Author: Peter Kalafatis

Publisher: All and None Press

ISBN: 0615135145

Christoper Friesen, one of Bookpleasures.com's reviewers  is pleased to have as a guest Peter Kalafatis, Author of A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich. 

Peter Kalafatis grew up in New York City’s Hard Core punk rock scene in the late 1980’s. In a tribute to the “Do It Yourself” ethos of that scene he has self published his first book A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich, where he chronicles several episodes from that period of his youth. After reading his book and interviewing him via email it is apparent that Peter also lives by the other essential punk rock ethic: Hardcore for life.

Christopher:

Is A Rebel Life your first book?

Peter:

Yes 

Christopher:

Can you give me a brief bibliography of other work you've published?

Peter:

None

Christopher:

Which authors inspire you?

Peter:

Existentialists like Nietzsche Dostoevsky, Kafka

Christopher:

You grew up in the hardcore punk scene in NYC in the late 80's. Which bands

did you get to see on a regular basis?

Peter:

Warzone, Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front and the rest of the local NY hardcore bands.

Christopher:

Who do you listen to these days?

Peter:

Britney Spears! What do you think?  I like the old punk and hardcore like Bad Religion, Pennywise, NoFX, and some of the new music that is heavy, loud and political. I also like Dead Prez which is what hip hop is supposed to be.

Christopher:

What effect does music have on your writing?

Peter:

I am reassured that there are people like me.

Christopher:

When you went back to school, what did you study?

Peter:

Philosophy in undergraduate and Media in graduate school.

Christopher:

Are you writing full time or do you have a career/job as well?

Peter:

Writing is not a "career" for me, as much as punk rock wasn't a style.     

Christopher:

In the beginning of the book you mention being on the Geraldo Rivera show, did that actually happen and can you tell me a bit about it?

Peter:

This was the show that Geraldo had his nose broken by a chair, I think in 1989.  He had racist and non racist skinheads on and I was part of the non racist skinheads.  These two groups have been fighting on the streets since the beginning and Geraldo, I guess, wanted to explain the differences between the two.

Christopher:

Is All and None Press your own publishing entity?

Peter:

Yes, I have taken control of how this book is marketed and sold. As any real punk rock band will tell you, an independent label gives you more freedom than a major. And not just freedom, but integrity.

Christopher:

Aside from being a place to promote your book, what do you hope to accomplish with your website www.arebellife.com?

Peter:

I want this website to eventually be a research portal and database for everything dealing with rebels, rebellions and the working class struggle.

The abvoe interview was conducted by: Christopher Friesen-Writer and Book Reviewer from Canada. To read more of Chris's reviews CLICK HERE 

To read Christoper's Review of  A Rebel Life: Murder by the Rich CLICK HERE