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Title: Rock and Roll War Stories by Gordon G. G. Gebert, Lynn Ramage ISBN: 0-9658794-2-9 Publisher: Pitbull Publishing Pub. Date: January, 2004 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.25 (8 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Spinal Tap is real
Comment: Author Gordon G.G. Gebert has authored two controversial books that deal with KISS, specifically ex-guitarist and fan favorite Ace Frehley. Gebert spent many years inside Frehley's inner circle and after a less than amicable split, Gebert teamed with another ex-Ace comrade, Bob McAdams, to write 'KISS and Tell'. Gebert followed up with 'KISS and Tell More', a collection of stories that dealt with the fallout from KISS fans as well as some of the exposure he recieved from the first offering.
I am a massive KISS and Ace Frehely fan, so I according to some imaginary KISS Army code I shouldn't praise Gebert and his work. However I do not know Ace Frehley so I cannot write off Gordon as some sort of scorned hanger on. I am a Frehley fan because I love his guitar playing, and he was one of my childhood idols. I do not love Ace because I think he may or may not be a good humanitarian.
Gebert has spent most of his life as a working musician in the New York area. His talents got him a gig with the reunited 70's band Angel, and from his experience he has gathered quite a few hilarious war stories from the front lines of rock n' roll. I am a musician myself, and laughed along to his tales because they are the sort of rock mishaps that happen to every musician, no matter what level you are at with your musical endeavors.
Gebert also offers some funny tales from the point of veiw as a fan, particularly his first concert, The Who in 1974, as well as first hand accounts of Emerson, Lake and Palmer concerts resembling Spinal Tap II.
Philadelphia based rock writer Lynn Ramage splits duties with Gebert. After working the music scene for years, Lynn has collecting many amusing stories from various musicians. In this book you will hear about the pain of getting shot in the testicles, how to berate handicapped people at a rock show (unintentionally of course), and what to do with your number two on a rock n' roll tour bus.
There are some more Ace Frehley stories by Wendy Moore, an ex girlfriend of Ace, that give a glimpse into her forthcoming book 'Into The Void', a novel about hanging with the Space Ace.
The most entertaining aspect of Gebert's writing is that he comes across in written word as he would if he was sitting next to you on a bar stool. He has a sarcastic wit, an immense sense of humor, and a sometimes self depreciating sense of himself that makes him come across as human. Anyone looking for an exercise in the finer points of English, or finding a piece of writing that contains proper diction and form can look elsewhere. If you are looking for a trip through the trenches of rock n' roll with a seasoned musician and rock writer as your guides, then by all means, check out 'Rock N' Roll War Stories'.
By the way, the end of the book contains a section about urban myths and legends in the world of rock music. Even funnier is a collection of quotes from various performers, record executives and assorted music industry types that prove that maybe the movie 'This Is Spinal Tap' wasn't fiction after all.
Rating: 5
Summary: Rock and Roll Decadence and...Hilarity.
Comment: Musician and best selling author Gordon G.G. Gebert returns with a compendium of rock and roll's most shocking, funny and downright disgusting stories as told from his viewpoint and that of various rock personalities.
Even though I am a huge fan of most of the artists covered in this book, I realize that rock and roll heroes are not exempt from the character flaws and imperfections that affect us all. I mention this as Gebert's previous two excellent KISS themed books earned him a measure of criticism and disdain from hardcore KISS freaks unwilling to accept any condemnation of their guitar hero, Ace Frehley. So for those with an undying blind faith in their rock and rollers or those bereft of a sense of humour-Stay Away!!-there is much in here bound to destroy your illusions and offend you.
As for the book itself, like its predeccesors,it is a take no prisoners hilarious roller coaster ride of a read with no one spared. Many of the rock luminaries covered include KISS, Motley Crue, Britney Fox, Nashville Pussy, Yes, ELP and Jeff Beck.
The chapters I enjoyed the most were those penned by Gordon Gebert and Wendy Moore. Gordon's chapters on former Wicked Lester guitarist Ron Leejack, Lydia Criss, The Who and Twisted Sister were comical and revealing. Wendy Moore's chapters on Marilyn Manson and especially the great excerpt from her upcoming book on Ace Frehley were very interesting, if a little disturbing.
