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NEWS AND OPINION > STEVEN WELLS 1960-2009

Steven Wells: In Memoriam  

He was a mentor, a storyteller, a fire-breather. He was more passionate than anyone we’ll likely come across again.  Of course, you know this already. Because if you read his stuff, you know the man. Everything in his writing is everything he was in real flesh-and-blood life.

Posted Jun. 30, 2009 | Comments: 10

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NEWS AND OPINION > STEVEN WELLS 1960-2009

By Steven Wells

Steven Wells Remembered

Our friend and colleague Steven Wells died two years ago today of the cancer he had documented so well in two cover stories for Philadelphia Weekly. On June 14, he submitted this column.

Posted Jun. 29, 2009 | Comments: 294

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NEWS AND OPINION > STEVEN WELLS 1960-2009

By Billy Bragg  

Billy Bragg Remembers Steven Wells

Swells could be hurtful in what he wrote, but his contrarian stance was never mere posturing. It was underpinned with an unswerving belief that things could be better—culturally, politically and globally.

Posted Jun. 30, 2009 | Comments: 1

RELATED: Steven Wells: In Memoriam  

NEWS AND OPINION > STEVEN WELLS 1960-2009

By Everett True 

“You write to make an impact.” 

Swells was funny and opinionated and smart enough to realize his limitations and work within them. He did it for himself. He was from the fanzine world. He was a tastemaker critic, for sure. People took notice of his opinions, and acted upon them. He challenged people’s opinions, led them, changed them—most of this by default, by sheer force of his personality and peerless ability to entertain. If something was wrong, it was wrong. Didn’t matter what anyone else thought. Of course, Swells might then change his mind the next day.  