Greil Marcus, Author at The Village Voice

From The Archives

Last Refuge of a Rock Critic: A Bicentennial Search for Patriotism

In 1976, the culture critic asked, “What is it that Americans share?”

by Greil Marcus

Originally published: July 12, 1976

MUSIC ARCHIVES

Girl Groups: How the Other Half Lived

“Girl group records were based in the relationship of a young girl and an older man (white, until Berry Gordy) who put her on a pedestal and held her in thrall; out of that relationship came some of the most urgent and intense rock and roll ever made.”

by Greil Marcus

Originally published: September 8, 1975

MUSIC ARCHIVES

Elvis Presley, Philosopher King

“A great artist, a great rocker, a great purveyor of schlock, a great heartthrob, a great bore, a great symbol of potency, a great ham, a great nice person, and, yes, a great American”

by Greil Marcus

Originally published: April 7, 1975

BOOKS ARCHIVES

The Long Walk of the Situationist International

“The situationists were bent on discovering the absolute ability to criticize anyone, anywhere — without restraint, without the pull of alliances, and without self-satisfaction. And they were bent on turning that criticism into event.”

by Greil Marcus

Originally published: May 1, 1982

FILM ARCHIVES

Robert Frank and the Stones Movie You’ll Never See

“ ‘Cocksucker Blues’ was never shown because the Stones don’t want it shown. The rumors why have been simple: Frank, it has been said, shot the Stones fucking groupies and shooting heroin.’

by Greil Marcus

Originally published: June 8, 1975

MUSIC ARCHIVES

Robert Johnson: The Sound and the Fury

“The tension of wanting to say more than the tradition can allow explodes the tradition.”

by Greil Marcus

Originally published: December 21, 1986

MUSIC ARCHIVES

Rock Death in the ’70s: A Sweepstakes

"Do not the dead deserve an accounting at least as irreproachable as the survivors receive with each week’s edition of Billboard?"

by Greil Marcus

Originally published: December 17, 1979

MUSIC ARCHIVES

Patti Smith Exposes Herself

“Art shtick … murderous year for romance … hearing the unhearable … leading more than a band.”

by Greil Marcus

Originally published: November 24, 1975

MUSIC ARCHIVES

Real Life Rock Top 10: Memories of Aretha

Encounters with the Queen of Soul, Daveed Diggs, and the ghost of Jackie Wilson

by Greil Marcus

August 22, 2018

MUSIC ARCHIVES

Real Life Rock Top 10: Special Protest Edition!

Algiers rage with ‘Cleveland,’ Pussy Riot rock with France

by Greil Marcus

July 26, 2018

Greil Marcus

In 1976, the culture critic asked, “What is it that Americans share?”

“Girl group records were based in the relationship of a young girl and an older man (white, until Berry Gordy) who put her on a pedestal and held her in thrall; out of that relationship came some of the most urgent and intense rock and roll ever made.”

“A great artist, a great rocker, a great purveyor of schlock, a great heartthrob, a great bore, a great symbol of potency, a great ham, a great nice person, and, yes, a great American”

“The situationists were bent on discovering the absolute ability to criticize anyone, anywhere — without re­straint, without the pull of alliances, and without self-satisfaction. And they were bent on turning that criticism into event.”

“ ‘Cocksucker Blues’ was never shown because the Stones don’t want it shown. The rumors why have been simple: Frank, it has been said, shot the Stones fucking groupies and shooting heroin.’

“The tension of wanting to say more than the tradition can allow explodes the tradition.”

"Do not the dead deserve an accounting at least as irreproachable as the survivors receive with each week’s edi­tion of Billboard?"

“Art shtick … murderous year for romance … hearing the unhearable … leading more than a band.”

Encounters with the Queen of Soul, Daveed Diggs, and the ghost of Jackie Wilson

Algiers rage with ‘Cleveland,’ Pussy Riot rock with France

“The situationists were bent on discovering the absolute ability to criticize anyone, anywhere — without restraint, without the pull of alliances, and without self-satisfaction. And they were bent on turning that criticism into event.”

"Do not the dead deserve an accounting at least as irreproachable as the survivors receive with each week’s edition of Billboard?"