Ask: The Chatter of Pop

This title collects interviews conducted by British rock critic and journalist Morley over the past seven years for London's New Musical Express. Subjects covered include Boy George, Marilyn, Ted Nugent, Sting, Duran Duran, Alice Cooper, Phil Collins, Lou Reed, Meatloaf, Quentin Crisp, Grace Jones, Iron Maiden, Wham!, Jim Kerr, Iggy Pop and Gary Glitter, and every other page carries short interviews with Jerry Garcia, Mick Jagger, Clash, Adam Ant and others. Morley maintains that rock superstars have passed from individualism to invisibility: ""Once they threatened to flood the world with strangeness, now they just wave to the crowds.'' Often raising the ire of performers accustomed to idolatrous articles and fluff interviews, Morley instead puts his subjects through intense confrontation. (``Your music is trite and cosy.'') In addition to examining the effect of pop journalism on the public perception of pop stars, he also uses William Burroughs-like cut-up techniques in a way that adds to this book's pungent flavor. (August)