Book Description

The small format edition of the classic rock biography has been updated to include details of the group's activities over the last 18 months including their forthcoming box set In A Word and international tour. They have been on the rock circuit for almost 35 years. Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, Chris Squire and Bill Bruford are just some of the star players who helped make the band one of the greatest ever names in classic rock.

Their turbulent story spans the early days of pub and club gigs, international supergroup status in the heyday of rock, and various line-ups since. Rock critic Chris Welch was there for the whole crazy journey, interviewing the changing band members many times over the years. Now he tells their complex and often hilarious story with the help of interviews with band members past and present. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Cobbled together news articles shed little light
I have to agree with most of the reviews here; mostly personality and business problems, little on the construction of what is some of the most complex music of the 20th century.

The book is best when Welch talks about the early years of the band; how they started, where they came from. After the Yes Album, a lot of the book seems concerned with chart numbers, gold and platinum sales, accounting discrepencies, and first-class trips to Bermuda. A lot of this material reads as if Welch had just boilerplated his original articles into book form with little or no editing.

Paul Stump does better with less, and we get a strong picture of the music. Not here. Funny vegetarian stories and Trevor Rabin's musical awards.

Close to the edge...meh
this is a great story about yes. its full of alot of details and it can be intersting at one pont and then funny at another. the problem i have with this book is that chris welch, the author, didnt write this book so good. its hard to understand it because there are barely any commas so you have to keep reading lines twice in this book a lot. I do suggest this book though for the story although it mighht be hard to understand at some times.

MOUNTAINS COME OUT OF THE SKY AND THEY STAND THERE
My favorite progressive rock band from the 1970s as money grubbing spoiled rock stars? Yes? No! The author certainly loves the band but reveals them as quite human after all, blowing the lid off the Yes mystique of cosmic peace and mind altering exploration, as they scramble to keep pace with changing public musical tastes and advancing middle age. Even after reading "Close To The Edge, The Story of Yes", the band members remain as strangers coming across as mere participants in the great machine called Yes, and as less than mature men who blame all their troubles on everyone but themselves. The author's narrative rolls along serving Yes information, however tedious to the unadorned, in an enjoyable way until the end when he suddenly dropa out of sight allowing the concluding chapter to serve as a promotion for the band's new album. One wonders if the band's participation for the book was dependent on that promotion.

Want to know about Yes? Buy this book!
As a major Yes fan for over 25 years, I've often thought I knew everything there was to know about the band. Well, Chris Welch taught me a few things. His linear approach and comfortable style of writing made the book very hard to put down. I was enthralled by his descriptions of recording sessions; tours; member resignations; firings; and even how much they got paid for each gig in the early days. He delves into each member's personality and you get a feeling for how the members made the band more than a product of the sum of their individual efforts. If there's even just a single biographical book you buy this year, make it this one.

Dissapointing
30 years ago Chris Welch was, through my formative musical years, one of the rock journalists I looked up to! But now, 30 years on and looking back, I found this biography more consistent with my adolescent literary needs of 30 years ago! While containing many facts, it also has much irrelevant nonsense and somewhat twee statements most annoyingly followed by exclamation marks (about one per page)! So much so that I got tired of the 6th form style of writing very quickly! E.g. P41 on the longevity of the band "...but here we are, still going thirty years later!". P42 on meeting other members "Within a week I had met Chris!". On P43, on early photos, "They would now be of great historical value - if Chris hadn't lost the lot!" On P43 again, on Jon Anderson's autocracy "Everyone was entitled to HIS opinion. That's the best way of putting it!". Note the tiresome and repetetive exclamation marks! Are these supposed convey Wow!? Amazing!? Oh Dear!? Oh Christ!? Or what!? Whatever the intention it becomes annoying very quickly and the text ends up reading like a fan club member's essay full of some kind of mock astonishment, conveyed by endless exclamation marks! There are better Yes books around! (Annoying exclamation marks there to illustrate a point). ... Read more

Book Description

Lobotomy is a lurid and unlikely temperance tract from the underbelly of rock 'n' roll. Taking readers on a wild rollercoaster ride from his crazy childhood in Berlin and Munich to his lonely methadone-soaked stay at a cheap hotel in Earl's Court and newfound peace on the straight and narrow, Dee Dee Ramone catapults readers into the raw world of sex, addiction, and two-minute songs. It isn't pretty. With the velocity of a Ramones song, Lobotomy rockets from nights at CBGB's to the breakup of the Ramones' happy family with an unrelenting backbeat of hate and squalor: his girlfriend ODs; drug buddy Johnny Thunders steals his ode to heroin, "Chinese Rock"; Sid Vicious shoots up using toilet water; and a pistol-wielding Phil Spector holds the band hostage in Beverly Hills. Hey! Ho! Let's go! ... Read more

Reviews (19)

An unhappy life by an unhappy man.....
I've read a lot of memoirs by musicians, but I have never read one with this much whining in it! In "Lobotomy", Dee Dee Ramone blames everything on everyone else, from his parents (who do sound dreadful) to the guys in the band & their management. For instance, he admits in several places in the memoir that he didn't bother turning up to play bass on a number of the Ramones' albums. Yet he then turns around & cries his favorite lament "No one would give me a break. They were all against me." Sorry, Dee Dee but I have never heard of a band that would continue carrying a bass player who didn't even bother turning up for recording sessions! Any other band would have kicked him out the first time that happened! He also moans about "the constant pressure to write songs". Then he lists all the songs written by Joey Ramone without him, most of which are the Ramones' best tunes! So where exactly is this pressure coming from? These are just 2 examples, but literally, nearly every page in this book contains the words "they wouldn't give me a break" or "they were my enemy"! It really becomes monotonous after awhile.

Additionally, all the drinking & drugging seems to have caused problems with sequential memory. Discussing his childhood, Dee Dee tells us he never learned to read due to his fear of going to school. He must have learned somewhere, but the reader is never told about it. He bounces around addicted to first one drug, then simply tells us he is now addicted to a different one. Individuals are mentioned without explanation, girlfriends disappear without explanation, even band members suffer from this treatment. He tells us about Marky Bell's breakdown as "chicken boy" but then in the next chapter Marky is still drumming with no information about how he came back to reality!

Altho many black & white photos dot the book, the captions offer almost no information & pictures of anyone other than Dee Dee seem to be incidental.

If you are truly interested in the Ramones, the New York music scene of the late 70's, or even just want some good gossip, I cannot recommend "Lobotomy". Instead, look for "Please Kill Me" by Legs McNeil. You'll learn alot more & laugh a heck of a lot more!

