Ask David Fricke: "Fricke's Picks" Columnist and Rolling Stone Senior Editor Answers Your Questions

Keep up the excellent work,
Teresa

The first story I was paid for was a review, in 1973, of an album of scathing protest songs (with liberal doses of x-rated language) by folk singer Patrick Sky, entitled "Songs That Made America Famous." I sent the review, unsolicited, to the local underground weekly in my hometown, Philadelphia, The Drummer. To my surprise, it was published. The check was for $5.00 (that is not a typo). The next piece the paper ran was my review of the first New York Dolls album. That was another $5.00. I never cashed the first check, but kept it as a souvenir -- although I lost it awhile later. I used the five bucks for the Dolls review to buy records.

Before I moved to New York, I also worked as a radio DJ (volunteering at a non-commercial station), a publicist (for a great Philly-area club called the Main Point) and for a Philly concert promoter, Midnight Sun. I was determined to make a life in music -- writing was the work I came to love best and the one that, in time, where I could make my living. I consider myself very fortunate. As I often tell people who ask me about RS, I don't always love my job. I always love my work.