JOEL SELVIN, former SF Chron pop music critic / Smartass: The Music Journalism

San Francisco Chronicle pop music critic Joel Selvin started covering rock shows for the paper shortly after the end of the Civil War. His writing has appeared in a surprising number of other publications that you would think should have known better. People all over the world are still pissed off about pieces in this collection.

“My opinion? San Francisco is the greatest town for live music, hands down. Why, because the audience is curious, enthusiastic, and smart. And relaxed. Sounds a lot like Joel, now, doesn't it? Joel is a San Francisco Music-writing man — 40 years on the job — and that's another thing San Francisco and Joel Selvin have in common: it's a union shop, all the way! Joel is not no show business industry town mouthpiece, you dig? What's that make him, the last of the real music writers? You be the judge.” — Ry Cooder

“Push the book into the 8 track slot in the back of your head and Sly Stone begins to play LOUD! Try on Ralph Gleason's raincoat; Phil Spector's purple shades and enter the Fillmore. You will perspire and be slapped around as fascinating arcane details about the eccentric and bizarre world of music are poured into your ear: blood tests, pimps in hair salons, guns on the console, 21 year old millionaires, jail terms, and pit bulls in wedding chapels. Selvin stitches the myth to the truth 'cos that's music too!” — Tom Waits

“Erudite King Selvin remains unchallenged.  Having pounded out a long list of dutiful accounts, from the audience, backstage, the studios, the labels, the clubs, by telephone, and the streets, Joel, with his courage and honesty, has been a friend to artists and listeners alike.” — Booker T. Jones

“I had to pick myself up off the floor laughing. This is going to be a great read whether you love or hate the Beach Boys!” — Al Jardine of the Beach Boys

“Love him or hate him, he was there – read ‘em and weep.” — Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead

“Joel really understands where the music, the musicians and the fans are coming from. He just gets it. He's hip, incisive and writes with a lot of style and a clear point of view.”  — Bonnie Raitt

“Joe Silvein, What a hack he did everything he could to make me a star and failed miserably Fuck him and the Examner.” — Steve Miller

“For much of the last 4 decades Joel Selvin has been one of the most revered (and feared) music journalists and critics in North America. His insights and purity of artistic standards put him in a class by himself. But Joel was unique in a way that set him aside from all other journalists. He had an innate ability to actually insert himself into the lives of many of his subjects — counseling, advising and actually playing a pivotal role in the success of many legends. Incredibly, he played this role while maintaining his objectivity in evaluating the work of the people he befriended, and he had no hesitation in lambasting these artists when he didn't like what he saw and heard. The articles in “Smartass” are an invaluable collection that is a rare chronicle of modern pop culture.”  — Joan Jett

“There never was an artist that didn’t need a critic like you.” — Bono

“The Mickey Spillane of rock journalism.” — Sam Andrew, Big Brother & the Holding Co.

“I don’t even know about Joel Selvin.” — Sly Stone

This evening holds surprises, as Joel brings some very special guests along!

Drawn from forty years of reporting in the pages of the San Francisco Chronicle and elsewhere. Smartass will for the first time collect the work of the award-winning music journalist and best-selling author of Summer of Love.

From the Redding ranch of country maverick Merle Haggard to the humble Hawthorne beginnings of the Beach Boys in South Central Los Angeles, Selvin tracked rock and roll lore throughout California for the Chronicle since 1970. Smartass brings together his finest reporting on California rock and roll – a collection of feature articles ranging from Phil Spector to Tom Waits, Glen Campbell to CSN&Y, the Grateful Dead to the Beach Boys – all peppered with his trademark insights and acerbic asides.

Highlights include Selvin’s historic interview with Augustus Owsley Stanley; the award-winning series on the Bill Graham probate case; the controversial account of the life and death of Sheryl Crow boyfriend and mentor Kevin Gilbert; his frightening chronicle of the making of “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” by Sly and the Family Stone that first appeared on the cover of England’s Mojo magazine.

Selvin specialized in coverage of the Grateful Dead and Smart Ass features a full selection of his greatest hits – from behind-the-scenes at studio sessions for “Terrapin Station” with producer Keith Olsen to his chilling tale of despair and anguish that led to the suicide of Dead keyboardist Vince Welnick.

He also covered, almost as extensively, the Beach Boys and his classic interview with Dennis Wilson about Charles Manson is included. His interviews with John Fogerty earned Selvin a subpoena in the lawsuit by Fantasy Records founder Saul Zaentz and his liner notes to Creedence Clearwater reissues won the ASCAP/Deems Taylor Award.

Ironically, in March 2009, shortly after laying the initial groundwork for Smartass, Selvin left his staff position with the Chronicle, part of drastic staff reductions by the failing newspaper. With arts coverage in newspapers slashed and rock music producing fewer and fewer giants, columnist Selvin clearly operated during a golden era of music journalism. His epic biography of the little known rhythm and blues songwriter Bert Berns will be published next year and he is currently co-writing the Sammy Hagar autobiography.