5 Questions With: Staci Layne Wilson
The author's Rock & Roll Nightmares series is a wild ride through the seedy underside of music.
Good morning!
Today we’re talking with Author and filmmaker Staci Layne Wilson
If anyone is qualified to write about the seedy underside of the music world, it’s Staci Layne Wilson.
The daughter of Ventures guitarist Don Wilson and former pinup model turned columnist Nancy Bacon, she’s had a front-row seat to celebrity culture her entire life.
She’s also been writing for nearly as long, landing her first assignment at age 12. Layne eventually made her way to the Hollywood Reporter, interviewing countless people before setting out independently.
I’d been writing about rock music whenever possible through my work as an entertainment reporter, but the main impetus came from looking for horror or thriller books to read with music as the backdrop.
To date, she has built a significant body of written work, including fiction and non-fiction. Her Rock & Roll Nightmares series is a collection of short stories and non-fiction. Most recently, she’s penned a book on music-themed drink recipes.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, she’s also a filmmaker and hosts the Rock & Roll Nightmares podcast.
I recently caught up with Layne Wilson via email. Our chat has been lightly edited for clarity/flow.
Your father was Don Wilson of surf-rock legends The Ventures. Your mom Nancy Bacon was a former pinup girl turned gossip columnist. What was growing up surrounded by that sort of culture like?
I grew up in Los Angeles, so my background wasn’t that unusual compared to that of my friends. When I was 11, I rode horseback with the daughters of music producers, actors, singers, and the like. At the time, as is the case with kids in general, I simply took my life for granted—which isn’t to say that there weren’t tough times (emotionally, financially, etc.). As an adult, I fully appreciated my parents’ professions and upbringing.
Your Amazon bio also notes t“She has been a professional writer since the age of 12 when she was hired as a columnist for a national magazine.” Which magazine was that, and how did it come about?
It was a monthly publication called Horse & Horseman. It was a magazine for equine enthusiasts, and I wrote a column that marked the progress of training my first colt—that led to writing for dozens of horse and animal-related publications (Horse Illustrated, Cat Fancy, Ferrets).
Congrats on the Rock & Roll Nightmares series’ success! Was there a specific incident or catalyst that led you to start it, or was it more of a logical extension (for lack of a better term) of the work you were already doing?
It was a bit of both; I’d been writing about rock music whenever possible through my work as an entertainment reporter, but the main impetus came from looking for horror or thriller books to read with music as the backdrop. There weren’t many—most fictional rock star books are romance and erotica, which aren’t genres I like to read—so I gathered up some of my favorite authors, and we collaborated on the first three books in the series. They are: Along Comes Scary (set in the ’60s), Do You Fear Like We Do (’70s), and Gory Days (’80s).
After those three books came out, I wondered if there was anything similar to the infamous Hollywood Babylon (Kenneth Anger, 1959) but for rock, punk, metal, and grunge fans. I couldn’t find anything like that, so once again, I figured that if I’d like to read a book full of tawdry tales and true crime set in the music world, so might others.
Among the many other things I have done as a writer, I have a background in news reporting—so I love to do research, fact-check, and look into the whys and wherefores. The Rock & Roll Nightmares True Stories editions were just as fascinating to write as (I hope) they are to read.
In your career, you’ve spoken to countless people. Is there anyone, in particular, you haven’t yet had a chance to talk to? Who’s on your “must get” list?
Bob Dylan is my favorite artist of all time, but I’ve heard he’s a bit irascible, so that might be scary! Then again, I heard the same thing about David Crosby and he was a joy to interview.
I’m also a big Rolling Stones fan and have yet to meet Mick Jagger or Keith Richards, so if you’re listening, Universe, I’m putting it out there.
The latest book in the series is called “RockTails” and is a recipe book for cocktails & mocktails, with punny names like “Mai-Tai Sharona” & “Devil In My Sidecar.” The music connection is there, but it’s quite a pivot from the darker themes of Rock & Roll Nightmares. How’d this come about? I saw you mention in an interview that you rarely drink. Was it something you’d had in mind for a while? Had the recipes kind of been stacking up somewhere?
