Music Writer and Photographer Steve Appleford

Say Hello to My Pet Clam

Steve Appleford is a writer and photographer who has covered music and pop culture for two decades for publications including the Los Angeles Times and Rolling Stone. He has covered the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival since its 1999 debut. Before participating in a discussion of why arts and music festivals matter, he talked Diane Arbus, Radiohead, and The Godfather in the Zócalo green room.

Q:

What superpower would you most like to have?


A:

Flying.


Q:

What’s hanging on your living room walls?


A:

A picture by Diane Arbus.


Q:

What’s your favorite Coachella act of all time?


A:

That’s very hard. One of them would be the first time Radiohead played.


Q:

What do you love to hate?


A:

Really exceptionally bad mainstream music.


Q:

What movie are you most likely to quote?


A:

The Godfather.


Q:

What food won’t you eat?


A:

Intestines.


Q:

What newspapers and magazines do you subscribe to?


A:

Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times, GQ, Esquire, American Photo.


Q:

What musician would you most like to interview?


A:

Bob Dylan.


Q:

Did you have any pets as a kid?


A:

I had a clam. A little freshwater clam.


Q:

What’s your least favorite thing about music festivals?


A:

I wouldn’t include Coachella in this, but some of them are not as careful about the details—making sure that people actually are comfortable and have a place to get away if you need a break. Some festivals are held on blacktop, which is not really comfortable.