Join Dave Barry, Amy Tan, Mitch Albom, Scott Turow and the rest of the literary all-stars who make up the Rock Bottom Remainders at the Nokia Theater in Times Square April 23 in a special concert benefiting the 92nd Street Y, America’s Promise and relief efforts in Haiti through World Vision. Most of the Remainders have appeared at the 92nd Street Y talking about their writing, but have you seen them play rock and roll? The Remainders have no music videos, no record contract, no Grammy® nominations—but do have over 159,000 hits on Google.  Support these wonderful causes, get your tickets today. 

We recently asked Scott Turow, attorney and best-selling mystery suspense novelist, a few questions about the band and his craft.

As a lawyer, writer and member of a rock band, which part of you should we trust the least?

I am always totally sincere—honestly, i really mean it, cross my heart.

Carlos Fuentes has said, “Writing is a struggle against silence.” What is the struggle of the Rock Bottom Remainders?

Against discerning tastes.

You once noted your role in the group is “to set a bottom threshold for musical ability.” That seems like a tall order for a band already named Rock Bottom Remainders. How do you do it?

Compared to me, every member of the band, even on the worst off-night, sounds like Beethoven. I am reliably bad, in all venues, seasons and musical modes.

The April 23 concert is a benefit for World Vision’s efforts on behalf of Haiti relief, the 92nd Street Y, and the America’s Promise Alliance. All of the band members have spoken at 92Y in the past (you appeared 3 times between 1989 and 2002) in your more recognizable professions as writers. What does it mean for you to support these causes and specifically the literary tradition of 92Y?

Amy Tan once noted that the members of the band have enough fun with each other that we would probably play to kill the whales, but with causes as worthy as 92Y we can sort of operate with deep cover.  A presumption of good intentions clings to anyone who says, “I’m doing this for the 92nd Street Y.” People recall the great voices of literature who have appeared there over the years and think, even as they listen to us, “some good may still come of this.”

Your first appearance at 92Y was for your breakout debut Presumed Innocent. Twenty-two years (and seven best-selling novels) later, its sequel, Innocent, is set to be published in May. Why return to Rusty Sabich? How would you describe your connection to the character?

It is clearer and clearer to me that i wanted to go back to the beginning for personal reasons.  Rusty’s voice—which is not the only one in innocent—is still automatic for me, deeply felt and largely spontaneous

And lastly, is Kindle County sponsored by Amazon yet?

No one has mentioned it yet.

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