Young Neil, the Sugar Mountain Years - Sharry Wilson

 

This one was just a random library find - I was just looking for something to peruse on my phone and since I couldn't think of anything else, I knew they had some books on Neil, although I had never seen this one from 2014 before. Obviously, from the title, Wilson is concentrating on Young's younger years.

Growing up in Canada with an older brother and parents whose marriage was rocky pretty much from the start, but kept trying to make it work, the family traveled a lot, which Neil credits for her wanderlust. They would spend months at a time in Florida and moved the family home numerous times, besides taking various, shorter trips. Considering that for a number of years Neil's father, Scott, was a freelance writer that didn't sell much, the amount of traveling that they do is mighty impressive - far, far, far more than my (middle class) family, for instance, was able to do.

Neil is described as shy, preferring one-on-one interactions to crowds, but was fun and mischievous, as well. He seemed to make friends wherever the family landed and was also enterprising - raising chickens for their eggs in one location, as well as the more typical paper route duties, along with picking up work at the local golf courses. Neil is yet another rock'n'roll golfer - something that will never fail to astound me! But he also got caught up in early rock'n'roll and learned basic chords on a ukulele so that he could play popular folk songs from the tme, as well.

He obviously does start playing in bands as a teenager and gets some independence when his folks split up and he stays with his mom. His dad was a well known sports writer and his mom was a TV game show celebrity, both of which gave Neil some cachet and his mom's activities gave him more freedom.

Teenage bands come'n'go and members are exchanged frequently but Neil works hard - on the business end as well as the musical side - and he does hundreds of gigs - fairly amazing for teens! I like that Wilson explains the type of guitars that the various members play, highlighting the 60's phenomenon of gigging with guitars from Sears and homemade amps and the like.

As the bands evolved, they also improved, as did the equipment and Neil got a Gretsch hollow body in emulation of local guitar hero Randy Bachman, who received a lot of respect and attention here, as does other future Guess Who member Burton Cummins. Neil's songwriting skills emerge as a high schooler and two of his songs make it onto his first single with his band the Squires - he even breaks out one of them 50 years later while on tour.

As a personal aside, I appreciate that Neil was not sports-minded (nor had any aptitude for them) at all and pretty much just cared for music - although cars were another life-long obsession. He also veered from his love of rock'n'roll to folk - something that he obviously has carried with him throughout his entire career.

After various versions of the Squires and a bit of folk-singing in the area, Neil decides to pick up and move to LA, bringing Bruce Palmer along for the trip which starts the formation of the Buffalo Springfield and the end of Wilson's tale.

I quite enjoyed this one, but then I'm a big fan of Young's and I love hearing about garage bands in the 60's (and I wish I had started a little earlier and studied my craft a little more, but such is life). Fans will certainly want to check this out.

Me and Mr. Jones - Suzi Ronson

 

Suzi was, of course, Mick Ronson's wife, but she started her association as hair dresser and stylist to David and Angie Bowie. In this 2024 book she gives a very brief introduction to her younger years and then moves swiftly to her time as a hairdresser who meets Mrs. Jones (David's mother) and then in short succession, Angie and finally David, who she turns from a long haired hippie folk singer to Ziggy Stardust!

Suzi is an engaging writer and she keeps the story flowing as she moves from being a pretty sheltered, straight-laced girl to a woman of the world, styling Bowie (who she has a one night stand with once she had been hired), Lou Reed (who she only knew from Bowie's cover versions), Iggy and more. (She's not afraid to admit that she doesn't know incredibly famous people as their orbits cross, although she knows enough to know when they are famous. Funnily, she mentions some people who are NOT famous as if we should know who they are!) As she officially becomes part of the crew - styling and helping with David's costume changes during the shows - she joins at the height of the band's success.  Most of the shows are sold out and elaborate and she is part of the first American tour. Their extravagance is mind-boggling and living the life of rock stars is her first experience of the US. She is surprisingly unfamiliar with the music of the time - she had never heard Mott the Hoople before her tour group went to a show - but does appreciate what she is exposes to. It's a thrilling world and she often can't believe that she is part of it all.

There are some kind of funny bits as she is surprised that the likes of MTH and the Stooges don't want the stylist touches that she gives Dave and the Spiders - in her innocence it seems like she assumes that all rock'n'rollers are as highly image conscious as David and Angie and is almost hurt when they are not.

Suzi and Ronno don't get together until after the breakup of the Spiders and actually after the recording of Pin Ups, so, truly at the end of Mick's regular association with David. Suzi really had become part of the inner circle seeing as she was invited to situations like these that no one else in the crew attended - which turned into good luck for her and Ronno!

There's a million stories and, of course, the Spiders break up, Mick tries a short-lived solo career and an even shorter stint in Mott, works with Ian solo and then tours with Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue. According to Suzi, Mick gets involved after, just by happenstance, he jams with Dylan's backing band at the Bitter End in NYC - I had never heard that story before and it always seemed unusual that Mick was asked to join them. 

After the Rolling Thunder tour there, surprisingly, aren't many big prospects - some projects, but nothing major - and after their marriage and the birth of their daughter, the book ends rather abruptly in 1977, well before Mick's untimely demise. It feels like Suzi might be planning a sequel, unless she simply wanted to concentrate on the Bowie (and related) years.

In any case, it's a fine book, an easy, quick, and enjoyable read - recommended for Bowie fans, for sure, but also it's a good encapsulation of the times.

Traveling Soul - The Life of Curtis Mayfield - Todd Mayfield

 

Curtis Mayfield is another 60's icon that I've been a fan of ever since I knew who he was - I know I dug the Impressions' work, although I didn't know any of the members' names, but when he hit big with the Superfly soundtrack, everyone knew'n'loved him! I never knew his history and just randomly came across this book while perusing the library and decided to give it a go.