Great book
No, it's not the best written book, but it's certainly better than the fluff piece "Ramones: An American Band". Dee Dee tells his story in a fragmented manner. He'll spend a paragraph discussing the recording of an album and then a full page talking about crashing his favorite car. Well, the car meant more to him, I suppose, and so what? It's still entertaining. For those who might be inclined to chastise Dee Dee for "whining" or for not being "grateful" for the career the Ramones afforded him, you've obviously never been in a successful band. All musicians are egomaniacs, and most successful ones are pessimists. Dee Dee Ramone was a drug addict. The book is written as if by a drug addict. Taking all of this into consideration, I think it's the most honest book I've ever read by a musician. It's also one of the most accurate overviews about conflicts among band members you'll find. If you're afraid of finding out about Dee Dee Ramone, don't read this book. If you're genuinely interested in the man, this book will offer some insight. If you don't like what you see, maybe you should've turned your head...

Lobotomy: Surviving the ramones
Lobotomy is definatly one of the better bookes written by one of the Ramones. This specific book invovles DEE DEE Ramone and his wiered out drug strucking life. It tell all about how he first started to play and how the band got together. This book is definalty a must read book if you are interested in the lives of rock n rock musicians. The book is really interesting because DEE DEE is a perfect example of how most rock n roll artist live their lives. DEE DEE also gives advice and feelings towards drug addiction and how it messes up his life. This book is a great book especially because it is very influential to get kids away from drugs and other things. Lobotomy was an over all easy read that made me kept reading from start to stop.

The best Dee Dee Ramone book period!...
This is the best sorce to find out how it's really like to be one of the ramones.Dee Dee gives you great insight on life of a drug addict,musican,and one of the most influencial bass players of all time. If you like the ramones at all you will love this book. The best part about it is that is is an easy read all chapters are less than 20 pages long...short like a ramones song! Long live Dee Dee Ramone, may he rest in peace.

Any TRUE Ramones fan would enjoy this book...
If you like the Ramones you will like this book. If you don't like the Ramones, you should like this book. It is a very good biography that is funny at sometimes and very sad at other times. This is one of the better books, go buy it now!! ... Read more

Book Description

The Stones' previous U.S. tour was a crazy chaotic circus that culminated with the murder of a fan by Hells Angels at the infamous Altamont racetrack. Now they were going back to America to play more shows in bigger arenas with a far larger entourage and even more drugs. Robert Greenfield's book is the riveting insider's account of this tour.Features a new foreword by prize-winning, bestselling crime novelist, Ian Rankin. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

One of the Best Books about Sex and Drugs and Rock'n'Roll
I read this book in one go. Once I started, I just could not put it down. Besides giving the reader a great inside look behind the scene of the 1972 tour madness of the Rolling Stones, the author also provieds us with an excellent snapshot of the political and social situation in the USA during the early seventies. Of course, you get all the juicy details of groupies, drugs and playboy bunnies - but you also get a feel for how depressing at times the isolation of a major tour can be. You should definitely buy this book, if you love Rock'n'Roll, no matter if you are a Rolling Stones fan or not !

Worse than Led Zeppelin: the Stone's 1972 US tour
Full of casual sex and violence, this is a salacious account of life on the road with the Rolling Stones. Greenfield excels at nailing personalities and describing the fishbowl the band lived in. The Stones begin the tour in a vulnerable state of mind, scared that their glory days are behind them. Their braggadocio picks up considerably as the tour progresses. Near the end we have 16 year old girls doing "favors", beatings are given to anyone who steps out of line, groupies being filmed "in action" (despite Bill Wyman's 10 yr old kid hanging around!) for that infamous tour movie who's title I can't even mention here. Plenty of cruel nihilism. Oh well, I didn't read this expecting a nursery rhyme! This book delivers, warts and all.

A Brilliant Book About The Stones's Last Brilliant Tour
I think I know this book by heart. I can still recite the tour cities and dates. And... ahem, ahem, I really believe the reason they got Keith out of jail in Warwick, RI was not because of "the show must go on" (please!), but because Keith would've started heroin withdrawl. Get it?

Classic!
I purchased and read this book when it was first published in the 1970s. It is a no-holds barred account of a rock band at its creative and decadent zenith during the legendary 1972 tour of America. Greenfield intersperses his blow-by-blow description of life on the road with vignettes of the interesting and off-beat fans and groupies that swirl around the vortex of the world's greatest rock and roll band. Particularly interesting is the drama surrounding the arrest of Keith Richards at a Boston airport prior to a concert, the scramble to get him out of jail thanks to the intervention of the mayor of Boston, and Keith's triumphant return to the stage. This is a Stones legend and this book tells it like you are there. Well-written and informative, I think I may just re-read this classic for the Nth time. A must for any Stones fan's bookshelf.

One of the best books about rock and roll
This could easily be subtitled "Fear and Loathing on the Concert Trail." A fantastic book that features intelligent writing and an unsentimental look at the cast of characters that accompanied the Rolling Stones on their tour of America in '72. I just finished re-reading it and I still think its the best look at life on the road. Highly recommended even if you're not a stones fan. ... Read more

Book Description

Freebirds: The Lynyrd Skynyrd Story is the first narrative biography to examine the roots, evolution, and eventual emergence of one of the most captivating bands in the history of rock and roll.

Though plagued by devastating personal tragedy, numerous personnel changes brought on by the ravages of working on the road, and the untimely deaths of some of its founding members, Lynyrd Skynyrd has continued to record, tour, and produce bestselling albums. Interwoven within this fascinating portrait are in-depth biographies, including the inside stories of the intricate interband relationships; the truth behind the charges of vehicular manslaughter, child molestation, and broken contracts; the origins of their songs; and much, much more.

The result is a mesmerizing look at how this southern rock legend endured and prevailed despite a history laden with professional disadvantages, personal loss, and the ego-fueled transition to international stardom. Recently nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Lynyrd Skynyrd celebrates stoic independence and bar-hopping camaraderie. The band's music infiltrates the mind with images of Southern landscapes, hard-driving women, and the importance of home and family.

This fascinating bio features one-on-one interviews with music legends Charlie Daniels, Warren Haynes, and Allen Woody; producer Al Kooper; Johnny Van Zant, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson, Ed King, Artimus Pyle, Rickey Medlocke, Hughie Thomasson, the widows of Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, and band members, family members, and record company executives. Also featured are dozens of never-before-published photographs, as well as a complete discography and bibliography. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Good Book - Don't Miss It
LYNYRD SKYNYRD is an enjoyable, well written book. It tracks the band from its scrappy beginnings to international recognition, honky tonks to stadiums.

I liked quite a few things about this book. Author Brant conducted many personal interviews and the resulting first person accounts made for very interesting, often amusing and occasionally poignant reading. There were also wonderful photographs, many I had never seen and I am a longtime fan. The story was told chronologically and that made for easy reading, as the book has quite a cast of characters.

I would recommend this book to a friend without hesitation.

Inside Skynyrd
I watched "Almost Famous: the bootleg cut" and director Cameron Crowe mentioned interviewing Ronnie Van Zant right before the crash. Ronnie confided to Crowe he was fed-up with a certain member of the band and wanted to fire him, but couldn't bring himself to do it because of loyalty. That got me really interested in reading something about Lynryrd Skynyrd! I've always enjoyed a good Skynyrd tune, but knew next to nothing about the the band members. This is a great book with lots of first hand accounts and interviews. I have nothing to compare it to, as this is the first book I've read on Skynyrd. I do know it kept me interested from beginning to end, and I'm not even what you'd call a "hardcore" fan. It's just a well-written and interesting book, very insiteful look at this band.

