Search the Fresh Air Archive

Close Search

The "Decline" of Aging Rockers

Part I of Terry Gross's interview with filmmaker Penelope Spheeris. Spheeris talks about her new movie, The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: the Metal Years, a documentary about the heavy metal scene. She thinks stereotypes of the inarticulate and unskilled metal musicians are unfair -- though it's often true that they embrace a drug-fueled, self-destructive lifestyle.

10:00
Queue

Guest

Host

Related Topics

Other segments from the episode on July 27, 1988

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, July 27, 1988: Interview with Barry Glassner; Review of Renata Tebaldi's self-title album; Interview with Penelope Spheeris; Commentary on authentic accents in films.
Queue
27:44

Body Image and the Demand to Be Attractive

Sociologist Barry Glassner's new book Bodies explores the pressures Americans face to conform to particular standards of health and beauty. He says this cultural expectation -- which even extends to the workplace -- has led to a proliferation of diet and exercise programs, which most participants are doomed to fail.

Interview
Queue
06:51

Rediscovering Tebaldi

Classical music Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new collection of Renata Tebaldi's performances. The recordings are so good that he's willing to overlook the soprano's sometimes forced, theatrical effects.

Review
Queue
03:53

Struggling to Get the Accent Right

Language commentator Geoff Nunberg wonders about the demand for authentic regional and national accents in motion pictures -- even when its not essential to the plot.

Commentary

Transcript

Transcript currently not available.

Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

You May Also like

Queue
03:35

Give Me Superstardom or Give Me Death

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: the Metal Years. He says the compelling movie is a revealing look at how fans and musicians participate in the decadent culture of heavy metal music.

Review
Queue
09:25

Getting Youth Culture Right

Part II of the Fresh Air interview with Penelope Spheeris. Terry Gross asks the filmmaker about growing up in a carnival, the prophetic power of rock music, and making movies about youth culture. Spheeris's new documentary is The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years.

Interview
Queue
20:56

Guitar Legend Jimmy Page

He began his career with the Yardbirds in 1966. Two years later, Page formed Led Zeppelin. His powerful playing established the framework for classic tracks like "Whole Lotta Love," "Rock 'N' Roll," "Black Dog," "When The Levee Breaks" and "Achilles Last Stand." Remastered footage from several 1970s Led Zeppelin concerts has just been released on a 2-DVD set.

Guitarist Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin

Did you know you can create a shareable playlist?

Learn How
Advertisement

Recently on Fresh Air Available to Play on NPR

52:30

Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

43:04

This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

See All Recent Segments

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.

Let us help you find exactly what you want to hear.
Just play me something
Your Queue

Would you like to make a playlist based on your queue?

Generate & Share View/Edit Your Queue