See what people are saying!

KGO ABC News San Francisco

10.17.2025 “Randy Shilts: Gay San Francisco journalist paved way for others to be out publicly,” by Ken Miguel and Cornell Barnard

Lambda Literary

07.30.2025 “Announcing the Finalists for the 37th Annual Lambda Literary Awards,” by L D Lewis

WHEN THEN BAND PLAYED ON has been named a finalist for the 2025 Lambda Literary Award in Gay Memoir/Biography!

POZ Magazine

03.12.2025 “Randy Shilts reexamined,” by Matthew Rodriguez

The Gay & Lesbian Review

March-April 2025 “Of Milk, the military, and the plague,” reviewed by Brian Bromberger

Midwest Book Review

02.2025 “The LGBTQ Studies Shelf” (review)

The Lancet HIV

02.10.2025 “Controversial chronicler of LGBTQ rights,” reviewed by Talha Burki (subscription required)

“Although sympathetic to his subject, Lee does not gloss over Shilts’ shortcomings… When the Band Played On is colourful, concise, and elegantly composed.”

Seattle Gay News

01.31.2025 “When the Band Played On: A complicated biography of Shilts and the book that made America pay attention to AIDS,” reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer

Los Angeles Blade

01.18.2025 “Telling the Randy Shilts story,” reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer

Washington Blade

01.18.2025 “Telling the Randy Shilts story,” reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer

QNotes Carolina

01.17.2025 “Out in Print: ‘When the Band Played On: The Life of Randy Shilts, America’s Trailblazing Gay Journalist,’” reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer

OutSFL.com

01.06.2025 “‘When the Band Played On: The Life of Randy Shilts, America’s Trailblazing Gay Journalist,’” reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer

TerryShepherd.com

01.01.2025 “Michael Lee – When the Band Played On” in Conversation with Terry Shepherd

Gaywheels

12.11.2024 “Gift Idea: New Book Takes Deep Look at Gay Author Randy Shilts, ” by Sam Gomez

Bear World Magazine

12.11.2024 “New Book Takes Deep Look at Gay Journalist Randy Shilts,” reviewed by Sam Gomez

The Outcasts Creative

12.09.2024 “Industry Interview 89 – WHEN THE BAND PLAYED ON – The Randy Shilts Biography – Michael G. Lee”

Minnesota Public Radio News

11.20.2024 “In a new book, Minnesota author spotlights unsung hero from the HIV/AIDS crisis” on Minnesota Now with Nina Moini

Out Front Magazine

10.31.2024 “Randy Shilts: ‘Making History While Reporting It’”
by Astrophel L.C.

Coachella Valley Independent

10.31.2024 “A Path for Others: A New Biography of Randy Shilts is the Focus of an Upcoming Discussion Between Author Michael G. Lee and Journalist Hank Plante” by Kevin Fitzgerald

OutBeat Radio News: KRCB, Northern California Public Media

10.27.2024 Interview with Michael G. Lee, Author of WHEN THE BAND PLAYED ON

LGBTQ Nation

10.21.2024 “Making history while reporting it: a legendary journalist’s crusade against AIDS” by Rodney Wilson, Founder of LGBTQ+ History Month

Halifax Examiner

10.21.2024 mentioned in “Virtual queer historians symposium set for Friday and Saturday” by Evelyn C. White, author of ALICE WALKER: A LIFE

Drinking the Tea Kiki

10.16.2024 mentioned in “Ep. 4 – The Creation of LGBTQ+ History Month with Rodney Wilson”

Victory & Reseda

10.16.2024 mentioned in “Reporter’s Notebook: Time For Another Change,” by Randy Stern

Twin Cities Gay Scene

10.09.2024 AnderSCENE! “Minnesota author and educator Michael Lee,” by David Anderson

The Bay Area Reporter

10.07.2024 “New biography of gay reporter Randy Shilts reveals complicated trailblazer,” by Brian Bromberger

San Francisco Bay Times

10.17.2024 “Panel Discussion on the Book When the Band Played On: The Life of Randy Shilts,” photos by RINK

10.03.2024 “When the Band Played On: The Life of Randy Shilts, America’s Trailblazing Gay Journalist,” reviewed by Dr. Bill Lipsky

10.03.2024 “Why Are All Gay Journalists Called Randy?” by Randy Alfred

10.03.2024 Excerpt From When the Band Played On: The Life of Randy Shilts

Lavender Magazine

10.03.2024 “New Book Takes A Deeper Look Into “Trailblazing” Journalist Randy Shilts,” by Randy Stern

05.30.2024 “A Day In The Life: Michael Lee”

Kirkus Reviews

09.14.2024 Review of WHEN THE BAND PLAYED ON: THE LIFE OF RANDY SHILTS, AMERICA’S TRAILBLAZING GAY JOURNALIST

Publishers Weekly

08.16.2024 mentioned in “The Big Indie Books of Fall 2024,” by Matt Seidel

KPIX CBS News Bay Area

06.05.2024 “Remembering trailblazing reporter Randy Shilts’ impact chronicling LGBT history,” by Wilson Walker