Bart Bull
Encyclopedia
Bart Bull is an American writer, reporter, author, columnist, and critic.
from 1992 to 2004, after a three-year engagement. During this period, he organized her departure from Mercury/London/Polygram/Phonogram records worldwide, while overseeing and re-organizing her publishing, recording, touring, and media career. This eventually lead to a notable use of the US Thirteenth Amendment (the so-called "Anti-Slavery Amendment") to secure her release from contracts, and ownership of all artistic materials, and the founding of a pioneering artist-owned multi-faceted music business operation.
Bull was the editor of Sounds
, a monthly music newspaper in mid-1970s, West Coast Editor of Spin
from 1985 to 1988, West Coast editor of Vogue
, West Coast editor and a founder of Details
. He co-founded Browbeat, first American xerox-punk fanzine, with David Wiley in early summer 1977.
He managed The Consumers (1977), an obscure but increasingly acclaimed early American punk band from Phoenix, Arizona. He has written for publications including the Washington Post, Arizona Republic, New York Times, Harper's Bazaar
, The Village Voice
, The Face, and GQ.
From the earliest days of his work, Bull chronicled subcultures, with pioneering reporting on skateboarding, cockfighting, lowriders, punk, cowboy and rodeo culture, hiphop, heavy metal and others. Throughout his reporting career, he has covered issues that would typically be considered "metro desk" stories, while presenting them in a manner more typical of magazine feature writing.
A list of the individuals Bull has profiled include: Muddy Waters; John Lee Hooker; Al Green; Buck Owens; James Stewart; Walter Matthau; Ian Dury; David Lynch; Bruce Springsteen; Bill Graham; Tracey Ullman; Tobe Hooper; Buckminster Fuller; Tom Waits; William S. Burroughs; Sun Ra; Prince; Clifton Chenier; Ofra Haza; Steve Miller; Jackson Browne; John Fogerty; Steve Martin; Elvis Costello; Richard Farnsworth; Dwight Yoakam; Joe Ely; Joan Baez; Peter Tosh; Laura Dern; Jeff Beck; Frank Zappa; Michael Jackson; Ed "Big Daddy" Roth; Allen Ginsburg; Amiri Baraka; Carlos Santana; Patti Smith. He edited and introduced Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's memoir, "All About Me," working to preserve the visionary black American musician's self-created spellings and syntax.
Background
Born in Seattle, Washington, Bull grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He dropped out of high school in order to write a novel, and then returned briefly, leaving again without graduating. He was married to singer-songwriter Michelle ShockedMichelle Shocked
Michelle Shocked is the stage name of Michelle Karen Johnston, an American singer-songwriter.-History:Shocked received her first international exposure in Europe, particularly Britain, with her debut album The Texas Campfire Tapes .Her first U.S...
from 1992 to 2004, after a three-year engagement. During this period, he organized her departure from Mercury/London/Polygram/Phonogram records worldwide, while overseeing and re-organizing her publishing, recording, touring, and media career. This eventually lead to a notable use of the US Thirteenth Amendment (the so-called "Anti-Slavery Amendment") to secure her release from contracts, and ownership of all artistic materials, and the founding of a pioneering artist-owned multi-faceted music business operation.
Bull was the editor of Sounds
Sounds (magazine)
Sounds was a long-term British music paper, published weekly from 10 October 1970 – 6 April 1991. It was produced by Spotlight Publications , which was set up by Jack Hutton and Peter Wilkinson, who left "Melody Maker" to start their own company...
, a monthly music newspaper in mid-1970s, West Coast Editor of Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
from 1985 to 1988, West Coast editor of Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, West Coast editor and a founder of Details
Details (magazine)
Details is an American monthly men's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, founded in 1982. Though primarily a magazine devoted to fashion and lifestyle, Details also features reports on relevant social and political issues.-History:...
. He co-founded Browbeat, first American xerox-punk fanzine, with David Wiley in early summer 1977.
He managed The Consumers (1977), an obscure but increasingly acclaimed early American punk band from Phoenix, Arizona. He has written for publications including the Washington Post, Arizona Republic, New York Times, Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
, The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
, The Face, and GQ.
From the earliest days of his work, Bull chronicled subcultures, with pioneering reporting on skateboarding, cockfighting, lowriders, punk, cowboy and rodeo culture, hiphop, heavy metal and others. Throughout his reporting career, he has covered issues that would typically be considered "metro desk" stories, while presenting them in a manner more typical of magazine feature writing.
A list of the individuals Bull has profiled include: Muddy Waters; John Lee Hooker; Al Green; Buck Owens; James Stewart; Walter Matthau; Ian Dury; David Lynch; Bruce Springsteen; Bill Graham; Tracey Ullman; Tobe Hooper; Buckminster Fuller; Tom Waits; William S. Burroughs; Sun Ra; Prince; Clifton Chenier; Ofra Haza; Steve Miller; Jackson Browne; John Fogerty; Steve Martin; Elvis Costello; Richard Farnsworth; Dwight Yoakam; Joe Ely; Joan Baez; Peter Tosh; Laura Dern; Jeff Beck; Frank Zappa; Michael Jackson; Ed "Big Daddy" Roth; Allen Ginsburg; Amiri Baraka; Carlos Santana; Patti Smith. He edited and introduced Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's memoir, "All About Me," working to preserve the visionary black American musician's self-created spellings and syntax.