Gene Triplett, a Hall of Fame journalist and longtime entertainment editor at The Oklahoman, died on June 6 at the age of 77.
I never met Gene, but I read his work. He did plenty of other entertainment coverage in film and the performing arts, but I’d like to focus on his music writing here.
Gene was a champion of The Flaming Lips, when they were still very outside the mainstream. Giving shine to the band in the state’s largest newspaper led to many suburban normies — including myself — to discover the band for the first time. He did the same for Chainsaw Kittens, Starlight Mints, The Mimsies and more…