And here's how his book opens. I've returned to this passage again and again...
January 17, 2026 at 11:29 AM
And here's how his book opens. I've returned to this passage again and again...
Shilts died of AIDS-related illness in 1994. He was 42.
January 17, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Shilts died of AIDS-related illness in 1994. He was 42.
(Like many great books) it wasn't uncontroversial: Shilts foregrounds one early victim, 'Patient Zero', making him seem more important than he probably was. This turns him from victim to villain. I'd balance that: plenty of other characters come out worse, one leading HIV researcher in particular.
January 17, 2026 at 11:16 AM
(Like many great books) it wasn't uncontroversial: Shilts foregrounds one early victim, 'Patient Zero', making him seem more important than he probably was. This turns him from victim to villain. I'd balance that: plenty of other characters come out worse, one leading HIV researcher in particular.
Shilts manages about ten narrative threads, characterises about 100 protagonists beautifully, cogently breaks down insanely illogical political struggles, has a punchy prose style...
January 17, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Shilts manages about ten narrative threads, characterises about 100 protagonists beautifully, cogently breaks down insanely illogical political struggles, has a punchy prose style...
Finding it impossible to put down AND THE BAND PLAYED ON by Randy Shilts, an incredible account of the early (76–85) years of AIDS. Purely from a technical point of view, it's incredible non-fiction writing.
January 17, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Finding it impossible to put down AND THE BAND PLAYED ON by Randy Shilts, an incredible account of the early (76–85) years of AIDS. Purely from a technical point of view, it's incredible non-fiction writing.
📖: And The Band Played On by Randy Shilts
January 14, 2026 at 12:32 AM
📖: And The Band Played On by Randy Shilts
We have a habit of being late to parties — showed up at our college newspaper a couple years after Randy Shilts left.
January 12, 2026 at 3:35 PM
We have a habit of being late to parties — showed up at our college newspaper a couple years after Randy Shilts left.
Just started reading Shilt's And the Band Played On. I know the characterization of Patient Zero is wrong (I like to think Shilts would have been interested in the later studies about it if he had lived), but an incredibly interesting read and a way to re-contextualize my childhood in many ways.
January 7, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Just started reading Shilt's And the Band Played On. I know the characterization of Patient Zero is wrong (I like to think Shilts would have been interested in the later studies about it if he had lived), but an incredibly interesting read and a way to re-contextualize my childhood in many ways.
Shilts? Fantastic thumb guards (as the name would let you know) especially for Meyer who likes to counter cut with the flat.
January 5, 2026 at 9:41 PM
Shilts? Fantastic thumb guards (as the name would let you know) especially for Meyer who likes to counter cut with the flat.
Final tweaks made on spring syllabi.
Health Law and Politics:
Political Life of Medicare- @oberlanderunc.bsky.social
Fragmented Democracy- @povertyscholar.bsky.social
The Ten Year War- @citizencohn.bsky.social
Abortion and the Law- @maryrziegler.bsky.social
And the Band Played On- Randy Shilts
Health Law and Politics:
Political Life of Medicare- @oberlanderunc.bsky.social
Fragmented Democracy- @povertyscholar.bsky.social
The Ten Year War- @citizencohn.bsky.social
Abortion and the Law- @maryrziegler.bsky.social
And the Band Played On- Randy Shilts
January 5, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Final tweaks made on spring syllabi.
Health Law and Politics:
Political Life of Medicare- @oberlanderunc.bsky.social
Fragmented Democracy- @povertyscholar.bsky.social
The Ten Year War- @citizencohn.bsky.social
Abortion and the Law- @maryrziegler.bsky.social
And the Band Played On- Randy Shilts
Health Law and Politics:
Political Life of Medicare- @oberlanderunc.bsky.social
Fragmented Democracy- @povertyscholar.bsky.social
The Ten Year War- @citizencohn.bsky.social
Abortion and the Law- @maryrziegler.bsky.social
And the Band Played On- Randy Shilts
Now Playing on The Source:Smooth Jazz Radio: Shilts - Good Evans. Tune in at https://www.thesourcesmoothjazzradio.com/ and listen now!
December 30, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Now Playing on The Source:Smooth Jazz Radio: Shilts - Good Evans. Tune in at https://www.thesourcesmoothjazzradio.com/ and listen now!
December 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Howie Klein was a friend of Randy Shilts and one of my sources for When the Band Played On. We had dinner on my visit to L.A. last year and he was as lovely in person as he was brilliant in his activism. I’m so grateful to have met this remarkable human being. ❤️🩹
Heartbroken to hear about the passing of amazing Howie Klein - founder of the progressive blog @downwithtyranny.bsky.social.
He was a brilliant blogger (from OG netroots) who made his mark as a big time music exec. Most importantly he was a kind human & a good friend. Rest in power Howie.
He was a brilliant blogger (from OG netroots) who made his mark as a big time music exec. Most importantly he was a kind human & a good friend. Rest in power Howie.
