Author Archives: michaelpatrickwelch

Yuck. #81: Buckwheat Zydeco: When I interviewed this legend by phone we discussed, among other topics, his great love of fishing. He even agreed to fish with me. But when I called him back months later to take him up … Continue reading →

Tony Clifton with my pet goat, Chauncey (photo by Zack Smith) A big Andy Kaufman fan, I was honored to get to spend a weekend raising hell with Tony Clifton, and writing about it for Vice. I got to say everything … Continue reading →

Todd is God In 2013, Vice paid me to attend ToddStock, a four-day celebration of wizard musician Todd Rundgren’s 65th birthday, with the man himself in attendance. Superfans paid $800 to sleep in a tent, eat twice daly from killer themed … Continue reading →

“I have the looks, the voice, and the talent to make it.” — B. Corgan (second from right) Smashing Pumpkins, in four parts… 1. My two least favorite rock stars are Lenny Kravitz (such a poser, despite his talent, and also has never … Continue reading →

The Ruler has a creamy English accent. My two small daughters mostly don’t like any music that isn’t garbage. In the car we stay in a constant tug of war between their modern pop radio station, and my old school rap … Continue reading →

We met on Bourbon Street. If I must travel from downtown New Orleans to the CBD or Uptown, I use it as an excuse to cut through the French Quarter, and I almost always take Bourbon Street. I love the barkers … Continue reading →

Look at that woman! Man. And that’s whatshisface all the way on the right. After I wrote a preview of Sade’s Soldier of Love tour for Gambit Weekly, the band’s management told me they could not comp a ticket for me … Continue reading →

Russell Simmons and Rip Van Winkle Since I met Def Jam records founder Russell Simmons in 2011, he’s faced rape accusations that look credible. It’s tough to admire him any longer. But regardless of my feelings, he remains one of America’s … Continue reading →

I‘m stretching the definition of “famous” here a lil bit. But people seem really impressed when I tell them I sometimes fish with Tulane University historical geographer, Richard Campanella, “famous” for his comprehensive books and NOLA.com articles about New Orleans. … Continue reading →

A good bloke Four quick, funny scenes: 2004 A hush would fall inside my neighborhood coffeeshop whenever the Kinks’ Ray Davies entered, but no one ever bothered him. During one of Davies’s NOLA visits, some fool snatched his girlfriend’s purse, and … Continue reading →