Curtis' son tells the tale of the family moving from the South to Chicago and Curtis' grandmother using her Spiritualist background as a source of income - even during the Depression. The family is a bunch of survivors, but just barely, and Curtis had to become the "man" of the house early on - helping raise the other children (he had a deadbeat dad who nonetheless fathered 5 children with Curtis' mother) and doing what he could to help everyone get through life in the ghetto.

His grandmother continued to do ok, though, even opening her own church, while Curtis and his immediate family struggle to eat once in a while. Traveling Soul was taken from her church's name, but is appropriate for Curtis' life, as well.

Curtis fell in love with music early on and as a teen he fell in with like-minded fellows and started his own doo-wop group, where he played guitar and sang. Jerry Butler convinced Curtis to join Butler's group and they soon had a hit song. Naturally, that came with its baggage but plenty of good times, as well, as they toured to adoring fans. But, it also came with record company schemes and Jerry was soon lured away as a solo artist.

But Mayfield did not give up, continued to write and soon his version of the band ("The Original Impressions") had a hit with "Gypsy Woman" and their career soared. There were a few misfires before Mayfield got on a winning streak with hit songs, but once he did, there was no going back. He also wrote numerous hits for other artists - and he made certain that he kept his publishing - so his fortune was secure.

The Impressions career dovetailed with the Civil Right Movement and so both stories are told here, as each influenced the other. Mayfield's writings became more political (although he would not always put it in so many words) and the movement used his songs as rallying cries. The world itself changed with the assassinations of JFK, RFK, Dr. King, Malcolm X and others - it damn near brings tears to the eyes to think of how this country could have flourished without these evil deeds. Mayfield took the events and turned the emotions he felt into hit songs.

Curtis and the Impressions went through many changes and had many hits before Mayfield went solo (and the Impressions continued with a new lead singer) and while he was successful, it was his soundtrack to Superfly that sent his career into the stratosphere! He continued to soar for a few years after that but inevitably, he spread himself too thin (multiple albums each year for himself and other projects as well as running his own record label) and tastes changed and he lost his label and his star no longer shone quite so brightly.

Of course, he had ups as well as downs over the years, but never the record-selling success of his height. Touring remained lucrative and he hit many stops that had escaped him earlier until a true tragedy cut down his performing career abruptly and shortened his life significantly. An incredibly sad ending to an incredible life.

Todd and his collaborator Travis Atria do a great job in telling the tale and keeping the story moving from the exciting early years through to the depressing career slump and crash. Curtis' music has remained relevant as untold numbers of hip-hop artists have sampled his music and paid homage to him. He was a true soul super star - any fan of soul and (real) R'n'B should check this out!

recommended gigs

 

Friday 5-2-25 - No Que No, VaVoom, the Vulgarians at Red Dwarf

Saturday 5-3-25 - the Minges, Wyatt and the Ashes and the Chemical Tribe at Red Dwarf

Saturday 5-3-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 5-5-25 - Thee Swank Bastard at the Golden Tiki

Thursday 5-8-25 - Jesika Von Rabbit at Red Dwarf

Friday 5-9-25 - The Implosions record release party with Same Sex Mary and Triple Splits at Red Dwarf

Saturday 5-10-25 - the Venomous Pinks, the Minges, the Has Nots at the Griffin

Saturday 5-10-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 5-11-25 - Bear Supply at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 5-12-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 5-16-25 - Volume (featuring Derek, ex-of the fabulous B-Movie Rats) at the Dive Bar

Saturday 5-17-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 5-19-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Thursday 5-22-25 - The Shakewells with Ch3 and the English Beat at the Citrus Grand Pool Deck at the Downtown Grand

Saturday 5-24-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 5-25-25 - Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Sunday 5-25-25 - New Bomb Turks, The Baboon Show, Civic, Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Usual Place

Monday 5-26-25 - The Briefs, Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Citrus Grand Pool Deck

Monday 5-26-25 - the Dogs, Talking Bombs, Gob Patrol and Soldiers of Destruction at Red Dwarf

Monday 5-26-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Tuesday 5-27-25 - Detroit Cobras, Pure Sport, the Implosions at Grey Witch's grand opening

Saturday 5-31-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 6-2-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Backstage Passes - Angela Bowie

 

After reading the latest tomes that I've found on Bowie and Iggy, I remembered this book, which I assume I picked up a number of years ago since I apparently never blogged about it. Considering that it had been long enough that I don't remember much of it, I decided to give it another go.

Of course, the main topic of this book is Angie's time with David, so it's no surprise that she opens with her introduction to the man and how their relationship grew quickly, despite the fact that David was living in a house with another woman and was having copious sex with whomever he fancied. He was also working on his folk-singer/hippie persona, which was nowhere near as stylish as his many other personas, but Angie still saw something there that she thought could become something special.

It's well known that Angie helped to hone David's image and his career in general and their agreement was that once David was established, then they would work on Angie's career in theater, music or some such combination. Of course, once he was a star, David kinda conveniently "forgot" about that pledge and left Angie to fend for herself. But, at the beginning, they worked together to fine tune a look'n'sound'n'persona that would capture'n'captivate the masses - while Angie also helped with numerous other chores, from procuring management to housing to whatever else was needed.

She talks about sex a lot and funnily, she says that, unlike many others, David was not a great lover, despite his physical attributes, and it wasn't until years later that a man was able to fulfill her like female lovers had. But, that didn't keep her from staying with Bowie for a number of years, as they had an open arrangement that they both took advantage of. There is a heavy emphasis on the sex that they were both having, which at my age, gets a little tiresome, but I'm sure it helped to sell the book.

She doesn't pull any punches in her criticisms of her ex, but she also goes to great lengths to explain that she did indeed think that he was gorgeous and talented and deserved his fame, although she also makes it clear that her help was needed to tip him over the edge.

