Meet Lyndsey Parker | Music Journalist & Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lyndsey Parker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lyndsey, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
I think, as strange or uncool as this might sound, choosing to make one side focus of my career covering reality TV was one of the smartest long-term professional decisions I’d ever made.

Up until that point, I was known as more of an indie-rock writer, with bylines in various fanzines and hip magazines like NME and Mojo. And while I still very much have and always will have that side to me, becoming one of the most prominent ‘American Idol’ columnists — during that show’s heyday, when at least 20 million people tuned in every night — changed everything. It exposed me to thousands of new readers. It taught me how to write quickly, on the fly, recapping episodes at warp speed. It linked me to a community, online and in real life, unlike any other fandom or readership I’d ever witnessed or experienced; to this day I have good friends who I met through ‘Idol,’ including fellow journalists, people who worked for the show, people I met while live-tweeting, and even quite a few former contestants. It also opened me up to opportunities to cover other shows like ‘The Voice,’ ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ ‘The Masked Singer,’ ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’ and ‘The X Factor.’ I love it all.

But most of all, working this specific beat made me less of a snob. Watching and critiquing genuinely talented people whose music might not exactly be my thing opened up my ears and mind, and now I am an unapologetic lover of pure pop, or at least some of it. ‘American Idol’ reporting really changed my life and career, because I was willing to step outside the indie/hipster box I’d put myself in. And once I was out of that box, there was no going back! I’m so glad I made that step; I really don’t think I’d be where I am now if I hadn’t.

By the way, my dream in life is to be an ‘American Idol’ judge, and trust me, I’ve put that out into the universe many times. (Fremantle, ABC — call me!) But in the meantime, you can read my recent reality TV recaps at https://realityrocks.substack.com.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I knew from an early age that all I cared about, obsessively, was music, music, music. (It was not at all a phase, like it is for some kids!) But despite English being my favorite subject in school, it never dawned on me that putting the two together — that is, being a music journalist, writing about music — was something I could do as an actual job. It was only when I got a foot in the door in the marketing department of an indie label called Restless Records that I realized this, because fanzines were strewn all over the office. I pored over them all and became fascinated with the idea that anyone could run their own Xeroxed, lovingly-stapled-by-hand magazine, so I started my own, Porkchops & Applesauce. I was surprised at how easy to was to score interviews with some of my heroes (Gene Simmons, the Buzzcocks, the Cramps, Redd Kross) or with rising artists I admired (including a little local band called Weezer), and it helped me develop my interviewing/writing skills and assemble some sort of DIY portfolio to help me secure freelance work later on. This eventually led to me landing my first real editorial job, at LAUNCH.com, under the guidance of my biggest mentor in life, Creem magazine legend Dave DiMartino, who I cannot thank enough for giving me the chance. The internet was still relatively new then, and I embraced it, excited by its immediacy and its potential to reach more readers than even the most popular print publication ever could.

And it’s been an adventure ever since, filled with ups and downs but few regrets. I was the music editor of Yahoo for 22 years, the host of my own radio show on SiriusXM for four years, and the host of a successful TV show and podcast called Totally ’80s. I even won a few awards along the way. My proudest achievement, though, was co-writing the autobiography of famous groupie, Frank Zappa protege, and my dear departed friend, Mercy “Miss Mercy” Fontenot, titled ‘Permanent Damage: Memoirs of an Outrageous Girl.’ This was both the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever take on: a four-year, labor-of-love project (which I spent at least three years convincing Mercy to do), and I had to complete it on my own after Mercy died of cancer just one week after signing our contract with Rare Bird Books. My years of interviewing experience made me realize I love getting people to share their stories, and Mercy’s was a story I was was truly honored to share.

