Book Description

Born and bred in a working class environment in Asbury Park, New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen has, over the past 30 years, established himself as one of the most influential songwriters and performers in American popular music. Winner of three Grammy Awards for The Rising, he continues to entertain and inspire millions of fans around the world. Also born and bred in a working-class New Jersey home was photographer Frank Stefanko, who crossed paths with Springsteen thanks to an introduction by a mutual friend, musician Patti Smith. This meeting spurred a photographic collaborationthat lasted five years and produced cover photos for two of Springsteen's most significant albums, Darkness on the Edge of Town and The River.Stefanko's archive of several thousand Springsteen photos has never been published-that is, until now. Days of Hope and Dreams presents an unforgettable selection of Stefanko's most significant and most personal images from his time working with Springsteen, and Stefanko's recollections offer behind-the-scenes stories of his work and friendship with this legendary musical talent. Featuring a fascinating introduction written by The Boss himself, this is a must-have guide for Springsteen fans and music lovers everywhere! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Cover Shot Was Taken In Haddonfield, New Jersey
Just thought everyone would like to know that the cover photo was taken in front of Frank's Men's Hairstyling on Kings Highway in downtown Haddonfield, New Jersey!

Thank you, Frank, for sharing your gift
This is a wonderful book. The photographs are uniformly compelling and insightful, as is the text. The reader is treated to a rare, unvarnished glimpse of an American hero about to "burst like a supernova." The images are timeless, and harken back to a simpler, perhaps more poignant time -- before MTV and the Internet changed the way we obtained and enjoyed our music. The author's spare text is thoughtful without being intrusive; a perfect compliment to the compelling images that accompany it. The text conveys a straightforward warmth and appreciation for the author's subject that are both refreshing and inspiring. This is a book to pore over, savor, and return to. Thank you, Frank, for sharing your gift -- and thank you, Bruce, for recognizing his genius, and for allowing us a little glimpse of yours.

TRIBUTE TO LATE WIFE SHEILA WAS TOUCHING
This book engrosses you from the moment you start reading you cant stop.I am giving this book to my clients and friends as it makes the perfect gift for Bruce Springsteen fans.I was also very moved by Authors tribute to his late wife Sheila and feel there may be another story there Frank ?

amazing -- some of the best Bruce photos ever
1978 was a key moment in Bruce Springsteen's career, and Frank Stefanko was there to capture it in black and white. In these photos, you see a rock star breaking out, but still struggling and working his [tail] off. Stefanko had not even heard the Darkness album when he took the photos that would lead to its cover (and the cover of The River), but he captured the mood and the tone perfectly, of both the music and the musician. Even if you're not into photo books, if you have an interest in Springsteen, do yourself a favor and get this book.

A Most Amazing Book
I have never seen a book of this type where the pictures and text fit together so perfectly. But those are just the tangible things. This book seems to give you a look into Bruce Springsteen's soul -- such a deep look that you almost feel as if you're intruding where you don't belong. But as a fan of the man as well as the music, I can see why Bruce chose this photographer. The pictures show him as he wants to be seen. As I said, truly a most amazing book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The real Nez!
What informative reading!.Randi Massingill has updated her already great book on Nez with new information on the events surrounding the Monkees 90's reunion.The facts are accurate, unlike many Monkees books on the market.She has listed the exact interview or court transcript each comment is from.
The detail is great.

Thank goodness we have a true Nesmith book with the real story.He is an amazing musician and video pioneer.I am glad he gets his due, with no stone left unturned.Bravo Randi!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Whether playing country, gospel, rockabilly, soul, or standards, Danny Gatton wowed audiences with his incredible guitar technique. Hailed as the best unknown guitar player by both Rolling Stone and Guitar Player, he was a player's player who never received popular acclaim but continues to influence guitarists everywhere. The struggle to reach a wider audience while staying true to his own muse proved too much for him to bear, and in 1994 he took his own life. This book explores Gatton's "unfinished business" (the title of his greatest album) and completes the story of the man and his music, which elicited much praise for blinding speed, effortless genre-hopping, and flawlessly inventive technique. Photographs are included. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A good biography hurt at times by unnecessary hyperbole
I enjoyed this book overall. It gives one a good enough idea of who Danny Gatton was and what made him such a respected guitarist. I knew a little about Gatton going in, not a lot though, and I feel like the author succeeded in filling in the blanks. I also thought the book handled Gatton's unfortunate death in an objective fashion while remaining sensitive to the emotional issues involved.

But this book also has a few problems, I think. The worst being that, in an effort to give Gatton the status he thinks he deserves, sometimes the author goes a little overboard with stuff hyping Gatton's guitar playing prowess.

For example, on page 76, we learn it was 'ironic' that Chet Atkins took an interest in Lenny Breau instead of Gatton, after seeing both play, and that Atkins surely had to have been 'scared' by Gatton's ability. We see this kind of thing at times throughout the book, and at one point it even reaches as far as Eric Clapton. (Only Clapton's manager has lunch with Gatton, so of course we conclude Clapton was scared of him too!)

But this happens most often in relation to Roy Buchanan, and I can only assume that is because Gatton traditionally has been eclipsed by Buchanan's shadow. Based on my listening experience, this is probably for good reason -- Buchanan conveyed power and intense emotion in his playing, while still showing awesome creatively and technique; this really isn't the case with Gatton, and at times he even sounds like someone aping Buchanan -- but at the very least it's debatable and the relative status of the two should be presented fairly as such, as was done in Phil Carson's Roy Buchanan: American Axe.

This is a very worthwhile book though, despite the (mostly) minor drawbacks. You may want to supplement the book with some CDs to get a better feel for Gatton's status as an elite guitar player, and who his influences were. Of course that starts with Danny Gatton CDs, but I would also suggest picking CDs by the following: Roy Buchanan, Hank Garland, Lenny Breau, and Tal Farlow.

Gatton
I miss Danny. Best live shows of my life. Ten of my top ten. You had to see him. No tape can convey the sound of the amp and the subtle confidence of the man. Buy the book.

The informative biography of a guitar virtuoso
Written by respected published journalist Ralph Heibutzki (a regular contributor to the "All Music Guides" and whose articles regularly appear in a number of music magazines and journals), Unfinished Business: The Life & Times Of Danny Gatton is the informative biography of a guitar virtuoso who was popularly known for his love of a broad selection of genres including country, gospel, soul, as well as his own self-dubbed style of "Redneck Jazz." Danny Gatton's work spread in influence, even though he never received popular acclaim, and even though his own personal troubles would lead him to end his own life in 1994. Gatton's musical legacy lives on, and Unfinished Business is a profound and introspective life story recommended to the attention of his legions of fans and admirers, as well as American Music History library collections.

Hot Rod Writer
Ralph Heibutzki (the underground man) digs deep and brings to us 'Unfinished Business' guitar legend Danny Gatton's un-sung story. Packed with all the right detail, Heibutzki's book let's you see all the scenes in pictures as well as informing us exactly what club or street you are in, and you can almost smell Danny's self-modified amp transformer burn, as does the book.
This work of Mr Heibutzki has to be made into a film sooner-or-later; who needs a script? It's all there in Ralph's polished writing's on the genius underdog-man of Telecaster hot-wired innovation - Danny Gatton - the world's greatest un-known guitarist. Get it!

