Interview: Author Gillian G. Gaar

A couple of days ago, I published my review of Gillian Gaar’s latest book, Tom Petty: The Life & Music. I’ve also reviewed her books Springsteen @ 75 and Queen & A Night At The Opera: 50 Years on the blog. She’s an author and freelance writer who has been writing about rock music and popular culture for over 30 years. She has written over 15 books, contributed to numerous anthologies, and has written for publications such as Mojo, Rolling Stone, and Goldmine. The book that really put her on the map was the comprehensive She’s a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll.

We’re lucky to have Gillian on the blog here with us to talk about her writing and love of music, so without further ado, here’s the interview!

Angie Moon: How did you get into classic rock?

Gillian Gaar: Well, I thought the Beatles invented rock ‘n’ roll, and they’re now considered classic rock, so I suppose I grew up with it!

Angie: Who are your favourite classic rock acts?

Gillian: I couldn’t find a clear definition of “classic rock.” Does Elvis Presley count for example? Seems to mean “mostly older groups/musicians.” So in addition to Elvis, I’d say the Beatles, Queen, and Nirvana.

Angie: What’s your favourite era of rock music?

Gillian: That’s a toughie, but there’s good music in every era; I’ll go with the ‘60s and the ‘90s.

Angie: What are your favourite concerts you’ve been to?

Gillian: Far too many to list. Here are some:

• Marianne Faithful at the Backstage in Seattle.
• Diamanda Galas at the same venue.
• Yoko Ono at the Crocodile Café in Seattle.
• Patti Smith at various venues in Seattle.
• Nirvana at the Crocodile, and also Unplugged in NYC.
• Queen at the Seattle Center Arena (first time seeing them).
• Sleater-Kinney at various venues in Seattle and Olympia.
• Paul McCartney 1990 Kingdome in Seattle.
• The U-Men and the Cramps at the Golden Crown in Seattle.

Angie: You’re a prolific writer, what is a typical day like?

Gillian: Getting up, thinking “What have I got to write today?” and getting on with it after breakfast. Sometimes I get to escape and go outside. In the evening if I’m not going out, I relax and watch old movies (most recently saw The Asphalt Jungle and Laura; recommended!) and Law & Order episodes
(original series).

Angie: What is your typical research process?

Gillian: It depends. I do have a lot of books, magazines, and stuff saved on the hard drive, to use as reference material. Oh, and music and films as well. Then I head online. You can find articles, blogs (those can be quite interesting; someone recalling their experience at a certain concert for example), music, film, and leads on what books and music you might want to get to have on hand for your project. A library is another great resource, plus they have free wifi!

Angie: What is your proudest accomplishment as a writer?

Gillian: Well, there’s nothing like doing your first book, so She’s A Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll will always be special to me, especially since Yoko Ono agreed to write the preface! I’m really pleased with the books Return of the King: Elvis Presley’s Great Comeback, Entertain Us: The Rise of Nirvana, and World Domination: The Sub Pop Records Story. There are many times I’ve been writing a story and think wow, this is coming out great! But that’s too many to list.

Angie: Are there any musicians you haven’t written a book about that you’d like
to write a book about?

Gillian: Yoko Ono and Danielle Dax.

Angie: How has music journalism changed over the years?

Gillian: Well, I was never on the gravy train of big time press trips where I was embedded with a band. For me, the money wasn’t that great, and it’s even worse now! There are plenty of online music sites around, but a lot of them don’t pay. Grim times! I also wonder, do people even read these sites/magazines/etc? Do they matter to people in the way that, say, people were excited to get the new issue of Creem in the 70s and 80s? I have no idea.

Angie: What advice do you have for aspiring music journalists?

Gillian: Consider it as a hobby, not something you can make a living at. Maybe start a Substack, that could lead to something more. I’ve also known people who’ve self-published a book and had it picked it up by a publisher.

Angie: What do you think of younger generations getting into classic rock?

Gillian: Was the music better? That’s what people like to say. Or is just because you’re older and you have nostalgia for that period, and thus think today’s music is not as good? A conundrum. I was doing a regular music column a few years back, and because I’m on a lot of publicist’s email lists, I began seeking out new music to write about and there is a lot of good stuff out there, on smaller, indie labels.

But classic rock has a timeless feeling to it. That’s why, though we still have a Top 40, there are also stations that play nothing but classic rock. In its best form, it has a broad appeal, yet avoids the mundane. It’s well crafted, with high quality musicianship. And singing. And when you sing along to it,
you feel like a superstar.

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