Chad Bowar: How did you get started writing about metal?
Joel McIver: I worked for six years on Record Collector magazine and wrote about all kinds of music. Metal was my specialist interest, although I listen to all kinds of music, and I was usually the first choice when a metal band came up for interview or an album needed reviewing. I quit RC when I scored a bestseller in 2004.
For which outlets are you currently writing?
I write features and reviews for every issue of Metal Hammer, Total Guitar, Rhythm, DVD Review, Bass Guitar and Record Collector, and less frequently for Classic Rock, Acoustic and Rolling Stone’s Australian issue. I also do the odd online thing for The Quietus and the NME. Magazine journalism takes up about 40% of my time – the rest of it is devoted to writing one or two books a year, compiling albums for record companies, appearing on the radio, etc.
Take us through your typical day.
I wake up between 6 and 7am depending on when my 2-year-old son decides that it’s time for everyone to stop sleeping. Give him milk. Make cup of tea for my wife. Do a quick email check. Shower. Take 5-year-old daughter to school. I’m at my desk by 9.15am and work until about 5pm with a few short breaks. Kids’ dinner. Kids’ bathtime. Kids’ story. Kids asleep at 7.30pm... usually. Dinner and glass of wine with wife. Watch TV or movie most nights but work sometimes (depending on deadline). Bed at 11pm, earlier if the kids were awake in the wee hours the night before.
But the great thing about being self-employed is that the day works out exactly as I want it to. I usually take the equivalent of a day off a week – playing with the kids, taking mornings and afternoons off, lazing around the garden, gazing vacantly out of the window. You know the drill… just sticking two fingers up (one finger if you’re American) at the concept of work.
Why did you decide on Slayer for your latest book subject?
I’d wanted to do a Slayer book for years. Who wouldn’t? That book practically wrote itself – you know, each day I’d be thinking ‘Today I have to write down what I think about Hell Awaits. Let me at it!’ It also happens to be a good time to do a Slayer biog, as they approach the last few years of their career.
I’d like to mention that DX Ferris’ recent 33 1/3 book devoted to Reign In Blood is excellent. He was kind enough to send me a copy, and I hope it does really well for him. The market can sustain both our books on Slayer as they’re quite different – his is a close analysis of one particular album, mine is a full career biography.
What has been the feedback so far from fans and those close to the band?
I’ve had about 200 emails from readers so far, about 90% of which have been positive. The other 10% make great reading – ranging from the basic “F- you, Limey a-hole!” to detailed messages about how wrong I am on various points. One guy made me laugh when he wrote ‘I’m so glad someone has written a book about Slayer at last. I’m just sorry it had to be you!’ I think a few people were annoyed by my opinions about some of Slayer’s songs, and good luck to them. I welcome all feedback, good and bad. As for the band’s associates, feedback has been unanimously positive. I gave Kerry King a copy when I interviewed him recently and he rather liked it.
Was there any trepidation from interview subjects since the book wasn’t authorized?
No trepidation, but one or two refusals from people who didn’t want to talk if it wasn’t the official book. That’s cool, I understand their reasoning, although ‘unauthorized’ doesn’t mean’ bad’, just as ‘authorized’ doesn’t mean ‘good’. If anything, unofficial books have a critical perspective that official ones lack, because you can’t write ‘This album is terrible!’ when the band is authorizing it.
You wrote a Metallica book in 2004. What do you think of Death Magnetic and the state of the band in 2008?
Funnily enough it’s September 12 as I write this, and a copy of Death Magnetic arrived today. I was present at a listening party back in June and have written thousands of words on the album since then, both in reviews and as a guest at Metallica forums. The short answer to your question is that it’s a good album, but not a great one, and far better than anyone could reasonably have expected. Metallica have clearly been rejuvenated in recent years and I’m pleased to see it.
The book you mention, Justice For All: The Truth About Metallica, has sold over 30,000 copies in nine languages, and without it I’d still be slaving away as a magazine editor. I had a moment of pride the other day when I interviewed Lars Ulrich and he said, ‘Are you the guy who wrote that book? I get asked to sign copies of it all over the world!’
What other books do you have in the pipeline?
Several. The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists is coming out in October. An as-yet-untitled Tool biography is coming out in April 2009, and shortly after that two other biographies of heavy metal icons which I won’t reveal yet because someone is bound to steal the ideas. I’m also working with Glenn Hughes on his autobiography – when that’s finished, it’s going to be an incredible read. Glenn really should not be alive after the life he’s had.
How do you deal with negative feedback from bands or readers about something you’ve written?
If someone says, ‘I think you’re a wanker’, you yawn and forget it. If someone says, ‘I think you’ve made a serious error of judgment’, then that’s more important. You listen to their argument, thank them for their time and give it some thought. Either they’re wrong, in which case you ignore it, or they’re right, in which case you take their criticism on board. You know, all you can do is your best. If your best isn’t good enough, just try harder next time.