There are lots of escapades, plenty of tales of David's drug-induced paranoias, copious drug abuse all around (including friends and acquaintances dying from overdoses), witches, bitches, sad stories and much more - overall, their relationship was not a happy time for either of them. Angie ends the tale when they get divorced and while she is a survivor, it sounds like there have been more than too many sad times since then, as well.

In any case, don't expect a story of David's music, or even much about his career in general - this is really a kiss'n'tell book, which, again, I suppose was its selling point. Angie comes off reasonably well, although, of course, it IS her book, and while most of us would do things differently (as least we tell ourselves we would), she is sympathetic.

I hope that she's found her way and found some happiness. A strange tale indeed...

RIP Roy Thomas Baker

Roy Thomas Baker Dies: Producer On ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ & Other Classics Was 78

 ---

Another huge talent gone...

RIP Jerry Butler

Jerry Butler dead at 85; singer known as 'Iceman' also had a long career in Cook County politics 

---

I didn't see this when it happened a couple of months ago, but I just happened to look him up as I am reading a book on Curtis Mayfield. Jerry was the original lead singer for the Impressions - that Curtis played guitar for - and, of course, had a solo career and, apparently, a political career, as well. I'm surprised that I didn't hear about this at the time.

recommended gigs

Saturday 4-26-25 - The Ghastly Ones, the Shakewells, Gamblers Mark, Toe Tags at Swan Dive

Saturday 4-26-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 4-27-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 4-28-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 5-2-25 - No Que No, VaVoom, the Vulgarians at Red Dwarf

Saturday 5-3-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 5-5-25 - Thee Swank Bastard at the Golden Tiki

Thursday 5-8-25 - Jesika Von Rabbit at Red Dwarf

Friday 5-9-25 - The Implosions record release party with Same Sex Mary and Triple Splits at Red Dwarf

Saturday 5-10-25 - the Venomous Pinks, the Minges, the Has Nots at the Griffin

Saturday 5-10-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 5-11-25 - Bear Supply at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 5-12-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 5-17-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 5-19-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 5-24-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 5-25-25 - Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Sunday 5-25-25 - New Bomb Turks, The Baboon Show, Civic, Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Usual Place

Monday 5-26-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Tuesday 5-27-25 - Detroit Cobras, Pure Sport, the Implosions at Grey Witch's grand opening

Saturday 5-31-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 6-2-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

RIP Danny Yerna

 

Originally from Belgium, Danny was responsible for lots of the rock'n'roll and piercing scenes in Mexico City and was a damn nice guy. He hosted the Tommyknockers in Mexico City and Tijuana, as well as countless other groups. This was truly a shock as he was far, far too young. 

RIP David Thomas

David Thomas, anarchic Pere Ubu bandleader, dies aged 71

 ---

I am getting so tired of all of these RIP's.

David Thomas helped co-found (with Peter Laughner and Craig Bell) the incredible pre-punk Rocket From the Tombs (the original band, not the 80's group that stole / slightly changed the name) that splintered into Pere Ubu and the Dead Boys and is responsible for inspiring countless bands, but especially mid-west punk and pre-punk combos. All of these bands works should be sought out if you don't already have everything!

Another great gone way too soon.

Absolute Beginners - Colin Macinnes

 

I seem to think that this 1959 British novel was mentioned in a Bowie book and, as it is about the early Mods (more or less), it sounded interesting to me and upon discovering that our library carried it, I grabbed it to see what it's all about.

What it is about is a teenage freelance photographer who dabbles in light porn to specific clients, but who is interested in hip jazz (Ella, Billie, etc.) and has an interesting group of friends. As an early/pre-Mod, he and his pals are interested in clothes'n'music, some dabble in drugs, there's plenty of sex, and Macinnes basically tries to outline the lives that these youngsters - newly labeled teenagers at the time - are living in London.

The narrator speaks in then-current hipster jive and has deep conversations about life, love, politics, philosophy, race and much more with his various friends - fellow teens, queens, lesbians, and others of various races and sexes. He's quite descriptive of the various aspects and areas of the city at the time and of the inhabitants thereof and every conversation  is deep and deeply felt by all involved, even if the subject matter may not be quite as deep as they make it out to be.

There is not a whole lot of plot - a few things happen here'n'there - a love interest, some work, and especially some racial tensions and fighting - and it seems like the main point of the book is to allow the main character to pontificate with his soliloquies. Of course, there are a few events around the conversations and then we get a very vague and somewhat odd (definitely unexpected) and unfulfilling ending.

I would have thought that I would have dug this one from the description and the subject matter, but it did not really connect with me. Such is life!

recommended gigs

         

Sunday 4-20-25 - Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Wednesday 4-23-35 - The Holy Smokes, The Centuries, Lady Luck Lexy and Bo Peep and the Backbeat at the Sand Dollar Spring Mountain

Saturday 4-26-25 - The Ghastly Ones, the Shakewells, Gamblers Mark, Toe Tags at Swan Dive

Friday 5-2-25 - No Que No, VaVoom, the Vulgarians at Red Dwarf

Thursday 5-8-25 - Jesika Von Rabbit at Red Dwarf

Friday 5-9-25 - The Implosions record release party with Same Sex Mary and Triple Splits at Red Dwarf

Saturday 5-10-25 - the Venomous Pinks, the Minges, the Has Nots at the Griffin

Sunday 5-11-25 - Bear Supply at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Sunday 5-25-25 - Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Sunday 5-25-25 - New Bomb Turks, The Baboon Show, Civic, Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Usual Place

Tuesday 5-27-25 - Detroit Cobras, Pure Sport, the Implosions at Grey Witch's grand opening

Playback - Raymond Chandler

 

I believe that this is the last Phillip Marlowe book in Chandler's series and I wanted to finish them out, so when this finally came available from our library, I grabbed. Here, Marlowe is hired by one beautiful woman to tail another beautiful woman but is quite vague and cagey about the whys and wherefores. But the job pays well and they are in a rush, so he takes it, somewhat against his better judgement. Of course, it isn't long before he runs into sex'n'violence and this supposed-easy-job gets convoluted.