A Lucid Look Back at Danny Gatton's Guitar Genius and Life
Ralph Heibutzki clearly spent a lot of time and effort collecting information and interviews for this impressive look at the life and music of the late guitar legend, Danny Gatton.

Starting with Gatton's roots as a child in the 1950's in Washington, DC--where he absorbed an amazingly varied batch of musical influences--"Unfinished Business" presents a captivating trip through every era of Danny's life until his self-inflicted demise in 1994. The book succeeds in giving readers a thorough examination of Gatton's personal triumphs and struggles as it traces the evolution of his music. The interviews with friends, family members, long-time DC-area music journalists and fellow musicians help paint a complex picture of a man with a great gift as a guitarist, but a rocky relationship with the recording industry. It was what Heibutzki calls Danny's "genre hopping" (and the fact he did not sing) that made his music tough to market in a category-obsessed business.

The book also includes an interesting assortment of photos plus discography, videography, bibliography and a listing of unreleased material. With the reissue of much of Gatton's musical catalog on the horizon, the timing is perfect for this fine document of his life and work.

-Charlie Young ... Read more

Book Description

This book is a surreal trip into the parallel universe of the Germs, a story told by the people who were there and augmented by rarely seen photos. Enigmatic punk-messiah Darby Crash comes alive in these pages, as seen through a web of perversion, LSD, chaos, and suicide. "The Germs wrote and played the best punk rock songs of all time. -- Flea, Red Hot Chili Peppers ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Disappointed
In recent years, there have been some really good books written about the American hardcore punk scene, but Lexicon Devil is not one of them.

Darby Crash was a punk James Dean, and it is long overdue that his life and work deserve a decent examination. In that regard, Lexicon Devil suceeds: Crash's background and upbringing give some insight into the mind of this complex and deeply troubled young man. The problem with this book, however, lies in the fact that it spends too much time on passges about hangers on, groupies, and people on the periphery of Crash, the Germs, and the LA punk scene. Worthless characters are introduced or mentioned briefly without context as to why they are important to the story. The focus of the book gets lost in several places because of this. In my opinion, a decent editor could have easily trimmed about 50 pages, and made a more cohesive piece of work.

Finally, given that this is a bio of someone who killed himself at the age of 22, to describe Lexicon Devil as a downer goes without saying. Still, some of the events described within this book are simply stomach turning. I seriously doubt anyone would want to put themselves through the misery of reading it more than once.

The Authoritive Last Word on "America's Sid Vicious"?
Disspelling the numerous rumours,myths and outright lies this book gives quite a detailed oral history of the legendary Darby Crash, founder and singer-songwriter of the infamous ,seminal L.A punk band The Germs (a band you either love or hate with equal passion).Although this book does away with alot of the misinformation commonly regarded as fact and certainly puts a much clearer focus into the events that led up to Darbys death you cant help but still feel,despite the intense details provided by those close to him that no one ever truly "knew" Darby and he will forever remain the enigma he wanted to be all along.As a fan (one of my children is actually named Darby)this book was indeed a "must have" and a thoughly good read but it certainly left me wanting more(time to read Mr.Mullens other book on LA Punk!)and with many "what if?" questions.This book is really only for the true Germs fan (which there are many despite Pat Smears' assertion in the book that they were only a "teeshirt" band and "no one really listened to the music "-HAHAHA)so I wouldnt really recomend it to the non-intiated. ...........Footnote: Does anyone know if there is ever going to be an "X" book???? The worlds ready!!!!

Very interesting account of the early LA punk scene
Book is commentary of the origins of LA punk with the focus being on Darby Crash and the Germs. The portrayal of togetherness that all these misfit types in the scene formed makes for an interesting story. Is not surprising that a number of people (including Darby) did not survive this party hard, rock harder, lifestyle. A number of people from that time made it thru and have done noteworthy things (John Doe, Exene, Belinda Carlisle, and Pat Smear). If you like punk, you should check this out.

It's all about image-it certainly isn't about the music
I remember first seeing The Germs on the Decline of Western Civilization about 15 years ago. I remember thinking to myself that this band and this lead singer(Crash) are the absolute worst thing I've ever seen or heard. Period. I had to watch it a second time just to believe what I had seen. When I found out later that he had offed himself in a pathetic attempt at the stardom his lack of talent could never achieve, and that The Germs had a cult following as some sort of supposed "seminal band"-I couldn't believe people were talking about the same band. It's more than obvious that most people who claim to like the Germs or Crash have never listened to their music or just don't care what they sounded like. They're into them for the "image". Because that's all they have to offer. A dead lead singer who supposedly didn't "conform" to any standards. When actually he was a pathetic, attention starved idiot who would do anything for everyone's attention-just as long as he didn't have to put any thought or effort into it. He was only concerned about trying to get everone's adulation and glory. He was the pathetic kid at school who follows the "in" group around saying "hey, like me!" while they kick him in the face and spit on him. That's supposed to be non-conformist and original?? Sorry, but being a pathetic slobbering idiot crying for everyones attention is only one thing-STUPID.

Best Book Ever Written
I'm just getting into the germs and i'm amazed w/ everything they did.I just got the decline of western civilization off ebay for 20 bucks and i couldn't be anymore pleased.I even got a live performance on tape of the germs at the whisky in 79 and that has to be the best footage of the germs i have ever seen.my friend doubled it for me,and the book is super,I got it 1 week ago and I finished w/ it in 3 days.I just couldn't put it down and i recommend it highly to any germs fans or any fans of god a.k.a. darby ... Read more

Book Description

While Eric Burdon may be best remembered for his unforgettable vocals on the Animals’ platinum hit, "House of the Rising Sun," this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member has never stopped having adventures. Burdon was ripped off by unscrupulous agents, accountants, and record labels, hounded by the police, and framed for a crime he didn’t commit. Yet through it all, he never became bitter. He was the first rocker to play behind the Iron Curtain. He sang with Jimi Hendrix, chased Jim Morrison out of his house with a .44, and introduced John Lee Hooker to the toughest venue Hooker ever played. Eric Burdon explains how he became the "Egg Man" in the Beatles’ "I am the Walrus." With the enthusiasm and good humor of his live shows, Burdon recalls the tense reunion between John Lennon and Lennon’s long-estranged father; racing motorcycles across the California desert with Steve McQueen; picketing the offices of MGM Records for nonpayment of royalties; performing in wartime Sarajevo with a symphony orchestra; getting run out of Meridian, Mississippi for promoting black music, and singing his heart out year after year. A complete discography and fifty photographs, many never before published, are included in this unforgettable memoir. "Burdon has lived like a real rocker." —The New York Times Book Review "Riveting and informative."—Los Angeles Times "These reminiscences will delight Burdon’s fans ... in general."—Library Journal ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Archetypal Rock Star
There is a saying, " If you can remember the 60's, then you weren't really there." Well I think Eric Burdon is the exception to that saying. Best known for his haunting lyrics in " House of The Rising Sun," Eric Burdon was no one hit wonder in the music industry. His tales of living through the flower generation, the untimely death of Jimi Hendrix, followed by the formation of WAR and his imprisonment in Germany are inspiring. It's amazing that he lived through so much and has lived to talk about it all the while keeping his sanity.

