Nik Cohn
Encyclopedia
Nik Cohn is a British
rock journalist, born in London in 1946. He was brought up in Derry, in the North of Ireland, the son of historian Norman Cohn
and Russian writer Vera Broido
. An incomer to the tight knit Irish town, he spent most of his time at the local record shop and the walk there, from his home on campus at Magee University, inspired one of his earliest stories, 'Delinquent in Derry'. He left the city to attend school in Newcastle in England.
He is considered by few critics to be a father of rock
criticism, thanks to his time on The Observer's early rock column entitled The Brief and his first major book Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom, written at the age of 22 in the late 60s. Cohn has since published articles, novels and music books regularly.
When reviewing a rough mix of The Who
's rock opera Tommy
, he told the group members that the album was less than spectacular. Knowing that Cohn was a fan of pinball
, Pete Townshend
suggested that the album's deaf, dumb, and blind title character could also be an exceptional pinball player. Cohn's opinion of the album immediately improved, and Townshend subsequently wrote "Pinball Wizard
" to be added to the album.
During one stay in America in the late 80s, he shared a flat with wrestler Chris Candido
. Certain aspects of Cohn's personality were taken on by Candido in his "No Gimmicks Required" personae in ECW
.
He wrote the 1975 New York Magazine article "Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night
", which was the source material for the movie Saturday Night Fever
. In 1996, Cohn revealed the article to have been a complete fabrication, based only on clubgoers he knew from his native England. In the early 80s, he was indicted on drug trafficking charges for importing $4 million-worth of Indian heroin. In exchange for testimony he was given five years probation and was fined $5,000.
Cohn was columnist for The Guardian
in the mid to late 90s as he researched his book on the underbelly of England 'Yes We Have No': Adventures in other England. He is also a regular contributor to Granta
.
Beat Instrumental 1972: My Book is Rubbish but it's The Best *http://www.crawdaddy.com/index.php/2008/10/29/nik-cohn-my-book-is-rubbish-but-it-s-the-best/
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock journalist, born in London in 1946. He was brought up in Derry, in the North of Ireland, the son of historian Norman Cohn
Norman Cohn
Norman Rufus Colin Cohn FBA was a British academic, historian and writer who spent fourteen years as a professorial fellow and as Astor-Wolfson Professor at the University of Sussex.-Life:...
and Russian writer Vera Broido
Vera Broido
Vera Broido was a Russian born writer and a chronicler of the Russian Revolution as one who grew up through it and lost her mother to its aftermath.- Life :...
. An incomer to the tight knit Irish town, he spent most of his time at the local record shop and the walk there, from his home on campus at Magee University, inspired one of his earliest stories, 'Delinquent in Derry'. He left the city to attend school in Newcastle in England.
He is considered by few critics to be a father of rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
criticism, thanks to his time on The Observer's early rock column entitled The Brief and his first major book Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom, written at the age of 22 in the late 60s. Cohn has since published articles, novels and music books regularly.
When reviewing a rough mix of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's rock opera Tommy
Tommy (rock opera)
Tommy is the fourth album by English rock band The Who, released by Track Records and Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and Decca Records/MCA in the United States. A double album telling a loose story about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy" who becomes the leader of a messianic movement, Tommy was...
, he told the group members that the album was less than spectacular. Knowing that Cohn was a fan of pinball
Pinball
Pinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
, Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
suggested that the album's deaf, dumb, and blind title character could also be an exceptional pinball player. Cohn's opinion of the album immediately improved, and Townshend subsequently wrote "Pinball Wizard
Pinball Wizard
"Pinball Wizard" is a song written by Pete Townshend and performed by the English rock band The Who, and featured on their 1969 rock opera album Tommy. The original recording was released as a single in 1969 and reached No. 4 in the UK charts and No. 19 on the U.S...
" to be added to the album.
During one stay in America in the late 80s, he shared a flat with wrestler Chris Candido
Chris Candido
Christopher Raul Candito was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido...
. Certain aspects of Cohn's personality were taken on by Candido in his "No Gimmicks Required" personae in ECW
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
.
He wrote the 1975 New York Magazine article "Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night
Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night
"Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night" was the title of a 1976 New York Magazine article by British rock journalist Nik Cohn. It was the basis for the plot and characters in the movie Saturday Night Fever....
", which was the source material for the movie Saturday Night Fever
Saturday Night Fever
Saturday Night Fever is a 1977 drama film directed by John Badham and starring: John Travolta as Tony Manero, an immature young man whose weekends are spent visiting a local Brooklyn discothèque; Karen Lynn Gorney as his dance partner and eventual friend; and Donna Pescow as Tony's former dance...
. In 1996, Cohn revealed the article to have been a complete fabrication, based only on clubgoers he knew from his native England. In the early 80s, he was indicted on drug trafficking charges for importing $4 million-worth of Indian heroin. In exchange for testimony he was given five years probation and was fined $5,000.
Cohn was columnist for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
in the mid to late 90s as he researched his book on the underbelly of England 'Yes We Have No': Adventures in other England. He is also a regular contributor to Granta
Granta
Granta is a literary magazine and publisher in the United Kingdom whose mission centers on its "belief in the power and urgency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story’s supreme ability to describe, illuminate and make real." In 2007, The Observer stated, "In its blend of...
.
External links
Beat Instrumental 1972: My Book is Rubbish but it's The Best *http://www.crawdaddy.com/index.php/2008/10/29/nik-cohn-my-book-is-rubbish-but-it-s-the-best/