More critical praise for How the Left Lost Teen Spirit:
Rock, rap, reactionaries, and liberals all get a thrashing in Goldbergs insightful book.
VANITY FAIR
Danny Goldberg has written with pinpoint accuracy an important memoir filled with fascinating insights. Through his unfettered access into the corridors of powerbe they the Washington insiders or the Hollywood eliteDanny provides the reader with an eyewitness account of history as it unfolds. His searing insights and straightforward recommendations for the future of the left should be required reading for anyone concerned with the state of democratic politics in this country.
REVEREND JESSE L. JACKSON
We cant know where our culture is headed if we dont know how we got to where we are. This book can get us there.
NORMAN LEAR
In this lively and intelligent report, Danny Goldberg reminds us once again how the battle for freedom of expression needs to be refought every day. I dont know for sure if God is on Goldbergs side, but after reading this book, I sure am.
ERIC ALTERMAN, author of What Liberal Media?
Goldberg authoritatively dissects the disconnect between progressive politics and younger voters.
TIME OUT NEW YORK
An effecting memoir of Goldbergs experiences within the clash of popular culture and politics The great value of his book is as an insiders tour of American cultural life from the sixties to the present.
LIBRARY JOURNAL
Danny Goldbergs memoir contains the powerful reflections of the most progressive activist in the recording industry. His candor, vision, and sense of humor are infectious. It is required reading for those concerned with transforming America into a genuine democracy.
CORNEL WEST
What was the sixties? It was I am the Walrus blaring from the record store in Chapel Hill. It was hearing some guy yell, No pictures! at an antiwar meeting. It was the smell of trampled grass on the Washington Mall during the March on the Pentagon. It was hearing the word fascist spoken in regular conversation. It was the zip in the air knowing the draft was coming to get you. It was seeing Hair your last day in New York on the way to Africa and the Peace Corps. If you want to get a feel for the sixtiesin fact, if you want to keep the spirit alivejust read this book.
CHRIS MATTHEWS, host of MSBNCs Hardball with Chris Matthews
This is the history of the world that I have lived in all my life; the planet where the atmosphere is composed of equal parts: politics and art.
STEVE EARLE
[A] riveting report from the frontlines. Whether you stand to the left, right, or center in Americas culture wars, Danny Goldbergs book is a must-read for anyone who cares about civil liberties, the First Amendment, and rock and roll.
ANTHONY ROMERO, Executive Director, ACLU
Danny Goldberg has spent thirty years fighting for your rights. Its about time you got up off your ass and joined him. Reading this book is a good start.
PAUL BEGALA, cohost, CNNs Crossfire
An important book by a wonderful writer we all thought was a record company executive. A litany of missteps and disasters which is, thank God, a page-turner.
PETER CAREY
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by RDV Books/Akashic Books
Copyright 2003, 2005 Danny Goldberg
Originally published in hardcover under the title Dispatches from the Culture Wars: How the Left Lost Teen Spirit, Miramax Books, 2003
ISBN-13: 978-0-9719206-8-2
eISBN-13: 978-1-6177505-1-9
ISBN-10: 0-9719206-8-0
Library of Congress Control Number: 2004115732
Printed in Canada
First paperback printing
RDV Books/Akashic Books
PO Box 1456
New York, NY 10009
Akashic7@aol.com
www.akashicbooks.com
The author and publisher gratefully acknowledge permission to reprint the following previously published material:
Love Me, Im a Liberal by Phil Ochs, 1965 by Almo Music Corp. on behalf of Barricade Music, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
John Walkers Blues from Jerusalem by Steve Earle, 2002 by Steve Earle, published by Sarangel Music (ASCAP) and administered by Bughouse, a division of Bug Music, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The River by Bruce Springsteen, 1979 by Bruce Springsteen (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Excerpt from The Ballad of the Skeletons from Death and Fame: Last Poems 19931997 by Allen Ginsberg, 1999 by The Allen Ginsberg Trust. Used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
For Rosemary, Katie, and MaxCONTENTS
I first would like to thank my partner in Artemis Records, Michael Chambers, whose vision and friendship have given me a home in the record business during the years that most of this book was written. Without the vocation that he and I work so hard on together, Im not sure I would have had the confidence to embark on this project.
Similarly, I thank my other colleagues at Artemis, including Michael Krumper, Sage Robinson, Ken Walsh, Adrian White, Carise Yatter, and especially Daniel Glass.
Jack Newfield, who recently passed away at the age of sixty-six, bugged me for years to write a book such as this, and his encouragement was indispensable. He was a great writer and a great friend.
Andrew Wylie, my agent, not only shopped and sold my proposal but has been an extraordinary source of support in all ways. Andrew is a cosmic grand master at his craft. He has been a great friend and agent during this process. I thank him from the bottom of my heart.
At Miramax Books I want to thank Susan Mercandetti, whose initial leap of faith is something I will never forget. JillEllyn Riley has led me through the process with care, attention to detail, and support the likes of which have continually delighted and surprised me. I also want to thank Tina Brown, whose blessing was so helpful, and Harvey Weinstein, whose blessings remain essential. And especially I thank John Burnham for welcoming me into his world.
JillEllyn introduced me to Harper Barnes, my editor. Harper worked tirelessly on the narrative flow. To the extent that the book has a coherent structure, much of the credit belongs to him. In places where it rambles on too much, its probably because I failed to take his advice.
Several people spoke to me at length about the themes of this book, and I thank especially Harry Belafonte, David Fenton, Tom Hayden, Gary Hart, Paul Krassner, Norman Lear, Michael Lerner, William Schneider, Marge Tabankin, Jack Valenti, and Dr. Rosalyn Weinman.
I appreciate the feedback on an earlier draft from Michael Des Barres, Patrick Goldstein, Earl Katz, and, again, Jack Newfield and Marge Tabankin.
My assistant of many years, Robin Klein, was helpful in countless ways, and no expression of appreciation can possibly suffice.
I have been blessed with many cheerleaders, makers of contacts, confidants, and partners in political mischief. Among that number I especially thank Stanley Sheinbaum, Ken Sunshine, and Chuck Blitz.
In developing the confidence to write I am grateful to several editors over the years who have given me the space to express myself in opinion pieces, including Michael Lerner, Victor Navasky, Katrina vanden Heuval, Bob Kuttner, and especially Allison Silver.