The autobiography starts off with a hooking introduction about his exploits as The Animals frontman as well as his "good times" playing at "The Ed Sullivan Show." He describes his near death experiences with mind altering drugs as well as good times singing the blues with greats like B.B. King and James Brown. Another notable experience of his was chasing Jim Morrison out of his house with a loaded gun. Eric Burdon sung his soul out. He had jammed with the best by the time he was thirty and was well respected by his peers.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, Eric Burdon has had enough mishaps and experiences for a dozen lifetimes. As an artist, he had been ripped off, stabbed in the back and jailed; but throughout it all he lived to tell his story of life as a rock and roll star. He weaves his epic as though you are actually there watching The Animals perform live or on the street looking at Eric Burdon's one man picket line. It is amazing how Mr. Burdon can recall his life experiences with such vibrant detail, never holding anything back. After having read his book, i feel as though i had actually lived his life and that's what a good autobiography should do.

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Anyone raised in 60's paranoia, could appreciate this soulful imperative about misunderstanding. Who better than the voice of Eric Burdon has the credentials to raise the specter to that social phenomenon? Of course, his friend and colleague, Bob Dylan, had a lot to say about that creepy sense of ignorance and insecurity in "Ballad of a Thin Man." Taken in a similar context, Cream's "We're Going Wrong," or Peter Fonda's last words to Billy, "We Blew it!" before they are murdered at the end of "Easy Rider," accentuate a deeper and more depressing picture to an era. I grew up listening to the Animals, and became attuned at an early age to the unique sound of Eric Burdon's vocalizing. "House of the Rising Sun," "It's My Life," "We Gotta Get Outta This Place," impressed me as it did everyone else I knew at the time who loved their music. Each of these songs evoked a tale of some kind, and it was through repeated listening to the "Story of Bo Diddly," that I found myself really appreciating the voice of Eric Burdon as a story teller. This was followed by "Don't Bring me Down," "When I was Young," and a little later, "Spill the Wine." All of these songs entered my psyche as memorable and significant artistic masterpieces, and soon formed the proverbial soundtrack to my life. When I saw on the cover, Brian Jones describing him as "the best blues singer to come out of England," I was reasonably certain the book had to be good. I wasn't disappointed. The book is entertaining and easy to read. It's filled with really cool and illustrative pictures that cover Eric's life and career. There are quite haunting parts to the book as well, that stayed with me long after I'd finished it. The part about Monika, "the stalker," who may have been responsible for drugging Jimi Hendrix to death in an obsessed, psychopathic and jealous rage, is one of them. Another is his pool side LSD hallucinations of the "giant, purple cockroaches." Then there are descriptions of the desert skyline, riding the dunes on a Harley, in the company of Steve McQueen. To avoid any misunderstanding, if possible, I think the book deserves to be read in the tradition of the poetic bards of old. It helps to listen receptively for what Eric has to say, given his unique point of view. Listen to what his tale conveys, with the sensibility of "Watch the Heroes as they Die," or the "Winds of Change." It'll either be worth your time and effort, or you may decide, in the alleged words of Bo Diddly after hearing the Animals for the first time playing his "material," "That sure is the biggest load of rubbish I ever heard in my life."

British Invasion Badboy Tells All
This remarkable memoir transcends the usual boundaries of the music autobiography and approaches literature. Eric Burdon has lived a wonderful life by any standard but this book also reveals that Burdon is a shrewd observer of the musical and cultural scene. What will remain in my mind are the many character sketches of notable and iconic personages of the last few decades: Steve McQueen, Ed Sullivan, Jimi Hendrix, and above all, the "Lizard King" himself, Jim Morison. One suspects that many fans of the Doors will see their hero in a new light. Burdon's description of the filming of Oliver Stone's movie The Doors is worth the purchase price in and of itself. Any devotee of the original British Invasion bands will find a wonderful series of anecdotes about the Beatles, the Stones, and the Animals. I bought this book because I am a fan of the Animals; I loved the book because it contains so much more than the mere story of a band (or bands). I supect that many readers, like me, will also be fascinated by Burdon's wry observations on the social and political scene along the way. Eric Burdon's narrative flows along propelled by the author's humor and humanity. Ultimately, the man himself emerges as one of the most interesting personalities of the Sixties. I loved this book!

Eric Burdon's Life
I thought this was a great book. I didn't know much about him or the bands he was in aside from the few songs I knew & loved. My boyfriend is actually really into him & the Animals. I talked him into buying the book & ended up reading it myself. I never wanted to put it down & read it in 4 days.

Not only was it really informative, but it was interesting enough to hold my attention for long periods of time. I'm surprised at how much stuff he remembers with such great detail. From the start of the Animals, to his different bands, his fame, the drugs, anyone who has influenced him, & how he continually got screwed over by the music industry. It was great to read the things about him & other famous singers at the time that we never knew. Personal insights about who they were, how they acted, & why they acted that way. He nevers holds back & gives you the full details.

I definately suggest it to people even remotely interested. It gave me a great understanding & turned me into a bit of a bigger fan.

Understood
I enjoyed this book. Having not been there, I'll assume that Eric is telling it like it was - 'sure seems like it. The rock history alone is worth it (hint: Hendrix and Lennon were friends of Eric's). I won't spoil anything for the readers, but this was for me a fun read of the ups and downs of the unsinkable Mr. Burdon. ... Read more

Amazon.com

From Aerosmith's heyday in the late 1970s, which they spent "gacked to the nines" (as lead singer Steven Tyler puts it), to the Aerosmith of today--clean, sober, and adored by millions--the band has a long, hard history. Walk This Way chronicles the whole story: drugs, booze, and all.

Prefaced with the now familiar rock-star "intervention," when Steven Tyler's loved ones cornered him in his manager's office in 1986, the autobiography traces Aerosmith's twisted road, from their New Hampshire roots to their success in Boston to the worldwide fame that they long craved and currently enjoy. Tyler kicks off this rock & roll exposé, briefly recounting the history of his ancestors in Italy and sharing incidents from his own Northeast childhood. The book is written in interview style, with all five band members talking candidly about the good times--and the bad. We also hear from girlfriends, wives, friends, and various hangers-on.

The story of Aerosmith and their constant ups, downs, and detours never fails to grab you and force you to read another page--if only to see what train wreck awaits around the next corner. Walk This Way is a must-read for devoted fans of Aerosmith as well as anybody who wants to live the full-on '70s rock-star life--without having to go through rehab. --Paul DeBruler ... Read more

Reviews (131)

An epic in 500 pages...
This book rocks! I just finished reading it for the 6th time and it never gets old. I've been a fan since 2002 (I'm only 16) and this book it change my life! Reading about all the stuff they had to put up with and how they got help and became famous again really inspired me to address my own mental demons. I am so into the classic rock thing and tis book has everything, from drugs and sex then to no drugs and more sex, I love this book so much. The fact that there still putting out records only confirms everything that was said in this book. They are America's greatest rock band and a living legend. ROCK ON!!!!!

