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An Oral History of Detroit Punk Rock
In Detroit’s empty buildings and troubled streets, restless kids squatted, ran punk clubs, pressed their own records, and made their own magazine. They mostly stayed out of trouble.
The Oral History of Office Space: Behind the Scenes of the Cult Classic
At one point, Twentieth Century Fox Film Group tried to convince Mike Judge, Office Space‘s director, to cast Matt Damon, feeling the film wouldn’t draw audiences without a star. Twenty years later, it’s inconceivable that anyone but Ron Livingston could have played Peter Gibbons.
Three Feet From God: An Oral History of Nirvana ‘Unplugged’
Twenty-five years ago, Nirvana turned down their amps and played the most memorable, original, and tender performance of their career. Here’s how history was made.
Don’t Let It ‘Go’ Away: The Frantic, Furious Making of a Cult Movie Classic
Twenty years after its release, director Doug Liman, screenwriter John August, and others recall the production of their 1999 indie film Go.
Longreads Best of 2019: Profiles
We asked writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories. Here is the best in profiles.
Lightning, Struck: How an Atlanta Neighborhood Died on the Altar of Super Bowl Dreams
Thirty years ago, the entire community of Lightning, in Atlanta’s west side, was destroyed to build the Georgia Dome. This oral history, told by the residents that were displaced, compiles the stories and memories of a long-gone neighborhood.
Going All In: An Oral History of ‘Rounders’
“How two first-time screenwriters, a guy from Montana, and a pair of up-and-coming movie stars made the greatest poker movie ever.”
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Prachi Gupta, Tess McClure, Anna Wiener, Ismail Muhammad, and Alex McLevy.
‘We Changed Culture’: An Oral History of Vibe Magazine
Conversations with key players in the history of Quincy Jones-founded Vibe Magazine.

