Alive Quote by Lester Bangs
“Good rock 'n' roll is something that makes you feel alive. It's something that's human, and I think that most music today isn't. ... To me good rock 'n' roll also encompasses other things, like Hank Williams and Charlie Mingus and a lot of things that aren't strictly defined as rock 'n' roll. Rock 'n' roll is an attitude, it's not a musical form of a strict sort. It's a way of doing things, of approaching things. Writing can be rock 'n' roll, or a movie can be rock 'n' roll. It's a way of living your life.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Rolling Stone, 1978, Music criticism
The critic defines rock 'n' roll as an attitude of authenticity and vitality, extending beyond genre to any creative act that feels alive.
In simple terms: Rock is an attitude, not just music.
Key Takeaway
Embrace authenticity in all pursuits.
Themes
music
creativity
authenticity
Mood
energetic
reflective
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- songwriting
- film making
- performance art
- personal lifestyle
Key Concepts
cultural criticism
artistic expression
genre fluidity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you apply a rock attitude to daily work?
- What limits the expression of authenticity?
A Different Perspective
May overlook structural barriers to authenticity.
![“Like almost all of Beefheart's recorded work, [Trout Mask Replica] was not even "ahead" of its time in 1969. Then and now, it stands outside time, trends, fads, hypes, the rise and fall of whole genres eclectic as walking Christmas trees, constituting a genre unto itself: truly, a musical Monolith…” quote by Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aad/lester-bangs-9750_beatles_like-almost-all-of-beefheart-s-recorded_60270.jpg)
