Barbara Mastroddi-Lackey recent asked me if I was thinking of forming a band because I was hassling my friends at "45 Revolutions Per Minute" for names of rock critics who became musicians. As I told her, I am the worst guitarist in the entire universe. And any way, I am not a frustrated musician, I am a frustrated writer. And I'm not that frustrated either. Just looking for another story!
However, Barbara did offer up a certain Steven Morrissey trashing the Ramones and away we go.
Neil Tennant – Started life as the editor of "Smash Hits" before evolving into the leader of one of the greatest bands of all time. The Pet Shop Boys
Ira Kaplan — From New York Rocker's resident Kinks Kultist, now Yo La Tengo's resident Kinks Kultist.
Glenn Morrow – Another New York Rocker, he formed the Individuals back in the day.
Chrissie Hynde – Sold her typewriter to fellow NME scribe and formed the Pretenders.
Patti Smith – Wrote for Creem
Ken Shane – New Music editor at Popdose,and solo recording artist.
Robert Palmer – Late New York Times music critic was in Insect Trust
Dave DiMartino – Yahoo Music editor, wrote "Dogs And Suds" for Let's Talk About Girls
Mark Deming wrote our friend Bill Holdship had a great band with his brother Barry, Let's Talk About Girls. And John Kordosh was in the excellent Detroit band The Mutants.
Dziga Verzov added: " Kordosh continues to entertain with the Tigers of Instantaneous Death".
Shelley Mitchell: "I'm a longtime fan of John Mendelssohn's writing, going back to his earliest days with Creem, but never realized till earlier this year what an AMAZING singer-songwriter he is. His music is amongst the finest I have ever heard, and I highly recommend it to anyone with an appreciation for intelligent lyrics, gorgeous tunes, and superb singing. I just didn't know what I was missing for so many years, but now that I have finally discovered it, I can't get enough. Right up there with the best of the best of my longtime favorite artists' work, imo!!!!"
Dziga: "Yes, John also had a band, Christopher Milk!"
More names: this from Vic Garbarini: "Lenny Kaye… Will Birch … Mark Knopfler of DS was an regular journalist in Yorkshire before becoming a musician, He told me when he decided to quit writing , they asked him to write one more story before he left, The obituary of Jimi Hendrix.