
Rob Janicke

MEDIA
Places other than my website or social media accounts where you can read or listen to me discussing music and/or SLACKER via podcasts or written interviews.
Oh the Places We've Been...
Like Rob, I am of the generation he writes about, and I found Slacker to be a great read. It's not only a great read about an era in American culture that has no shortage of interpretation, but the book also helped me understand the man I shared a mic with for about a year.
It’s Rob’s personal stories woven throughout the book that give Slacker a unique intimacy. (Keith R. Higgons)
Rob Janicke is the author of Slacker: 1991, Teen Spirit Angst, and the Generation It Created. Rob explores the role of music and culture, from the early 90s alternative and grunge movement, and the impact it had on the generations that followed. Comprised of history, research, and interviews with musicians, industry execs, writers, sociologists, therapists, and Rob's point of view as a writer, indie-record label owner, and fan, this is an intriguing look back at an amazing year and time in rock history. (Eric Senich)
1991 wasn’t just another year—it was a musical and cultural earthquake. Grunge went from the underground to the mainstream, changing rock music and an entire generation’s outlook along the way. Staci’s guest, Rob Janicke, has written a book, Slacker: 1991, Teen Spirit Angst, and the Generation It Created, which explores the movement’s impact, the key players, and why the world embraced it so fiercely. Rob is also the founder of Generation Riff. On this episode he talks about the continuing relevance of bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains, to name a few. He also discusses the narrowing gap between Gen X and Gen Z rock music fans and how that keeps this vintage music vital in our lives. (Staci Layne Wilson)
Slacker isn't a puff piece for GenXers looking to relieve their youth; there’s no garden hose memes, or rants about “kids these days.” Rather, it's for anyone looking to read more about why that very specific time had such an outsized impact on our lives and pop culture. It was an era that changed the world, one life at a time.
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If you're of a certain age, it will absolutely resonate with you. You’ll likely see your own life reflected back at you the way I did.
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It would’ve been easy enough for him to write a fairly straightforward look back at that early 90s scene. People love that sort of thing, right? Maybe even punch it up by making it into an oral history full of stories from those lucky enough to have been there. Instead, Rob weaves together that history with that of his own life. Ultimately, that blend makes for a much richer, more interesting story.
Rob Janicke first got on my radar at The Riff, a popular Medium Publication where writers gush about our love of music. I have followed Rob’s journey on publishing his book and while it may seem like things are moving fast, he has been working on it for years!
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The past few years, Rob has been ramping up the promotion of his book by recruiting a street team, writing blog posts about his book progress and process, guest appearing on podcasts and live video shows, hosting music parties, and more. I love seeing his hard work pay off. It shows us indie authors how much passion, time, and effort goes into our craft.
The last genre that truly changed everything? Author Rob Janicke’s book Slacker tells how grunge didn’t just change music—It changed people.
First-time author Rob Janicke tells the story of the early ’90s Seattle-centred grunge music movement through his own personal experience of having been there.... His story is written with so much enthusiasm that it’s an infectious read...It’s well worth reading for both those who remember the Seattle musical explosion and also those who missed out on it the first time around.
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