Forty-five key interviews with celebrities from the worlds of rock, art, literature and the counterculture, taken from the 18-year history of New York-based "Seconds magazine. Interviewees include Marilyn Manson, David Bowie, JG Ballard, Henry Rollins, Allen Ginsberg, Anton LaVey, Joe Coleman, Peter Sotos, Joe D'Allesandro, Ron Jeremy, Wayne Kramer, Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, John Waters, Richard Ramirez, Charles Manson, Ed Sanders and Robert Williams.
Contributors include Michael Moynihan, Carlo McCormick, Boyd Rice, David Aaron Clarke, Art Deco and John Aes-Nihil.
Steven Blush is the author of "American Hardcore. He lives in New York.
".45 Dangerous minds." is probably the best collection of interviews that I have ever had the fortune of reading. This book is an eclectic collection of interviews with subversive artists, musicians, serial killers, politicians, etc. These interviews make is obvious there is not that much of difference between certain murderers and musicians. That being said, the book features an enlightening interview with Bobby Beausoleil.
The only bad thing about this book is that there are a handful of interviews that I wish I never read. I really didn't need to hear about degenerate Allen Ginsberg's support for NAMBLA. But then again, now I know to never read anything written by disgusting Ginsberg.
Fun interviews with pornographers (Stu Mead, Ron Jeremy), serial killers (Manson, Ramirez, Lucas), satanists (not one, but two interviews with that wacky, humorless Anton LaVey!), artistes (Joe Coleman, Ed "Big Daddy Roth), plus that dude who was on the cover of the Smiths' debut LP -- Joe Dallesandro.
Also some "normal" folks like G.G. Allin, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Henry Rollins, Ed Sanders (zzzzz), Jayne County, Lyndon LaRouche (zzzzzzz), John Waters, Tiny Tim, Stockhausen, J.G. Ballard, Buddy Miles (HORRIBLE interview!), Julian Cope (zzzzzz), and, um, David Bowie (proving once again that he's a complete wank artist).
I laughed, heckled, snoozed, became outraged, and learnt a few things. Nice reading experience overall. My only gripe is that this is a complete boy-zone: the only women here are Jayne County (who once wielded a penis) and porn stars Ashlyn Gere & Victoria Paris.
I found this book in the bargain bin at a book shop 13 years ago. To this day it still the best and most interesting collection of interviews I have ever read. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Some interesting interviews. I was particularly captivated by the interviews with players from The Factory. I feel less enthusiastic about Charles Manson's Ramblings. Some of the interviews I only perused as I was not familiar (nor interested) in the person or subject matter. I did like the Bowie & Henry Rollins interviews.