Reviewed: Hendrix The Illustrated Story by Gillian G. Gaar
Reviewed: Hendrix The Illustrated Story by Gillian G. Gaar You could fill a warehouse with mediocre books about Hendrix, but Gillian G. Gaar's new tome gets it right In just under four years, Jimi Hendrix changed the world of popular music forever. Four years. Today,...
Reviewed: “Punk Avenue: Inside the New York City Underground 1972-1982” by Phil Marcade
Reviewed: “Punk Avenue: Inside the New York City Underground 1972-1982” by Phil Marcade In which our book reviewer declines his assignment, instead championing "what may be the best book on the New York punk scene since "Please Kill Me!" RE: MY LONG...
Reviewed: “Close to the Edge: How Yes’s Masterpiece Defined Prog Rock”
Reviewed: “Close to the Edge: How Yes’s Masterpiece Defined Prog Rock” Noted prog-rock author Will Romano's meticulous argument for Yes hits the mark When it comes to discussions of influential classic rock albums known for their groundbreaking use of...
Reviewed: “The Decibel Diaries: A Journey Through Rock in 50 Concerts” by Carter Alan
Reviewed: “The Decibel Diaries: A Journey Through Rock in 50 Concerts” by Carter Alan A famous DJ's concert diary wings us to pivotal moments in rock and roll, but the typos kill our buzz. Carter Alan, a long-time Boston deejay, has chronicled nearly a...
Biography: Sex Pistol Steve Jones’ “Lonely Boy”
Biography: Sex Pistol Steve Jones’ “Lonely Boy” The sex and drugs, and rock and roll swindle. The disappointing thing about “Lonely Boy” is that, Steve Jones – former Sex Pistol, thief, and alcoholic – is not articulate enough to pull off a 300-page...
The Rise, The Fall and The Rise: a memoir by Brix Smith Start
The Rise, The Fall and The Rise: a memoir by Brix Smith Start The powerful memoir from ex-The Fall guitarist and ex-wife of Mark E. Smith tells tales worth telling. Let’s be candid: when I picked up “The Rise, The Fall and The Rise” I only wanted to read the good...
Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Illustrated History by Richie Unterberger
Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Illustrated History by Richie Unterberger Richie Unterberger's Fleetwood Mac bio convinces even a non-fan to "see things in a different way" It says a lot about Fleetwood Mac, a band I don’t particularly care for, that by the time it’s most...
Lita Ford: Living Like A Runaway, a Memoir
Lita Ford: Living Like A Runaway, a Memoir The Runaways guitarist and heavy metal goddess comes clean on a dirty life. Lita Ford’s Living Like a Runaway is the antithesis of a Beach Boys song. There are no golden-haired honeys waxing up surfboards, catching waves, or...
Woodstock Revisited: Barney Hoskyns’ “Small Town Talk”
Woodstock Revisited: Barney Hoskyns’ “Small Town Talk” In the small town of Woodstock we meet a fresh faced Dylan, Janis, and Jimi on their way to the top, but reviewer Joe Gallo cautions against judging this book by its cover. Small Town Talk by...
“The Who: 50 Years of My Generation” by Mat Snow
“The Who: 50 Years of My Generation” by Mat Snow In their fiftieth year of existence, how does the latest entry into the Who book pantheon measure up? It should come as no surprise that The Who, a band with some eighteen different “best of” compilations, also has a...
Books: “Carl Wilson: Long Promised Road”
Books: “Carl Wilson: Long Promised Road” I’ve been a Beach Boys fan for a long time and, to be honest, I never gave Carl Wilson’s place in the band much thought. Brian was the fragile genius, Dennis was the crazy one, but who was Carl Wilson? I’ve been a...