Great
I luved the book.it made me feel fuzy in side and it made me feel like a "Free Bird" so its great
bi

A MUST HAVE FOR ANY SKYNYRD FAN!
This is a greatly indept book that was highly researched. Although some events in the book may sound questionable, Marley Brant clearly states that he took all sides of the stories and put them in there. This book is so direct that it actualy stired up some bad blood with the band today. The book tells the story of the band from its days as One Percent to the rebirth of the band after the plane crash. Along with being a great read it is also accompied with alot of rare photos. CLEARLY A MUST HAVE FOR ANY SKYNYRD FAN!

Not a very good book.
This book may please casual fans or beginners to the Southern Rock genre. It's poorly written and hardly offers any insight to Lynyrd Skynyrd. There are a lot of errors and gaps, which will leave you with more questions about this band than before reading it. No extensive discography (I'm still wondering about the exact order of Muscle Shoals material) or any revelations concerning releases or the band and its members. Feels like a lot of gossip and hearsay. Definitely not satisfying. One star is for doing a book on Southern Rock. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

An enchanting, humorous tour of Grace's high and low moments
An autobiographical plane ride through the highlights, success, and rock bottom moments of Grace Slick's life and her musical career with Jefferson Airplane/Starship. Grace pulls no punches as she describes her relationships, substance use and abuse , and her musical experiences, while adding a clever dose of humor and insight. Grace provides a candid view of her artistic inspiration through her early appreciation of literature and drama in a memoir that flows quickly and covers all the topics - Woodstock, Monterey, Altamont, and tours with the Doors, Rolling Stones, etc. Grace tells it like it was during a time of musical revolution, experimentation, and frequent excess. Chapters in the book are rather short, however, and often leave the reader looking for more on interesting, colorful subjects with so much nostalgic potential. Interestingly, Grace Slick proves in this memoir that she is, and wasn't, just "Spacey Gracey," as many consider her. A great deal of the book "Somebody To Love" demonstrates a true sense of her creativity, wisdom, and intellect, while refusing to deviate from the hard-edged, outspoken style for which she is famous. Grace also seems to have found her purpose and her peace, and the book overall is a rollicking jaunt through some serious rock and roll times from a music legend who added so much to the experience.

Grace Slick Feeds Our Heads with a look at her life.
Grace Slick, although long retired from the Rock and Roll scene has come up at age 59 with an interesting look at her life, loves, music, and being part of the dynamic Jefferson Airplane. After 1967 the Airplane emerged out the Haight-Ashbury as the leading edge of the San Francisco Sound that included the Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Country Joe and the Fish, and Big Brother and the Holding Company. Grace was viewed as the Acid Queen by psychedelic revelers who would time their peaking to commence with the Airplane set at San Francisco's Fillmore or Avalon Ballroom's. The memoir will have some historical value as an example of life and activities in San Francisco during the 60's and 70's. Some of her memories definately will become Rock and Roll trivia items now that they are in print - some of them are x-rated for sure and not for the timid reader. I guess you will have to read the book to find out more about it.

Good Weekend Read or Airplane Book for Boomers
In this book, one gets a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the early years of rock music from Grace Slick's perspective. Revealed also is the evolution of a young, pre-Boomer (born in '39, she remembers WWII), raised in an affluent West Coast family, into a rock goddess/acid queen (and, eventually, into a gray-haired, vegan, AA attending animal rights activist). She came through to me as surprisingly likeable and less weird than I used to think. She doesn't make many excuses, clears up a few misunderstandings, makes some apologies, and is generally non-caustic whenever mentioning Marty Balin (Jefferson Airplane and Starship co-vocalist/rival). I suspect this book's main appeal is going to be limited to Baby Boomers who admired/observed figures like this from afar in their formative years, and would like to have a closer inside look. Good stories abound, and all the big moments are there: The Summer of Love, Monterrey Pop, Woodstock, Altamont - as well as characters such as Garcia, Crosby, Morrison and Joplin. There are a few photos. As usual, we also get an extensive pharmacopeia, as well as a detailed sexual history. The book is a little bit dated as it came out in 1998. Also, don't expect a serious music history or in-depth analysis of the cultural phenomenon we refer to as the "60's." It is more like eavesdropping on an old rocker reminiscing about the past. A good, quick weekend or airplane read, if you are in the right mood.

Entertaining and readable
A good book - light and entertaining. I enjoyed it a lot; though, I must confess, after I started the chapters about the Jefferson Starship period I kind of lost interest. I was more interested in the 60s Woodstock adventure . . . having not lived through it myself I found Grace's stories really personal and and it gave me a good idea of what times must have been like then. Made me sorry I missed it!
I recommend this book if you're looking for a first-hand account of the evolution of the 60s told by someone who is really down-to-earth. You can't help but love Grace!
The book was full of little inside moments too, such as the meaning behind "Our House" by Crosby, Stills, and Nash. It made the songs seem more real to me after I heard stories of the people who had written them.
Pick it up sometime and browse through it - you'll find some great inside scoop; read the whole thing, however, and you may find your mind wandering a little.

Not all that I hoped for!
Overall I'd say this book was mildly interesting. I'd hoped for a lot more discussion and details about rock n'roll in the 60s but what I wound up with was pretty much a hodge-podge of disjointed events. Grace also has a tendency to promote her personal social and political agendas which gets tiring.
Since I picked it up at the local library, at least I didn't have to shell out any cash! ... Read more

Book Description

Can’t get enough of the King? A lively romp through all things Presley, this sassy guide covers what you really want to know about the man who continues to leave generations of females “All Shook Up.”

“It’s just like being in junior high again. This book offers the scoop on Elvis’s way with women–the wives, the girlfriends, the screaming fans–and leaves plenty of room for ever important hair and wardrobe discussions...[and] films and concert highlights too.”–Time

The first book explicitly fashioned for Elvis Presley’s largest fan base, The Girls’ Guide to Elvis offers a fabulously fun look at the man who begged us to love him tender. This kitschy, dishy, gossip-filled guidebook is packed with never-before-seen photographs and tasty tidbits about the King of Rock and Roll and his insatiable appetite for females, finery, and good old down-home food. Discover Elvis’s bedroom do’s and don’ts.

Dig into details about his relationships with Priscilla, Ann-Margret, and Nancy Sinatra. Peek at snapshots of Presley on dates with local girls we never even knew about. Delve into his infamous shopping sprees and analyze his predilection for jewel-encrusted jumpsuits. Get the skinny on how Elvis felt about his weight–and even learn to cook low-fat versions of his favorite foods. Plus much, much more.

