In this episode of Tall Boy Radio, host Beans sits down with a true Renaissance man of the New York creative scene: Gabriel Rotello.

From the grimy, loud-fast-rules energy of the 1970s underground to the high-stakes world of investigative journalism, Gabriel’s career has been a masterclass in following one's curiosity—wherever it may lead.

The CBGB Era: Gabriel takes us back to the summer of 1977. We discuss the sweaty, sticker-covered walls of the legendary Bowery club and what it was really like to be in the room while the foundations of punk and new wave were being laid.
The Musical Journey: Before he was a chronicler of culture, he was a creator within it. Gabriel shares stories from his own musical career, the transition from the stage to the page, and how the "DIY" ethos of the punk scene influenced his later work.
A Journalist’s Legacy: As an influential journalist and the founding editor of OutWeek, Gabriel played a pivotal role in LGBTQ+ media. He and Beans discuss the art of the scoop, the responsibility of the press during times of crisis, and what it means to be a "truth-teller" in a changing media landscape.
"The CBGB conspiracy": The heart of the conversation centers on Gabriel’s latest novel. Set against the backdrop of 1977 New York—a city on the brink of both a cultural explosion and financial collapse—the book serves as both a love letter and a gritty post-mortem of a specific moment in time.

Whether you’re a music history buff, an aspiring novelist, or someone who misses the "old New York," this conversation bridges the gap between lived experience and historical fiction. Gabriel offers a unique perspective on how we remember our past and why the stories we tell about it still matter today.

"You didn't go to CBGB to see a polished performance; you went to see someone figure out who they were in real-time. That's what I wanted to capture in the book." — Gabriel Rotello

Buy The CBGB conspiracy here

The CBGB Conspiracy eBook : Rotello, Gabriel: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Storetallboyradio.com