First album bought with own money: Joan Jett's I Love Rock 'n' Roll.

First published: Archie Comics' Life With Archie, 1981 (age 9). Paid $9 for 100-word story on "hocker," an inane mix of field hockey and soccer that didn't quite stand up to the test of time.

Turn-ons: Pavement, Railroad Jerk, Afghan Whigs, Jonathan Fire*eater, Liz Phair, Come, Shasta Pop w/ DJ Cocolio, "What Hands Are For," the Supremes, and, yes, Superdrag.

Turn-offs: "You've gotta be named Superdrag to get anything written about your band in Metro Pulse."