Lester Bangs, had he lived, would have been 63 years old today, and it’s impossible to imagine what he’d be writing now. He was as passionate about rock and roll as any human who ever lived, and was already full of fire and brimstone about the happenings of the late ’70s and early ’80s. Had he not died in 1982, the late ’80s may have killed him. He wasn’t just one of the best rock and roll writers, he was one of the best writers, period, and his anthologies are required reading for anyone aspiring to write about anything. Happy birthday, Lester. Wish you’d lasted long enough to hear Nirvana.
