Nick Tosches was part of a group of music writers labeled “the Noise Boys” for their wild, energetic prose. A critic once wrote, “Reading Tosches is like being mugged.” Credit Kate Simon.

“The things I wanted to be when I was a kid were an archaeologist, because of dinosaur bones; a garbage man, because they got to ride on the side of the trucks; and a writer,” he told The Times. “If I had become a garbage man, I could have retired by now.”

(Neil Genzlinger, “Nick Tosches, 69, Fiery Music Writer and Biographer, Dies,” NYTimes, 10-20-19)

When I was a kid I wanted to drive the truck.

(c) 2019 JMN