On January 24, 1961, a young and ambitious Bob Dylan took the stage at the storied Greenwich Village club Cafe Wha? for his first performance in New York City. What followed was Dylan soaking up every bit of the freewheeling Bohemian scene, filtering the music, art, and politics through his creative lens as he honed his craft performing in and around the Village. Though Dylan is clearly a standout, this is a familiar story. Many musicians have started their careers on stage at Cafe Wha? and the clubs in the Village. In this episode, filmed at Cafe Wha?, prolific and accomplished writer and musician Jeff Slate discusses his time in the egalitarian and fertile environment of Greenwich Village in the mid-1980s at the start of his career, his influences, and his creative process. During the course of our discussion, Jeff also shares his thoughts on his work as a journalist, his stint in politics, and of course, Bob Dylan.
Jeff Slate is a multifaceted talent and all-around impressive man. As a front man and songwriter, Jeff is widely known as a major figure in the New York City music scene. After getting his start in Greenwich Village in the mid-1980s, Slate's work quickly gained recognition first with his band Mindless Thinkers and later as a solo artist sharing the stage with rock legends like Pete Townsend and Roger McGuinn. He's also toured extensively with folks like Sheryl Crow, Jeff Tweedy, and Margo Price, among others. In 2024, he supported Jakob Dylan and The Wallflowers on their tour. Jeff's albums also feature an all-star lineup of his friends that includes Duff McKagan, Earl Slick, Dave Stewart, members of Paul Weller's band and Noel Gallagher's band the High Flying Birds.
As a writer, journalist, and rock and roll historian, Jeff uses his experience as a musician and his keen wit and intellect to give voice to everything he writes. He has penned the liner notes for Bob Dylan's More Blood, More Tracks bootleg, and for The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Orbison, The Beatles, among others. In longer form, Jeff co-wrote The Authorized Biography of Roy Orbison with Orbison's sons and Earl Slick's 2024 memoir, Guitar. Additionally, Jeff’s impressive catalog of interviews reads like a pantheon of rock and roll royalty, including Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, and David Crosby.
When he's not performing or writing, Jeff can be found as a guest deejay on various SiriusXM channels.
To see Jeff live, check out his schedule on his website through the link below.
Links
https://jeffslatehq.com/
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jeff-slates-weekend-wilburys-tickets-1269880579999
https://www.bobdylan.com/news/bob-dylan-interviewed-by-wall-street-journals-jeff-slate/
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