R. Kelly vs. DeRogatis- scapegoat for the defense?
With the occasional bits of news that get out about the trial of R. Kelly, one pertinent detail about it is how the defense is trying squeeze Chicago Sun-Times music columnist Jim DeRogatis into testifying as part of the trial. The troubling aspects of this aren’t just that this could put DeRogatis in an uncompromising position about his work and reporting (as detailed by Bill Wyman’s Huffington Post blog) but also how DeRogatis is being harassed in many ways as being involved in the whole process (as documented by the Daily Swarm), not to mention the fact that Kelly’s been openly feuding with him for a few years now. This conveniently moves attention away from Kelly and tries to corner DeRogatis as a wrong-doer (this Guardian piece has good details about how DeRogatis was originally involved in the whole case). This shouldn’t just be concern to music scribes but the journalism profession in general. How I feel about Kelly and his legal troubles is summed up pretty well by the Boondocks, one of the finest shows on the small screen today (I happen to agree with Huey’s take and know that Riley’s take is a parody of a lot of fans out there). By the way, if you’d like to send DeRogatis some words of support, you can contact him through his website.
J-
DeRogatis was my first big interview when I started my “career” in music criticism. He took the time to be interviewed by a green, half-assed writer and after that continued to keep in touch with me, handing out pearls of wisdom whenever I didn’t know how to deal with an interview subject.
He has been, in some small way, my Lester Bangs.
His books are great, his writing in general is good (although not as good as Lester’s… no offense jim)and he speaks his mind.
I support him in the r. kelly bullshit and whatever else is bound to come along.
Adios,
Danny R. Phillips
music columnist
Comment by Danny R. Phillips from Union Star, Missouri — June 17, 2008 @ 1:02 pm