Drinking can be dark! Just ask the 27 Club. I love a yummy handcrafted cocktail, but you’re right; I don’t drink all that much, mainly due to headaches. I still appreciate the artistry behind the concoctions. Back in the day, when executives were known for their liquid lunches, much was inferred by what they chose to drink—so the “personality test” aspect is interesting, too.
I came up with the idea last fall (2022), thinking it would be a quick, fun book to throw together in time for all the holiday parties. But I should have known better: I’m not one to just throw stuff together. When I started planning out the book and began reaching out to several musicians and music biz people I know, it became clear that I’d have to adhere to other people’s timelines (sad but true: not everyone works as quickly as I do!), plus I wanted to take as many photos of the drinks as I could (or get the contributors to take photos), rather than resort to stock images. That all took time, so the book was released in February 2023.
Speaking of the books, I want to double-click on something for a second. You donate a portion of all profits to charity, specifically the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. I didn’t realize it continued past the Victoria Williams record, but I am really happy to see that it’s still going strong. For those who might not know, can you briefly explain what it is and how you came to be involved?
Yes, it’s a really wonderful charitable organization that helps musicians that are down on their luck for whatever reason. I was introduced to it through Danny Amis (aka, Daddy-O Grande) of Los Straitjackets.
A few years back, he had a major health issue and wound up in a coma. He either didn’t have insurance, or his insurance wouldn’t cover his hospital stay and medical care. Sweet Relief put together a funding campaign, and I donated.
Danny pulled through and is, in fact, doing great—so, before deciding to give a portion of the proceeds to a music-specific charity (something I’ve always done with the publication of my books), I asked him if they were on the up and up. He assured me that they are, so I’m happy to help.
In addition to writing and the podcast, you’re a filmmaker and directed a documentary based on your father’s band, The Ventures. The documentary is built around interviews with several people from inside the industry. Was there anything said that really surprised you?
No “surprises” exactly, but I did notice certain themes coming up again and again through even the most disparate of interviewees—different generations, different music genres, different countries—so that really helped shape the tone of the documentary.
You end your podcast by asking the guest about their rock & roll nightmare. Turning the tables, what is your own rock & roll nightmare?
In the words of almost everyone: “Oooh, that’s a tough one!” Because there are so many possible ways to go—funny, sad, actually happened, an actual nightmare. I guess my nightmare would be—and is— music that is made by AI, autotune, pitch correctors, and time correctors.
Perfection seems to be the goal now (generally speaking; there are exceptions), but I prefer music that may be a little messy but is full of feeling and imbued with the artist’s soul and life experience. I like to hear a singer’s voice break, and I like to literally feel a heartfelt guitar solo.
What’s next for you? What’s the rest of 2023 look like?
I have so many ideas for Rock & Roll Nightmares! Lots of books are on the horizon— mostly nonfiction—but the next book will be a short story collection. It’s called 28, and it’s speculative fiction that explores the question: What if the 27 Club had lived?
Where can we find you?
Rock & Roll Nightmares Podcast
Stars on Guitars:
5 Questions:
1. Describe your musical taste in one sentence.
Blues-based, guitar-driven rock.
2. What music was playing in your house(s) growing up?
Elvis, Kris Kristofferson, and Freddy Fender.
3. What are you listening to these days?
I just joined a new gym, so it’s a get-off-your-ass-mix of Judas Priest, AC/DC, Eminem, the Beastie Boys, Butthole Surfers, and the like.
4. What are your 5 Desert Island Discs?
Assuming I’d miraculously had power and a boom box and not just be playing frisbee with these discs, I’d choose:
Led Zeppelin-Physical Graffiti
The Rolling Stones-Sticky Fingers
Bob Dylan-Blood on the Tracks
Lana Del Rey-Ultraviolence
Pink Floyd-The Wall.
5. If you could collaborate with any artist/band, who would it be?
I’d love to make a documentary or write a book with Robert Plant; he’s a Pez-dispenser of quotable quotes, but he’s also a bit mysterious and claims he’ll never write his memoirs.
Click the picture to find out more about the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund or to make a donation.
Thanks to Staci Layne Wilson for stopping by, and thank you for being here,
Kevin—
Thanks for the introduction
That was fun! My daughter gave me this other Rock Cocktails book a few years ago - and it's delightful. https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Cocktails-drinks-recipes_from-Lizzy/dp/1911026585