MN90: Paul Nelson: Everything Is an Afterthought

Minnesotan Paul Nelson was one of the great journalists of the golden age of rock music criticism. But by his death in 2006, he had become a recluse. Britt Aamodt tells of the story of the fan who wanted to make sure Nelson’s writing was remembered.

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Producer: Britt Aamodt

Editorial support: Emily Krumberger

Mixing & mastering: Chris Harwood

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Transcript

MN90 Intro: Welcome to MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds.

April 1981, a kid named Kevin Avery sent a letter to Rolling Stone magazine. He wasn't drooling over some band or stoner guitarist. His fan letter was for one of the magazine's music critics, Paul Nelson. Born 1936 in Warren, Minnesota, Paul Nelson met Bob Dylan when they were both part of the Dinkytown music scene. Nelson later became one of the nation's preeminent music journalists. But by 2005, he had dropped off the map. That's when fan Kevin Avery wrote to Nelson, asking if maybe he'd want to put together a best-of book of his music writing. Avery never heard from Nelson, who died a year later. But the music journalist had received Avery's letter, and left behind notes for the book, with Avery's name and number on them. In 2011, thirty years after sending his fan letter to Rolling Stone, Avery published Everything Is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson.

MN90 Outro: MN90 is produced by AMPERS, Minnesota’s community radio stations, made possible by funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Online at mn90.org.