Top 25 Quotes by Greil Marcus of 33 - Page 2

As I write, Johnny Rotten's first moments in Anarchy in the U.K. - a rolling earthquake of a laugh, a buried shout, then hoary words somehow stripped of all claptrap and set down in the city streets - I AM AN ANTICHRIST

As I write, Johnny Rotten's first moments in "Anarchy in the U.K." - a rolling earthquake of a laugh, a buried shout, then hoary words somehow stripped of all claptrap and set down in the city streets - I AM AN ANTICHRIST - Remain as powerful as anything I know. Listening to the record today - listening to the way Johnny Rotten tears at his lines, and then hurls the pieces at the world; recalling the all-consuming smile he produced as he sang - my back stiffens; I pull away even as my scalp begins to sweat.

Greil Marcus

Powerful, Writing, Earthquakes

"Lipstick Traces: A Secret History of the 20th Century". Book by Greil Marcus, 1989.

If 'Mystery Train' is my Nixon book and 'Lipstick Traces' my Reagan book, 'Invisible Republic' is my Bill Clinton book. I really liked Clinton. He made me proud to be part of this country again. For all of his failings, the way he put all that he'd done in jeopardy, I supported him from beginning to end.

Greil Marcus

Country, Book, Done

"Greil Marcus: a life in writing". Interview with Simon Reynolds, www.theguardian.com. February 17, 2012.

Bob Dylan continues to release odd and unsettling records, and to do odd and unsettling things on stage. So the term "still" seems meaningless to me. But the real answer is simple: I listen to Bob Dylan for pleasure more than I listen to anyone else for pleasure.

Greil Marcus

Real, Simple, Records

"This is Greil Marcus’ Brain on 'Shuffle'". Interview with Michael Mechanic, www.motherjones.com. October 18, 2010.

I learned that when something just has to be said to move the discussion along, or broaden it or deepen it, if I can just keep my mouth shut for five minutes a student will say it. So for me a lot of teaching is about keeping my mouth shut.

Greil Marcus

Moving, Teaching, Mouths

"Greil Marcus examines culture through prism of pop" by Sam Whiting, www.sfgate.com. October 30, 2011.

I was the first records editor at Rolling Stone, and there were no rules. There was nothing to fall back on as to how do you write about this kind of music, so people were trying absolutely everything with a great sense of freedom and experimentation and success and failure, and a feeling of, “My God, people are actually paying attention to this. Let’s pretend they aren’t because we don’t want to be intimidated by what somebody might think of what we’re saying.

Greil Marcus

Fall, Writing, Thinking