Second Acts

March 26, 2010April 20, 2011 ~ djpeisner ~ Leave a comment

Sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll is a tough regimen to maintain, especially when compounded by fickle labels, shady management and (gulp!) encroaching maturity. DAVID PEISNER tracked down 44 grizzled vets from SPIN’s 25 years to find out how they left the road behind to chase a dream even more elusive than stardom: sanity.

Rat Scabies, Damned drummer turned Holy Grail hunter

Peter Garrett, Midnight Oil frontman turned Australian MP

Jesse Peretz, Lemonheads bassist turned film director

Jesse Sandoval, Shins drummer turned gourmet food cart vendor

Brix Smith-Start, Fall guitarist turned fashion guru

Jack Grisham, TSOL frontman turned hypnotherapist/sobriety coach

Bragi Olafsson, Sugarcubes bassist turned novelist

Gary Valentine Lachman, Blondie bassist/guitarist turned author

Spin Magazine, March 2010

The Sound of Pain: Radio Interviews

February 2, 2010 ~ djpeisner ~ Leave a comment

In my ongoing effort to make this website a comprehensive survey of my least embarrassing work, here are links to two appearances I made on public radio to talk about my December 2006 story in Spin called “War Is Loud.” Listening back to them now, I’m not even positive that everything I’m saying is 100% correct, but I certainly sound sure of myself, which apparently counts for something.

“The Sound Of Pain”: NPR’s “On The Media,” September 14, 2007

“Interrogation Music”: PRI’s “The World,” May 4, 2008

Licensed To Ill

January 12, 2010June 7, 2024 ~ djpeisner ~ Leave a comment

Boo, socialism! Boo, death panels! The most polarizing political issue of 2009, health care reform has angered and confused pretty much everyone. But perhaps no one is feeling the hurt more than struggling musicians.

Spin Magazine, January/February 2010

The Last Temptation of Steve-O

January 12, 2010January 10, 2011 ~ djpeisner ~ Leave a comment

All the Jackass star ever wanted was to be famous for doing insane stunts. But after a suicidal flame-out landed him in a psych ward, what’s a kinder, gentler self-mutilating exhibitionist to do?

Spin Magazine, July 2009

Into The Light

January 12, 2010January 10, 2011 ~ djpeisner ~ Leave a comment

Five years ago, Justin Hawkins was fronting the U.K.’s biggest band–until he succumbed to the very cliches the Darkness were lampooning. Now, as he tries to kick-start Hot Leg, he’s hauling his own gear, sleeping on floors and trying not to make the same mistakes twice.

Spin Magazine, June 2009

Jailhouse Rock

January 5, 2010December 17, 2013 ~ djpeisner ~ Leave a comment

In 1992, sex-biz entrepreneur Dennis Sobin went to prison. Nearly two decades later, he’s brandishing a guitar and preaching the power of music and art to rehabilitate the nation’s incarcerated masses. But should we listen to him?

Spin Magazine, May 2009