Greg Kot (born March 3, 1957) is an American music journalist and author. From 1990 until 2020, Kot was the rock music critic at the ''
Chicago Tribune'',
where he covered popular music and reported on music-related social, political and business issues. Kot co-hosts the radio program ''
Sound Opinions
''Sound Opinions'' is an independent radio talk show and podcast based in Chicago. It focuses on the discussion of music genres, history, artists and albums. It airs weekly on over 150 public radio stations nationwide and is syndicated though the ...
'', which introduces itself as "the world's only rock 'n' roll talk show", nationally syndicated through Chicago Public Radio,
WBEZ.
A native of
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffa ...
, Kot graduated from
Marquette University.
Kot started his career at the
Quad City Times in Davenport, Iowa in June 1978 and then joined the Chicago Tribune in 1980.
He was named the paper's rock music critic in 1990, and held that job until taking a buyout from the Tribune in early 2020.
Kot has co-hosted the radio show ''Sound Opinions'' since its 1993 launch.
The show is syndicated to about 150 radio stations nationwide and also exists as a weekly podcast.
In 2020, Chicago's WBEZ terminated its production agreement with ''Sound Opinions'', although the show will continue to be produced independently.
Kot's books include ''
Wilco: Learning How to Die'', ''
Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music'', and ''I'll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers and the March up Freedom's Highway''.
He co-authored ''The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones: Sound Opinions on the Great Rock 'n' Roll Rivalry'' (
Voyageur Press) with his ''Sound Opinions'' co-host
Jim DeRogatis. His music criticism and journalism has appeared in ''
Encyclopædia Britannica'',
''Cash: By the Editors of Rolling Stone'', ''Harrison: A Rolling Stone tribute to George Harrison'', ''The Trouser Press Guide to '90s Rock'', ''
The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' and ''
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide''. A longtime contributor to ''
Rolling Stone'', Kot has written for a dozen national publications,
including ''
Details Detail(s) or The Detail(s) may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Details'' (film), a 2003 Swedish film
* ''The Details'' (film), a 2011 American film
* ''The Detail'', a Canadian television series
* "The Detail" (''The Wire''), a television epis ...
'', ''
Blender'', ''
Entertainment Weekly'', ''
Men's Journal
''Men's Journal'' is an American monthly men's lifestyle magazine focused on outdoor recreation and comprising editorials on the outdoors, environmental issues, health and fitness, style and fashion, and gear. It was founded in 1992 by Jann Wenne ...
'', ''
Guitar World
''Guitar World'' is a monthly music magazine for guitarists – and fans of guitar-based music and trends – that has been published since July 1980. ''Guitar World'', the best-selling guitar magazine in the United States, contains original art ...
'', ''
Vibe'' and ''Request''.
Kot lives on Chicago's Northwest Side and is a longtime youth basketball coach.
Bibliography
* ''
Wilco: Learning How to Die'',
Broadway Books (June 15, 2004)
* ''
Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music'',
Scribner Scribner may refer to:
Media
* Charles Scribner's Sons, also known as Scribner or Scribner's, New York City publisher
* ''Scribner's Magazine'', pictorial published from 1887–1939 by Charles Scribner's Sons, then merged with the ''Commentator ...
(May 19, 2009)
* ''I’ll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers and the March up Freedom’s Highway'', Scribner (January 21, 2014)
See also
*
Album era
*
Greg Tate
References
External links
Greg Kot Story Gallery at the Chicago TribuneGreg Kot official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kot, Greg
1957 births
Living people
Writers from Syracuse, New York
Marquette University alumni
American music critics
Chicago Tribune people
21st-century American biographers
American music journalists