It turns out that I have missed a couple of other books in the series so I will look out for them, as well, but this one, if indeed I have my info right and it was the last that Chandler wrote, is a little disjointed. Nothing dramatic, but not quite the usual twists'n'turns for a Phillip Marlowe tale. Still, there are plenty of tough guys, double crossing PI's (multiple were hired for the same job, apparently), murders, "suicides", violence and even sex.

Maybe not as well done as some of the other tales, but still not bad and entertaining as a quick read. Let me see what the last couple are like when they come available...

The Monkey Wrench Gang - Edward Abbey

 

Came upon this author quite by chance and he sounded like quite the character so upon learning that our library had this book, I decided to check it out so I could check it out!

This 1975 story is the tale of four disparate individuals who randomly come together and equally randomly decide that their mission in life is eco-terrorism in the Southwestern United States. A middle-aged, wealthy doctor, who can afford to finance their work, his young, sexy, female hippie/anarchist assistant, a Vietnam Vet and a river guide, knowledgeable about the area. They hate the spoilage of the open areas, although their reasoning can be a little vague and kinda squirmy - as in, they will do their best to stop work on roads or blow up bridges but use the roads and bemoan the fact that there aren't bridges where they could use them. But I guess no one's ideals are quite perfect, are they?

There's a romantic plot "twist" that literally anyone could see coming for chapters'n'chapters but the ending does give a few surprises, in a way, although some stretch the imagination a bit.

I'm actually not certain how I feel about this one, which probably means something in and of itself. Some bits drag on a bit too long, there are some obvious plot devices, but Abbey does manage to keep your interest, especially towards the end as you don't really know what is going to happen. Not sure that I will search out anything else of his, but intriguing, at least.

recommended gigs

        

Friday 4-11-25 - Go Betty Go, Lords of Altamont, the Shakewells at the Usual Place

Sunday 4-20-25 - Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Wednesday 4-23-35 - The Holy Smokes, The Centuries, Lady Luck Lexy and Bo Peep and the Backbeat at the Sand Dollar Spring Mountain

Saturday 4-26-25 - The Ghastly Ones, the Shakewells, Gamblers Mark, Toe Tags at Swan Dive

Friday 5-2-25 - No Que No, VaVoom, the Vulgarians at Red Dwarf

Thursday 5-8-25 - Jesika Von Rabbit at Red Dwarf

Saturday 5-10-25 - the Venomous Pinks, the Minges, the Has Nots at the Griffin

Sunday 5-11-25 - Bear Supply at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Sunday 5-25-25 - New Bomb Turks, The Baboon Show, Civic, Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Usual Place

Tuesday 5-27-25 - Detroit Cobras, Pure Sport, the Implosions at Grey Witch's grand opening

Iggy Pop Open Up and Bleed - Paul Trynka

 

Obviously, I've been a fan of Iggy and his Stooges ever since first discovering them in the 70's (a combination of a fellow student who was baffled by their debut album and gave it to me and Kenne Highland, who loved them and gifted me with the other two albums so we could jam on them endlessly whenever we got together) and have read a number of books on the man and the band but this one seems to have eluded me until now.

Iggy practically brags about growing up in a trailer park in Michigan, but the park itself actually sounds nicer than many neighborhoods, with farmland, parks, and a close-knit community of at least middle-class families who simply chose the place for its convenience. He also was friendly with the upper-class kids from the area - to the point where some of his trailer park friends called him "snooty". He seems as if he was basically one of the popular kids, not the outcast that most of us rock'n'rollers were. (And I still think it's weird that he was - and still is - a golf fanatic!)

When he does discover music, he gets immersed, learns drums, starts a couple of projects that evolve into first the Iguanas and then the Prime Movers, both fairly popular and respected groups on the Michigan scene. After a stint playing behind some blues legends in Chicago, Iggy returned to Ann Arbor and decided to start a new, original band with the Asheton brothers and Dave Alexander. Ron named them the Psychedelic Stooges and they made a name for themselves with a confrontational sound and stage show - particularly Iggy's unpredictable escapades. 

Time seemed to move faster back then and soon the first album is released, there are many more shows, they plot the follow up Fun House album, bring in Steve MacKay on sax and fly to LA for recording and debauchery. While the album is a true r'n'r masterpiece now, it flopped, most of the band got hooked on heroin, and even bringing in James Williamson on second guitar did not help any matters - in fact it did the opposite and when Elektra turned down their option for a third album (which, for fans, was too bad, as they had some wild material worked up then), the band essentially fell apart. Bowie famously helped to resurrect them, but with increasing drug use, bad management (after MainMan dropped them) and no serious support system - but especially the drug use and Iggy's unreliability - they completely dissolved.

Of course, everyone who cares knows these stories, but there are a few extra tidbits thrown in here'n'there and Trynka tells the tale engagingly. When Pop reconnects with Bowie they create a whole new style for both of them, sorta creating post-punk just as punk was forming, based on the sounds of the Stooges, MC5 and other like-minded bands. So, even though Metallic KO came out about this time, Iggy was sorta turning his back on his previous work just as it was becoming important and highly influential - just bad timing or just being confrontational? Of course, he flirts with various sounds over the coming years and is often more in tune with the times, so this was ironic. 

