Kendrick Lamar is a great, great thinker. He's a tremendous artist. — Robert Hilburn Copy Share Image
When I met Johnny Cash, I didn't know what to ask: where were you born, who was your favorite recording artist, what's… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share Image
I learned how difficult it is to be an artist. There are always compromises. The record company wants you to do this,… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share Image
I learned how difficult it is to be an artist. There are always compromises. The record company wants you to do this,… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share Image
I thought the message of the artist was more important than the writing style. I tried to be clear; I wanted everyone… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share Image
John Cougar Mellencamp - I didn't like him in the beginning. I liked some of the stuff around the 'Scarecrow' period. I… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share Image
As soon as I started working at the 'Los Angeles Times,' people warned me not to get too close to artists because… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share Image
Artists frequently argue that videos trivialize a song and that touring for months at a time works against the creative process, not… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share Image
With the Internet today, it is possible to do some mixed media things where you can write about an artist and link… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share Image
I don't want to be the cranky old guy, but a lot of critics are too forgiving of mediocre artists. When you… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share Image
At the 'L.A. Times,' I always wanted to write about artists I thought were meaningful. So I interviewed Bob Dylan, John Lennon,… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share Image
To many, Courtney Love smells like rock hype. Reviewers may be excited about her, but the rock audience may be skeptical of the credentials… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
When I began to interview people from the '60s, my first question was always, 'What was your favorite record?' — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
I didn't have any idea that Gwen Stefani would evolve into this symbol of womanhood in America, but to me, that's not a musical… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
When I was in high school in the '50s, all pop music - Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard - was aimed at teenagers. I… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
Because record companies do not routinely release sales figures the way film studios do, the weekly charts in trade publications like 'Billboard' provide the… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
Even though The Cure helped pioneer the jangly, dance-oriented guitar and keyboard style it continues to embrace, there are other bands that now employ… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
The first time I saw Pearl Jam, I thought Eddie Vedder had seen too many Jim Morrison videos, and I didn't like the music… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
His belief in the power of music to convey ideas - not just entertain - has filtered down to musicians in every field, from… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
Some writers sit down every day for two or three hours, at least, to write, whether they are in the mood or not. Others… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
At times, Singer Johnny Cash rubbed dirt from the earth under his fingernails in order to avoid any arrogance which might stem from his… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
Some people will never take Madonna seriously - just as many never took Marilyn Monroe seriously. Novelty images - especially that of a sex… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
By 27, Bob Dylan had already written 'Highway 61 Revisited,' the Beatles had released 'Rubber Soul,' Bruce Springsteen had recorded 'Born to Run' and… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
Without people like Dylan and the Beatles and people like Paul Simon, I think rock n' roll would have died out like Dixieland jazz. — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
In the role of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie seemed in 1972 like a strange alien creature, not so much coming from another planet as from… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
I'm guilty of being perceived as having narrow taste. I went after the artists that I thought were important - Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Bruce… — Robert Hilburn Copy Share