For Elvis fans of all ages--from those who screamed at Elvis the Pelvis in concert to those who know the immortal icon from CDs and DVDs--The Girls’ Guide to Elvis is a must-have keepsake. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Million stars!
I have read this over and over, and I never get tired of it! I love it. A must have.

I only learned one new bit of info
If you read many books on Elvis,you find that there are several versions of many stories about Elvis.I found 99% of the information in this book is probably accurate.Only small differences that really are important only to a die-hard fan.Since I have been following his life since 1956,I remember the original press clippings and some things have been changed as the years go by and younger people write about him who were not there or even born yet and rely on word of mouth stories that may not be accurate.

I love this book
Being a new Elvis Presley fan, I decided to pick up this book, hoping to learn some interesting facts about him. It is a lot more than just little tidbits! It's divided into eighteen chapters and it features interviews from Elvis's close friends, pictures, quotes from the King himself, recipes for low-fat versions of his favorite foods and much, much more.

Even if you've been a fan of his for a long time and you think you know everything about him, you will discover something new in this fascinating and fun book.

I think that all female fans of Elvis, new or old, should buy a copy of "The Girls' Guide To Elvis." You won't be disappointed! ... Read more

Book Description

For the first time ever in print: The full John Lennon Rolling Stone interviews from 1970. Includes substantial new material, never before published.

Here, available for the first time in full, are the extraordinary interviews with John Lennon conducted by Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner in 1970. With characteristic honesty and deadpan wit, Lennon discusses the break-up of the Beatles, his favorite tracks with the group and how they were made, fellow musicians including the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, his attitude toward revolution and drugs, and the tenderness of his relationship with Yoko Ono. Published on the twentieth anniversary of his death, and containing substantial material never before seen in print, Lennon Remembers presents a compelling portrait of a complex musical genius at the height of his career. Sometimes anguished and angry, often tender and poignant, these interviews are indispensable to understanding who John Lennon was and why his legacy continues to resonate today.

New foreword by Yoko Ono, new introduction by Jann Wenner. Includes never-before-published facsimiles of handwritten lyrics by Lennon. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Fascinating, Painful Recollections of the Beatles' End
In the "Forward" by Yoko Ono, she says, "There was no one like him and there never will be. And I miss him." If you are like me, I'm sure you will agree that these are the truest words in the book for each of us. All profits from this book go to gun control projects.

Let me describe what this book is. It contains a fully retranscribed and corrected complete text of the interview that Jann Wenner did with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in early December 1970, parts of which later appeared in Rolling Stone. Much of this material you have never read before. There are also reproductions of Lennon's handwritten notes of song lyrics from the album "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band" that are discussed in the interview.

In the introduction to this new edition, Jann Wenner characterizes the material here as "a candid, often painful, running commentary on fresh and urgent matters . . . and a self-portrait . . . ." "[I]n 1970 the Beatles were the biggest phenomenon on earth . . . ." [This was] "the first time . . . any of the Beatles stepped outside of that protected beloved fairy tale and told the truth." John Lennon later said that he didn't really believe everything he divulged in this interview. But it sounds pretty real to me as I reread it now. This is a man in intense psychological pain, and who has been for some time.

What, then, is revealed in the book? Aside from the usual stories about drugs and sex from touring, what struck me as most interesting was that Lennon considered what the Beatles had been a fraud artistically. "We were just a band who made it very, very big -- that's all." "But as soon as we made it, the edges were knocked off." "I'm not technically very good [on guitar]." ". . . I don't like many of the Beatles records either." "The only true songs I ever wrote were 'Help!' and 'Strawberry Fields.'"

His other source of pain was the reaction that Paul McCartney and George Harrison had to Yoko Ono. "They despised her." "They insulted her and they still do." "Ringo was alright and so was Maureen [Ringo's wife then]."

The commitment to peace is described often, and without the anger, pain, and regret that show up with all the other subjects. You feel like that was the only area where he could continually be himself. The interview is laced with constant references to his need "to be real."

He expressed a lot of regrets about having been a Beatle. "If I could be a f . . . ing [offensive word shortened] fisherman, I would!" "One has to completely humiliate oneself to be what the Beatles were, and that's what I resent." The interview contains many stories about how the families of local politicians and police departments would invade their privacy in offensive ways to Lennon.

The interview also goes into the details of the Beatles' breakup, contradicting the public story originally put out by Paul McCartney.

Music fans will enjoy his candid comments about the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and other well-known recording artists.

On the other hand, he is encouraged about the future. He describes his new album with Yoko Ono as "the best thing I've ever done." He also finds his relationship with her to be rewarding emotionally and artistically. She is open to new influences, and helps him to be also. We owe her a debt of gratitude for granting permission to release this new book. It must be painful for her now.

His hopes for the future were the most poignant part of the book:

"Do you have pictures of 'When I'm 64?'"

"No, no. I hope we're a nice old couple . . . looking at a scrapbook of madness."

After you have finished savoring this searing dialogue, I suggest that you ask yourself the kind of questions that John Lennon was asking. How real is your life? Are you doing what you think is important? How can you start doing better? If you do this, you will be honoring the best part of John Lennon's wonderful legacy to us all.

Be real and be at peace!

Living with good and bad, I always looked up to you
John Lennon gave only two lengthy, in-depth interviews in his life. The first was in 1970 to Rolling Stone magazine and his final interview was given in 1980 to Playboy. Both are instructive to read, especially when you contrast their tone and content. The Lennon in this book had just left the Beatles and was trying desperately to convince the interviewer and the public that it just didn't bloody matter. Though history has shown Lennon emerged from the Beatles break-up much more undamaged emotionally than McCartney, the dissolution of his band was bound to leave some scars. John puts up a bit of a front here and I fear he doth protest too much, especially when he says he can't remember much about the Beatles and didn't think they were that great of a band to begin with.

In 1970, John was in the midst of his Arthur Janov primal scream therapy and he talks about this at great length. If you're primarily interested in the Beatles, then you might wish to skip over this section. The most interesting chapters of the interview are undoubtedly his thoughts about the Beatles and his individual bandmates. Read this with caution, however. This was the same year Lennon penned the visceral anti-Paul ode, How Do You Sleep? His caustic comments about Paul would soften a trifle by 1980, as he himself admitted in the 1980 Playboy piece. There is also some intentional untruths here, such as when John says Lennon and McCartney rarely collaborated on a song post-1964. He corrects this in his '80 recollections. He tells some wonderful stories about Ringo and how he helped George with the lyrics to Taxman in 1966.

I first read this book at the age of 8, when it was published. It's remained an integral part of my Lennon collection and still makes for some excellent reading. Whether you've grown up on Lennon or are new to him, this is an indispensable tool in trying to understand his mindset at the critical juncture of his life.