But in the meantime, there were a couple of flops, a bunch of tours, some punk rock superstar sidemen - Brian James, Glen Matlock, Billy Rath, Ivan Kral, Richard Sohl, Gary Valentine, Clem Burke, even Steve Jones at one point, who were all thrilled to work with their hero, even though his career was floundering - and, as usual, plenty of bad decisions, addictions (drugs, alcohol, underage girls), and manic depressions.

Trynka concludes with the reunion of the Stooges in the new millennium, with triumphant shows but a mediocre new record. Regardless, the resurrection and survival of the main characters (minus their original bassists, who had all passed at this time so Mike Watt was brought in as a replacement) and Iggy's financial stability and sobriety leaves the book on a positive note, after a lifetime of depravity and disappointments. 

Trynka does a good job of separating Jim, the intelligent, soft-spoken, handsome and charming gentlemen from the maniacal, drug-ravaged, ravin', drooling Iggy but other than the occasional tidbits, fans will probably not learn much new here, but Iggy and the Stooges is a tale for the ages and needed to be told.

RIP Clem Burke

Blondie star dead aged 70 after private battle with cancer as band pay tribute

 ---

Debbie was the sex symbol of the band - and a fine singer, as well - but they would not have gotten as far as they did without Clem's propulsive drumming and showmanship. He was the Keith Moon of the NY punk scene!

So sad to hear this and, once again, far too young.

recommended gigs

       

Friday 4-4-25 - the Implosions, the X-Flowers, Wyatt and the Ashes, the Velveteen Flowers at the Main Stage at First Friday

Friday 4-4-25 - Christina Jean and the Howlers, Memphis Vampires and the Hideaway at Red Dwarf

Sunday 4-6-25 - Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch for Phil Tiki's Birthday!

Friday 4-11-25 - Go Betty Go, Lords of Altamont, the Shakewells at the Usual Place

Sunday 4-20-25 - Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Wednesday 4-23-35 - The Holy Smokes, The Centuries, Lady Luck Lexy and Bo Peep and the Backbeat at the Sand Dollar Spring Mountain

Saturday 4-26-25 - The Ghastly Ones, the Shakewells, Gamblers Mark, Toe Tags at Swan Dive

Friday 5-2-25 - No Que No, VaVoom, the Vulgarians at Red Dwarf

Thursday 5-8-25 - Jesika Von Rabbit at Red Dwarf

Saturday 5-10-25 - the Venomous Pinks, the Minges, the Has Nots at the Griffin

Sunday 5-11-25 - Bear Supply at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Sunday 5-25-25 - New Bomb Turks, The Baboon Show, Civic, Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Usual Place

Tuesday 5-27-25 - Detroit Cobras, Pure Sport, the Implosions at Grey Witch's grand opening

Waiting on the Moon - Peter Wolf

 

Our library picked up this one, so I grabbed it even though I already have two large tomes checked out so let's see how far I can get with three books simultaneously and see if I can keep the stories straight!

Of course, I have been a fan of the band that Peter fronted, the J. Geils Band, since their stompin' hit "Lookin' For a Love" and dug pretty much their entire 70's output and still consider them to be one of the best live bands of all time - which had a lot to do with Wolf's onstage antics and amazing monologues. I've just discovered that Peter has more than one book out and this was the first that I've found and certainly want to hear his reminiscences of his time in the band. (Actually, the other book seems to just be made to look like it’s Peter’s, but I’m still interested in finding it if I can.)

Peter moves through his basic background and young childhood pretty quickly, which is nice, as that can be fairly dull for almost anyone (although he has a couple of fun'n'funny anecdotes). He spends a bit of time with his first love, who sounds pretty darn hip and was lovely, and was obviously a big influence on him. She went to college, he moved to Boston, but they ended up living together as he formed the J. Geils Band and they both worked various jobs to keep some money coming in. Peter was on tour when he found out that Edie, who he obviously truly loved, had been killed in a car accident.

I realized that he moved through time quickly in that case in order to tell the entire tale of his ill-fated love before moving on to other subjects. He goes back in time to his teenage years in NYC and discovering'n'meeting Bob Dylan. He then moves to his college years where he temporarily roomed with David Lynch! He has tales of seeing Muddy Waters and hanging out with his band, with Otis Span playing in Wolf's apartment and James Cotton giving him harmonica tips! Wow! Truly mind-boggling! And both Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf staying at his apartment! Yowza!

Naturally, there are plenty of other characters, as well, and lots that he met well before the genesis of the J. Geils Band! He has led a life! His chapters are mostly devoted to his time with one person or another - say, a chapter about meeting John Lee Hooker that continues with his interactions throughout his life, and the same with Van Morrison, or with various other musicians, academics, and others.

Wolf is a great storyteller - to be expected as he was such a verbose frontman (coming from his time spent as a DJ, I assume) - and is very personable and likeable here as he talks about his wild adventures. Funnily enough, the band is only mentioned in asides - at least so far, and I'm halfway through the book - and he doesn't give any info whatsoever about meeting the guys or forming the band and only offhand mentions of a couple of gigs, mostly to set the scene for something that he was involved in with other people. He doesn't even mention any band member by name! I wonder if he just wants to show that he has a personality apart from the band? The book does keep your interest even without the band gossip, but since I am a huge fan, it's a little disappointing. But then, towards the end of the book, he finally does get around to talking about the formation of the group and even names everyone! But it is a quick summation and although he was the one who arranged their two recording contracts, initially managed the band, helped set up their support system, cowrote the songs and more, he was asked to leave the group at the height of their career. I hated what they were doing in the 80’s so I wasn't paying attention then, but apparently, Wolf wanted to return to their roots and the band wanted to continue in their ill-advised ways. Wolf made his first solo album, which was successful while the band's post-Wolf album tanked.

