In this interview on Seeing Them Live, the guest, Ben Apatow, shares his insights and experiences in the music world. Ben is an accomplished author of the books Metallica, the $24.95 Book, and Body Count, part of the Bloomsbury 33 1/3 series. Ben’s writing has been featured in various well-known music publications. He begins by recounting his first concert experience, seeing Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead at RFK Stadium in 1995, a formative event for him. He also highlights memorable concerts, including two Prince shows at Madison Square Garden, citing Prince as an extraordinary performer. However, he also shares his most disappointing concerts: Bad Brains and a recent Jane’s Addiction show, noting specific incidences that led to his disappointment with these performances. The Jane’s Addiction show, in particular, was tarnished by Perry Farrell’s visible struggle, which affected the overall performance quality and led to tour cancellations shortly after.

Transitioning to his literary works, Ben discusses the events around his book Body Count, which covers Body Count’s controversial debut album featuring the song Cop Killer. The song elicited backlash from police unions, the Senate, and even the President, leading to its removal from the album after only three months. Ben details the dichotomy of the intense reactions to Cop Killer and the larger issues of censorship and societal fears in the early 1990s.

Regarding his book on Metallica, Ben describes its comprehensive coverage, spanning the band’s history, individual members, concerts, and broader cultural impact. He also delves into the influence of punk and metal within their music. Ben emphasizes the significance of word-of-mouth and live performances in Metallica’s rise to popularity and reflects on how their approach to live shows continues to engage and expand their fan base. He concludes by expressing his enthusiasm for writing these books and outlining potential future projects, including collaborations and new biographies.

BANDS: AC/DC, Bob Dylan, Body Count, Fiona Apple, Fishbone, Iron Maiden, Living Color, Metallica, Patti Smith, Prince, Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, The Grateful Dead, The Kinks, The Ramones, Ultimate Classic Rock, Velvet Underground.

VENUES:

RFK Stadium, Madison Square Garden, Alpine Valley, Navy Pier, Salt Shed, Lollapalooza.

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