NORWALK, CONNECTICUT — Rock critic and author Dave Marsh died on August 14, 2026. He was 76.

Marsh died at his home in Norwalk, Connecticut. Jim Rotolo announced the death on social media. "Some sad news today, E Street Nation. Bruce Springsteen biographer, SiriusXM host, and my friend Dave Marsh passed away late yesterday at his home in Connecticut," Rotolo wrote.

Sirius XM issued a statement. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dave Marsh, a pioneering music journalist, author, broadcaster and longtime member of the SiriusXM family," the company said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

Marsh served as an early editor of Creem magazine. He helped launch the publication and worked with rock critic Lester Bangs. Marsh dropped out of Wayne State University in 1969 to pursue music journalism.

He later wrote for Rolling Stone, The Village Voice, and Newsday. Marsh became the music editor at Newsday in 1973. He served as associate editor at Rolling Stone.

Marsh authored more than 25 books. He wrote Before I Get Old: The Story of the Who, based on interviews with Pete Townshend. He wrote The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made.

He wrote The First Rock and Roll Confidential Report: Inside the Real World of Rock and Roll. He wrote Louie Louie: The History and Mythology of the World’s Most Famous Rock ‘n’ Roll Song. Marsh published texts on The Who, Sly & the Family Stone, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Black Sabbath.

Marsh spearheaded the first edition of the Rolling Stone Record Guide in 1979. The guide had its last edition in 2004.

Marsh launched the Rock & Roll Confidential newsletter in 1983. The newsletter was later renamed Rock & Rap Confidential.

Marsh expressed disdain for the bands Journey, Air Supply, and Kiss. In a review of Queen’s 1979 LP Jazz, he wrote: "Whatever its claims, Queen isn’t here just to entertain. This group has come to make it clear exactly who is superior and who is inferior. Its anthem, ‘We Will Rock You,’ is a marching order: you will not rock us, we will rock you. Indeed, Queen may be the first truly fascist rock band. The whole thing makes me wonder why anyone would indulge these creeps and their polluting ideas. Marsh reviewed Patti Smith’s 1978 album Easter."

Easter makes good on Patti Smith’s biggest boast — that she is one of the great figures of Seventies rock & roll," he wrote. "More importantly perhaps, it focuses her mystical and musical visions in a way that makes her the most profoundly religious American popular performer since Jim Morrison.

Marsh served on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominating committee for 26 years. He stated he did his share to keep [Kiss] off the ballot during his tenure.

Marsh married Barbara Carr on August 21, 1979. Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, Southside Johnny, and Jon Landau attended the wedding. Carr served as Springsteen’s co-manager for several decades.

Marsh co-hosted shows for the E Street Nation SiriusXM channel. He launched the "Kick Out the Jams" radio show in 2004 and hosted it for almost two decades. Marsh stepped away from hosting duties on E Street Radio in 2022. He told fans it had been one of the most significant parts of his career to be part of the channel.

Marsh and Carr established the Kristen Ann Carr Fund. Kristen Ann Carr died from sarcoma. The fund helps families of cancer patients and advances research for sarcoma treatment. Marsh and Carr organized a Bruce Springsteen concert on June 26, 1993, at Madison Square Garden to raise funds for the fund.

SiriusXM’s E Street Radio scheduled a tribute to Marsh for Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET.

Why It Matters

Marsh shaped rock criticism through his journalism and broadcasting. His work on Bruce Springsteen set a template for subsequent music journalism. Marsh co-created E Street Radio, which engaged Springsteen fans for nearly two decades. His advocacy for sarcoma research resulted in millions of dollars raised for treatment and patient support.

Timeline

Marsh dropped out of Wayne State University in 1969. Marsh became the music editor at Newsday in 1973. Marsh escorted Jon Landau to his first Bruce Springsteen concert in 1974.

Marsh wrote Rolling Stone’s first Bruce Springsteen cover story in 1978. Marsh published the biography Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story in 1979. Marsh spearheaded the first edition of the Rolling Stone Record Guide in 1979. Marsh married Barbara Carr on August 21, 1979. Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, Southside Johnny, and Jon Landau attended Marsh and Barbara Carr's wedding.

What's New

Later reporting indicates Marsh authored 25 books, including two best-selling biographies of Bruce Springsteen, and his work on Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story (1979) set the template for subsequent Springsteen journalism. Additional details show Marsh launched the "Kick Out the Jams" radio show in 2004. He hosted the "Kick Out the Jams" radio show for almost two decades. Marsh published texts on The Who, Sly & the Family Stone, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Black Sabbath. Further context notes Marsh dropped out of Wayne State University in 1969 to pursue music journalism, after which he began writing for Creem magazine. Marsh co-authored the 1974 essay 'I Saw Rock and Roll Future' for Jon Landau, which became a defining moment in promoting Bruce Springsteen's career. Kristen Ann Carr died from sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects bones and muscle tissue. The Kristen Ann Carr Fund helps families of cancer patients and advances research for sarcoma treatment.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on details regarding Marsh's bibliography. Primary sources state Marsh published the biography Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story in 1979. Web sources state Marsh authored 25 books, including two best-selling biographies of Bruce Springsteen, and his work on Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story (1979) set the template for subsequent Springsteen journalism.

Sources also differ on the Kristen Ann Carr Fund. Primary sources state Marsh and Barbara Carr organized a Bruce Springsteen concert on June 26, 1993, at Madison Square Garden to raise funds for the Kristen Ann Carr Fund. Web sources state The Kristen Ann Carr Fund, named after Marsh's daughter, has raised over $2 million since its founding in 1993 to support sarcoma research and young adult cancer patients. Sources differ on Marsh's radio role. Primary sources state SiriusXM’s E Street Radio scheduled a tribute to Marsh for Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 10 a.m. ET. Rotolo stated Dave wrote several books about Bruce as part of a remarkable body of work spanning some 25 titles and was one of the creators of E Street Radio and hosted Kick Out the Jams on SiriusXM for 19 years. Sources differ on Marsh's books. Primary sources state Marsh wrote the book Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story. Web sources state Marsh authored 25 books, including two best-selling biographies of Bruce Springsteen, and his work on Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story (1979) set the template for subsequent Springsteen journalism. Sources differ on specific titles. Primary sources state he wrote the book Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story. Other primary sources state he wrote the book The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Sources differ on Marsh's radio hosting. Primary sources state Marsh co-hosted shows for the E Street Nation SiriusXM channel. He said Dave was one of the creators of E Street Radio and hosted Kick Out the Jams on SiriusXM for 19 years. Sources differ on Marsh's Springsteen coverage. Web sources state Marsh authored 25 books, including two best-selling biographies of Bruce Springsteen, and his work on Born to Run: The Bruce Springsteen Story (1979) set the template for subsequent Springsteen journalism. Primary sources state he wrote Rolling Stone’s first Bruce Springsteen cover story in 1978. Sources differ on the fund's establishment. Primary sources state Marsh and Barbara Carr established the Kristen Ann Carr Fund. Web sources state The Kristen Ann Carr Fund, named after Marsh's daughter, has raised over $2 million since its founding in 1993 to support sarcoma research and young adult cancer patients.