I’m sure that Wolf exaggerates how poor the band was before their 80’s hits because they had several Top Forty hits before then and they were selling out (at least) several thousand seat venues. Even considering a bad recording contract, between the records and the gigs they had to be ok - not rich but certainly not poor, either.

Even without details about the JGB, the man has stories to tell and has met incredible characters and can really set a scene for the tales. This is a great read - highly recommended! (Still want a tome of the band though!)

David Bowie The Oral History - Dylan Jones

 

Of course, I've read bits'n'pieces about Bowie over the years and have known'n'dug his music since "Changes" first started appearing on the FM Radio stations. It helped that my then-girlfriend was pretty much a glam-fanatic, but I was certainly drawn to Mick Ronson's guitar work, along with Bowie's well written tunes and outrageous stage persona.

This is yet another book that tells the story through interviews - hence "the oral history", natch. Dylan Jones (really? Is there any way that could possible be a real name?!) actually interviewed Bowie himself at times, and for this book he collected reminiscences from family (I didn't know/had forgotten about Bowie's half-siblings and the mental illness that ran in his mother's side), friends, lovers, musicians who worked with him and who simply knew him along with lots of others. 

Bowie's childhood is discussed, of course, but Jones moves pretty quickly to the teenage years and Bowie's various 60's musical projects before his solo career. Naturally, lovers are a big topic of the story, as they included fellow musicians, landladies, managers (possibly) and more, as well as "just" lovers. According to many of the people interviewed, David was bisexual and often had multiple lovers juggled at the same time - in fact, supposedly he had a landlady/lover in the suburbs, Angie in London and various others here'n'there all at the same time!

His career takes off with Ziggy Stardust, but as much of the book is dedicated to who he was fucking as to his music and the band. It really is so ubiquitous that it is almost absurd - he just fucks almost anyone around him - mostly women (and young groupies like Lori Lightning and Sable Star), but men, as well, if the "kiss'n'tell" aspect of the book can be believed. Multiple people describe Bowie as a sex addict, although I can't blame him for taking advantage of his situation - and the women say that he was always a gentleman and a seducer, not just a wham-bam-thank-you-maam". But it does almost get in the way of the story, since it is so all-encompassing.

He is somewhat known for being self centered and controlling as well as simultaneously being pompous and insecure. He uses people but really, I don’t know if it’s much more than anyone uses anyone else (especially in the music biz), other than the fact that he was on another level.

I'm a rock'n'roller, natch (and a bit of a folkie), so my fave part of the tale is his early days and rise to fame and his work with Ronno. Once he started into his soul phase, while not terrible, he lost my interest and so more than half of this book covers the period that I don't care too much about, which coincides with his absurd drug abuse. Funny quote though - Earl Slick, who plays guitar on Station to Station calls it Bowie's best album! Hah! Kinda egotistical and I don't know ANYONE else who would say that - not even in most people's top 5, I would think...Also humorous is Deep Purple's Glenn Hughes becoming close to Bowie - not sexually, although Glenn makes it sound like Bowie would have liked that, but apparently Bowie dug Hughes' voice, which makes sense as he was getting more into African American music and Glenn had a soulful voice. Still odd to me and something that I never heard before and they seemingly would have traveled in somewhat different circles.

As we get into the 80's, we get to Bowie's most vapid work which, ironically, is his most popular, but that was the 80's for you! Even the author admits that much of Bowie's work during this period was boring drek. Unfortunately, this British author does what all too many British authors do and continually cite various British references, slang words, obscure (to anyone outside of Britain) people, places and things and more. Of course, you can always get the gist, but the assumption that people outside of England will understand what you're talking about is somewhat pompous and annoying, at least for a midwestern kid like me. 

There's quite a bit abut the numerous films that he did - I tend to forget that he was in so many since I haven't seen a lot of them - but there's a somewhat funny part when talking about Bowie playing Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ since I just read Peter Wolf's book and he auditioned for the part but Scorsese says he never considered anyone but Bowie - not very nice!

The book tends to run on'n'on - it definitely could have been considerably shorter as half of the book rambles on about music that basically no one cared for and talks about his interest in art and his business and so on...Just nowhere near as compelling as his early years and could easily have been edited deeply. There's also literally hundreds of pages of eulogies after his death that just rambles on and doesn't really add much to the narrative, other than to reiterate how much he meant to people.

Naturally, fans will want to read this, and there is some entertaining escapades herein, but I do think that the sex'n'druges were highlighted more than necessary and there could have been more about his music - especially the great 60's and 70's sounds that made him the star that he was.  Maybe if I was a bigger fan of Bowie's later work I would be more of a fan of this book, but for me it rambled on and I skimmed a lot of the later chapters. Maybe I missed something compelling by doing that, but it really just got to be a bit too much....

Cracked Actor - A Film About David Bowie

 

I'm currently reading a book about Bowie (more on that soon) and it has made me look up a few things that I was not familiar with previously, including a clip of Peter Noone singing "Oh You Pretty Things" (fairly surreal) and this documentary, which escaped me at the time - and ever since, until now! (Although I'm sure I've seen some clips, at least, here'n'there.)

This is somewhat a documentation of the Young Americans tour, although the music that it highlights is his previous work, played with the updated band, which means that it is not as rockin' as it was with the Spiders and the presentation is more theatrical. I never saw him live, so I've had to rely on videos, but for one thing, I didn't realize that on this tour he would lip-sync (as opposed to playing live, as he did with the Spiders) "Space Oddity" while sitting on a crane that was going over the heads of the crowd!

He is interviewed, as well, and while the book says he was blasted out of his mind on cocaine, he doesn't come off too badly, and he is well spoken, overall, if a bit pretentious, which is his thing, in a way. I mean, he references Hamlet in one of his song performances here, for crissakes...

