Punk Scholars Network conference 2025, Las Vegas, @ Punk Rock Museum w/ Jennifer Finch from L7 and NOFX’s Fat Mike and lotsa academic punks. That’s me with the yellow shirt and the beard.
I Want You Around: The Ramones and The Making of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, Finalist, 2025 Utah Book Awards. Winners announced July 15.
NEW BOOK! Tap HERE for publisher’s listing.
THANK YOU, DARK DELICACIES. (L. to R.): Rich Whitley, Stephen B. Armstrong, Allan Arkush, Mark Helfrich, Kent Beyda, Joe Dante, P.J. Soles, Dey Young
New feature in Ugly Things, 65, Spring 2024, “Magic Power: A History of The Paley Brothers”
LOST HIGHWAYS/Colorado History podcast transcript
BOOK SIGNING–SALT LAKE CITY–KING’S ENGLISH BOOKSHOP–JULY 20
RIP ROGER CORMAN–A FINE PERSON AND A GENIUS
Podcast featuring me and Ramones tour manager, Monte A. Melnick
I Want You Around: The Ramones and the Making of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, is out. GABBA GABBA HEY!
Rock & Roll Nightmares interview
Interview with radio-personality Cathay Nadal, professional psychic
Book signing at American Cinematheque tribute to Roger Corman at the Aero Theatre 9-30
Stephen B. Armstrong with Richard Whitley and Allan Arkush, co-writer and director, respectively, of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School!
PRESS INQUIRIES steve@bulletpointediting.com
REPRESENTED by Lee Sobel Literary Agency
FIRST REVIEW OF NEW BOOK — LIBRARY JOURNAL
LOCAL AUTHOR PROFILE IN ST. GEORGE NEWS
“Seeking to cash in on the disco craze and teen-driven success of Grease, schlock impresario Roger Corman greenlit director Allan Arkush’s story pitch for a high school musical starring the Ramones. Film historian Armstrong (writing, Utah Tech Univ.; Roger Corman’s New World Pictures, Vols. 1 & 2) dishes up a delicious triple feature for cinema and punk rock fans. At the heart of this comprehensively researched and detailed book is the fully documented nuts-and-bolts story of the evolution, production, and post-production history of the 1979 cult-classic film Rock ‘N’ Roll High School. Juxtaposed with the narrative arc of the making of the film are the revelatory insights into how the business of filmmaking worked at Corman’s famed, on-the-cheap New World Pictures. Then, of course, there are the godfathers of punk, the Ramones. The pursuit of the band, the hijinks that ensued during their two-week stay at LA’s Tropicana, difficulties experienced throughout filming, and the incessant touring before, during, and after the film provide one classic anecdotal story after another.
“VERDICT: A no-brainer purchase for the countless denizens of Ramones Nation. Fans of Rock ‘N’ Roll High School, Roger Corman, and cult movies are going to love this too.”
Reviewed by Barry X. Miller , Sep 02, 2023
Somewhere in Las Vegas
I am a film/popular music historian with numerous publications, including Paul Bartel: The Life and Films (2017). Pictures About Extremes: The Films of John Frankenheimer (2008) and Andrew V. McLaglen: The Life and Hollywood Career (2011). I also edit books, e.g., John Frankenheimer: Interviews, Essays and Profiles (2013), director-photographer Steve Carver’s Western Portraits: The Unsung Heroes & Villains of the Silver Screen (2019) and the multi-volume series Roger Corman’s New World Pictures (1970-1983): An Oral History.
In 2004 I earned my Ph.D. in English (Creative Writing-Fiction) from Florida State University, where my professors included Robert Olen Butler (Pulitzer Prize), Virgil Suarez and Bob Shacochis (National Book Award). My short stories have appeared in the journals American Writing and Criminal Class Review among others.
Currently I teach in the Creative Writing emphasis at Utah Tech University in St. George, Utah.
Promo blurbs from back cover of The Ramones and the Making of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School:
The Ramones’ involvement in Rock ‘n’ Roll High School was a significant milestone for the band as it helped them gain more mainstream exposure and recognition. They had a great time working on the movie, and Joey Ramone described the filming process as “a blast.” The movie remains a cult classic among punk rock fans and is remembered as a fun, energetic tribute to the music of the Ramones.–Monte A. Melnick, Ramones tour manager, 1974-1996
There used to be an underground movie theater at Columbus Circle in New York. Is it still there? That’s where Tina [Weymouth, bassist, Talking Heads] and I attended a premier of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School. It was so exciting! The Ramones were the first of the CBGB crowd to make a Hollywood movie.–Chris Frantz, drummer, Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club
Loaded with compelling anecdotes, Steve Armstrong’s history of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School is for anybody who loves the Ramones, and who doesn’t love the Ramones?–Legs McNeil, co-editor Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk
Rock ‘n’ Roll High School is a refreshing burst of teenage anarchy. P. J. Soles shines, Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov represent the faculty, and the Ramones supply the rock ‘n’ roll! Raucous and funny, one of my favorite New World Pictures movies.–John Landis, American filmmaker and actor
Here I am speaking about Sydney Pollack’s Jeremiah Johnson for France’s ARTE tv
2013 Review of John Frankenheimer: Interviews, Essays & Profiles
Roger Corman’s New World Pictures (1970-1983): An Oral History nominated for 2021 Rondo Awardhttps://www.classicfilmtvcafe.com/2013/04/john-frankenheimer-interviews-essays.html
2021 UT Distinguished Professor Award Winner
March 18, 2021
Release party for Western Portraits: The Unsung Heroes & Villains of the Silver Screen. Autry Museum of the American West, November 19, 2019. I edited the book’s literary content, including essays by Steve Carver and Roger Corman. That’s me in the lower-right corner. Others in the photograph include Robert Carradine, L.Q. Jones, Fred Williamson, Bruce Boxleitner, Johnny Crawford and Jon Savage.
PRAISE FOR STEPHEN B. ARMSTRONG’S BOOKS
Roger Corman’s New World Pictures (1970-1983): An Oral History
“There are some great stories for the reader to discover within these interviews.”—Rod Lott, Bookgasm
Paul Bartel: The Life and Films
“Armstrong has delivered a refreshing, anecdote-filled account of Bartel’s life and work.”—Irv Slifkin, Screen International
Andrew V. McLaglen: The Life and Hollywood Career
“Excellent overview.”—Cowboys & Indians
Pictures About Extremes: The Films of John Frankenheimer
“Worth reading.”—Journal of American Culture
Pictures About Extremes praised by DGA
Roger Corman’s New World Pictures (1970-1983): An Oral History, Vol. 1 & 2, on which I served as general editor nominated for Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award in “Best Book” Category
Interviewing Wilford Brimley for Utah Tech University’s Fortieth Anniversary screening of The Electric Horseman.
STEPHEN B. ARMSTRONG 