Great rock n' roll autobiography
Back in the 70's there was a guy named Joe Perry and a guy named Steven Tyler that eventually formed one of America's greatest rock n' roll bands to date. The most interesting thing to note is how the toxic twins originally met in Sunapee, New Jersey because Tyler wanted to comment to Perry on how good his fries were. This was the first interaction that inevitably formed Aerosmith. Walk This Way is an autobiographical history of the band from Boston including some of the craziest rock n' roll stories you've never heard. The book begins with the tale of the rehab in the 80's that was required to get Aerosmith back to the top of the music world. Tyler, who claims his bitterness to this day, was held an intervention by band members and managers, some of which were in just as bad a shape as he was. The book then goes back to childhood showing early musical influences of Tyler as well as early bands of all members including Chain Reaction and the Jam Band featuring Joe Perry and Tom Hamilton. Several issues follow through their entire career, including yoko-like girlfriends, greedy managers, and harder drugs. They also chronicle early reviews of the band, and lack of support from record labels. The band wasn't taken seriously, only being considered a Rolling Stones rip-off. The label would spend only $1 on Aerosmith for every $100 they spent on Bruce Springsteen. This is a must read for any Aerosmith fan or anyone who wants to be enthralled in tales of sex, drugs, and rock n' roll.

The best rock autobiography around
"We believed anything worth doing was worth overdoing."Those words are spoken from the famous mouth of the ever talkative, ever charismatic Steven Tyler, frontman of the East Coast rock band, Aerosmith.Indeed, that seems to be the underlying current of thought running through the pages of the recently released autobiography, Walk This Way.

Overindulgence is an understatement for these Boston Bad Boys.Why then, should their ever faithful "Blue Army" of fans be any different?Aerosmith is a potent drug themselves.They keep you wheedling for more, whether it be a dying thirst for their exciting, blues-influenced brand of rock, to the ache of withdrawal you feel when they're not breezing into your nearest town with one of their awesome live shows.Once you get hooked, you can't even pick up their massive autobiography and be able to put it down, even when going back for seconds.

Walk This Way is a surprising expose from five guys who knew the story best -- Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, and Joey Kramer -- the guys who lived through it.To fill in the gaps of consciousness are wives, ex-wives, managers, roadies, friends, and peers from the entertainment field.

The journey of Walk This Way takes you back to Tallahassee, sort to speak.It starts where it should:from the beginning, from the childhood years of all five guys in the band, their family background, and their influences that helped pave the way for their musical direction.It portrays their struggles, their frustrations, their hopes and ambitions, and even their starry-eyed dreams.Even Steven Tyler, as a young lad, had his idols as he sat for hours in front of hotels to meet the members of The Rolling Stones -- much like his fans do today.

The journey called Aerosmith is one full of clouds, full of bumps, full of fights, full of brotherhood, full of triumph, and full of ideals and goals.The book takes you through the pages of history when Aerosmith got their first record deal with their self titled album, and through their second, Get Your Wings, as a band trying to make their mark in the rock and roll universe.It takes you through their countless determination in building a following by playing club after club, and being persistent.It takes you through their first big taste of success when their next two albums, Toys In The Attic and Rocks hit the public smack in the head.Suddenly they were somebody and success, money and fame walked right into their door.

Along with that fame and success came a slow destruction that was caused by the excesses of life:drugs, drinking, women, and endless touring and being on the road.The devil of drugs started to play puppet master with the band, causing what appeared to be a slow and imminent death of a band that had the chance to be destined for greatness.This cancer took hold when Draw The Line was made, and escalated during the making of Night In The Ruts.A wedge was finally driven between the two soul brothers of the band, Steven Tyler, and guitarist Joe Perry.Joe left in the middle of recording NITR.The fighting, the drugs, and the band members significant others, pried the band apart, leaving their fans wondering if rock and roll would ever be the same.

Joe Perry branched out on his own, forming the Joe Perry Project, and releasing two cult hit records, Let The Music Do The Talking and I've Got The Rock `N' Rolls Again.Aerosmith plunged on and started recording Rock In A Hard Place when Brad Whitford decided to leave the fold.The band continued to crash and burn, losing money, cars, their homes, and their relationships.

Aerosmith hit bottom and seemed to be continuing on their path of destruction when the members of the band seemed to get brought together again.Joe Perry and Brad Whitford returned, along with a new manager, Tim Collins.Trying to clean up their act, they recorded their next album, Done With Mirrors, which didn't make as much noise as it should have.

It wasn't until the release of Permanent Vacation and a commitment to a sober lifestyle by all parties involved that caused Aerosmith to rise from the ashes.They were back with a vengeance with the biggest album of their career, and continued thereafterto hit the concert trails and reach even higher numbers on the charts with the release of their next two albums, Pump and Get A Grip.There was a new Aerosmith on the rise, and they were going to steamroll anyone who got in their way.The born-again Boston Bad Boys were newly sober and loving life, and the world embraced them.The last chapter winds up at the present, with their current tour and release of Nine Lives, as they continue their successful jaunt.

This book is more than a book about the drugs and the women.It is more than a book about the fame, the money, and losing it all.It digs deeper than the tantrums, the in-fighting, the "business" part of the entertainment field, and the distrust.This book covers all of that, but it has a deeper message.The pain, the struggle, the love for music that brought these five very different personalities together like brothers, and the inspirations that drove them first to the top of the world, and then to the bottom of hell, then back up to an even higher plateau . . . all of that is here in black and white.It's a frank, honest, sometimes amusing, and sometimes painful story about how each member thinks and what makes each of them tick.It is written in such a way that their personalities burn through each page.It lets you peek in on their hopes and dreams.Most of all, it is a book about survival.Aerosmith survived when others didn't.While they indeed fell as many of their peers had, it wasn't a final fall for them, and they got back up.Today, they are still standing, while others didn't get a second chance once they fell.That, I believe, is the crux of what makes Aerosmith tick.Not many lived through what they have and still be around to tell their story.With a nod of thanks in having nine lives, these five men are still on their journey, meeting their destinations a little at a time, but never stopping too long to miss the train.May they continue down that road of magic called music for a long time to come, continuing to win the smiles of millions along the way who have felt some happiness because of them.

© Diane Trautweiler.Written November 22, 1997.

Occationally interesting. Occationally disgusting
Most of this book consists of interview snippets with the band, their wives, ex-wives, ex-girlfriends, roadies, and various other associates, and that is actually a pretty good idea. Many of them come off quite sympathetic, but others don't, and getting through the middle part of the book, which is mainly about doing drugs and destroying hotel rooms, can be a chore.

Aerosmith at their 70s peak come off as self-indulgent, especially Steven Tyler, and "Walk This Way" is often distasteful...I don't need to know about Steven Tyler in his mid-twenties taking dope with his 14-year-old girlfriend, or read about a disgusting sub-human roadie who brags about having at least two women a day, and exchanging backstage passes for sexual favours from schoolgirls. Especially not when the "the molesting roadie in question was later killed in a horrible way"-disclaimer is missing.