It is kinda funny how when they show the audience, so many of them are truly plain'n'normal looking and only a handful dressed up. The hype would make it sound like the entire crowd looked like Ziggy when in fact it was just a few. But Ziggy hangs over everything and when they show clips from the Ziggy concerts it just shows how much better those performances were than his lackluster "thin white duke" gigs.

I believe that this doc was done in order to advertise Bowie's latest character, but unfortunately, it just shows a watered down, kinda TV variety-show version of a once great rock'n'roll star. While his Ziggy costumes were wilder, the Ziggy concert was a rock'n'roll show, with a red-hot, hard rock band (that was very capable of playing ballads, when needed) but this line-up seems to just be session musicians playing it safe'n'clean and frankly, fairly boring. I wish I had seen Ziggy, but I'm sure I would have been disappointed with this show.

recommended gigs

      

Friday 3-28-25 - Thee Swank Bastards, the Implosions and the Surfers of Mercy at Red Dwarf

Saturday 3-29-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Boulder City Beer Fest and late night at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 3-29-25 - The Hypnotiques at the Golden TIki

Monday 3-31-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 4-4-25 - the Implosions, the X-Flowers, Wyatt and the Ashes, the Velveteen Flowers at the Main Stage at First Friday

Friday 4-4-25 - Christina Jean and the Howlers, Memphis Vampires and the Hideaway at Red Dwarf

Sunday 4-6-25 - Generic Surf Band at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch for Phil Tiki's Birthday!

Friday 4-11-25 - Go Betty Go, Lords of Altamont, the Shakewells at the Usual Place

Wednesday 4-23-35 - The Holy Smokes, The Centuries, Lady Luck Lexy and Bo Peep and the Backbeat at the Sand Dollar Spring Mountain

Saturday 4-26-25 - The Ghastly Ones, the Shakewells, Gamblers Mark, Toe Tags at Swan Dive

Thursday 5-8-25 - Jesika Von Rabbit at Red Dwarf

Saturday 5-10-25 - the Venomous Pinks, the Minges, the Has Nots at the Griffin

Sunday 5-25-25 - New Bomb Turks, The Baboon Show, Civic, Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Usual Place

Tuesday 5-27-25 - Detroit Cobras, Pure Sport, the Implosions at Grey Witch's grand opening

RIP Leanne Cowie of the Scientists

Drummer for legendary Aussie indie rock band The Scientists dies: 'She was the beating heart'

Another gone far too young. The Scientists were one of the more original bands out of the 80's - great, noisy stuff that I still listen to all the time and have even covered!

RIP Larry Tamblyn of the Standells

 

Larry Tamblyn, Co-Founder of Garage-Rock Band the Standells and Brother of Russ Tamblyn, Dies at 82

The Standells were a huge influence on my 60's leanings - so many great tunes!

recommended gigs

     

Friday 3-21-25 - Femaliens, United Defiance, Hollow Mute at Red Dwarf

Saturday 3-22-25 - Femaliens, Negative Nancys, Wyatt and the Ashes, Not For Sale, Ugly Boy, We Might Die at Rangels Boxing Ring

Saturday 3-22-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 3-23-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 3-24-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday 3-26-25 - Bear Supply at Red Dwarf

Friday 3-28-25 - Thee Swank Bastards, the Implosions and the Surfers of Mercy at Red Dwarf

Saturday 3-29-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Boulder City Beer Fest and late night at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 3-29-25 - The Hypnotiques at the Golden TIki

Monday 3-31-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 4-4-25 - Christina Jean and the Howlers, Memphis Vampires and the Hideaway at Red Dwarf

Friday 4-11-25 - Go Betty Go, Lords of Altamont, the Shakewells at the Usual Place

Wednesday 4-23-35 - The Holy Smokes, The Centuries, Lady Luck Lexy and Bo Peep and the Backbeat at the Sand Dollar Spring Mountain

Saturday 4-26-25 - The Ghastly Ones, the Shakewells, Gamblers Mark, Toe Tags at Swan Dive

Saturday 5-10-25 - the Venomous Pinks, the Minges, the Has Nots at the Griffin

Sunday 5-25-25 - New Bomb Turks, The Baboon Show, Civic, Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Usual Place

Tuesday 5-27-25 - Detroit Cobras, Pure Sport, the Implosions at Grey Witch's grand opening

The Long Goodbye - Raymond CHandler

 

I don't know how much time had supposed to pass since the last book in the series but in this one Marlowe has rented a house (!) in Laurel Canyon (!) as opposed to his sketchy apartment in Hollywood, or his combined office/living space. He helps out a drunk in need at Dancers - the site of the blackmail in The Little Sister - and, of course, that leads to his latest adventure.

On a side note, it is completely hilarious that Chandler complains about stores "already" filling up with "overpriced Christmas junk" the week AFTER Thanksgiving and that the newspapers were saying that you needed to get your Xmas shopping done "early"! These days, that would be considered late!

So, I'm writing this as I'm reading the book and it is laid out basically like a series of vignettes - at least so far. He becomes friends with the drunk he helped out and, naturally, that leads to multiple murders, corrupt cops, a trip to Tijuana and a stay in jail. After that case plays out he is immediately hired by a stunningly beautiful woman to find her missing wealthy writer (and abusive drunk) husband, with little clues. But, Marlowe's resourcefulness and friends in the biz help him find the gentleman and return him home - although it is believed that he is also being blackmailed, but his rescue from yet another unscrupulous doctor comes first!

Lots more happens, natch, and more unscrupulous characters come out of the woodwork, more murder, more intertwined happenstances - seeming coincidences that are far too coincidental! Of course, it all fits together eventually, with even more murders, apparent suicides, beatings, etc., although not everyone lives to see it happen. Gangsters, cops, politicians, reporters and, of course, beautiful women all help'n'hinder Marlowe and some are both corrupt and legit.

