Legs McNeil took the last beer from Robert’s NYC apartment fridge and Robert and Lester’s subsequent fight

• The day Lester died

• Robert’s interactions with various rock stars, including Ron Wood and Keith Richards, Iggy Pop and David Bowie, KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, The Clash, etc.

• Partying at Liza Minnelli’s apartment in NYC with tons of celebrities

• Driving around Cleveland with a young Bruce Springsteen

• The tragic genesis of the novel ‘Loudmouth’

• Robert Duncan’s one and only Jimmy Page encounter

MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:

• [No Copyright Music] Retro ‘70s Funky Jazz-Hop Instrumental (Copyright Free) Music—Funkman

• The Beatles—Live at Shea Stadium, New York (August 23, 1966)—cheering

• “My Foolish Heart” by Bill Evans

• “I Am A Scientist” by Guided By Voices

• “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley

• “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh!” by Allan Sherman

• “I Touch Myself” by the Divinyls

• “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by The Stooges

• ‘Metal Machine Music’ by Lou Reed

• “Holy Ghost” by Albert Ayler

• “Breathe On Me” by The New Barbarians, live 1979 Washington, DC

• “Detroit Rock City” by KISS

• “Upside Down” by Diana Ross

• “The River” by Bruce Springsteen

• Clip of Jimmy Page talking to Robert Duncan

• “Tommy’s Holiday Camp” by The Who

• “Rock and Roll Radio” by The Ramones

LINKS:

Robert Duncan’s website, https://www.duncanwrites.com/

Robert Duncan on Twitter, @robertduncansf

Robert Duncan on Instagram, @rduncansf

Robert Duncan on Mastodon, @Rduncan@newsie.social

Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, @ChristyHallberg

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram, @christyhallberg

Christy Alexander Hallberg’s YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfSnRmlL5moSQYi6EjSvqag

Robert Duncan (left), Susan Whitall, Lester Bangs (right) in CREEM office in Birmingham, MI, @ 1975. Photo from Robert Duncan’s website.

Jimmy Page says hello to Robert Duncan.