Ben Blackwell is a vinyl collector, drummer for garage rock band the Dirtbombs, archivist for the White Stripes, owner of Cass Records, and “pinball wizard” for Jack White’s Nashville-based Third Man Records. Combine those things and you have a pretty impressive life story, and the 31-year-old will be at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston this Saturday leading a discussion titled “A Contemporary Record of Rock And Roll.”
It will be hosted by yours truly, as I act as interviewer for the hour-long session. We’ll touch on Blackwell’s experience growing up in love with rock and roll, his ever-expanding role as vinyl archivist, and his undefinable work with cutting-edge record label Third Man. We’ll raise the question of why vinyl is important, and why the medium has endured for decades, from its popularity in the ’60s to its current renaissance.
The discussion should appeal to everyone from White Stripe fans to vinyl purists. Here’s the word according to the MFA:
Having spent more than half his life consumed with all things vinyl, Ben Blackwell’s experience spans everything from first employee and current archivist for the rock duo The White Stripes, recreational Detroit music archaeologist and historian, drumming fool in rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut the Dirtbombs and envelope-pushing vinyl idealist for Third Man Records in Nashville. He can (and will) talk about all these topics and more with interviewer Michael Marotta.
Tickets are on sale now.
A CONTEMPORARY RECORD OF ROCK AND ROLL :: Saturday, March 1 @ the Museum of Fine Arts, Remis Auditorium, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston :: 2 to 3 p.m., all-ages, $13 general public / $10 for members, students, and seniors :: Tickets: 1.800.440.6975 :: Event Page