Bringing Lester Bangs From The Page To The Stage
Erik Jensen and Jessica Blank talk about creating How to Be a Rock Critic: Based on the Writings of Lester Bangs.

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, the year the Beatles arrived in America, Jim DeRogatis began voicing his opinions about rock ’n’ roll shortly thereafter. He is a full-time lecturer in the Professional Writing Program of the English Department at Columbia College Chicago and continues to write about popular music for WBEZ. Together with Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune, he co-hosts Sound Opinions —“the world’s only rock ’n’ roll talk show”—originating at WBEZ and distributed nationally on public radio via PRX.
Erik Jensen and Jessica Blank talk about creating How to Be a Rock Critic: Based on the Writings of Lester Bangs.
Jim DeRogatis recommends a “don’t-miss event for fans of great rock writing.“
From Otis Rush to Chance the Rapper, here is a recap (and playlist) of Jim DeRogatis’ 50 artists who changed Chicago music.
In his latest tutorial on Chicago’s music history, Jim DeRogatis explains why hip-hop is the city’s most active genre.
In his latest tutorial on Chicago’s music history, Jim DeRogatis explains how alternative rock exploded in Chicago in the ’90s.
‘How to Be a Rock Critic’ arrives at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre for a three-week run from July 6 to 22.
In his latest tutorial on Chicago’s music history, Jim DeRogatis explains how rock came roaring back in the 1980s.
Chicago’s venerable bastion of left-field literature has a couple of notable music-related events coming up.
In his latest tutorial on Chicago’s music history, Jim DeRogatis explores how house music started at a near West Side juice bar.