My career has never been easy, but I admit it was much, much easier when I started out, when magazines and websites were numerous and seemingly flush with cash. There were so many outlets to write for, and the press seemed to hold more power and clout. The industry is struggling now, with publications seemingly every week shutting down, tightening their freelance budgets, going digital-only, or laying off hundreds of talented writers. (I myself have been laid off twice in the past seven months!) I honestly don’t know what advice I’d give someone very young and just starting out about getting into this volatile business. But I hope I can hang on, and so far I have, because I always tried to diversify — by not just snobbily sticking to one genre, by covering reality TV shows (I consider myself somewhat of an ‘American Idol’ expert), or by doing radio, podcasts, TV appearances, and live panel moderations at venues like the Grammy Museum (which I actually enjoy more than sitting alone writing at a desk). I hope I’ve created enough of a “brand,” as much as I find that term a bit corny, as a giddy lover of music and pop-culture and fixture of the L.A. live music scene, so that I don’t have to stake my identity or self-worth in any one outlet or title. I don’t have to be “Lyndsey Parker from Yahoo” or “Lyndsey Parker from SiriusXM,” or whatever, anymore. And I suppose THAT is the advice I’d give young aspiring journalists: Make a name for yourself, because jobs and publications come and go.

At the moment, you can see what I’m up to at Lyndsanity.com, where I’m continuing to build my “brand” doing delightful interviews with artists like X, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Fran Healy from Travis, Peter Hook, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Moon Zappa, Il Divo, Micky Dolenz, and in a full-circle moment, Redd Kross. You can also see me at the iconic Licorice Pizza Records on Ventura Blvd. (in the Valley, where I grew up — again, very full-circle!), as the host of “LPTV” and many fun live events there. And you can also find me at any Cure, Duran Duran, or Adam Lambert concert in Los Angeles.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There is no more iconic L.A. establishment, in my opinion, than the Rainbow Bar & Grill. It is completely untouched by time, hermetically sealed in the year 1987. On the walls you’ll see a gold plaque of a Guns N’ Roses album right next to a Sharpie’d 8×10 of some B-list Sunset Strip band that never ever headlined Gazzarri’s, and in the red pleather booths you might see Paul Stanley, a member of Faster Pussycat, or the ghost of Lemmy chowing down on some (actually very tasty!) pizza. So, that would be our first stop, straight from LAX. I guess I am not very highbrow, because other musts would be two places that always make me feel like it’s a California Christmas, the gaudy Mexixan restaurants El Coyote and Casa Vega. And then there’s Canter’s of course, which requires some time spent in the adjacent Kibbutz Room to watch the open-mic jam sessions, eat pickles, and have some stiff cheap drinks.

Other bars that are musts are ones where people actually DANCE: the Monty (the music there is always perfectly curated, and they have great post-punk nights like Nag Nag Nag), Footsie’s, the Goth spot Knucklehead, and most of all Zebulon and Permanent Records. Those last two are fun places to just hang (or in the latter’s case, record-shop) on their sprawling, fairy-lit patios, but they also host excellent live music most nights of the week. I also like visiting the dive bar Blipsy’s on Western to play old-school ’80s video games, and on the classier end of things, the Dresden, Dan Tana’s, and Musso & Frank’s are always great for making tourists feel like they have time-traveled back to Old Hollywood. (Of course, the Dresden really isn’t the same without piano duo Marty & Elayne. RIP Marty.)

For coffee, I love to visit the Fan Girl Cafe in West Hollywood, where the Barbie-pink walls are plastered with photos of Madonna and Lana Del Rey and the TV screens play Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish videos in a constant loop. There’s a special Charli XCX-inspired Brat Summer menu there at the moment, but I usually grab a We Got the Beet tostada, Bananarama toast, or Total Eclipse palm hearts salad with a That’s That Me Espresso.

Other record shops besides Permanent Records that are musts are Record Safari in Atwater, Amoeba of course (although I miss the old location), and the all-vinyl Record Parlor. That last one requires a stop next door at Daddy Diamond’s, a dimly lit paradise of vintage pinball machines, rickety wooden arcade games, and scary clown art that reminds me of the dearly missed Jabberjaw club of the ’90s (or maybe of old Farrell’s ice cream parlors). And then there’s Licorice Pizza Records in Studio City, which gives me all the right ’70s/’80s Valley Girl vibes.

For books, there’s Stories Books & Cafe in Echo Park, the Last Bookstore in DTLA, and of course the legendary Book Soup on Sunset. Catching a cult movie at Vidiots, Whammy Analog Media, the New Beverly, or Brain Dead Studios is always fun, but I also enjoy the posh Alamo Drafthouse experience, where you can have buckets of champagne delivered to your reclining seat. (And they have ’80s video games at the Alamo, too!)