A Moment in Time
Yes, a moment in time. Lennon was mecurial, that is, his mood shifted over time and had several different public careers. There was the moptop Lennon in 1964, the psychedelic Lennon in 1967, the hairy Lennon in 1969, the drunk Lennon in 1974, and the domestic comeback Lennon in 1980. But in 1970, it was the angry Lennon who underwent primal scream therapy and tried to cut off all ties with the Beatles, badmouthing nearly everyone from his past in an effort to forge a new public persona: the Yokoman who wanted peace and to exorcise his demons. He exorcises them here.

Interesting glimpse into Lennon's world
Colored by the recent break up of The Beatles, Lennon Remembers can't completely be taken at face value. Lennon himself later dismissed many of the comments he makes in the book. Still, there are many sections where Lennon comes clean about The Beatles and his own problems. While it lacks objectivity, Lennon Remembers does provide a snapshot glimpse into The Beatles and their contemporaries that other books fail to do.

There's a boatload of bitterness that colors Lennon's comments about his working relationship with Paul McCartney. Lennon would later retract many of the things he said and elaborate on why he fibbed or didn't tell the whole story. For a fuller, more complete view of The Beatles and Lennon, I'd recommend Lennon's Playboy interview published shortly before his death as well as The Beatles Anthology. Both provide a bit of fair balance missing from Jann Werner's interview. Lennon himself was initially upset when Werner published these interviews in book form as he agreed to do them provided that didn't occur.

Wonderful
It was fascinating; I couldn't put it down. It changed my opinion of John Lennon completely. I'm 15 and before I read this book, I tended to view Lennon in a negative light. Although I still disagree with a lot of the philosophy he espouses in the book, somehow reading it changed everything. Reading this book, one can see the good person that is at the core of Lennon's tormented being.

John Lennon pours out his heart in this book. It's touching. The portait you get of him is remarkably intimate. It doesn't matter if all the info is right or not. The picture it gives you is John Lennon at the time of the interview: how he felt and thought. It's intriguing.

Jann S. Wenner does an excellent job as interviewer. A truly satisfying read. ... Read more

Book Description

Let It Blurt is the raucous and righteous biography of Lester Bangs (1949-82)--the gonzo journalist, gutter poet, and romantic visionary of rock criticism. No writer on rock 'n' roll ever lived harder or wrote better--more passionately, more compellingly, more penetratingly. He lived the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, guzzling booze and Romilar like water, matching its energy in prose that erupted from the pages of Rolling Stone, Creem, and The Village Voice. Bangs agitated in the seventies for sounds that were harsher, louder, more electric, and more alive, in the course of which he charted and defined the aesthetics of heavy metal and punk. He was treated as a peer by such brash visionaries as Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Richard Hell, Captain Beefheart, The Clash, Debbie Harry, and other luminaries.

Let It Blurt is a scrupulously researched account of Lester Bangs's fascinating (if often tawdry and unappetizing) life story, as well as a window on rock criticism and rock culture in their most turbulent and creative years. It includes a never-before-published piece by Bangs, the hilarious "How to Be a Rock Critic," in which he reveals the secrets of his dubious, freeloading trade.
... Read more

Reviews (34)

Excellent book, well written,
I really enjoyed Let It Blurt, which is about the deceased rock critic Lester Bangs. I first read about Lester when Almost Famous came out, and read this book on a beach in Thailand last year, and it has stayed with me since that time. Lester died when I was 10, so I certainly didn't follow him, and other than a passion for music, Lester's taste in music was very different from mine, but I really enjoyed reading about him in this book. That is a good comment on DeRogatis as a writer, as I bore easily. Lester was a true individualist and someone with real passions, faults and weaknesses. He struggled and was human, and had this passion for music that many people have, so it is easy to relate in many ways if you have ever felt like you don't quite fit in, or are hyperopinionated, or just dislike the corporate machine. Highly recommended book.

Lester Bangs without tears
I give the book 5 stars because it's well done, but the book's subject is another matter.

I was a big fan of Lester Bangs in 1971-1974, when he was at Creem. One of his articles regarding his interview with Lou Reed (the one in which he refers to the interview as an attempt to bullfight a handball wall, or something like that - 1974?) was at that time one of the funniest things I'd read. He seemed to have great humor then.

I sent a couple of "unsolicited reviews" to Creem in the early 70's. They weren't published, but I still have Bangs' rejection letters. The only character in "Almost Famous" I sort of enjoyed was the Bangs character. I was a fan.

I didn't read anything Bangs wrote during the last several years of his life (I didn't read The Village Voice, NME, etc.), until "Carburetor Dung" was released in the late 80's. I still haven't read much of his stuff from that period because it's generally whiny and dull (at least the stuff I made it through in "Carburetor Dung"). Not knowing what became of him after about 1975, until his death, I remember when I heard he died in 1982 I was kind of surprised he was still a rock critic. Still? Why? I was also surprised his death appeared to be "drug related." I figured Lester was a smart enough guy that drugs were probably in the past for him by the early 1970's. But as is clear from "Please Kill Me" by McNeil and McCain, drugs were the predominant desire and influence in the lives of most of the people described in that book (the punk intelligentsia, including Bangs), most of whom were trash (to be generous), who bought into the tired old "artist as tormented substance abuser" myth. To their own pitiful and tedious destruction (Bangs, Johnny Thunders, Jerry Nolan, Stiv Bators, etc.). You wouldn't want to eat lunch with any of these people. You wouldn't want them as your neighbors. If the baby sitting agency sent one over to watch your kid, you'd stay home.

"Let it Blurt" confirms all or most of those views, whether or not that was the writer's intent.

Rock music as an expression of passion or political beliefs (MC5, Stooges, etc.) was generally dead by the early 70's (as the Bangs character in "Almost Famous" said to the Crowe character - something like, "You're here just in time for the funeral..."), and was generally replaced by commercial enterprises (geldings) such as the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, etc. The enjoyable part of the reaction to it (punk) lasted a year or two before it also degenerated into harmless commerce (new wave). Bangs apparently never got over any of this. Instead of moving on, he seemed to deteriorate into the Holden Caulfield of Rock Critics, lambasting the "phonies" (their name is Legion, for they are many), and others who made his life miserable with their insincerity and lack of imagination. He seemed to lose much of his sense of humor. The years (15-20) of drug abuse took their toll.

And so he died at 33. I used to feel a twinge of sadness when I considered that. Now...I'm much more ambivalent, particularly after reading this book. If this book is correct, and I suspect it is, this guy was a real self-absorbed pain during the last several years of his life. The 75-year old uncle who keeps complaining about his gall bladder. He became too precious to live.

The best epitaph I've read for this type of personality is found in Dostoyevsky's "The Possessed":

"Let me begin by saying that Stepan Verkhovensky had always cut a rather special figure among us - in the civic sense, that is. He passionately loved his role - so much so, in fact, that I don't think he could have lived without it. But don't think that I mean to compare him with an actor - God forbid - I respect him too much for that. It may have been largely a matter of habit, or rather a constant and even praiseworthy tendency, ever since his childhood, to slip into a pleasant daydream about his taking a gallant civic stand. Thus, he greatly relished his idea of himself as a persecuted man - in fact, an exile. There is about these two words a certain traditional glamour that seduced him once and for all. As the years went by, by exalting this glamour he placed himself, in his own estimation, on a pedestal that greatly gratified his vanity."

