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Title: Living the Blues: Canned Heat's Story of Music, Drugs, Death, Sex and Survival by Fito de la Parra, T.W. McGarry, Marlane McGarry ISBN: 0-9676449-0-9 Publisher: Canned Heat Music Pub. Date: 08 February, 2000 Format: Paperback List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.71 (7 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Deliciously Sleazy
Comment: This is a no-holes-barred account of the very wild lifestyle of our nation's premiere boogie band.
Notice I didn't say "lavish" lifestyle. The story of Canned Heat is anything but lavish!
This is a down and dirty story. For all their fame, Canned Heat never did have a whole lot of money- hence touring in busses rather than planes. And what money they did have was spent on drugs and women. They partied till they dropped, leaving two lead vocalist in their wake.
The sex with groupies is described in lurid detail, but nothing was written to titillate. It's right there, in your face, and it all rings true- but it sounds more empty than exciting. Maybe that's how Fito got by with writing a book describing every wretched excess in exacting detail with nary an apology in sight. He doesn't try to excuse his or his band members behavior. He doesn't have to. Seeing once vibrant men destroyed at the end of their careers, or dead, is warning enough.
Fito is a gifted writer. He paints such a vivid picture of what is like to be a member of the group in it's glory days that not only can you get a picture of what is going on, you can actually smell it.
One band member was sitting off stage when his teeth became to arbitrarily fall out of his mouth, one by one. I guess that's what years of hard drug use and neglect will get you. He goes on to play on stage in a chair- too stoned to stand. He dies shortly thereafter.
The lead singer, the voice you hear on "On The Road Again" and "Goin' Up The Country" was described as being such a stoner, and having such terrible hygiene, that he was the only person alive that could be the lead voice on a number one record and still not be able to get a woman! This same singer opted to sleep outside in the grass by himself rather than join the rest of the band in their Hotel accomadations.
What a great book. The band soldiered on with no original members left except for Fito, the author, who came aboard with their second album. Not an original member, but he did play on the hits. His story is the bands story. One of lost potential. and of wasted talent.
They burned themselves out way too fast, barely existing today. But it sounds like they had a ball doing it. This book has such a "60's" feel to it. But Fito made the wise choice of not looking back on the bands heyday with rose colored glasses. This is a "warts and all" story with the emphasis on the warts.
Also interesting is that the story doesn't end. Fito is still touring and recording with the what seems to be the 750th version of Canned Heat. He laments that the band isn't considered to be vital anymore. (He quotes some magazines, including "Rolling Stone" as saying the band disbanded in the 70's.) Most would agree that the Fito-led Canned Heat hasn't mattered for years. My own feeling is that the band died with Bob Hite, but Fito has conviction in his arguments that the band is still viable.
Even though I recommend this book, I must warn you that you will feel like taking a shower after reading it. It's a raw, dirty and sweaty account of Canned Heat's history- and Fito isn't shy about showing himself or the band in a less than flattering light- but's is also entertaining as hell- and very informative.
It answers some questions, such as how does the ownership of a band name fall into it's drummers possession. How ethical is it to tour under that name with two sound-alike lead vocalists because the original two lead vocalists are dead?
What a great book. Fantastic job, Fito. You sure know how to tell a story!
Rating: 4
Summary: RISE AND FALL OF A ROCK'N'ROLL LIFESTYLE
Comment: If you want to enter the world of a R'N'R star and it's entourage this book will open your eyes. Drugs, sex, passion, rage, and... don't forget to boogie. They lived through that sweet magical controversial periode of the late 60's-70's, white trash on it's zenit, wild life, raw r&b encountering psychedelia... and it's all in this book. It's the plain story of a bunch of great R'N'R stars, on the stage and in life.
Rating: 5
Summary: IF YOU DON'T BUY THIS BOOK....
Comment: All I have to say is that if you don't own this book by now, then you should rush out to the nearest store and buy the newest Creed, Sublime, or some other "Alternative" cd, and worse yet, be forced to listen to it!! I want to say that I finally have defined what they mean by "alternative": an alternative to music! And don't ever talk about "understanding Rock n Roll, Blues and Boogie" again, because Canned Heat WROTE THE BOOK ON THE HARDSHIPS AND HEARTACHES OF BEING ON THE ROAD. This book proves that there could NEVER be another Woodstock after the legendary 1969 gathering, and there WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER BAND LIKE CANNED HEAT. Fito and the Heat are still entertaining audiences with their quality brand of Boogie and Blues. BUY EVERYTHING THEY HAVE EVER RELEASED AND EVERYTHING THEY WILL RELEASE IN THE FUTURE. The Boogie House Tapes...IS ALSO AN ESSENTIAL PURCHASE. DON'T FORGET TO BOOGIE!
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Title: Love: Love Behind the Scenes on the Pegasus Carousel With the Legendary Rock Group by Michael Stuart-Ware ISBN: 1900924595 Publisher: Helter Skelter Publishing Pub. Date: 01 February, 2004 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title:Uncanned! The Best of Canned Heat ASIN: B000002TQA Publisher: Emi Int'l Pub. Date: 17 May, 1994 List Price(USD): $26.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $26.98 |
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Title:John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers - 70th Birthday Concert ASIN: B0000E6FOK Publisher: Red Distribution, In Pub. Date: 09 December, 2003 List Price(USD): $20.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $18.25 |
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Title: Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues by Elijah Wald ISBN: 0060524235 Publisher: Amistad Pub. Date: 06 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title:The Howlin' Wolf Story - The Secret History of Rock & Roll ASIN: B0000DJZ81 Publisher: Bmg Distribution (VI Pub. Date: 04 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $16.38 |
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