{"id":3992,"date":"2022-01-10T22:17:49","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T06:17:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8000\/?page_id=3992"},"modified":"2025-06-19T22:10:30","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T05:10:30","slug":"jim-carrolls-interviews","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/research\/jim-carrolls-interviews\/","title":{"rendered":"Jim Carroll’s Interviews"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

These, arranged in reverse chronological order, represent just a few of Carroll’s interviews. I continue to add more as I have time; most of the newest additions are PDFs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Margo Tiffen<\/a>, A Previously Unpublished Jim Carroll Interview Surfaces.” Poetry Foundation 17 May 2017.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

M. Patricia Li, “Basketball Diaries<\/em> Author Bounces Back.” Harvard Crimson <\/em>11 Feb. 2005.<\/strong>
This feature article in advance of an appearance by Carroll at the Middle East Club in Cambridge, MA, includes a phone interview in which Carroll offers some details about his novel, The Petting Zoo<\/em>. Download PDF<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Billy Manes<\/a>, “Beyond Basketball and Diaries.” MetroTimes<\/em> 6 Nov. 2002.<\/strong>
Carroll talks about his novel-in-progress The Petting Zoo<\/em> and moving beyond autobiography.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curtis Ross<\/a>, “‘Diaries’ Author’s Life an Open Book.” Tampa Bay Tribune <\/em>1 Nov. 2002.<\/strong>
<\/em>Carroll talks about his Vietnam draft physical, music, and why it is he can write about himself so openly. Some other people are also interviewed about how Carroll has impacted them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason Louv<\/a>, “Void of Course: An Interview with Jim Carroll.” Dangerous Minds<\/em> 14 September 2009.<\/strong>
The interviewer explains, “In honor of the passing of Mr. Jim Carroll, I found an interview with him that I did one month after 9\/11, in Saratoga, CA, at a reading from Void of Course. In it, he discusses the effect of the WTC bombing on life and art. Originally published October 24, 2001.” Download PDF<\/a> | Original Article<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louise Thach<\/a>, “The Basketball Diarist: Jim Carroll Speaks Out.” Hudson Current<\/em> 8 March 2001).
<\/strong>This interview previews an performance in Hoboken. Carroll talks about Maxwell’s (the venue) and the nature of spoken-word performance, the Basketball Diaries film, and his changing audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suzan Alteri <\/a>. “Unspoken Genius.” Real Detroit Weekly<\/em> 13-19 Jan. 2000.
<\/strong>In this lengthy cover-story interview, Carroll touches upon many of his familiar themes, also answering a very unique question at the end: “If there was fire and you only had time to grab three things, what would they be?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having Words With . . . Jim Carroll<\/a>. Detroit.CitySearch.com<\/em> (2000).
<\/strong>Carroll covers the usual terrain, from rock ‘n’ roll to the in-progress novels. One unique question he addresses is, “do you consider yourself a surrealist?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nate Schweber<\/a>. “Poets, Punks, and Scenes: An Interview with Jim Carroll.” Kaimin Online<\/em> 5 Nov. 1999.
<\/strong>This is an amazingly well-done interview that takes the old chestnut questions and turns them around to make them fresh. Carroll talks about how he got into writing (“I think if it wasn’t for writing I probably would’ve wound up dead or totally lost like a lot of friends of mine were”), Columbine, Keith Richards, and counterculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curtis Waterbury<\/a>. “Interview: Jim Carroll.” PortlandCitySearch.com<\/em> 1 Oct. 1999.
<\/em><\/strong>Carroll talks about his return to the rock arena, his poetry, and a Hollywood lawsuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher<\/a>. 8 June 1999.
<\/strong>Complete transcript of Carroll’s appearance on Politically Incorrec<\/em>t. The main topic was Columbine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frank DiCostanzo & Michael Workman<\/a>, “Jim Carroll: Caught in a Trap.” Lumpen Times<\/em> 8 May 1999.
