People : Music Takes a Bookish Turn

What do writers and rock stars have in common? Both groups have been told over and over--by their parents and every other grown-up in their lives--never to quit their day jobs.

In the case of the Rock Bottom Remainders, however, the similarity does not stop there. As musicians, they may not be as well-known as the Rolling Stones. But as best-selling authors they are just as famous.

The scary-looking guy on rhythm guitar is Stephen King. Dave Barry plays lead guitar. Robert Fulghum is on mandocello. Ridley Pierson plays bass, with Barbara Kingsolver on keyboards. Amy Tan does vocals, along with Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Tad Bartimus--and, from time to time, Susan Faludi.

The critics had to get their two cents in, of course--this time in the form of a critics’ chorus made up of Roy Blount Jr., Matt Groening, Greil Marcus, Dave Marsh and Joel Selvin.

The Remainders begin an eight-city East Coast tour on Thursday with proceeds benefiting several literacy and First Amendment groups.

Naturally, they are writing a book about themselves. “Mid-Life Confidential,” the remarkable true story of the Rock Bottom Remainders, is scheduled to be published by Viking in 1994.