Terry Gross

British writer Nick Hornby. His autobiographical memoir about being an obsessed soccer fan, Fever Pitch (1992, now in paperback, Penguin) achieved cult status. With his second book, and his first novel High-Fidelity one reviewer writes that Hornby has "established himself in England as a maestro of the male confessional." High-Fidelity (Riverhead Books, div. of Putnam) is about 36-year old Rob Fleming, an obsessed record-collector, who's just lost his girlfriend, a casualty of his devotion to music.

Hornby's 1995 novel about a record shop owner was made into a film in 2000. Now it's been adapted and updated into a new Hulu series, starring Zoë Kravitz. Originally broadcast in 1995.

Rock writer and critic Robert Palmer. He was the New York Times's first full-time rock writer and chief pop critic, and he's a contributing editor at Rolling Stones. He's written several books on blues and rock and roll, and was the writer and music director for the award-winning documentary films, "The World According to John Coltrane," and "Deep Blues." His latest work is chief advisor to the ten-part PBS documentary, "Rock & Roll: An Unruly History," currently airing on PBS. He's also a companion book (Harmony Books).

Pop star Boy George. In 1982, he and his band Culture Club first hit the charts with, "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" He has a new autobiography in which he says he got "trapped" in the image he created. His band feel apart, his relationship, and he developed a drug addiction. He's now recovered. He has a new autobiography, Take It Like a Man: The Autobiography of Boy George. (written with George O'Dowd, published by HarperCollins.) He also has a new release, "Cheapness & Beauty," (Virgin).

TV Producer Michael Berk for the show "Baywatch." The show, which is filmed in Malibu, California, is about a group of lifeguards who patrol the beach. It's been called the "number one show on earth." It has one billion viewers in more than 110 countries.

Guitarist Danny Amis from the band, "Los Straitjackets." The group hails from Nashville. They perform in Mexican wrestling masks, and play instrumental surf-rock with a "dark vibe lurking in the mix." (Guitar Player). They have a new CD, "The Utterly fantastic and totally unbelievable sound of. . . Los Straitjackets." (Upstart records 617-354-0700).

Singer pianist Randy Newman in the studio for music and conversation. Known for his satiric songs, Newman has portrayed a racist, a rapist, and even God in songs like "Suzanne" and "Rednecks." In 1990 Newman composed the soundtrack for the short-lived musical cop show, "Cop Rock." He also composed music for the movies "Parenthood," and "Avalon." His newest CD is "Faust" by Reprise Records 1995. (REBROADCAST from November 16, 1992)

Novelist and screenwriter Richard Price. His screenwriting credits include "The Color of Money," "Sea of Love," and Martin Scorsese's section of "New York Stories," and now, "Clockers." He co-wrote the screenplay with Spike Lee. His novel "Clockers" is a murder mystery set in the world of a crack dealer in New Jersey.

Editor of The New Republic Andrew Sullivan. He's the first openly gay editor of a national political magazine. His new book, Virtually Normal: An Argument About Homosexuality, (Knopf), examines how our society deals with homosexuality, and looks at the different viewpoints on it.

Tattoo artist and tattoo historian Don Ed Hardy. He came to tattooing by way of a Fine Arts degree in printmaking, and he studied in Japan with a traditional tattoo master. He was the first non Asian to gain access to that world. HARDY also publishes colorfully illustrated books of tattoo art. (Hardy Marks Publications, P.O. Box 90520, Honolulu, Hawaii 96835). And he's curated the exhibition, "Pierced Hearts & True Love," which is at The Drawing Center in New York City (Sept. 16-Nov. 11). The exhibit then travels to Williamstown, Mass., Miami, and San Francisco.