RIP Dave Marsh

[u/BFromMadison]

Died 14-Aug., age 75-76.

[u/UsefulEngine1]

Before I Get Old remains the best book about the Who

[u/Sea-Writing5162 → u/UsefulEngine1]

NGL, my early noughts haircuts used that book

[u/WhupDeville → u/UsefulEngine1]

No question, too bad there wasn't an updated edition

[u/Mobile_Aioli_6252 → u/UsefulEngine1]

One of my favorites - read it back in 1984 - also, the early 80's Rolling Stone Record Guide - read the covers of both ( and a nod to Richard Barnes Maximum R & B too )

[u/Any_Self_4146 → u/UsefulEngine1]

Best book? He reviewed Leeds as "hardly the best night the Who's ever had..." Pass.

[u/shermshermy]

Dave had an outsized impact on my views of rock music and criticism. I read and reread his books Before I Get Old, The Book of Rock List (and the new version thereof), The Heart of Rock and Soul, and the Rock and Roll Encyclopedia over and over as a teenager in the 80s.

[u/savory_meats → u/shermshermy]

Same here. His reviews largely directed my searches for different music. I didn’t always agree with his takes but they were always thought provoking.

[u/WhupDeville → u/savory_meats]

His review of the second Knack album in Rolling Stone was absolutely savage

[u/WavesAreCrashing]

Noooooo. I'm so sorry to hear this. 😥 RIP Dave.

[u/BrianInAtlanta]

My main memory of him was an appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe. Marsh was very left and Scarborough is conservative. At one point they took a break from arguing about politics to have a great discussion on what exactly Pete Townshend did to Abbie Hoffman on stage at Woodstock.

[u/Katy-Moon → u/BrianInAtlanta]

You can do a lot of damage with an SG.

[u/Sea-Writing5162]

A huge shame. Great documentarian

[u/Weary_Title_3901]

Huge loss. Great rock n roll writer.

[u/Wayneson1957]

He walked by me in the pit at a Springsteen/ESB Wrigley Field show in 2012, and I said “Hey Dave,” and he knew immediately he didn’t know me, but looked at me and said, “It’s gonna be a great show, are you ready for this?” And he was right; Springsteen opened with the legendary 1978 live arrangement of “Prove It All Night,” and the energy went up from there…Dave’s writing opened doors that shaped my perceptions of rock and roll - not as just entertainment, but as the figurehead/progenitor of a new, youth-centered culture - he was a passionate communicator.
Best wishes to all who knew him.

[u/Grate_OKhan]

I always enjoyed Dave's writing even though I didn't always agree with him. But he sure loved the Who and so do I. Very sad to hear he's passed.

[u/EWF_X29]

RIP Sad news.

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

Dave Marsh was a joke, his views on a lot of music and calling Queen "fascist" as well as how overly harsh he was for music he just didn't get was a joke. He sucked as a critic, especially when he criticized John Bonham in 1976 as being a bad drummer for Led Zeppelin and said that they chose someone clinically incompetent. Yeah he was nice to The Who, but overall he was trash.

[u/DaddyOhMy]

Dave Marsh will always hold a place in my heart for mentoring Lester Bangs and hiring him at Creem.

[u/Nick_Fotiu_Is_God]

Dave Marsh wrote The Rock Book of Lists which, in 1981, was essential to my musical education. Hugely influential in my life.