"Walk This Way" is too long and often very monotonous, and it could have done with some serious editing. It redeems itself a bit towards the end, but it's not one that I'll take off the shelf and re-read every year.
2 1/2 stars.

hells bells
It's so good, they shook me all night long. They were on the highway to hell and never coming back. You know, rock and roll ain't noise pollution. The drug days for them seemed all back in black and it was the end of a dream. One fine day, they would shoot to thrill and realize that it was all a bust. High voltage was no longer the name of the game. I have to say, dirty deeds done dirt cheap and for those about to rock, we salute you. Only their big balls could get them through. That just about says it all. ... Read more

Book Description

The personal and musical history of Guns N' Roses is detailed in this revealing band biography. Timed to coincide with the highly anticipated release of Chinese Democracy, their first album in 10 years, this compelling account offers complete, updated information on the band's incredible past and current ambitions. New interviews with ex-band members, including lead guitarist Slash and bass player Duff, provide fresh revelations about the band's key players. Previously unpublished color photographs from the group's early days gathered from ex-members' personal collections offer an intriguing visualization of the band's past. ... Read more

Book Description

"Wryly intelligent...mixes juicy behind-the-scenes bits...with energetic, note-by-note accounts of the evolution of the band's songs."--People

No other band has ever sounded quite like the Doors, and no other frontman has ever transfixed an audience quite the way Jim Morrison did. Ray Manzarek, the band's co-founder and keyboard player, was there from the very start--and until the sad dissolution--of the Doors. In this heartfelt and colorfully detailed memoir, complete with 16 pages of photographs, he brings us an insider's view of the brief, brilliant history...from the beginning to the end.

"A refreshingly candid read...a Doors bio worth opening."--Entertainment Weekly

"[An] engaging read."--Washington Post Book World

* By the keyboard player and co-founder of the band who saw it all
* Includes 16 pages of photos
* Extraordinary reviews from People, Entertainment Weekly, Washington Post Book World and others...Booklist calls it "literate, perceptive, and thoughtful" and says it "may be the best rock bio of the year" ... Read more

Reviews (84)

A very enjoyable read w/ previously unrevealed insights.
Having been a lifelong Doors fan from age 11 (1966), I found the book to be thoroughly enjoyable. Having also read almost every other book written about the band I particularly appreciated the unique insights that only Ray could provide. The details and nuances of how the songs were written and recorded, down to keys, chords and inspirations for the actual licks and riffs the band played. I also particularly enjoyed the excitement that Ray captures as the Doors were born and sky-rocketed to the top. It recalls the actual feelings I had the first time I heard "Light My Fire" and looked at the radio and said - "Whoa, what a sound! A song like I've never heard before!" The very human and touching recollections, feelings and the descriptions of the real Jim Morrison that none of us will sadly ever know are captured here like no other author could have. The sadness and loss all Doors fans felt when we heard Jim had died are also powerfully portrayed. I like other reviewers felt the book should and could have been longer. Maybe the writing of the end times was just too emotionally draining for Ray that he had to end it. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of Ray's life in Chicago, how he discovered the blues and jazz and how they contributed to his unique keyboard style which was the essence of the band with the most unique sound of any band from that era. Those readers who disliked the "preaching" aspect of the book should perhaps be less defensive and really listed to what Ray is saying about life, love and philosophy. Much is to be learned here that could benefit our modern times. To this day I am proud of the fact that a Doors song has never been used for a commercial, they way so many great songs have been, and I hope Ray and the other Doors never let that happen, as Jim so effectivly did (described by Ray - i.e.; Buick/Light My Fire). All in all - a great book for Doors fans or anyone who wants to know what the 60s were really like and to learn the inspiration behind the art of the Doors. Thanks Ray!

a memoir from the 60s
Ray Manzarek writes pretty well and having lived and played with Jim Morrision he gives his view of the times. The book is pretty entertaining and Ray paints a beautiful picture of those times. Some may argue that his views are more marketing than facts. The jury is out in this issue. John Densmore's book of the times came out a few years ago, but John seems bitter about the times. There are many books written on the Doors and a lot of websites will have links and more information. Books I would recommended for reading about the Doors times would be "Break on Through " by James Rioran and Jerry Prochnicky. Ofcourse the book "no One Gets out of alive" is what brought the Doors in recent times into popular culture. While we are on this subject, the movie Doors was good in the sense that it popularised the Doors but Oliver Stone , as usual, distorts history and portrays Jim as a drunk and a wild man.

Jim Morrison was different. He was very well read and his peotry certainl 'breaks on through'. One book I would recommend would be 'Wonderland Avenue' by Danny Sugarman.

Intellectual, Psychedelic & The Desert Song
.
What impressed me very much about Ray Manzarek's book are both his observations of the 1960's time era and his knowledge of Greek and Nietzschian thoughts pertaining to Morrison and Dionysian darkness within the Doors music and creativity. His descriptions of Morrison's early acid trip where he envisioned a Satyr following him down the street; that would be the theme of his Dionysian career in the spirit of music, tragedy, dithyrambs and poetry. And Manzareks thoughts on the 1960's, drug use - it's psychedelic spiritual meaning as opposed to the designer drugs of escapism and the comparison of alcohol, the fundamentalism of the government contrasted the peace loving flower movement of mind expansion are worth reading the book by itself. It was like I was saying such things. His further description on the Satyr and Bacchius; this is coming from an intellectual from the 60's, with perception to see "behind" surface societal and cultural conditioning.

I truly became subjective inside the story, and that's what a good novel is supposed to do. And here it was actual history, a time era, a band, the people, and of course, Jim Morrison, his friend and someone you can see he deeply loved. I felt as though I was sitting in his car with him and Dorothy the day he first heard a Doors song on the radio - "Light My Fire" - and shouted out the window, "There playing our song!" "We're on the f----n' radio!"

Manzarek tells of Jim verses "Jimbo," and I can't help but think of Nietzsche's other personality, the shadow side, that finally consumed him in the end into his 11 last years of insanity. This "Jimbo" is someone spoken of objectively and there is no malice here, but brotherly affection and you can really see that after reading Denzmore's account, which has some accounts not mentioned by Manzarek: one example - that of Jim coming into the Manzarek house/studio late at night, drunk, obnoxious, gesturing, smashing and standing on Manzarek's records with his sandy feet at the beach house they rented where Manzarek lived and the band rehearsed.

I also very much enjoyed Denzmore's "Riders on the Storm" and can say a lot of positive traits of his account. However, I favor Manzareks book for his insights on his experiential meditations, trips, Dionysian comparisons and ultimately his warmness that permeates through the pages. Now Denzmore also had very insightful experiences and thoughts to convey, on the love generation, Edith Hamilton, Michael Harner, Jim Hillman, Joseph Campbell, Robert Bly, a host of others and of course Nietzsche and I also highly recommend Denzmore's book. Both Denzmore's and Manzarek's books complement each other significantly.

I once met Ray Manzarek at a Sci-fi/Movie/Music convention in New Jersey. He was sitting at his own table along with host of other artist's tables. I was with my young son and introduced myself, shook hands, made eye contact. I could feel his energy and that for me is enough. Nothing was said; as if words are ultimately meaningless, unless much is said, and even then, it's only the non-verbal, the power, the Dionysian and essence that has real meaning. All else is interpretation; and lacking at that.

