Lester Bangs Quotes

A collection of quotes by Lester Bangs.

Lester Bangs (1948-1982) was an influential American music journalist, author, and critic. Known for his visceral and passionate writing style, he became a prominent voice in rock journalism during the 1970s. Bangs contributed to several respected publications such as Rolling Stone and Creem, where he provided insightful and often controversial commentary on an array of musical genres. His unique perspectives and uncompromising approach made him a revered figure in the world of music criticism. Despite his untimely death at the age of 33, Lester Bangs left a lasting impact on the field of journalism and continues to inspire countless writers today.

As far as a truly radical conscience, you have to take it as

As far as a truly radical conscience, you have to take it as part of a larger thing, that it was sort of historical inevitability that with the coming of a leaguer society people would start to use drugs a lot more then they had before.

Society

Most of them are pretty down records, pretty unhappy, pretty

Most of them are pretty down records, pretty unhappy, pretty confused. Which only reflects how people in general were feeling, I mean really the sense that you get is society running down.

Society

It's much easier to wear a Chairman Mao button and shake you

It's much easier to wear a Chairman Mao button and shake your fists in the air and all that, then to actually read the Communist manifesto and things like that and actually become involved in politics.

Politics

They wouldn't be heroes if they were infallible, in fact the

They wouldn't be heroes if they were infallible, in fact they wouldn't be heroes if they weren't miserable wretched dogs, the pariahs of the earth, besides which the only reason to build up an idol is to tear it down again.

Heroes/heroism

The only questions worth asking today are whether humans are

The only questions worth asking today are whether humans are going to have any emotions tomorrow, and what the quality of life will be if the answer is no.

Emotions

The ultimate sin of any performer is contempt for the audien

The ultimate sin of any performer is contempt for the audience.

Entertainment

The first mistake of art is to assume that it's serious.

The first mistake of art is to assume that it's serious.

Art