There is a bit of a twist at the end, although not completely unexpected, but everything does fall into place and is explained and while Marlowe may lose some friends, he gains a one night stand - the first so far in this series, despite all of the lost chances.

I quite enjoyed this one - this and The Big Sleep are rightfully among his best known works. I will see what else is out there...

Kraven the Hunter - movie

 

It's funny but as a kid - hell, as an adult until now - I never really thought about the name Kraven rhyming with "craven" - not exactly a heroic - or powerful villain - name. Wonder what made Stan Lee (I believe) use that word, although, as I said, I didn't think of the implications until now, since it was in writing, rather than spoken.

In any case, I'm not sure why Marvel thought to use this character as the basis for a stand alone movie. He was an interesting Spider-Man villain, but not really one of his top foes. And, in typical movie fashion, they changed everything about the character, his origins, and his motives. Not to say that the movie as a movie is bad, but it has little to do with the comic book character.

The Rhino is also extremely, extremely different than the comic version and there is a strange, even in these settings, villain only known as the Foreigner, who has vague powers - possibly hypnosis combined with teleportation? I'm not sure...And, of course, there is a beautiful woman who has helped Kraven become who he is and has rescued him from certain death more than once.

Nice use of a Black Sabbath song, though, to soothe the savage Baby Boomer who doesn't appreciate the "Changes" you made to the story! And an appearance by the Chameleon?! (Also, nothing to do with the original character, but such is life in modern Marvel movies).

Not a bad movie - I enjoyed it, in fact - but almost nothing to do with the 1960's version of Kraven. Those who are not entrenched in Marvel lore will probably enjoy it more as they would not be expecting a different tale.

RIP Jesse Colin Young

Jesse Colin Young, Who Sang Youngbloods’ 1960s Anthem ‘Get Together’ Before Going Solo, Dies at 83

---

Sad to hear. His "Darkness, Darkness" is a fave of mine....

The Little Sister - Raymond Chandler

 

As with all of Chandler's stories, nothing is easy for Phillip Marlowe and simple things like a missing person escalates into multiple murders, tough guys, movie stars (that was a change!) and lots of convoluted escapades. A young woman from Manhattan, Kansas asks for Marlowe's help in finding her brother who moved to LA and eventually stopped writing. His boarding house is beyond sketchy and murders pile up rapidly from there. Naturally, everything gets complicated, as well, as more'n'more characters appear, making it difficult to keep track of everyone - at least for me!

It is interesting that here Marlowe references previous cases (he is working in Bay City again) and previous characters. Keeps the continuity and all that...Once again, Marlowe gets doped up by an unscrupulous doctor - that tends to happen to him, apparently. This time out there's apparently a "reefer" gang that Marlowe got mixed up in - among other things, naturally.

But there are sexy movie stars - Marlowe has a lot more self-control that I had as a single man, as he continuously turns down offers of sex - with all kinds of connections to various characters, gangsters, numerous murderers - so many that it's difficult to keep track of them all - blackmail, of course there is, and Chandler's patented complicated twists'n'turns.

The fun thing about murder mysteries is trying to figure out the who-dun-it, although with Chandler's stories, there's really no clues as to who has really done what, as he makes it seems like one person, then another, then another is the villain until he wraps everything up in the end, kind of out of nowhere.

Again, I like his writing style and these are quick reads, but this one was a bit overly complicated just for its own sake and a bit strained, in my mind. I'll continued on the journey into Marlow-land, though, and see where else it goes.

recommended gigs

    

Friday 3-14-25 - Soldiers of Destruction, Lean 13 and Burlesque at the Double Down

Friday 3-14-25 - The Queers, Stagnetti's Cock, Gob Patrol, Battering Ham and At Odds at Backstage Bar and Billiards

Saturday 3-15-25 - Shanda and the Howlers at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 3-15-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 3-16-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 3-17-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Monday 3-17-25 - Big Like Texas, Wyatt and the Ashes at PTs 6560 Warm Springs

Friday 3-21-25 - Femaliens, United Defiance, Hollow Mute at Red Dwarf

Saturday 3-22-25 - Femaliens, Negative Nancys, Wyatt and the Ashes, Not For Sale, Ugly Boy, We Might Die at Rangels Boxing Ring

Saturday 3-22-25 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 3-23-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 3-24-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday 3-26-25 - Bear Supply at Red Dwarf

Friday 3-28-25 - Thee Swank Bastards, the Implosions and the Surfers of Mercy at Red Dwarf

Saturday 3-29-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Boulder City Beer Fest and late night at the Golden Tiki

Saturday 3-29-25 - The Hypnotiques at the Golden TIki

Monday 3-31-25 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 4-4-25 - Christina Jean and the Howlers, Memphis Vampires and the Hideaway at Red Dwarf

Friday 4-11-25 - Go Betty Go, Lords of Altamont, the Shakewells at the Usual Place

Wednesday 4-23-35 - The Holy Smokes, The Centuries, Lady Luck Lexy and Bo Peep and the Backbeat at the Sand Dollar Spring Mountain

Saturday 4-26-25 - The Ghastly Ones, the Shakewells, Gamblers Mark, Toe Tags at Swan Dive

Saturday 5-10-25 - the Venomous Pinks, the Minges, the Has Nots at the Griffin

Sunday 5-25-25 - New Bomb Turks, The Baboon Show, Civic, Cromm Fallon and the P200 at the Usual Place

Tuesday 5-27-25 - Detroit Cobras, Pure Sport, the Implosions at Grey Witch's grand opening

RIP Bruce Joyner

 

Just heard that Bruce Joyner (singer of the Unknowns, among many other projects) has passed away.

The Unknowns were a fantastic band and among the first musical friends I made in Southern California.

Terribly sorry to hear of the sweet and talented man's passing.