{"id":30584,"date":"2025-12-27T05:30:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-27T10:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/?p=30584"},"modified":"2026-09-30T15:39:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T19:39:48","slug":"howie-klein-1948-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/27\/howie-klein-1948-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Howie Klein, 1948-2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

In late 2020 I received a press release that would eventually change my life. I stumbled upon an opportunity to write a feature for SF Weekly<\/i>, and the connections and stories that grew out of that led to my second book. I have many people to thank for that \u2013 more than 100, in fact \u2013 and Howie Klein is at the top of the list.<\/p>\n

My good friend Cary Baker was handling publicity for an upcoming series of album releases by Arny Schorr\u2019s Liberation Hall label. The albums were reissues and compilations highlighting the music of artists on a late \u201870s to early\/mid \u201880s punk and new wave label out of the Bay Area: 415 Records. I was already a serious fan of some of 415\u2019s late-period artists, including Translator, Wire Train and Red Rockers. What I knew about 415 Records led me to want to learn much more, and so researching and interviewing for a magazine story struck me as a great way to do that.<\/p>\n

And since I wrote regularly for Bay Area publications \u2013 still do today \u2013 I pitched a story to my editor at a then-current publication, SF Weekly<\/i>. I got a go-ahead, and set about scheduling interviews with several artists associated with the reissue campaign, as well as and the co-founder of 415 Records, Howie Klein.<\/p>\n

Howie died on December 24, and while his passing is a grave loss to the worlds of music and politics (the latter another story), on a personal level, I feel I lost a friend. Starting with that magazine story and continuing onward, Howie Klein would prove to be kind and generous beyond compare where I was concerned.<\/p>\n

\"\"

L-R: Howie Klein, Chris Knab. Co-founders of 415 Records.<\/p><\/div>\n

The 415 Records story for SF Weekly<\/i> inspired me to go deeper. Much, much deeper, in fact: I went on to write a book about the label, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave<\/i>. For that pandemic-era project I would interview more than 90 people: effectively every artist who recorded and\/or released music on 415, plus journalists, writers, industry executives, broadcasters and many more. And I owe a serious, massive debt of thanks to Howie, because he opened countless doors. He connected me with hard-to-find artists, potentially reluctant interviewees, and generally them-who-you-must-speak-with to get the story right.<\/p>\n

Moreover, Howie made himself available on quite a few occasions, patiently fielding my endless questions, giving me the real story and making sure to set me straight when it seemed I might be veering even a little off course. I\u2019m very proud of the book, and it\u2019s no understatement to say that had it not been for Howie\u2019s guidance and cooperation, it wouldn\u2019t have been half as good.<\/p>\n

We exchanged countless emails, phone conversations and Zoom chats. But Howie and I never got to meet in person. He even helped me publicize the book, even though there was nothing in it for him to do so. By the time I scheduled a trio of book events in the Bay Area \u2013 at which I would meet and\/or be joined by many of my heroes of music, the arts and journalism \u2013 Howie was already dealing with the medical issues which would eventually do him in. So he wasn\u2019t able to make the trip. Neither, sadly, was his co-conspirator in launching 415 Records, Chris Knab; Chris was also a major help. I count him, Howie and many, many, many of those I interviewed (and those who helped in other ways) for the book among my friends.<\/p>\n

Howie left quite a legacy. And while he\u2019ll rightly be remembered for many things \u2013 his Down With Tyranny blog, his work at Sire, etc. \u2013 for me, he\u2019ll always be the co-founder of 415 Records. I\u2019ll remember him too as one of the most patient and generous souls I\u2019ve ever worked with on a project. I hope I did right by Howie, Chris and the entire 415 Roster. As I wrote in my book\u2019s dedication to Howie and to Chris (the latter of whom is thankfully very much alive<\/del> UPDATE<\/strong>: sadly passed in September 2026):<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Howie Klein and Chris Knab, whose vision, passion and love of music made all the difference.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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