Jonathan Levine is the director behind The Wackness, the slacker-friendly movie currently in cinemas nationwide. Set in 1994 when hip-hop ruled New York, the film stars Ben Kingsley, Josh Peck and Olivia Thirlby. Thirty-year-old Levine, a pop music authority of sorts, was kind enough to answer our questions.
by Tourdates Staff Writer, first published in LondonTourdates #031 ,19th September 2008

What’s your favourite album ever?
Ooh, tough one. I would say it’s a toss up between Notorious B.I.G’s (pictured) Ready To Die and Bob Dylan’s Blood On The Tracks.
What was the best year for music?
Well, The Wackness focuses on 1994, which had this incredible combination of hip hop and alternative music at their peaks, but I have to think that some time in the early seventies was the best.
What’s your earliest musical memory?
Seeing Tesla and Poison live in New Jersey on the ‘Open up and Say... Aaah’ tour.
Is there any particular album or song you never want to hear again in your life?
Hmmm, that song Santana did with that guy from Matchbox 20 (Rob Thomas, and ‘Smooth’). Now it’s in my head, though.
If you could go back in time which musical figure would you like to meet?
Bob Marley, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye.
Who would you put in your fantasy band?
Drums: Lars Ulrich (Metallica) Bass: Les Claypool (Primus) Guitar: Prince Vocals: Johnny Cash
What’s the best gig you have ever been to?
Seeing Prince at a secret show in Los Angeles, in a little club with only about a hundred people. It was amazing being in the same room as someone so talented.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
The Temptations and The O’Jays at Radio City Music Hall. My mum took me.
What was the last gig you went to and how was it?
Dolly Parton. She was awesome.
CD, Vinyl or MP3?
I hate to admit it, but I’m an MP3 nerd. I have about 30 gigs of music on my iTunes, and I’m downloading more all the time. Legally, of course.
John or Paul?
John.
East Coast or West Coast?
East Coast, but I like a little Dre and Pac every once in a while too.
Dylan or Elvis?
Dylan, definitely.