John Ruskin from Canada, better known as Nardwuar, is the essential music journalist of our time. This strangely dressed gentleman comes off a little strong, but it’s hard not to love the guy. In addition to interviewing celebrities, he also runs a radio show. After all these years, he’s still passionate about music and the people who make it.
With an unusual style of interview and eerily in-depth research, Nardwuar is known to shock his interview subjects. Usually, creative-minded people in the industry are cautious of the media. Nardwuar is one of these rare media personalities who have the respect and admiration of the people he talks to. While people are mostly in awe of Nardwuar and the memory he brings, some express disdain for the misunderstood genius.
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All About The Canadian Interviewer Nardwuar
Nardwuar, or Nardwuar, the Human Serviette, was born John Ruskin in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As a student, he used to book bands for school events. His first interview was with Art Bergmann of Poisoned. When he got accepted into British Columbia college, he changed his name to Nardwuar.
For his journalist persona, he took the name Nardwuar. When questioned about the origin of his name, Nardwuar has said it was a foolish name, “like Sting or Sinbad“; that “Human” came from the song ‘Human Fly‘ by the Cramps; and that “Serviette” came from the fact that “in the U.S.A. they don’t have serviettes, they have napkins.”
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What Makes Nardwuar A Great Interviewer?
The best thing about Nardwuar is his unpredictability. He asks none of the generic journalistic questions. He’s known for being well-researched, finding out the most obscure information about people he wants to interview. He has interviewed from politicians to musicians, eliciting some of the most amusing responses recorded on camera.
Nardwuar possesses an incredible arsenal of musical knowledge. To keep things light and entertaining, He signs off every interview with “keep on rocking in the free world, and doot doola doot doo…” to which the artist is meant to reply, “doot doo.” That’s something that doesn’t always yield any return. Some do, finally acknowledging the interview has been a pleasant experience.
As sweet as Nardwuar is, the consensus around him isn’t always positive. Called eccentric by some, his in-the-face interviewing technique has appalled some. Despite best intentions and carrying presents for his interview subjects, he has been attacked or left mid-interview by the likes of Skid Row, Alice Cooper, Henry Rollins, Travis Barker, Lydia Lunch, Harlan Ellison, Beck, and Nas.
But like a good soldier, Nardwuar has kept his conversation passion alive. Despite the pushback, the interviewer has kept on rocking in the free world. To quote the master himself, “doot doola doot doo.”
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