Light My Fire: My Life With The Doors
Undeniably one of the greatest dimensional rock bands ever formed, The Doors were a force not be reckoned with, and that statement stands as true as it did in their 1967 heyday, as it does now in 2004, thirty-seven years after-the-fact.
Made up of four seemingly indestructible units, The Doors, (named in homage to both mid 1800's poet William Blake whom mentions the "doors of perception," in his book The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell, and early 20th century novelist Aldous Huxley whom penned The Doors Of Perception and Heaven and Hell,) The Doors were a controversial band whom through their six official studio albums, displayed an impeccable artistry and vision of both musical and poetic direction; this story of a too-short career is documented brilliantly and quite possibly best in organist Ray Manzarek's auto-biographical memoir, "Light My Fire: My Life With The Doors."
Through it's three-hundred-fifty-two pages Manzarek's personable form of writing is radiantly displayed as he recalls everything from his warm upbringing in Chicago where he found boogie-woogie and the blues, to 1971 where he received an absurd phone call from manager Bill Siddons announcing his singer's death; along the way inserting large portions of philosophical meaning to everything from Jim Morrison to life as a whole.
In conclusion if you're looking for a luminous account of an extraordinary man and an extraordinary band, look no further than, "Light My Fire: My Life With The Doors."

Of the Doors, Ray was the closest to him.
Mainly an autobiorgraphy covering his early childhood till the demise of Morrison. Manzarek's charm is clearly evident in the writing. Insight into Morrison's personality as well as his personal motivations are offered. Manzarek is one of the very few people who truly knew Morrison well enough to write intelligently about him personnaly and is willing to talk about his experience. A must read for anyone interested in The Doors.
Very much a man of his times, Manzarek also provides some insight into the mindset of psychedelic hippie philosophy.
I was however, after reading the book, left wondering why Manzarek (who seems to have clearly been a father figure both to Morrison & the other Doors), was so tolerant of Morrison's destructive behavior. Manzarek expresses a fear of Morrison's alter-ego, which has a ring of truth to it...but still?
No matter how you slice it Manzarek, The Doors, us and even Morrison himself, all suffer from a tragic and senseless loss. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (9)

Good, but not great
I agree with the reader from Australia - there is a great deal of baloney in this book. Being an old head from the years within volume II I guess I am a little surprised at the flaws. Here are my nitpicks. First, the 77 Spring Tour is shown as being (rightly) possibly the best ever, but the majority of the reviews are based on younger heads' impressions of the tapes, not on people who may have actually been there. In particular, we have to endure yet another canonization of the highly overrated Cornell show (which the book fails to mention is consistently rated so high because during the crucial "In The Dark" years the tape was as widely available as patchouli oil at any Dead gathering). Yet the following night, Buffalo, is given but a paragraph (albeit a good review) while it remains one of the better performances of the entire year. Secondly, much of the Weir-bashing previously mentioned seems to float along unedited, while Garcia's heavy heroin years are treated almost as a musical inspiration in some parts. (Read the section from 1979 and the stuff about partaking in the Persian delights... uh huh.) Thirdly, I simply cannot appreciate the endless comparisons to other shows on the same tour (i.e., "they were better this night than the night before"). I have strongly resisted comparative show reviews. Simply put, it's nearly impossible to compare the quality of performances across several shows instead of taking them in isolation and commenting on their positives and negatives, and here it seems like an easy way out for some of the reviewers who, having nothing to go on but a tape, can seemingly do nothing but say "this Estimated is good, but it's not better than such-and-such a show or such-and-such a tour." Reviews like these are what I guess we have come to now that the music is all we have left: this book is by the people who sat there at shows with their pads of paper, heard the first notes of "Terrapin", wrote "TER" on their pad and ran to the restroom waiting for the next song to start. I always preferred to let the music do the talking.

Great, in-depth book, A must have for dead fans!
This book has all you could want to know about the shows and songs from 1975-1985. If you favor the dead in those years, GET THIS BOOK!! It tells you highlights of the shows, highlight shows per year, etc.. Simply amazing.

They've done it again!
Michael Goetz and company have done it again! This book has more in-depth, historical interviews with tapers from the Deadhead community, more information on soundboard releases, and another batch of incredible photosfrom people's collections. Sure, there are some errors in song titles andsome missing shows, but there are a number of fine reviews by a number ofcontributors. If you enjoyed Volume I and enjoy Deadbase, go get Volume IIof The Compendium as well. You'll be glad you did...I am!

Not bad if used properly
As someone who wrote reviews for this (and the forthcoming) volume, I certainly enjoy the book.The criticisms of "a reader" above are certainly valid, which is why this book should not be billed or used as areference book.Without question, there are many errors, but I use thebook primarily as an enjoyable way to check out other people's opinions ofshows I attended or have on tape.For that, it's unsurpassed.

Serious flaws marr this book's usefulness
One would like not to be a spoilsport where the Deadhead's Taping Compendium is concerned. After all, the work put into it is simply amazing; and I enjoy reading show and tape reviews as much as anyone. However, anyserious Deadhead will find several flaws that spoil the book's usefulness. Firstly is the severe lack of subediting the second volume seems to havereceived. One can put up with an 'It's All Over Now, Baby Blue' instead of'It's All Over Now' (a completely different song) in one setlist or even afew. It's listed here in just about every setlist -- even in the 'hotversions' section at the back of the book. Another example: in a review ofa Letterman appearance in 1982, the Dead were apparently pushing 'theforthcoming' Go To Heaven LP -- which was released two years earlier. Theseare just two examples of hundreds and they spoil my enjoyment and trust ofthe book. Secondly, the standard of reviews swings wildly. Some of thereviewers (Bob Clinton, Adrian Pide) are simply inept and should not havebeen published. Others, like John Dwork himself, I admire; I almost alwaysagree with their thoughts on the music. But when they gush about closeencounters with the Dead, the book becomes embarrassing. Dwork'sstarry-eyed account of how he blocked Garcia's entry into a hotel is aperfect example of the blind worship that drove the Dead to despair. Theseshould certainly have been edited. Thirdly, there is a spectacular amountof Weir-bashing in this book. Given Garcia's erratic playing in the years1978-1985, Bob Weir took up much of the slack and saved many a show fromdisaster. Yet again and again one finds reviewers treating him like he wasan unattractive kid brother (this attitude towards a man older than most ofthe reviewers' fathers mimics the perceived [not entirely real] Garcia/Weirrelationship). I don't want to sound too harsh; this book is an importantand enjoyable publication. Still, I'd recommend Eric Wybenga's Dead to theCore before this volume. There's a definitive book to be written on themusic of the Dead in these years; this isn't it. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

I read this book in two days
I just couldn't put it down. Though I already knew alot about the Monkees, I didn't know much about Micky before and after. This book is very funny because Micky is a very funny person. It's good to see what he thought about the Monkees and to see everything written from his view. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who cares anything about the Monkees or Micky, if you can still find it.

