This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with Eric Gladstone, author of Anything But Nirvana: Other Heroes & Happenings From Rock's Last Great Era. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Gladstone talks about his former career as a music journalist, covering bands in the 90’s and writing about them on a national level; getting inside bands’ experiences and interviewing them on the road; his big story on Smashing Pumpkins; why he tried to interview bands he was genuinely interested in; why the project took six years to compile, organize and edit from his interviews from that time; how the bands interacted with each other; why some of the stories don’t have happy endings; his reasons for writing about the bands; how he looks back at these stories from today’s vantage point (slightly cynically, but positively) ; his Las Vegas story (it involves Imagine Dragons!), which capped his music journalism career; the bands from that era that still survive (and thrive) today and why he doesn’t trust computers!
Eric Gladstone has enjoyed a varied career that has given him a broad base of experience and relationships. His first phase involved music journalism, writing pivotal features on artists like the Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, and Beck. Click here to purchase your copy of Anything But Nirvana.
He departed entertainment to help open Silver Lake's Edendale Grill as principal investor, while collaborating on the branding, concept, décor, beverage lists, and marketing, his entry point into the world of F&B.
Gladstone then took his newfound interest in F&B (as well the luxury/travel category) and returned to journalism, where a content management position at AOL with the legendary Robin Leach led him to Las Vegas.
He pivoted once again to marketing, media relations, social media, branding, and consulting with the one7 agency in Las Vegas and Carns Media in New York City before creating The Feast of Friends in early 2018.
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