<\/strong>In this interview following a reading at Chicago’s Hothouse, Carroll talks about the historical relationship between poetry\/spoken-word and music, the nuances of digital recording, why many of the works in Void of Course are titled “Poem,” and his thoughts on death. The article begins with a nice review of Carroll’s performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marlene Goldman<\/a>, “Mercury Rising: Jim Carroll Can’t Escape Rock &
<\/strong>Roll.” Rolling Stone <\/em>(1999).
Carroll discusses Pools of Mercury<\/em> and his return to rock ‘n’ roll, the deaths of Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs, Mayor Giuliani’s cleaned-up NYC, and Kurt Cobain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Colin Devenish<\/a>. “Poet Jim Carroll Waxes Lyrical On Return To Rock.” SonicNet Music News of the World<\/em> 24 November 1998. <\/strong>
Carroll, Lenny Kaye, and Anton Sanko talk about Pools of Mercury<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Quote (Unquote): Jim Carroll<\/a>.” SonicNet Music News of the World<\/em> 24 Nov. 1998.
<\/strong>Carroll talks about college basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robert Roth<\/a>. “Fast Stories From Jim Carroll.” The Rocke<\/em>t 4 Nov. 1998.<\/strong>
Carroll talks with Truly’s Robert Roth about train surfing, his Basketball Diaries<\/em> and people who died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steven Baltin<\/a>, “Jim Carroll Moves Between Two Worlds.” CDNOW.com<\/em> (1998).
<\/strong>Carroll talks about the motivations behind Pools of Mercury<\/em> and his experiences as a rock performer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jackie McCarthy<\/a>, “Alter Boy: Jim Carroll Rising.” Seattle Weekly<\/em> (1998).
<\/strong>Carroll talks about his Seattle connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lisa Scott<\/a>, “Catholic Boy Jim Carroll Returns to Rock.” Exclusive to The Jim Carroll Website (1998).
<\/strong>In this insightful interview Carroll talks about how Pools of Mercury<\/em> evolved from pure spoken-word to a rock ‘n’ roll album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason Knowles<\/a>, Interview with Jim Carroll for BG 24 News<\/em> (1996).
<\/strong>Jason Knowles interviewed Carroll at Bowling Green State University shortly before Carroll’s reading. Carroll talks about his new novels, how he wrote “8 Fragments for Kurt Cobain,” rock ‘n’ roll, addiction, etc. The interview is transcribed, unedited, from videotape. This web site is the only place the interview is published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christina Schmitt<\/a>, Interview. Minnesota Daily Onlin<\/em>e (1996).<\/strong>
An excellent interview with Carroll–one of the best I have ever read. Check it out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Douglas A. Martin interviews Carroll for Flagpole<\/em> (1996).<\/strong>
<\/em>Jim Carroll: Past & Present Poetry<\/a>: April 10, 1996.
Jim Carroll: Poet with a Past<\/a>: April 17, 1996.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cindy McGlynn<\/a>,”Apollo on the Hudson.” Eye Weekly (1996).<\/strong>
Cindy McGlynn, of Canada’s Eye Weekly<\/em>, assesses Carroll’s career. Includes an interview. Download PDF<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Gladysz<\/a>, “Jim Carroll: Verbal Entries.” Booksmith Reade<\/em>r (1995).
<\/strong>This is an outstanding interview with Carroll by Thomas Gladysz in The Booksmith Reader <\/em>(on-line zine, 1995). Parts of the interview originally appeared in The Street<\/em> (San Francisco, 1987). The full text of the interview was published in X-Ray<\/em> (San Francisco, 1995).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neil Gladstone<\/a>, “20 Questions: Jim Carroll,” Philadelphia CityPaper.net<\/em> 20 July 1995.
<\/strong>Another good interview. Carroll discusses inspiration, his novels, the Basketball Diaries film, young poets he admires, Patti Smith, and how he feels about his book, The Basketball Diaries, now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jon Stewart<\/a>. “The Street Side of the Game.” Interview<\/em> April 1995.
