The scariest interview I ever did

In 2005, literally as Hurricane Katrina was slamming into New Orleans, I arrived at Larry Harvey’s trailer to interview him for Wired. I’d been promised 30 minutes. As I stepped into the trailer, I was about to ask my first question when Larry launched into a soliloquy. Half an hour later, he was still going when there was a knock at the door, and his assistant stuck her head in to say our time was up. I was terrified. I owed Wired an interview, and I literally hadn’t asked even a single question yet. I was more terrified when Larry waved off his assistant and said we were doing fine. Two hours later I emerged with one of the most intense, eccentric interviews I’ve ever done. Transcribing it became a camp effort–it really does take a village. The result, though, was a view into his complex, visionary mind. I’ll never forget it.