And so Bangs OD'd in his hovel in New York, and was put to bed with a shovel.

Derogatis does Bangs justice
Derogatis does a fine job telling the tale of the Lester Bangs legacy. I will spare the great details that other reviewers have mentioned, however I will say that Derogatis made me feel not as if I was reading a fantastic biography of Lester's life, but as if I was present for it. Very few authors have that ability, which is why I would highly recommend this great read.

Superb journalism, understated and compelling
If you want to experience Lester Bangs' writing, buy one of the many rock criticism compendiums that include his reviews. If you want to know what it was like in the 70s and 80s, in the hey day of rock--and the rock criticism Bangs helped invent--buy Let It Blurt. While it may seem that Derogatis' understated book is "just the facts," anyone who has experience writing at book length will recognize that Derogatis not only did an extraordinary job of reporting, he then did a brilliant and subtle job of selecting and arranging the information so that the book is real page-turner. I've purchased quite a few books by big-name journalists only to find them to be full of hyperventilation and name dropping. In contrast, Derogatis sticks with his story, and never gets sidetracked telling anecdotes about the glitterati. As a small-time music critic working in New England in the 70s, I had passing acquaintances with a number of the people mentioned in this book (not Bangs, though) and loved the way that Derogatis portrayed each of them using just a few key details. Absolutely top-notch work on a thought-provoking topic.

Fascinating character, devastated life...
This is a fan's book though it is not a hagiography of St Lester. DeRogatis had met Lester shortly before his death and met his friends, relatives, acquaintances, fellow rock-critics. The first surprise is that Lester had a sad life from his very youth, struggling against his mother dedication to the Jehovas witnesses and the symbolic death of his father.
We see Lester trying to become an artist, failing to write the novel he was dreaming of, achieving nevertheless to turn rock criticism in modern litterature. The author manages to recreate quite vividly the atmosphere of the legendary Creem mag offices, then when Lester moves to NYC the CBGB attitude is all there. And Lester through the years loved by women and not able to decipher true love, trying to become a rock musician when he was a star on his own is wasting his life in front of us thanks to booze and substances... This book is like some modern version of an antique greek tragedy and this suits well Lester Bangs, who was a true modern writer. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Comprehensive, gossipy and fun
I just finished reading this and was very impressed. The author gives the British perspective on the band. While the focus is on Ferry, the rest of the band is adequately covered. You can tell that he did a lot of research. I agree with much (but not all) of his musical critique. There is gossip and Bryan is disected a bit but you will still like him at the end. I am a fan of music books and a big fan of Roxy Music and this book is more than very adequate. ... Read more

Book Description

Wild Years: The Music and Myth of Tom Waits retraces the long road that Waits has traveled and explores the music that made him a legend. Discussed is the towering myth that Waits has created for himself, a larger-than-life persona of neon bar lights and desperate dreams. Revealed is a complex, brilliant, and fascinating man comfortable portraying the role of off-beat music legend and yet resolutely protective of his private life. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A really terrific book
I didn't know all that much about Tom Waits as a person before reading this book, I'd just been rather intrigued by his music. I decided to give the book a shot and boy am I glad I did. Waits really is a fascinating character and a truly eccentric but brilliant artist. This book gives you a real good feel as to the man behind all the hype. It's also very well written and obviously extremely well researched. I may never listen to Waits' music in exactly the same way again.

A good basic source of information
This book is pretty good if you want to get a feel for the human side of Tom Waits - I've been a fan of his music for years but never really know much about him. Of course, not much of the material in this book is from the horse's mouth, so to speak, so it does read a little like a patchwork quilt. In addition, Jacobs isn't the world's most engaging writer, but he's not bad either. One thing that bugged me was that Jacobs gets a little sloppy with the facts; for instance, there is a story at the beginning about a '55 caddy that Waits bought for $150 and sold for $12. About 20 pages later, the same story is told again, except this time the car was bought for only $125. It really didn't impact on the point of the story, but it was a little sloppy. Overall, worth reading.

Excellent book!
Jay S. Jacobs has done a remarkable job drawing us closer to the mystique and enigma that is Tom Waits. It's an extraordinary story. Expertly researched and immmaculately detailed, "The Wild Years" is just that, an absolutely riveting and engaging look at one of music's most provocative and insightful characters. A marvelous and thought provoking read.

A Well-Written Examination of a Persona
This is the finest book on Waits to date, especially as it focuses on his "myth" rather than his "life", which would have been a foolish and flawed undertaking from the beginning, especially with such an archetypal American character (as others have shown).

My main misgiving is that the book, while essentially well-written, contains a little too much common-knowledge and obvious "filler" paragraphs--but it's well worth the purchase, nonetheless, and I enjoyed it and learned much as a result of having read it.

Examining the Music of a Private Man
Waits' fans are no strangers to paradox -- his music, steeped in its own history yet undeniably original, deeply textured as corrugated steel yet with a compassionate heart that doesn't quit, songs that reveal humanity's every weakness, and in doing so somehow redeem it. His music revels in its own originality without falling prey to self-indulgence.

So it shouldn't have surprised me that Tom Wait's biographies have been as badly written, speculative, and poorly directed as his music has been insightful and original. From his early years Waits portrayed the piano playing drunk, the street poet, the loser with dreams, and seemed to love using that voice to speak to the press. Interviewers were treated to long yarns about his life, loves and friends, yarns spun from a humorous imagination by a private man. Books trying to build on this paper foundation have fallen flat as last night's beer, and if some fans (and reporters) were annoyed by his evasions and stories, more were entertained by the them, and willingly accepted Waits as the character he portrayed, a seedy addition to American mythology.

Waits is not the first artist to use a stage persona as a privacy screen, but he was one of the most successful. It is my opinion that this avoidance was not so much a personal aversion to the limelight, but a desire to proect his music from himself. To that end, he only revealed the parts of himself that supported his music, and, like any good thespian, hid the machinery with the scenery.

Finally, someone got the point. Jay S. Jacobs writes about Waits from a thoughtful perspective unseen in previous biographers. Guiding us with a wink and a smile past the many myths and tall tales, Jacobs brings us backstage to the artist without knocking down his front door. Those looking for juicy details and scandalous stories will be disappointed-- the basics of his private life are related only in context of his musical career. Jacobs makes no attempt to analyse or interpret Waits' personality.

That being said, those looking for a portait of Waits the artist will be amply rewarded. The details of his career are recorded here as nowhere else; details of projects he's worked on, creative decisions and how they related to his goals and situation at the time, inspirations for songs both factual and fantastic, interviews with producers and musicians he has worked with broaden our view. Here too we see that the easygoing streetpoet is defended by an uncompromising artst who picks his fights carefully: his refusal to sell his music rights to sell products; his lawsuit against Frito Lay; his legal action against police officers who mistook him for someone they could abuse.