An interesting book to read...
I do admitt I am a Monkees fan, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to love anything about them/by them right away. There are a lot of Monkee biographies that are *boring*. They tell you the facts, with no thought of telling them with more energy and excitement. However, I think Micky's book was great because it was hilarious and very real. He wasn't going to just tell you the facts, but rather how he felt and his own experiences. Through him you saw his relationship with the Monkees. I'm not even a Micky fan, I like Davy best- but I still found the book very interesting. It really is one of the few books that can make you smile, laugh, and cry all in one reading.

New edition
The new edition adds a chapter that covers 1992-2004, including the tours, the "Justus" and "Missing Links" albums, and various film/theatrical projects, and the discography has been brought up to date.

I'm a Beliver Awaiting the updated version
I, like many Monkee fans, read Micky Dolenz' book when it was first released. I am currenty waiting for the updated version from Micky and Mark Bego. I loved reading about his take on life even after all the hard knocks. Great reading for any devoted fan.

Lighten up and enjoy it
Dolenz proves to be an intelligent, educated, talented man who has provided a light, entertaining book about his experiences in life and show business. If you're one of those people who are still, 35 years on, ranting that the Monkees weren't authentic, maybe you should skip it (better yet, read it and pay attention--you'll learn you were mistaken). However, if you're able to take a lighter perspective on pop culture, you'll find this book quite enjoyable. After all, it's only rock and roll, not exactly the core of Western culture. Unfortunately out of print, but available used at a low price. ... Read more

Book Description

The Go-Betweens recorded six albums in the 1980s that are among the finest work of the decade, and earned them a reputation as "the ultimate cult band." And as a reviewer of the original 1997 edition of this book noted, "Unlike most rock groups, the Go-Betweens had personalities as well as talent"—which makes for a compelling read, even if you’re not yet a fan.

David Nichols relates the Go-Betweens story with wit and verve, and for this new edition he has completely updated the book, adding chapters on the members’ subsequent solo careers in the 1990s, the recent reuniting of Forster and McLennan under the Go-Betweens name, and the band’s flourishing second life in the new millennium. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

High, low and in-between
The book is old news now, however, such is the alure of good music, the band -and this biography- only happened to me much later than the event (note that an updated of the book is planned sometime soon as the bands two songwriters have since reformed as The Go-betweens). David Nichols, a Melbourne writer and some-times musician, tells us in the preface that he began the book with the question as to why people start bands, a seemingly strange premise but he succeeds in showing the apparent cultural vacuum that was Brisbane in the late 1970s through numerous and detailed chapters concerning the genisis of the band. These early chapters in the book are by far the best: several funny anecdotes and personal insights into the founding members of the band and punk music in an ultra-conservative Queensland make for a great read, especially for obsessives of the band such as myself (they are not really a band to have a casual acquaintance with). The latter chapters are much thinner by comparison, which is a shame for their music only (or arguably) got better as the eighties progressed. As relationships in the band begin to deterirate and band politics come to the fore, its as if Nichols loses interest in his subject, the original premise not loose enough to sustain an even and truly thorough examination. There is no question that the author has a great passion for the band and its music (it literally shines through in the first chapters which I have read repeatedly), it is just that the angle comes off as a little superficial as not a lot of insight is given to what makes the bands music and albums so special. Four stars for the first half alone though. ... Read more

Book Description

So you want to be a rock ’n’ roll star? Maybe you should listen to what Dee Dee Ramone has to say first. In Legend of a Rock Star the myth of the rock ’n’ roll good life is destroyed once and for all. Touring is hell, and Dee Dee should know, after fifteen plus years with the legendary Ramones, he’s back on the road with a new band and a new set of nightmares. Riddled with acerbic hilarity, Legend of a Rock Star offers a fantastic, unflinching look at the abysmal underbelly of the rock ‘n’ roll dream as Dee Dee and his new brothers tour Europe in a tiny cramped van and try their best not to kill one another. With shifty promoters out to suck him dry, and fans who mean well but just won’t leave him alone, all Dee Dee can do is wrestle with his conscience and hope the drugs aren’t bad. Written in a fierce chaotic prose uniquely his own, Dee Dee also offers a brutally honest, yet surprisingly touching account of the weeks leading up to and just after the death of friend and longtime bandmate Joey Ramone. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

DEE DEE SHOULDN"T HAVE BEEN SO SAD.
This book doesnt read like a history of a rock star. As the title suggests, this is more of a memoir or diary of a lonely rocker who is well past his prime. It is more than likely his drug habit which relegated him to touring in a van with a third rate backing band 30 years after he broke the mold with the Ramones. However, even with all of the brain drain that drugs cause, he was still a caring and artistic guy.

I would have liked to have seen a bit more "life on the road" details here, but I think the book is well worth your time. If anything, kids who wanna form a band and start touring should learn from Dee Dee's mistakes.

Get inside Dee Dee's mind
This book is great for gaining insight on what was going through Dee Dee's mind shortly before his death. The book takes us through Dee Dee's journal entries as he travels with his band to promote a new album. Ramone takes you through the groupies he encounters, drugs that are offered, promoters that are scammers and much more. This is a very honest take on life on the road from someone who had done it for years.

Dee Dee No Dum-Dum
Who would have imagined the soul of one of the world's foremost punk bands was so literate? This book, whilst mixed with both hard-edged rock lifestyle and drug-induced fantasy nonetheless is arguably one of the sincerest perspectives of the real story behind the rock 'n' roll dream. Dee Dee was a journalist. His writing style -- exactly like his songwriting style -- was brief and to-the-point. Anyone who could change the direction of music through a two-minute song can be expected to make his contributions to literature through two-page chapters. The essence of the Ramones' and Dee Dee's success was staying true to your muse. It got bandmates and him into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. It oughta get this book into your hands. Dee Dee was no dum-dum

Dee Dee's inimitable voice speaks one last time
It's great to have Dee Dee back, even if it is just in book form. "Legend of a Rock Star" finds our hero back on the road and cranky as ever. Dee Dee doesn't even want to do this tour, but everyone's on his back so he consents, kicking and screaming every step of the way. The promoters are a pain in the neck, the hotels are creepy, the food [is bad], but the fans still love him and he loves them. No one tells a tale quite like him and you sympathize between giggles.
In the epilogue Dee Dee writes about The Ramones' induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the chaos that ensues trying to round up the band to attend. For all his moaning, it's obvious Dee Dee loved his bandmates and their legacy.
Thunder's Mouth Press did a nice job putting the book together, including lots of photos of Dee Dee, his own handwriting, and his artwork.
I read this book with an underlying sense of sadness, as Dee Dee's voice was so vibrant and alive and he wrote about loving life and having so much that he still wanted to do. I hope he realized that he'd already accomplished so much and we all owe him a debt of gratitude. Love you, Dee Dee. ... Read more