Other chapters that were quite enthralling were the Motley Crue section and the funny but gross as hell chapter entitled Finger about one of Gordon Gebert's childhood friends. I won't spoil this story for you, you'll have to read it yourself, but preferably not before dinner!! -*gag*
Even though the aim of this book is clearly to entertain the reader with stories that are sometimes unbelievable and sometimes unbelievably funny, some of the artists come off as quite sad and pathetic. The chapter on former Alice Cooper guitarist Michael Bruce is a prime example of this, it should also serve as a cautionary tale against the dangers of drug use.
The authors have elected to write this book in a very simple street style that will appeal to even the most casual readers. As an added bonus, the authors have added hot pictorials of various rock babes in different states of undress.
In closing, this book kept me entertained and laughing for its full 228 pages, I highly recommend it to all rock fans and I am already looking forward to Gebert's next book, On a Wing and a Prayer with Angel and Wendy Moore's Into The Void...with Ace Frehley.
Rating: 4
Summary: Sex, Lies And Audio Tapes!
Comment: Rock & Roll War Stories is the new book of fan, musician, gadfly, author and critic Gordon Gebert and a co-author and is comprised of different, and seemingly unrelated unless one takes the eccentricity of rock musicians as a theme, real-life stories and episodes of different music personalities - as narrated by the authors and other collaborators. The authors have ample experience in the world of rock and roll, as do the other contributors who turn out to be musicians, groupies or music industry types.
One cannot even be sure if half the stories in the book are legitimate - GG swears to all of them of course - but even at fifty-percent GG and co-writers have been on a hell of a ride - and so will the reader. The book is laugh-out-loud funny, insightful and voyeuristically entertaining. In fact, it is an unbridled (rock 'n roll) riot. Tales and sordid chronicles of musicians come thick and fast shattering myth and ego without mercy. It is always good to laugh at the expense of the music business and the over-inflated ego of rock stars and this book is just the tool to help in the endeavour. It is just too bad that certain narrations are anonymous. That is made up for in the appendix which features direct quotations from different industry types. One is sillier and funnier than the other.
The escapades of the glorified groupies are simultaneously comical and vulgar. The chapters are titillating not only because of the detailed publicization of the personalities' idiosyncrasies and priorities, but one also wonders whether the narrators realize how pathetic and self-demeaning it all is to them. Not deterred by any forthcoming accusations of commercialism or lewdness, the author has placed racy photographs of half-clad tramps in military uniform throughout the book. It might be the perfect pretext for Rock & Roll War Stories II for the author has now assured himself communication from rock musicians!
Elsewhere, and admittedly the book was not after the literate target market to begin with, the work suffers from poor English. There are one too many spelling and grammatical mistakes present. 'Formally' substitutes for 'formerly,' one has to read 'they're' when coming across 'their' and the old stand-by 'your' is constantly substituted for 'you're.' What do they teach in schools in America? Nothing serious, which would be a good maxim for this book.
No matter, Rock & Roll War Stories is funny, candid and a good antidote for a case of the blues.
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Title: Into the Void... with Ace Frehley by Wendy Moore ISBN: 0965879445 Publisher: Pitbull Publishing Pub. Date: July, 2004 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Kiss and Tell by Shannon Tweed ISBN: 1932407316 Publisher: New Millennium Pub. Date: 01 June, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: The Official Price Guide to Kiss Collectibles by INGO FLOREN ISBN: 1400050294 Publisher: House of Collectibles Pub. Date: 20 July, 2004 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Kiss and Tell by Gordon G. G. Gebert, Bob McAdams ISBN: 0965879402 Publisher: Pitbull Publishing Pub. Date: 01 July, 1997 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Straight Whisky: A Living History of Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll on the Sunset Strip by Erik Quisling, Austin Williams, Lemmy Kilmister ISBN: 1566251974 Publisher: Bonus Books Pub. Date: August, 2003 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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