With each successive project, with each professional decision, we are given a block-by block construction of a remarkable career, which fell short (or steered clear?) of the commercial fast track in favour of a more winding road to a more unique, enduring and (I suspect) satisfying destiny.

I know that Waits himself does not approve of projects directed at his life; nevertheless as a musician I am deeply grateful to Jacobs for giving us biography. In the past I was moved and shaken by his music; now I am proud to count him as a role-model. ... Read more

Book Description

October 1990:In bed with Nirvana, a pile of ripped knees, guitar strings, stubble and eyeliner protrudes from a mound of duvets as the prefame Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic huddle against London's cold.June 1992:The biggest ban in the world that year hides in a reed bed in Scandinavia - big rock prey looking for camouflage.September 1992:in the Cobain family's temporary Hollywood home, a bleary-eyed Kurt is sunk in thought, ignoring the camera as he dandles baby Frances Bean.December 1993:On stage for an MTV show in Seattle, Cobain's caught with both arms in the air, as if trying to levitate after his skywards-thrown guitar.The black and white portraits and live shots taken by maverick photographers Steve Gullick and Stephen Sweet comprise some of the most resonant images prized out of the glorious wreckage of Nirvana's rock'n'roll existence.Maybe as a result of the unforced, haphazard nature of the sessions, mostly arranged to accompany pieces in the British music press, their photographs have a compelling documentary candour, ripping moments as they came, tapping into the band's surplus energy and telling a human story with a degree of completeness."For a variety of reasons the British media got better access to Nirvana than anyone else did," recalls Gullick."They just seemed to like us and as a result they were very relaxed around us.This book is very much a reflection of that.It is very much the British take on Nirvana."It's no coincidence that photographs as honest as these came out of NME, Sounds and Melody Maker commissions given out to Gullick and Sweet - two of the least show-business, most characterful photographers allowed near musicians over the last decade.Their comments on the circumstances of each shoot tell an uncensored tale, and the collection's trenchant introduction by British writer Everett True, who shared many of the expeditions to cover Nirvana, goes a long way toward explaining the passion, fun and madness burning in these unique, bittersweet images of the most awesome US band of the 90s. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

If you love Nirvana, you've got yourself a book.
Not being a big fan of Nirvana, I wasn't sure what to get my sister for her birthday. My sister is a huge fan, you see, and she loves books with pictures. After searching far and wide for a book with Nirvana and pictures of Nirvana, I discovered this one.

If you are looking to buy a book with photos from the days of Nirvana, then this is the one for you. Not only does over half the book contain large pictures, they are all (most, there are a few in black and white) in color, and they are rare photos that don't appear as often as most others do.

This book is a great buy for the Nirvana fan. If you love Nirvana, you've got yourself a book.

Nirvana captured in the Raw.
This book is by far the nicest Nirvana book I own. It's a beautiful, thick paperback, with fantastic rare photographs. For a long time, the only Nirvana books around were information heavy, and focused a lot on Kurt's death. This book captures exactly what they were, A great band. Pure punk rock, pure soul, pure energy. It's a wonderful memory of a great band. You'd be mad not to buy this book.

a great photography book
I love photography, and Nirvana is my second favorite band, so therefore I love this book. I feel that this book captures the essence of Kurt Cobain. It just doesn't show him all sad and depressed as the press tends to state he was, it shows his happier side, which very few people expose. There are all sorts of pictures, mainly of Kurt, but also of the band as well. If you don't like photography, don't even bother buying the book. However, I think it's totally worth it. ... Read more

Book Description

More than any other band, Pearl Jam embodies the alternative style that dominates rock today. From their early days as fame-ducking grunge pioneers, through their headline-making battle with Ticketmaster, to their current status as self-assured survivors, Five Against One brings to life Pearl Jam's tumultuous ascent to superstardom in rich detail. A compelling portrait of the band's elusive leader Eddie Vedder and family photos never seen before by the public make this a must-have for every Pearl Jam fan. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Wanted the Pearl Jam Story: Got anti-Vedder story
I was hoping to read a book about Pearl Jam and their music, but ended up with a slam of the lead singer. It started out good, with background of the Seattle scene, but the last half of the book seemed to be dedicated to Vedder. Unfortunately, the stories and quotes were all from people that have grudges against the singer, making the whole book slanted and prejudiced. I couldn't enjoy it after that without a grain of salt. Basing most of her information on quotes from the drummer that had been fired and blamed Vedder, and the step-father after a bitter divorce from Vedder's mother is not what I consider good journalism. Pearl Jams music, along with the other band members, or anything that has happened since Vs. was released was barely mentioned. Not a well rounded or informative read.

Detailed and Entertaining
I loved this book, and would give this book 5 stars, but I reserve that rank to the great classics. FIVE AGAINST ONE isn't literary genius, but is still an excellent read. Neely is very objective in her book, seperating the myths of the Pearl Jam legend from the facts of the Pearl Jam reality. I found myself cringing from time to time, mainly because Neely doesn't pull too many punches...Eddie isn't portrayed as the nicest guy around, and I came away from the book feeling very sorry for Dave Abbruzzese, who obviously contributed quite a bit of information about his conflicts with Vedder. Since much of the book focuses on Eddie and Dave, there leaves litte room for info about Jeff, Stone, and Mike, outside of the pre-PJ chapters. Still, the book is very entertaining, revealing some neat tidbits about the band's history.

Very informative and interesting
This book was very informative, and I learned lots of things I didn't know about the Seattle music scene of the late 80s and early 90s. And even though I already knew that Pearl Jam came from members of earlier Seattle bands, I learned more about those bands than I knew before. It was also interesting to read about Andy Wood and Temple of the Dog. Pearl Jam's battle with Ticketmaster was also explained. The book failed to answer the question of whether Eddie Vedder had an act of not having an act, or if he genuinely hated his fame. I suppose that no one can answer that, though.

An informative book
Interesting reading full of facts that may enlighten you and give you better understanding to the band.
The thing I didn't like about the book is that although it covered the early album and tours, explaining every song in detail, it says less and less about the other albums. It is good the book has a chapter about Eddie Vedder, but where are the chapters about the rest of the band members??. Pearl Jam is formed by 5 guys not just one!

GOOD
Best Pearl Jam book I've ever read. ... Read more

Book Description

Now available in softcover format! The story of the last tour of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Richie Valens—and the fatal air crash that took their lives. Drawing on new documentary information, the author recreates the often grueling conditions of an early rock and roll tour, and provides new facts about "the day the music died." With 50 photos. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Superb - get one before they're gone, again
The initial first run of this great book was not around very long and people have been begging since for a reprint and here it is! This one is hard to put down, it is intriguing, informative and FACTUAL, which most Buddy book are not (avoid the Amburn book at all costs). What is particularily nice is that it features a great deal of updated info about the last tour & crash, info about Roger Peterson, and a good deal about Ritchie & The Bopper that usually doesn't get included. Lehmer talks to people that were at the shows, helped with the Tour, etc. No wild theories here, just the facts. Top notch in every regard. You see any bad reviews here? 'Nuff said!

