I hate Chuck, kinda...

The object of my ire at times and todays blog subject, Chuck Klosterman


Okay, we got a few responses to last weeks blog. Some good and one really confusing one. Oh well, here is what James the self proclaimed "Gay Trucker" had to say about the application for Canadian citizenship.

"Bwahahahahahahaha! Awesome, Coach! Loved the part with quotes from Donna (I agree with her by the way).

ps. Welcome to the civilized world - congrats on your citizenship in the country that is home to Wayne Gretzky - the greatest human ever. The guy who created Quizno's is a close 2nd. You'll probably get denied, but I like that you tried. It's good to improve on oneself, and removing yourself from the whiny, selfish, ego-centrical society that the USA is... 'nuff said. "

James"

Uh, okay James, I am not sure if you are referring to Don Cherry as the Quiznos guy, but okay. I hope I don't get denied, it costs $200.

And this response came from a person who did not feel it important to leave their name...

"TRAITOR, only a Packer fan would go canadian (note small caps on the "c"). canada isn't even a real country and if you want free healthcare then become a citizen of Mexico and sneak across the border to the good old USA. Thats how you get free healthcare here. If canada is so great then why do I have a bunch of canadians working around me, scooping up the California gold and back talking Old Glory..drunk mother f**kers!!! Canook Go Home!! "

This person called themselves the American Bad Ass. Dude, you have issues. I would suggest the first step would be to stop drinking Nyquil before noon and seek professional help.

Now, on to the subject at hand. I just finished reading this book....



I will tell you right off the bat, I really liked this book. I honestly did not put it down. It is written by Chuck Klosterman. A good North Dakota boy who when I lived there wrote for the Fargo Forum. He know is senior writer at Spin Magazine and writes for the NY Times among other things. The story is about a cross country trip to visit the 'landmarks' where rock stars meet their demise. For instance the first place he goes is in NY where Sid Vicious killed Nancey Spurgeon and then OD. Sounds kinda morbid but it really is very entertaining. Chuck intertwines stories about the women he loves, most of whom do not really love him, and how he deals with it. He at one point compares all the women he has loved in his life to all the different members of KISS. That includes all the players during the non-makeup days. It really is kinda deep on one level and really weird on another. Chuck also wrote, Fargo Rock City, and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. Both also very entertaining.

Nick Chase is actually quoted in this book, and once in his previous book. About the only think I really dislike about this book is the drug use. Although I find it somewhat facinating, I just don't believe that a good ND boy should be doing the drugs he talks about. Nick compares it to the 'blading' in pro wrestling. That is the process of cutting your forehead so you bleed like a pig and we all think it is a devastating match. We all know that it is a drama and a soap opera so none of the wrestlers need to bleed during a match to prove anything to us. He does not need to tell us about his drug use, the story is still just as good and we don't think of him as any cooler because of it.

Now this Blog is not just a review of this book. I have met Chuck once or twice, but I feel like I know him. Actually to explain my 'relationship' with Chuck there are varying degrees of my Chuck Meter. How can I actually say I have a relationship with him when I only met him once? I don't really know but I do. Let me explain the Chuck Meter.

When I was in college and shortly thereafter, I would read his columns in the Forum. It was mostly in the Forums weak attempt at reaching the younger generation, called RAGE. It sucked. But I read it every week. I think that Chuck wrote pretty much every article in the thing. I will tell you at this point I hated every word this guy ever wrote. I thought his opinions were garbage, stuff like when reviewing the new Poison or Crue album he would go on and on about how great the record was. But the bands that I thought mattered like REM he had no time for. I hated Chuck. I still have copies of this paper just to prove how bad it was. Really.



The Chuck Meter was at this time in my life RED. I hated everything about this guy. Mostly because I thought I could do better, I just didn't. I started a music magazine in Bismarck with my friend Mike Pierce. He also hated Chuck. Donna and Robby DuPuis also wrote in this paper. The paper was called Tangerine Press. I can't really remember why we called it that but we did. We put out about five issues. Each issue we put out more copies, and near the end we even had sold ads. It was kinda cool. I made a point to write completely different and about the things that Chuck did not. We were the Anti Chuck if you will. We never trashed him, but it was obvious we did not like the same things he did. Something happened and we stopped. We did get some hate mail from a magazine in Fargo called Yhatzeen. We liked that. Chuck mentions in his new book that he was also hated by that magazine. They apparently wrote about how much they hated him though. We took the high road.



