Lester Bangs

Diagnoses

Vocation

American writer, a critic of rock musicians and their work, whose first piece appeared in "Rolling Stone" magazine on April 5, 1969. He was known for his acerbic criticism and barbs aimed at the mighty and the fallen. A prolific writer, he was banned from the magazine in 1973 after several years of contributions because of his "disrespectful" attitude. The prohibition against him lasted until 1978. He joined "Creem" as its critic where he could continue his critiques and moralizing without penalty. There he became an editor but quit in 1976 over a salary dispute. Wanting to write about more serious topics, he never quite hit his stride. Bangs fought him own demons of alcoholism and joined Alcoholics Anonymous in 1981 after a stint Austin, TX. He was found dead in his New York City apartment on April 30, 1982, age 33. He had evidently overdosed on prescription drugs. Link to Wikipedia biography