The best book I've seen on the subject
Lehmer's book is downright exhaustive in the coverage of the fateful Feb. 3 1959 plane crash that killed Holly, Valens, and Richardson.

I appreciated the detail and content of this book a lot. Being from Iowa, I have been interested in the Winter Dance party, and accounts of the crash for a very long time. (In fact, I just visited the Surf Ballroom and Mason City Airport while returning from a recent weekend vacation.)

Lehmer's book is very well-balanced, with chapters devoted to each of the three headliners. And it also has detailed plane crash info as well as analysis of the official CAB report.

In my opinion, easily the best book on "The Day The Music Died".

A Detailed Story of the Winter Dance Party
Author Larry Lehmer has provided readers with a very detailed story of the events that led up to the deaths of early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J. P. Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson. Individual chapters are provided on each individual and a thorough description of the various cities the rock stars visited during the Winter Dance Party in the Upper Midwest beginning in January of 1959. Due to inadequate bus transportation with little or no heat, the three singers decided to charter an airplane from Clear Lake, Iowa, to Fargo, North Dakota, for their next performance in Moorhead, Minnesota, to arrive early and get some needed rest. The crash of the airplane was due to poor flying conditions and the inadequate skills of the pilot in flying by instruments. The author explores other theories such as a fight on the plane or, incredibly, Buddy Holly shooting the pilot. Author Lehmer also provides a great deal of information on the airplane that was used and what has become of the arenas the singers used for their performances in each of the visited cities. Numerous photos of the singers during this Winter Dance Tour and of the crash site are also provided. Some readers may feel they are being told more than they want to know about this subject, but the author has done an incredible job in covering this story of this incident and what rock and roll was like during the late 1950's.

Excellent book about rock and roll's central event
This is a very excellent book about the Last Tour of the Three Stars and the plane crash that Don McLean dubbed "the day the music died" (and it did). I would give this book 8 to 10 stars if I could. I remember reading about the event in the evening paper on the day it happened (Feb. 3, 1959, near Mason City, Iowa). When one has read as much about the history of rock and roll as I have, one realizes that the most influential person in the history of the genre was Buddy Holly, and his death is the central event of the music's story. The losses of Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper (J. P. Richardson) were also very devastating to rock and roll.

One feels great sympathy and pity for pilot Roger Peterson, whose unwise decisions and lack of skill were major contributing factors (along with the weather) in causing the crash.

the day the music died
i love this book i had to wated for about 6 weeks for it but it was thats ok cuz its one of the only books i found that talks about the big bopper. i have read about 4 buddy holley books and by far this is my fave ... Read more

Book Description

Now in paperback: The candid, inspiring memoir of becoming a musician by the renowned composer and pop star.

Since the release of his first best-selling album Look Sharp in 1979, Joe Jackson has forged a singular career in music through his originality as a composer and his notoriously independent stance toward music-business fashion. He has also been a famously private person, whose lack of interest in his own celebrity has been interpreted by some as aloofness. That reputation is shattered by A Cure for Gravity, Jackson's enormously funny and revealing memoir of growing up musical, from a culturally impoverished childhood in a rough English port town to the Royal Academy of Music, through London's Punk and New Wave scenes, up to the brink of pop stardom. Jackson describes his life as a teenage Beethoven fanatic; his early piano gigs for audiences of glass-throwing skinheads; and his days on the road with long-forgotten club bands. Far from a standard-issue celebrity autobiography, A Cure for Gravity is a smart, passionate book about music, the creative process, and coming of age as an artist. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

An Entertaining Insight
This was a very interesting book both in terms of its content and in the approach that Joe Jackson chose to write it. At first, one may suspect that this would be another story of his successful music career as he rode through the fame and glitter. I was somewhat surprised and delighted that he avoided this all-too-predictable approach. We really don't need him to explain what we, as fans, already know. This is the story of the man named David Jackson and his experiences that shaped his persona into becoming the pop star Joe Jackson that we all later came to know him as. His story is very interesting because of the interesting perspectives through which he viewed his environment; the world of music; his peers; and the deeper meanings of life that come with the wisdom of a slightly older age. As a long time Joe Jackson fan, I was always interested in how he was able to take the different approaches to music that he did. Aside from the first two releases by the Joe Jackson Band, he never did the same thing twice. As he mentioned toward the end of the book: "I was at a crossroads. Where did I want to go? Did I want to continue doing the same thing and become a Pop cartoon character or, instead, grow up in the public eye?" The answer is obvious. I've always respected Joe Jackson as a very talented and entertaining performer. When I finished reading this fascinating story, I came to see that David Jackson is also a thoughtful and intelligent human being.

A rewarding literary journey for any fan of music
As a devoted fan of Joe Jackson, A Cure for Gravity was something I HAD to read, just as the purchase of each of his musical releases is mandatory. But this book isn't just for JJ fans. It's for anyone who's tried to come to terms with that most enigmatic of subjects -- why are we so drawn to and rewarded by this thing called music?

It's a tricky subject to tackle for anyone, and the fact that a (some would say) faded pop star has taken a whack is probably doomed to failure. The book, however, reveals much about what makes an artist just that, and also why so many of us find ourselves touched by music in a way nothing else can move us.

That all sounds very serious, perhaps a bit maudlin to some, and the book does address some heady philosophical subjects. It also made me laugh out loud often as Joe weaves some highly entertaining tales about gigs gone bad, singular characters in the music world, and aspects of his own, often misunderstood character.

It's a great musical memoir in its classic "rise to the top" storytelling, and those parts of the book will appeal to any reader. Damn, if the man isn't as skilled with the computer keyboard as he is with the piano. His lengthy discussions on the nature of music's appeal, though, might turn off the casual reader, but end up being the essential central theme of the book for those of us who are caught under the spell of music.

First, read this book, then start listening to Joe's musical releases over the last 10 years and you'll begin to understand exactly what he's trying to uncover with this ambitious, and successful work.

He knows nothing
I am very upset about Mr. Jackson's comment on Workinton, England. He obviously doesn't really know the place. It is where my mother is from, and it is filled with such beauty and warmth. I suggest Mr. Jackson take another visit.

A Lesson on Pursuing One's Passions...
All I can say is that you don't have to be a musician to enjoy this book. If you are a human being and dream of of pursuing a passion then read this book. Funny, moving and instructive.

Way better than I thought it was going to be
Even if you're not a fan of Joe Jackson, you'll find this book a fascinating read. Most celebrity autobiographies are a litany of sex, drugs, and self-serving anecdotes, but this book focuses on the journey of becoming a true musician. It is self-effacing, funny, and filled with wonderful philosophical observations. It's one of the best books I've read all year. ... Read more