Fast forward to about 1997, I attended a WCW event in Fargo North Dakota with Nick Chase. The event was Thunder. It was cool, I drove all the way from Green Bay to attend on the hope that I may get to see the Nature Boy Ric Flair. Denied. But I did meet Chuck. Nick introduced him to me. I said hi and all the hate came back. I secretly hoped he was still working in Fargo and rotting away. I thought I had a victory there.

Well I move to Canada and Nick tells me that Chuck is working in Ohio. I think good for him, and change the subject. Unitl I one day I am parusing the aisles in the local Chapters and I see it. Fargo Rock City, written by Chuck Klosterman. Here comes the Chuck meter.



I bought the book. I read it and did not put it down. What is wrong with me. I hate this guy. I find out that this guy and I have some things in common. He used to tape MTV, so did I. I used to have about 30 tapes of MTV in my library. I have since taped over them. He also liked a lot of the same music for the same reasons I did. I was sick. The hatred also turned to envy. I was jealous. I have always wanted to write a book, and here he is the guy I hated and tried to be unlike, he has not only a book but a best seller. I hate him more now, but I also hate myself a bit for liking the book and wishing I could have written a book. I just was too busy or lazy. In the front of the book he gives his phone number to call him if you want to tell him what you think. I did. I also decide since he has a love for Poison if I ever meet him again or get his address I would send him my promo copy of 'Nothing but a good time'. It is a promo 12" vinyl copy that was sent out before they released the album, and it has no name on the record. Just a big ? in the middle of the record. I think Chuck would appreciate that. Chuck meter at Green and Red.



A few years later, he puts out his second book, and I find this one the same way I found the last one.



Parusing the Chapters in Calgary. This time I am in the store with some people I was currently on strike with and when they ask me what I bought with my per diem money, I am forced to explain that I kinda know him and that I hate him. They ask me why I bought the book then. I have no answer. Oh, and to add insult to injury one of the guys I was there with had read Fargo Rock City and loved it. I hate Chuck. One of the other guys wants to borrow it from me. I loan it to him and two years later I still have not gotten it back, and it bothers me. Chuck meter at Green and Red. But more green than red.



Fast forward to now. I, this winter, while at Chapters, looked up in the computer about Chuck to see when his next book is coming out. I found out it is coming in spring and briefly forget it. Later Nick reminds me and reads the passage that he is quoted in. It is a funny story and I go out and get it. I sit down and read it in a span of about 30 hours off and on while working and taking care of McKenna. I read most of the book and then I took the time to read the 'testimonials' on the back of the jacket. This pissed me off. My Chuck meter just about went back into the red. Douglas Coupland and Bret Easton Ellis both have testimonials on it. Two authors I highly respect. I own every Coupland book and still to this day consider Generation X the best book I have ever read. That book changed me. To see him praising Chuck really bothered me at first. Then I just thought about it and realized I need to let it go. Chuck is a talented writer. Did I just write that?

I really like the book and wish I had had the idea of the cross country trip. I would love to just get in the car and drive. Then sit down and write about it. To this day I am kicking myself for not writing everyday during the strike. There were a lot of stories that I have forgotten or just did not get recorded that today if I sat down and tried to write them down it would be impossible. Not for a book, but more for myself and the people that I was embroiled in that drama with.

So where does that leave me on the Chuck meter? Well, I guess now a days I am at Chuck Meter Yellow. I like his stuff, and I have recently asked Nick for his email so I can contact him and tell him how much I like his books and how I do not hate him as much any more. I am sure he has no clue, or even cares. Either way I will be anxiously awaiting his next book. Not sure where the Chuck Meter will be after that one but I will let you all know.



Now have a great day and GET BACK TO WORK!!!!