<\/strong>Carroll talks about “talks about bouncing between the literary, jock, rock, and drug cultures” in the context of the Basketball Diaries film. This is close to a classic interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew O’Hehir<\/a>, “A Poet Half-Devoured.” San Francisco Bay Guardia<\/em>n (1995).
<\/strong>This is one of the most insightful articles on Carroll I have ever read. O’Hehir focuses on The Basketball Diaries<\/em>, trashes Kalvert’s film, comments on Carroll’s poetry, and includes interview comments from Carroll. A terrific article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris O’Connor,<\/a>“Heaven in a Wild Flower.”Eye Weekly<\/em> (1992).
<\/strong>An insightful article that includes an interview with Carroll. Horrifyingly enough (to me), Carroll talks about me! The article is also available as a PDF<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frank Andrick<\/a>, “An Interview with Jim Carroll.” Back Beat<\/em> (1991).<\/strong>
An interesting interview (apparently a telephone interview) conducted shortly after the release of Praying Mantis. Carroll discusses how he came to record the album; his new novels; the relationship between poetry, rock, and spoken word; Frank O’Hara; how and why he published The Basketball Diaries; the St. Mark’s Poetry Project; Patti Smith; and the National Endowment for the Arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karla Peterson<\/a>, “Jim Carroll: From Poet to Rocker–and Back.” San Diego Union <\/em>(1989).
<\/strong>A preview article for one of Carroll’s appearances at the Spirit club in San Diego. Includes telephone interview comments by Carroll; this is the earliest article I have in which he mentions that he is writing a novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karl Irving<\/a>, “Nods of Days Gone By.” UC Santa Barbara Daily Nexus <\/em>(1986).
<\/strong>This is an all-time classic Jim Carroll interview, especially when Irving gets him talking about his visit to Germany with William S. Burroughs. See also Irving’s accompanying feature article, “Visions from a Razor’s Edge<\/a>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Jim Carroll Radio Special<\/a>. Transcript. Atlantic Records (1984).
<\/strong>Transcript of a 45-minute special featuring a fascinating interview with Carroll and selections from I Write Your Name<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peter L. Noble<\/a>, Future Pop: Music for the Eighties<\/em> (1983).<\/strong>
Carroll talks about John Belushi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elliot Lefko. “Carrolling On.” Shades<\/em> 25, 26 (Sept., Nov. 1982).<\/strong>
The article, which features another photo by Peter Noble (see Future Pop above), describes the Jim Carroll Band’s third appearance in Toronto as an anonymous opening act for the J. Geils Band. Carroll talks about John Belushi, The Book of Nods<\/em> (he goes into some detail about “Just Visiting,” then in progress), touring, punk rock, and going after a kid in “designer punk” who was wearing a swastika. Download PDF<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clarice Rivers<\/a>, “The Catholic Boy Confesses.” Interview <\/em>(1980).<\/strong>
In this interview, conducted by Larry Rivers’s wife Clarice (a good friend of Carroll’s), Carroll talks about his time in Bolinas, the origins of The Jim Carroll Band and his entry into rock, and the then in-progress Forced Entries<\/em> and Book of Nods<\/em>. Also available as a PDF<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Interviews LOST on the Web<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These are interviews from 1995-1996, when I was only linking to articles on the web to preserve copyright integrity — that is, before I got smart and started “reprinting” articles and maintaining them here. All of the links are dead. If you are able to track any of them down to current locations, please e-mail me<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sonicnet, Biography and Chat Transcript (November 1995).<\/strong>
http:\/\/www.sonicnet.com\/sonicore\/chat\/bios\/biobobs1.html<\/a>
A five-page biographical essay on Carroll (written by someone at Rhino records to promote A World Without Gravity<\/em>) plus a link to the transcripts of Carroll’s chat session on “Bob’s Conscious Party” on Sonicnet 11\/15\/95.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NOTE: I’ve recovered all but one!