For specific walking neighborhoods, I love going to Downtown L.A.’s Little Tokyo for people-watching, Hello Kitty- and Japanese snack-shopping, and private-room karaoke at Max Karaoke, then strolling over to Olvera Street, the oldest street in the city. (My elementary school used to take field trips to Olvera Street to learn about California history, so being there makes me feel especially nostalgic.) Other DTLA activities I love are shopping for garish fashions at Santee Alley, or wandering around the Piñata District, where every store is bursting with Instragram opportunities. And Korea Town is always lit at night — I love the Line Hotel and its two retro discos, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Bang and Breakroom ’86, or eating Korean BBQ at Soot Bull Jeep where there are pescaterian options. A day at K-Town’s Wi Spa is also heaven to me, and you actually have the option to sleep there overnight — which I’ve accidentally done more than once on the co-ed area’s lulling, heated jade floor!

I am not really much of an outdoorsy person, which I am sure surprises no one (I wear SPF 100 every day), but the Huntington Library will always tempt to actually go outside, as will a wander (or maybe a movie or concert) at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where I’d like to be buried someday. I do like a good indoor museum, especially the Broad (the Keith Haring exhibit was fantastic), MOCA, and Getty. The Grammy Museum is amazing for music-lovers, and they have great evening programs there in the intimate Clive Davis Theater — some of which I host!

As for the live venues I attend, or would take anyone to, that completely depends on who is playing. But I always get a thrill when entering the hallowed Troubadour, because like the Rainbow, it is untouched by time. Rock ‘n’ roll history is in its very walls. And the number one venue that ANY tourist has to visit is the Hollywood Bowl, no matter who’s playing. I consider the Bowl to be one of the most magical places in Los Angeles, or really anywhere. Every time I see that clamshell-shaped stage light up, my heart swells. It’s just perfect.

And then finally, if a road trip is in our plans, then we are most definitely headed to what I considered the other happiest place on Earth: the Madonna Inn. It is a paradise of pink kitsch, and if I could live there, I would.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Pretty much any job opportunity I have ever had was because someone recommended me. That’s how the entertainment business is — I’ve literally never gotten a gig just by blindly auditioning or applying for it. They say it’s all who you know, and I’ve been lucky enough to know some great people. So, I want to thank Michelle Roche for telling Dave DiMartino to hire me at LAUNCH, which became my first real editorial job. I want to thank Lori Majewski for championing me at SiriusXM, which led to me fulfilling my dream of hosting my own radio show. I want to thank Russ Weakland for introducing me to Katie Daryl, which led to a great friendship seven years of me appearing on various AXS TV shows. I want to thank Lol Tolhurst for welcoming me to the Grammy Museum world when he suggested me to moderate his interview there, Leah Horowitz for casting me in several documentaries, and Bruce Duff for introducing me to Tyson Cornell at Rare Bird Lit, who ended up becoming my book publisher. I want to thank John Hughes for enlisting me for Totally ’80s and letting it take on a life of its own, and Kerry Brown for introducing me to the Licorice Pizza family. The list really goes on and on. I try to pay it forward and look out for my colleagues too. We are all in this together.

And I also have to thank my mom for buying me all those records, driving me to all those concerts, for letting me listen to KROQ and KXLU and all my Cure cassettes in the car, for getting me MTV in my room for my 13th birthday, for letting me dye my hair any color I wanted as long as I got good grades, and of course for raising me in L.A., the best music city in the world. It wasn’t a phase, Mom! But she let me be me, and I guess I turned out all right.

Website: https://lyndsanity.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndseyparker

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndseyparker/

Twitter: https://x.com/lyndseyparker

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyndsanity

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LyndseyParker

Other: https://realityrocks.substack.com/ (My reality TV Substack)

Image Credits
John Oates pic – Timothy Norris/Getty Images
Lyndsey with Mercy Fontenot – Brantley Gutierrez
She Rocks Awards – Philip Faraone/Getty Images
Lionel Richie – Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images
SXSW – ason Bollenbacher/Getty Images
Pamela Des Barres and book – Harmony Gerber/Getty Images

(no others need credits)