Bob Gendron - The Afghan Whigs Gentlemen

Gentlemen

Praise for the series:

It was only a matter of time before a clever publisher realized that there is an audience for whom Exile on Main Street or Electric Ladyland are as significant and worthy of study as The Catcher in the Rye or Middlemarch. The series is freewheeling and eclectic, ranging from minute rock-geek analysis to idiosyncratic personal celebrationThe New York Times Book Review

Ideal for the rock geek who thinks liner notes just arent enoughRolling Stone

One of the coolest publishing imprints on the planetBookslut

These are for the insane collectors out there who appreciate fantastic design, well-executed thinking, and things that make your house look cool. Each volume in this series takes a seminal album and breaks it down in startling minutiae. We love these. We are huge nerdsVice

A brilliant serieseach one a work of real loveNME (UK)

Passionate, obsessive, and smartNylon

Religious tracts for the rock n roll faithfulBoldtype

[A] consistently excellent seriesUncut (UK)

We arent naive enough to think that were your only source for reading about music (but if we had our way watch out). For those of you who really like to know everything there is to know about an album, youd do well to check out Continuums 33 1/3 series of books.Pitchfork

For reviews of individual titles in the series, please visit our website at www.continuumbooks.com and 33third.blogspot.com

Also available in this series:

Dusty in Memphis by Warren Zanes

Forever Changes by Andrew Hultkrans

Harvest by Sam Inglis

The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society by Andy Miller

Meal Is Murder by Joe Pernice

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn by John Cavanagh

Abba Gold by Elisabeth Vincentelli

Electric Ladyland, by John Perry

Unknown Pleasures by Chris Ott

Sign O the Times by Michaelangelo Matos

The Velvet Underground and Nico by Joe Harvard

Let It Be by Steve Matteo

Live at the Apollo by Douglas Wolk

Aqualung, by Allan Moore

OK Computer by Dai Griffiths

Let It Be by Colin Meloy

Led Zeppelin IV by Erik Davis

Armed Forces by Franklin Bruno

Exile on Main Street by Bill Janovitz

Grace by Daphne Brooks

Murmur by J. Niimi

Pet Sounds by Jim Fusilli

Ramones by Nicholas Rombes

Endtroducing by Eliot Wilder

Kick Out the Jams by Don McLeese

Low by Hugo Wilcken

In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Kim Cooper

Music from Big Pink by John Niven

Pauls Boutique by Dan LeRoy

Doolittle by Ben Sisario

Theres a Riot Goin On by Miles Marshall Lewis

Stone Roses by Alex Green

Bee Thousand by Marc Woodworth

The Who Sell Out by John Dougan

Highway 61 Revisited by Mark Polizzotti

Loveless, by Mike McGonigal

The Notorious Byrd Brothers by Ric Menck

Court and Spark by Sean Nelson

69 Love Songs by LD Beghtol

Songs in the Key of Life by Zeth Lundy

Use Your Illusion I and II by Eric Weisbard

Daydream Nation by Matthew Stearns

Trout Mask Replica by Kevin Courrier

Double Nickels on the Dime by Michael T. Fournier

Peoples Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm by Shawn Taylor

Aja by Don Breithaupt

Rid of Me by Kate Schatz

Achtung Baby by Stephen Catanzarite

If Youre Feeling Sinister by Scott Plagenhoef

Lets Talk About Love by Carl Wilson

Swordfishtrombones by David Smay

20 Jazz Funk Greats by Drew Daniel

Horses by Philip Shaw

Master of Reality by John Darnielle

Bob Gendron

2008

The Continuum International Publishing Group lnc
80 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038

The Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd
The Tower Building, 11 York Road, London SE1 7NX

www.continuumbooks.com
33third.blogspot.com

Copyright 2008 by Bob Gendron

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publishers or their agents.

Printed in Canada on 100% postconsumer waste recycled paper

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gendron, Bob, 1975
Gentlemen / Bob Gendron.
p. cm. - (33 1/3)
eISBN-13: 978-1-4411-4625-0

1. Afghan Whigs (Musical group) 2. Alternative rock musiciansUnited States. 3. Alternative rock musicUnited StatesHistory and criticism. I. Title. II. Series.

M1.421.A326G46 2008
782.421660922-dc22

2008022030

Many thanks to David Barker for taking the chance, believing, and viewing music as art still worthy of meaningful prose. Grazie mille to the original members of the Afghan Whigs (Greg Dulli, John Curley, Rick McCollum, Steve Earle) for agreeing to oft-lengthy interviews and, in Greg and Johns case, giving me contacts, personal tours, valuable face time, and honest responses; without their participation, this book would not have been possible. Merci to Lee Heidel, for contacts and music, and to Robert-Jan van der Woud, Keith Hagan, and Chris DeVille, for contacts.

Journalistic integrity, diligent reporting, and historical context are too often absent from the agenda-promoting opining that today passes for music criticism. For setting and maintaining an irreproachable standard, and being a good friend, sincere thanks to Greg Kot. His writing has always been and remains a primary inspiration. Thanks as well to my friend and colleague Andy Downing for lending an ear and taking an interest. And many thanks to my editors past and presentJonathan Valin, Robert Harley, Chris Martens, Heidi Stevens, Lou Carlozo, Kevin M. Williams, Carmel Carrillo, Emily A. Rosenbaum, Scott L. Powersfor their expertise, advice, and guidance.

Danke, to Jeannette Chernin for being a caring sister. Extra thanks to Michael L. Miller for constant support and kind words; a better friend doesnt exist. Utmost gratitude to my mother, Nanette, who always permitted my music obsessions and allowed me to work at an indie record store and travel to concerts long before I was old enough to drive. Most of all, supreme love and thanks to my beautiful wife, Ann, for all of the love, encouragement, faith, laughter, and patienceand for going to the fateful Whigs concert with me in Austin one week before our wedding. This book is for you, and in loving memory of George J. and Leona Gendron.

And thank you, the reader, for purchasing this bookor at least, browsing through it long enough to encounter this passage. Like it? Hate it? Email me thoughts or questions at . I will reply.