Paul Nelson Documentary Project

Paul Nelson (right) with Jackson Brown

documentary IN PROGRESS

​Paul Nelson was a quiet, eccentric 65 year-old-man who dressed in the same clothes everyday and ate the same meal in the same place everyday.  At the time, he lived in poverty and obscurity, working in video store in New York’s West Village. Years earlier he was an iconic rock journalist changing the way people listened to music, capturing the music and times of the 60s, 70s and 80s. 

As the most influential rock journalist of his era and beyond, writing Rolling Stone cover articles on Bob Dylan, Warren Zevon and Jackson Browne. Paul championed Patti Smith, the Sex Pistols and Bruce before anyone heard of them. He signed the New York Dolls to a deal at Mercury Records as an A&R man. He ignited the career of Jackson Browne, he was David Bowie’s publicist and wrote a book about Rod Stewart.  Eventually an article circulated on the web titled’ Whatever happened to Paul Nelson?” where people learned the truth about Paul. It was a shocking revelation. Who was he? What had he become and why?

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