Ted Prezelski
Ted Prezelski is a native Tucsonan whose roots here stretch back to
the 18th century. He first became a supporter of local music after
seeing the Lonely Trojans play the Student Union Cellar in 1988. He has
been a political activist and writes at his political blog, www.rumromanismrebellion.net;
it was recently named by The Washington Post‘s Chris Cillizza as
one of the nation’s best.
What was the firstconcert you ever saw?
It was either Arlo Guthrie at the Temple of Music and Art, or Huey
Lewis and the News at McKale Center.
What CDs are in your changer right now?
Rich Hopkins and Billy Sedlmayr, The Fifty Percenter; Wanda
Jackson, Queen of Rockabilly; The Fall, This Nation’s Saving
Grace; Various Artists, Pachuco Boogie; Chingon, Mexican
Spaghetti Western.
How many total albums do you own(CDs, vinyl, cassettes,
8-tracks)?
To paraphrase Phil Gramm, I have more than I need, but not as many
as I want.
Do you download musicand if so, legally or illegally?
I missed out on the Napster craze a few years ago; I could never get
it to work right. I pull things down from iTunes once in a while.
What was the first album you owned?
A Johnny Paycheck album; I don’t know the name.
What song would you liketo have played at your funeral?
“Streets of Laredo.”
Musically speaking, what do you love that your friends don’t know
about?What’s your favorite guilty pleasure?
No guilty pleasures. I only listen to high-minded music like
Béla Bartók and Ornette Coleman. Those Asia albums were
left in the house by the previous owner.
What band or artistchanged your life, and how?
(Several) people made me really want to pick up an instrument and
play the darned thing: Link Wray, Lalo Guerrero and Al Perry.
Figurative gun to your head, whatis your favorite album of all
time?
King Crimson, Starless and Bible Black.
This article appears in Apr 23-29, 2009.