From The Desk Of Bob Mould: Tom Snyder

Bob Mould is a man always on the lookout for a new challenge. After Hüsker Dü (one of the most celebrated rock bands ever) folded in 1988, Mould would helm another powerful trio, Sugar, before beginning a fascinating, ongoing series of solo releases that have ranged from introspective to danceable, from melodic to nearly chaotic. The enigmatic guitar (and cultural) hero is finishing up what promises to be a fascinating memoir to be published next year and has just released a rock-solid solo disc, Life And Times. Read our new Q&A with him and earlier ones from 2008 and 2002. Mould will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all this week.

Mould: Tom Snyder was one of the more interesting television personalities of the 1970s and early 1980s. First, he had a candid style of interview, setting himself apart from the other talk shows, which often seemed a blatant promotional vehicle for the talent. Snyder also had a penchant for smoking cigarettes onscreen. What I remember most was the number of musical acts who panelled or performed on Tomorrow. Either he was an astute fan of trend-setting music or he had a great talent booker. Here are five of the greatest moments, in no particular order:

• A very telling episode with Kiss. A clearly bitter Gene Simmons likely fired the jovial Ace Frehley after this show.
• John Lennon, trying hard to explain the unexplainable.
• A brilliant performance by U2, followed by a very telling interview. Bono was clearly born to be a politician, witness the sound-byte responses.
• The Clash. Poor Topper, totally lost.
• A disastrous interview with John Lydon and Keith Levene.

The long-interview format both elevated the musicians and, in some cases, gave them the opportunity to expose their shallowness. I know times have changed and attention spans are shorter, but I can’t help but wonder how some of today’s alleged musical revolutionaries would handle a long-form interview with Tom Snyder.