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Interview page and all interview articles transferred to WP, links updated, HTML cleaned up. Completed 3\/5\/2025<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These, arranged in reverse chronological order, represent just a few of Carroll’s interviews. I continue to add more as I have time; most of the newest additions are PDFs. Margo Tiffen, A Previously Unpublished Jim Carroll Interview Surfaces.” Poetry Foundation 17 May 2017. M. Patricia Li, “Basketball Diaries Author Bounces Back.” Harvard Crimson 11 Feb. … Continue reading Jim Carroll’s Interviews<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":15,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"folder":[17],"class_list":["post-3992","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P9VlUH-12o","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4163,"url":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/research\/feature-articles\/","url_meta":{"origin":3992,"position":0},"title":"Feature Articles","author":"catholicboy.com","date":"January 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Feature articles are general interest articles about Jim Carroll. Some of them include interviews and reviews and, as such, are also included in the Interviews and other areas within the Research Library of the site. These articles are arranged in chronological order. Ted Berrigan, \"Jim Carroll.\" Culture Hero 1.5 (1969).Poet\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15,"url":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/research\/","url_meta":{"origin":3992,"position":1},"title":"Research Library","author":"Cassie Carter","date":"May 14, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"This page links you to a variety of sources related to Jim Carroll and his works, including bibliographies (lists of sources), full-text articles and interviews, and Websites beyond CatholicBoy.com. Follow the links below to explore the areas you're interested in. Cassie's Research This is a new area of the website\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3986,"url":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/photos-video-audio\/jim-carroll-multimedia\/","url_meta":{"origin":3992,"position":2},"title":"Jim Carroll Multimedia","author":"Cassie Carter","date":"January 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Home > Mulimedia Jim Carroll Multimedia Updated 9 April 2010 Jim Carroll's published ouvre includes literary works, recordings, and films. In the index below, the main headings link to broad overviews for individual categories, while the subcategory headings link to more detailed subcategory overviews (where you can also order items\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4246,"url":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/questions-and-answers\/faqs\/frequently-asked-questions\/","url_meta":{"origin":3992,"position":3},"title":"Frequently Asked Questions","author":"catholicboy.com","date":"January 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Home > Books > Translations & Foreign Editions Frequently Asked Questions Updated 7 October 2009 Since this site launched in 1996, I have received a steady stream of email from fans and others interested in Jim Carroll. Below is an index of the most frequently asked questions, categorized by topic.\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3998,"url":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/research\/jim-carroll-bibliographies\/jim-carroll-a-secondary-bibliography-1969-1996\/","url_meta":{"origin":3992,"position":4},"title":"Jim Carroll: A Secondary Bibliography, 1969-1996","author":"Cassie Carter","date":"January 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Home > Research > Bibliographies > Jim Carroll: A Secondary Bibliography, 1969-1996 Jim Carroll: A Secondary Bibliography, 1969-1996 By Cassie Carter Updated 7 June 1997 My original, annotated bibliography appeared in Bulletin of Bibliography 47.2 (1990). I occasionally update the secondary works section (works ABOUT Jim Carroll) via this page,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8774,"url":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/questions-and-answers\/about-the-jim-carroll-website\/why-a-jim-carroll-website\/","url_meta":{"origin":3992,"position":5},"title":"Why a Jim Carroll Website?","author":"Cassie Carter","date":"March 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By\u00a0Cassie Carter I have been developing this Jim Carroll site since 1995, and it has occurred to me that some might wonder\u00a0why\u00a0I'm doing it. Here's a brief rationale. Jim Carroll is a significant American artist. He's not prolific, but his talent with words is phenomenal, his ability to capture the\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3992","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3992"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3992\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10529,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3992\/revisions\/10529"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catholicboy.com\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=3992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}