Digital sanctuary of writer-author-vinyl record forager Jason Pettigrew.

The title above is a quote from the late Joe Strummer - who also said, "What are we gonna do now?"

After Lord knows how many erratic sleeping schedules, gallons of Milo’s sweet tea & lemonade and personal and professional travails, 2025 is coming to an end. So many people helped me out with the creation and promotion of my book on Ministry’s The Land Of Rape And Honey for Bloomsbury’s 33⅓ series. And then after some book promotion, I began whipping drummers’ drummer Frank Zummo’s autobiography Unbreakable Rhythm into shape. When I am not going through extreme neurosis and frantically trying to prepare for Christmas travel, I am going to thank every single person that got me through to the end of the year. I promise that I’ll get it done before the Easter Bunny arrives on June 12 (IYKYK).

Right now though, I am gratefully indebted to Bob and Tina Blake (for reminding me what nutrition is for); April Whitney (for divining great opportunities and turning expectation management into an artform); Michelle Biggerstaff at BiggHaus (The supreme Furiosa of the PTGRW website); Joe Milne (for ancillary art and design that’s better than what’s in my noggin) and Deanna Zamudio for creating the initial prototype of this site. I would also like to add in no uncertain terms that women get shit done. Period.

In closing, here’s post-punk architect/workaholic/lecturer Martin Atkins and I facing off with each other behind Reggie’s in Chicago, as bona fide polymath/cultural sponge Jon Nix has a big laugh at our repartee (and expense). I don’t know if we’re trading wisecracks at each other or pissing and moaning like Statler and Waldorf, the crotchety balcony-dwellers on The Muppet Show. (Either context you pick, it’s still gonna make Jon laugh.) I cherish this photo because it represents two old dudes that have done time in the culture wars lovingly ball-busting each other, while the next-gen of cultural conduits/emissaries (represented by Master Nix) is right there acknowledging the past while seeking, creating and plotting what lies ahead. Thank you, Becky DiGiglio, for capturing this moment while none of us were looking.

What lies ahead for me? Check back here after the first of the year, because not only will I tell you, I’m going to be asking you for some assistance. (I promise it won’t be pleas for PIN numbers, GoFundMe donations or coffee via Venmo.) Right now, use the holidays to strengthen or reconnect entirely with the people who are subletting or outright owning parts of your heart. Oh, and maybe buy a book. Or two.