In this special episode of Rock is Lit, host Christy Alexander Hallberg hands the mic to teacher, podcaster, and DJ Andrew Smith, who interviews his friend Peter Werbe about Peter’s debut novel, ‘Summer On Fire’. Peter also reads an excerpt from the book.
Peter Werbe is a veteran of Detroit’s alternative and commercial media scene, as well as a political activist. A member of the editorial collective of ‘Fifth Estate’ magazine, his work appears in its online archive. His radio career spanned Detroit's major rock stations—WABX, WWWW, WRIF, and WCSX—where he hosted Nightcall, WRIF’s phone-in talk show and the longest-running program of its kind in U.S. radio history (1970–2016).
Peter’s novel, written during the pandemic near his 80th birthday, is a fictionalized memoir about the 1967 Detroit Rebellion and its surrounding antiwar, psychedelic rock counterculture. Set in a transformative seven weeks, ‘Summer On Fire’ explores the radical Detroit scene, featuring characters navigating protests, anarchism, fascist opposition, and rock and roll at the Grande Ballroom. Themes of ethical dilemmas echo today’s societal crises. The book also captures the spirit of cultural icons like MC5, The Stooges, Wayne Kramer, and John Sinclair.
Andrew Smith, host of Teacher On The Radio, is also a professor of English and religious studies at Tennessee Tech.
MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
Rock is Lit theme music
[Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop”
Late 60s Style Psychedelic Rock Track “Summer of Love”/License Music for Videos
MC5 “Kick Out the Jams”
Frank Zappa “Plastic People”
Big Brother and the Holding Company “Down On Me”
Bar-Kays “Soul Finger”
John Lee Hooker “The Motor City is Burning”
The Stooges “I Wanna Be Your Dog”
[Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop”
Rock is Lit theme music
LINKS:
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Peter Werbe’s website: https://www.peterwerbe.org/
Peter Werbe on Facebook: @PeterWerbe
Andrew Smith’s website: http://www.teacherontheradio.com/
Andrew Smith on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@teacherontheradio
Andrew Smith on Facebook: @AndrewWilliamSmith
Andrew Smith on Twitter: @teacheronradio
Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislit
Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg
Rock is Lit on Instagram: @rockislitpodcast
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