NPR Interview Analysis

Terry Gross had a basic knowledge of the background of the band. She even knew that wearing a Metallica shirt in Baghdad was considered serious taboo. She knew that the band’s name was Latin for black scorpion. You can tell she did her homework, citing the band’s origins, struggles, and aspirations. I’m sure she had viewed the film, “Heavy Metal in Baghdad.” It was cool that she played a clip of their music so we could get a feel for the band’s musical personality.

She asked questions pertaining to the rare heavy metal presence in Baghdad. Her questions really hit on how and why the band got into heavy metal while living in Iraq. She asked how accessible heavy metal music is in Iraq. She also touches on their musical influences and asks who inspired them. Her questions lead up to the invasion and fall of Saddam Hussein. Then her questions begin to ask how their musical experiences were affected by the fall of Saddam.

Based on the band’s responses, Terry Gross would mold her questions accordingly. It didn’t seem like she had a strict set of questions but rather her set of questions were adaptable to the band’s responses. Her strategy was one of neutrality, especially when it came to the American invasion of Iraq. She steered away from questions like, “How did the invasion make you feel?” Rather she asked questions about how the invasion affected their music, and how they were treated with prejudice and violence. She didn’t focus on their actual personal beliefs, but concentrated on their music and how the music was affected.

The relationship between Terry Gross and the band was one of respect and curiosity. It really sounds like Gross has a genuine interest in the topic. The band is eager to tell their story. This makes for a solid interview because both sides are equally involved.

I learned that in order to have a successful interview, the interviewer must do their homework on the subject. It is easy to tell when a person has in-depth knowledge on a topic. The fact that Terry Gross was involved with her subject made the interview credible.