Book Description

Stanley Booth, a member of the Rolling Stones' inner circle, met the band just a few months before Brian Jones drowned in a swimming pool in 1968. He lived with them throughout their 1969 American tour, staying up all night together listening to blues, talking about music, ingesting drugs, and consorting with groupies. His thrilling account culminates with their final concert at Altamont Speedway-a nightmare of beating, stabbing, and killing that would signal the end of a generation's dreams of peace and freedom. But while this book renders in fine detail the entire history of the Stones, paying special attention to the tragedy of Brian Jones, it is about much more than a writer and a rock band. It has been called-by Harold Brodkey and Robert Stone, among others-the best book ever written about the sixties. In Booth's new afterword, he finally explains why it took him 15 years to write the book, relating an astonishing story of drugs, jails, and disasters. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A Great Rock And Roll Band Book
Author Stanley Booth had the ultimate access to the Stones. He managed to get a contract for a book on the Band, found access, and convinced the Stones themselves to authorize his work as well as let him accompany them on the 69-70 tours, just before the infamous stuff of Altamont happened. By managing to last with the Stones, over time actually becoming one of the rare friends who could find and hang out with the Band members, he acquired an incredible store of tales, which he tells in a remarkably literary manner in this book. Using quotes from the likes of Norman Mailer, "Hambone," the Crystals, Cynthia Plastercaster (if you don't know about her, you really need to get this book), Booth clearly demonstrates his credentials as a serious author. The book benefits.....the best story of the writing of Satisfaction by the Holiday Inn pool in Clearwater is in here as are the tales of Mick and Keith's arrival at Altamont (not at all what you would suspect). All in all, this is one of the good ones and you can't go wrong by taking time to read it cover to cover.

Great reading once you get into it
Having been a Stones fan for ever I was looking forward to reading this book, however at first I put it right back down again as the author's style was a bit hard to get into. Later when I picked it up and got through the Author Block on my behalf I found this to be a really well written insight into the the Stones and what went on around them. Having sampled first hand in some ways the lifestyles described in this book I found it bringing back memories good and bad of those times when I doubt if anyone really knew what was going.on.
This is really two books in one the history of the Stones and memories of hanging out with the Stones themselves.
A great book overall.
I hope that Stanley Booth is rewarded justly for the work he put into this book he deserves it, as do the Stones for the work they have done over the years.

Simply The Best
In over 20 years of reading books on bands, this is head and tails above the rest. The author if I remember correctly ended up a heroin addict as he followed the Stones around at the end of The Sixties. This book is so well written that it pulls you in and you can imagine being there. On top of that you get the death of Brian Jones and the buid-up and follow-up to Altamont.

Realley, this book is unmissable.

Probably the best book written on the sixties
A very well written and thoughtful book. The prose is superb. Booth alternates chapters between the saga of the Stones' 1969 American tour (of which he was a part) and the history of the band up to that time. The book provides an intimate portrait of the band's early years and evokes what it was like to be alive and aware in the sixties.

The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Book
Talk about a masterpiece; this is one! Stanley Booth was a struggling rock journalist who managed, through persistent effort and good timing, to land a regular slot on the 1969 "Let It Bleed" tour of the Rolling Stones across these United States. What was supposed to be a simple, intelligent chronicle of a rock band's work became a chilling time capsule of the end of an era, and possibly, of a dream as well, when the band's disastrous appearance at the Altamont concert rang down the curtain on the Sixties hippie dream of world peace and brotherhood. This is not just a book detailing the Stones' many misadventures with the law, with drugs, with reckless groupies and sycophants and promoters, as you might expect; nor it is simply a grisly blow-by-blow of the tragic events of that December night in the northern California wilderness, when a vicious pack of Hells' Angels stabbed a young concertgoer to death, literally a few feet from where Mick Jagger sang "Gimme Shelter" and "Sympathy for the Devil" as Keith Richards and the other Stones churned out those classic songs behind him. You will find those contents in here, but they are only a fraction of the treasures this book contains. (Booth freely admits that his womanizing during this tour cost him his marriage, and he is as unsparing in his critiques of the Stones, whom he truly loves, as he is towards his own failings.) You can almost see, hear, feel the chaos, the majesty, the confusion, and the power of the events he's describing; each character comes wonderfully to life, through his use of interwoven, somewhat kaleidoscopic scene changes, flashbacks and flash-forwards, stream of consciousness and grimly bare-boned narrative. Brilliant, hilarious, loathsome, mesmerizing, harrowing, glorious...many such adjectives could apply to the events and personalities depicted in this epic book of rock excess and human misadventure. I'd like to write another review, just so I could give it five more reviews - it's that good! ... Read more

Book Description

One of the most controversial and complete rock biographies ever written. (b/w photos) ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A well written and researched work.
In Morrissey and Marr, The Severed Alliance, Johnny Rogan gives Smiths fans a wonderful look inside the most influential band of the 80's with a great feel for the subject and many pictures. As a rabid Smiths fan (although not a fan until fully 7 years after the breakup), I was both facinated and saddened by the events which conspired to tear apart the beloved band from Manchester. After turning the English music press on its ear for just a few short years, The Smiths still hold the attention of fans around the world. This book gives you the background that helps explain how Morrissey and Marr could write some of the greatest pop songs ever, and how they could lose the whole thing. What's even worse is that it never had to end. Johnny Rogan writes this book from the perspective of the journalist looking for the truth, the novelist providing entertainment, and most importantly, the Smiths Fan who feels the loss. Read it, if you love The Smiths, or even if you just love the history of pop music. The latest edition of the book includes a forward and epilogue and also an invaluable Discography complete with concert tape listings and known "bootleg" recordings. ~Max Silva:Houston, Texas 199

Exhaustive, but not exhaustive to read!
I love Morrissey and The Smiths, so this book could be written [bad] and I would still like it. But fortunately Rogan is a gifted writer who loves the subject matter even more than I do!

You'll learn way more than you ever wanted to know about the band and the split between Johnny Marr and Steve Morrissey from this at times obsessively accurate and detailed account. I was struck by how weird Morrissey really is. His odd antics in print and life are not an act. He really is an odd duck. But isn't that why we love him so much? He speaks for all of us when he whines, moans, and sighs about life's missed opportunities, unrequited loves, and the mystery of personal identity.

Included are dozens of photos of everyone involved in the whole saga. It is a really great read! Enjoy!

"It's so easy to laugh. It's so easy to hate. It takes guts to be gentle and kind...I know it's over, and it never really began. But in my heart it was so real."

Rogan could use an editor, but he is informative
I just finished this book, and while I found it to contain a wealth of information, I thought there was maybe too many words dedicated to the family history of Morrissey. Actually, there was more text about the aforementioned subject than there was about the actual breakup of the Smiths.

Rogan would often use Smiths lyrics in what I perceive to be some sort of clever irony when discussing subject matter. I know this was done vecause Morrissey was called in the book an 'ironic plagiarist', and Rogan is just playing his little game. However, it came off as amateurish.

It's pretty obvious that Rogan never talked with Andy Rourke, which is a shame, because he is an unsung hero in the band, and should have felt more slighted for not getting songwriting credits. His basslines were often what carried the tune in those songs, and he should have been treated better by M&M.

Recommended, but with caveats...
While this book is very well researched and provides a wealth of backround information and detail on all of the key players in the Smiths, it ultimately fails to provide any real insight into the inner workings of the band. The lack of interviews with Morrissey and those closest to Morrissey ensure that the book presents at best an incomplete picture of