On Saturday, March 8, rock music aficionados and Hayward residents alike gathered at the Hayward Public Library for a talk from acclaimed music journalist and author Joel Selvin. The event, titled “Rocking With Joel! An Afternoon with Music Journalist Joel Selvin,” featured a dynamic talk and Q&A with Selvin, where he recounted the stories and adventures of his career, followed by a book signing with local bookstore Books and B.
Selvin, a San Francisco-based music critic and author, is best known for his weekly column in the San Francisco Chronicle, where he covered rock and roll for more than three decades. He’s also the author of more than 20 books about music history and rock and roll, and has been published in Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times and Billboard.
In his talk, Selvin chronicled the highs and lows of his career, from encountering music promoter Bill Graham’s infamous temper to his experiences in Hollywood while writing his book Hollywood Eden.
The audience laughed and gasped alongside Selvin as he narrated iconic moments in rock history—from his experience with the 1967 “Summer of Love” as a high schooler to covering the infamous Altamont Free Concert for his book Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock’s Darkest Day.
For many attendees, Selvin’s talk was a trip down memory lane, as Selvin took them back to the music scene of the ‘70s with his energetic stories. “I grew up in the East Bay and Joel Selvin was the leading columnist at the time, and I would read his column religiously every week,” said attendee Bill Cunningham. “[The talk] was really a reflection of the times that I grew up in, and the memories of all the concerts that I went to.”
The talk and Q&A session were followed by a book signing with local bookstore Books on B, featuring some of Selvin’s best-selling books, including Sly & The Family Stone and his newest book, Arhoolie Records Down Home Music. Attendees gathered around while Selvin signed his books, chatting with Selvin as they reflected back on their own experiences with the rock-and-roll scene.
For Selvin, who is now a full-time author and freelance journalist, the event was a way to pay homage to his East Bay roots and his love for local libraries while connecting with his audience.
“I think that when you connect with people on a personal level, it really broadens their understanding of your work,” said Selvin. “It’s always very good to connect with your public and [it’s] very reassuring that people are aware of my work and find some merit in it. [It] means that what I do means something to people.”
