Rock Journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read." – Frank Zappa

When I first came across this quote I got the complete wrong idea about it and definitely put it out of its context in my own mind. There is nothing wrong with that and I could have had a lot of fun milling around with the idea in my own head but instead I went to the source of what this quote is actually about as I wanted to understand its true meaning.

When one does a little Google search on the quote a couple of pages come up but the only one which seems to be a “fair” reference point is Wikipedia and seems we will be learning more about “wiki’s” this term I decided it would be the perfect source.

According to Wikipedia it would seem that this statement or quote was spoken out of anger due to the bad publicity rockers seem to get via the press.

Below is the extract from Wikipedia:

“In the realm of rock music (as indeed in that of classical music), critics have not always been respected by their subjects. Frank Zappa declared that, "Most rock journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read." In the Guns N' Roses song "Get in the Ring", Axl Rose verbally attacked critics who gave the band negative reviews because of their actions on stage; such critics as Andy Secher, Mick Wall and Bob Guccione, Jr. were mentioned by name.”

So there is no BIG conspiracy theory hiding within this quote. It would seem the only issue is that Frank didn’t really appreciate being spoken about in a critical manner and really who does...