December 25, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Howie Klein was a friend of Randy Shilts and one of my sources for When the Band Played On. We had dinner on my visit to L.A. last year and he was as lovely in person as he was brilliant in his activism. I’m so grateful to have met this remarkable human being. ❤️🩹
Now Playing on The Source:Smooth Jazz Radio: Shilts - Headboppin. Tune in at https://www.thesourcesmoothjazzradio.com/ and listen now!
December 23, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Now Playing on The Source:Smooth Jazz Radio: Shilts - Headboppin. Tune in at https://www.thesourcesmoothjazzradio.com/ and listen now!
Wembley 1972
Despite the appalling Health and Safety issues of the past-its-sell-by-date national stadium, Peter 'Shilts' Shilton and Bobby 'but you have not paid for that bracelet, Señor' Moore find time to invent soccer metrosexuality:
Despite the appalling Health and Safety issues of the past-its-sell-by-date national stadium, Peter 'Shilts' Shilton and Bobby 'but you have not paid for that bracelet, Señor' Moore find time to invent soccer metrosexuality:
December 20, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Wembley 1972
Despite the appalling Health and Safety issues of the past-its-sell-by-date national stadium, Peter 'Shilts' Shilton and Bobby 'but you have not paid for that bracelet, Señor' Moore find time to invent soccer metrosexuality:
Despite the appalling Health and Safety issues of the past-its-sell-by-date national stadium, Peter 'Shilts' Shilton and Bobby 'but you have not paid for that bracelet, Señor' Moore find time to invent soccer metrosexuality:
Now Playing on The Source:Smooth Jazz Radio: Shilts - See What Happens. Tune in at https://www.thesourcesmoothjazzradio.com/ and listen now!
December 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Now Playing on The Source:Smooth Jazz Radio: Shilts - See What Happens. Tune in at https://www.thesourcesmoothjazzradio.com/ and listen now!
"with a special emphasis on government indifference" did you read the book or see the movie, I haven't seen the movie
December 14, 2025 at 6:10 PM
"with a special emphasis on government indifference" did you read the book or see the movie, I haven't seen the movie
“And The Band Played On” by Randy Shilts (RIP)
It’s a total page turner, and important recent history we should never forget.
It’s a total page turner, and important recent history we should never forget.
December 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM
“And The Band Played On” by Randy Shilts (RIP)
It’s a total page turner, and important recent history we should never forget.
It’s a total page turner, and important recent history we should never forget.
Now Playing on The Source:Smooth Jazz Radio: Shilts - A Promise Is a Promise. Tune in at https://www.thesourcesmoothjazzradio.com/ and listen now!
December 11, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Now Playing on The Source:Smooth Jazz Radio: Shilts - A Promise Is a Promise. Tune in at https://www.thesourcesmoothjazzradio.com/ and listen now!
Nobody my parents'age was gay. Nobody older than me at all was trans, except Chaz Bono and he was a passing headline I remembered from somewhere. And then through a story here and a story there and eventually a book by Randy Shilts I grasped the enormity of that silence and I have never recovered.
December 2, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Nobody my parents'age was gay. Nobody older than me at all was trans, except Chaz Bono and he was a passing headline I remembered from somewhere. And then through a story here and a story there and eventually a book by Randy Shilts I grasped the enormity of that silence and I have never recovered.
nurses and doctors collapsing with PTSD; Randy Shilts’ funeral protested by bigots; working at anti viral biotech when CSO said at best, we may slow this down but not cure (and that is best for bottom line); gay men starting own treatment hotline to take care of their own.
2/2
2/2
December 2, 2025 at 3:03 AM
nurses and doctors collapsing with PTSD; Randy Shilts’ funeral protested by bigots; working at anti viral biotech when CSO said at best, we may slow this down but not cure (and that is best for bottom line); gay men starting own treatment hotline to take care of their own.
2/2
2/2
If you haven’t read “And The Band Played On” by Randy Shilts, please do.
We read this in college and it was of the most impactful books I’ve ever held.
Today we remember those we’ve lost to AIDS by honoring their memory, educating ourselves and ending the stigma.
We read this in college and it was of the most impactful books I’ve ever held.
Today we remember those we’ve lost to AIDS by honoring their memory, educating ourselves and ending the stigma.
December 2, 2025 at 3:02 AM
If you haven’t read “And The Band Played On” by Randy Shilts, please do.
We read this in college and it was of the most impactful books I’ve ever held.
Today we remember those we’ve lost to AIDS by honoring their memory, educating ourselves and ending the stigma.
We read this in college and it was of the most impactful books I’ve ever held.
Today we remember those we’ve lost to AIDS by honoring their memory, educating ourselves and ending the stigma.
Hey btw it’s World AIDS Day and, as a harm redux/needle exchange slut, the entire foundation of grassroots harm redux comes from the AIDS activism work during the 80s+90s. And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts is a standard for understanding the events of the early days; the movie is also v good.
And the Band Played On (1993) - Full Movie
YouTube video by Lifetime Movies
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Hey btw it’s World AIDS Day and, as a harm redux/needle exchange slut, the entire foundation of grassroots harm redux comes from the AIDS activism work during the 80s+90s. And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts is a standard for understanding the events of the early days; the movie is also v good.