Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
Legendary Doors front man Jim Morrison had a high regard for the interview. In fact, the influential singer/lyricist once said, “I think the interview is the new art form. I think the self interview is the essence of creativity. Asking yourself questions and trying to find answers. The writer is just answering a series of unuttered questions. It’s similar to answering questions on a witness stand. It’s that strange area where you try and pin down something that happened in the past and try honestly to remember what you were trying to do. It’s a critical mental exercise… I’m kind of hooked to the game of art and literature, my heroes are artists and writers. I always wanted to write.”
Needless to say, the singer of “Light My Fire” and “Peace Frog” who died in Paris in 1971 at age 27, would have surely been a fan of reading Biofile interview. And he certainly would have loved to ponder and answer the Biofile questions.
My first memory of The Doors was seeing the iconic Doors logo on Denise McDonald’s brown paper bag book cover at George Washington Junior High School eighth grade homeroom. She drew it on her book cover. Years later in high school I remember before a party at my friend Mike Pinto’s house we were all blasting the music and Light My Fire and LA Woman came on and I started singing along and we all noticed how similar my singing was to Jim’s, well just a few verses. Some of Jim’s lyrics still live in my mind. “Let it roll baby roll. Let it roll BABY ROLL. ALL NIGHT LONG.”
Here is a self interview Biofile dedicated to Jim Morrison…
First Biofile memory: I don’t remember the first Biofile I ever did but the first one published was of NJ Nets player Derrick Coleman in the Morristown Daily Record newspaper 1992.
Biofile inspiration: Newspapers seemed predictable and lacking creative sports content – sports people saying the same old cliches. So that gave me the idea to start the Biofile QA feature. I made the vision come true. Still going strong over three decades later. Most recent Biofiles were with musician John Oates and tennis pro Stefan Dostanic.
Greatest Biofile Moment: So many… Biofiling Muhammad Ali in Manhattan. Getting it syndicated and published all over the planet, Japan, Australia, South Africa, London, etc. Chris Evert saying, “You ask great questions.” Richard Williams saying, “That’s the best interview I ever did.” Olympic gold medalist Mal Whitfield writing in a letter to my editor that “Biofile is like gold for young readers.”
Most Painful Moment: Not many of those. Maybe the NY Post stealing my Biofile idea and having one of their writers do an imitation version – after years of pitching it to their editors.
Funny Biofile Memory: Asking boxing champ Joel Casamayor what his favorite breakfast cereal was? He said rocks and bricks.
Strangest Biofile: I remember doing a Biofile with a Detroit Tigers player in the mid 1990s at Yankee Stadium and he started tearing up mid interview. Didn’t ask why but we finished the interview. Also Dennis Rodman starting to brush his teeth mid interview at Madison Square Garden when he was on the San Antonio Spurs.
Early Biofile Memory: In the early years I did Biofile interviews with a pen and notepad. I remember the 110 hurdler Tony Dees, ranked no. 2 in the world, said I should get a recorder so there was more eye contact in the interview, which we did at a track meet at Columbia University. I followed his wonderful advise and it helped produce better Biofiles. Thanks Tony!
Embarrassing Biofile Memory: I did a Biofile interview with HBO Sports boss Ross Greenburg (2000-2011) and mispelt his name in the Boxing Flash newsletter. When I gave him a copy of the publication later and apologized he was very nice and unbothered by the ridiculous error.
Why Do I Love Doing Biofiles: I have done over a thousand maybe two thousand Biofile and I loved doing every single one. I feel it’s like doing an condensed autobiography with the subject. And every Biofile delivers some interesting scoops. Doing Biofiles has made some close friendships with people I greatly respect and admire. I believe the Biofile is the greatest interview feature ever created. My friend the artist LeRoy Neiman suggested I add a question to my Biofile list… Favorite artist? And I did start to use it.
Favorite Movies: City Lights Charlie Chaplin. Cinema Paradiso. Three Days Of The Condor. Fast Tiio smes At Ridgemont High. Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. Rocky. Citizen Kane. Dial M For Murder. Invisible Man 1933.
Favorite Music: 80s. Wham! Tame Impala. Steely Dan. Doors. Billy Idol Eyes Without A Face. 70s. I could go on for an hour.
First Job: Wayne Car Wash.
First Car: Toyota Corolla gray.
Favorite Arists: LeRoy Neiman. Raoul Dufy.
Favorite Meal: 14 bean soup or Raffetto’s cheese ravioli.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Rocky Road.
Last Book Read: Mike Tyson Undisputed Truth and The World Of Marcel Duchamp.
With LeRoy Neiman at his studio 1995.
