Rock Books

Greene's newest is fun if you are from that era of music. I wish it had more about the encounters of other musicians, and less of his musings. Since he toured with Alice Cooper and wrote a book about that, it would have been fun to hear some kind of comparison of those experiences.

If you are a fan of 50s and 60s music you will love this book. If you are a fan of Jan and Dean you MUST HAVE THIS BOOK. It is beyond a doubt the best book I have ever read on the subject of rock and roll.But it is so much more than that-it is the story of undying friendship and the search for eternal youth.I found my own Surf City last year when I met Dean Torrence in an Oklahoma Casino where he and the Surf City All Stars were playing.That meeting made reading the book that much better,because it proved to me that Bob Greenes views were right on the mark, and that if you are lucky you too can find Surf City.Rock and Roll will never die.

This is a great book. I especially enjoy reading about Gary Griffin....he's a real cutie. It's interesting to find out that life on the road isn't all glamor. A wonderful inside view of the people and songs that we all remember.

Do you remember "Jan and Dean"? Do you remember those "surf songs" that were/are so much fun to dance to and sing along with? Do your kids remember these songs? This book, so easy to read, gives us one man's remembrance of what it was like to tour and sing/play with the various and ever-changing group inspired by the original Jan and Dean. What a wild and wonderful ride they all had...

This was a fascinating read for me and I was amazed about so many details of "life on the tour" that Bob Greene remembered. For all I know, he may still be on tour...

You might also like reading one of Bob's other recent books, And You Know You Should Be Glad. He has a gift for being able to write about how it felt growing up in a (fairly) small town in the 50's/60's and has a way about explaining feelings that he had as a teenager and those feelings of his friends. Things were sure different then and young people today might enjoy seeing how one particular guy saw things. When I have read his books, I have said to myself, "yeah, I know what you mean," but have not been able to put it into words. He talks about the importance of sustaining friendships and not all of us have been able to keep such long relationships. His recounting of those times also kept me laughing, it was not all seriousness. In fact, I think the humour is what kept the whole thing going in both of these books.

Sincerely,
Diane Commendatore
loudotcomm@comcast.net

Bob Greene takes fans of 60's music through an insightful story from behind the scenes as he tells of his travels with Jan and Dean. His observations as one of the back up musicians reveal little known things about musicians and how concerts work. He also has many anecdotes about Jan and Dean after Jan's "recovery" from his terrible accident. Some of them are humorous and some rather sad. Reading this book led me to buy other books by Greene that I hadn't read so far in addition to buying another book about Jan and Dean. A good read.

Jean-Marie Potiez is, of course, from France. I knew him through ABBA fan clubs some years ago. He gives a good account of the ABBA phenomenon. Agnetha was born in Jonkoping, Sweden on April 5, 1950. Her father staged amateur reviews in the town, and Agnetha began singing in them at an early age. When she was 15, she left school to take a job as a telephone operator with a car firm. She was singing with a group called Bernt Enghardts. She left them when her composition, "Jag Var Sa Kar (I Was So In Love)" became a hit on the Swedish charts. Agnetha moved to Stockholm and recorded her first album.

Agnetha composed music. She did nine solo albums between 1968 and 1988. She recorded in Swedish, German, English, French and Spanish. Her label in the early days was Cupol. She went on to form Agnetha Faltskog Productions with Staffan Linde as her manager.

Benny Andersson is the only one of the four born in Stockholm, Benny came from a family of accordion players. It was natural for him to teach himself piano. From 1964 to 1969, his Hep Stars were Sweden's biggest group. They had a rougher image than Bjorn's Hootenanny Singers. When their career ended in bankruptcy, Benny came away with the idea that there would have to be greater economy in the future. It gave him incentive to become co-owner of Polar Music with Bjorn and Stig Anderson.

Bjorn Ulvaeus came from Gothenburg, Sweden's western port and second largest city, where he was born in 1945.

Bjorn was still in school when he formed the West Bay Singers, a folk group. Stig Anderson suggested the name, Hootenanny Singers. Stig was great at naming groups.

Bjorn is known for his business sense and studied corporate law for a term at the University of Stockholm. He meant to be a civil engineer. He was drafted into the Swedish military for the mandatory 10 months, a handy experience if you are going to write songs like Fernando.

Frida Lyngstad was raised by her grandmother in Eskilstuna. Her mother had died at age 21, and it was felt that little Frida would fare better in Sweden since her father had been part of the occupying army.

Frida started singing professionally when she was 13. She sang with a big band, and that is how she met her first husband, Ragnar Fredriksson. He played trombone. Frida had two children by him: a son, Hans, and a daughter, Lotta.

If you are an ABBA fan, then you will love this book. The book takes you into the lives for 4 very special musicans.

Abba remain hugely popular in Britain and many other countries more than twenty years after they disbanded. This book is not an in-depth study of the different personalities and their difficulties, but it gives plenty of information about the members of Abba and their manager, including their lives before and after Abba. And (at least in my hardcover edition) there are pictures - plenty of them.

Regarding the four members of Abba, three of them (Benny, Bjorn and Agnetha) were born and raised in Sweden, all apparently having fairly normal childhoods, only their musical talent setting them apart from others. All three became hugely successful in the Swedish pop charts, Agnetha as a solo singer, Benny and Bjorn as members of separate groups.

The odd one out was Anni-Frid, better known as Frida. She was born in Norway as the illegitimate child of a German father and Norwegian mother. Frida was mainly raised by her grandmother, who took her to Sweden, where her mother joined them but died of illness a few months later, aged just 21. Frida also found it much harder than the others to achieve success in music, but she did eventually have some big Swedish hits of her own.

The author presents the main years (1969 to 1982) on a year-by-year basis, explaining the different events that occurred in each year - records, tours, TV, their personal lives - in a semi-diary format.

As far as the music is concerned, the story is quite complicated and not always easy to follow, but that is no fault of the author. Before they became Abba, they were four separate acts, each with their own careers and signed to different record companies. Once they came together as Abba, different things were happening in Japan, Australia, Germany, Sweden and elsewhere with different records - even before 1974. That was the year that Abba won Eurovision and charted for the first time in Britain and America.

There have been many books on Abba and will surely be many more. Despite being a huge Abba fan, this is the first I've read. If you're only going to have one book on Abba, it might as well be this one.

Did you ever come across a favourite song and say, "I wonder whatever happened to....? Abba took the world by storm back in the 60's when a quarter bought you an afternoon matinee at the movies, and minimum wage in my home town was $1.00 per hour. If you earned $1.25 or more, you had it made!

Abba possessed a unique blend of charisma, talent, and originality. Who can forget the sentimental lyrics of ,"I Had A Dream", the gentle flow of "The Rivers of Babylon", the melancholy strains of "Fernando" or the upbeat dance-hit, "Dancing Queen"? The list of hits went on and on.

What I particularly liked about this book was the numerous photographs all depicting Abba at their finest. Many photographs are ones not often, if ever, published before, at least not on this continent. In addition, the book reveals a lot of factual, personal information about the individuals themselves. The road to fame and fortune is not an easy one as readers will discover through the pages of this book. Some facts have been printed before, but other aspects of their career are presented here in a more complete, in-depth light. Fans of Abba, will no longer need to wonder, "what ever happened to..." because the epilogue tells you just that. Of all the books on the group, this is one of the best in print.

Probably the best book you can get, if you want an ABBA photo book. In this case even better than "From ABBA To Mammma Mia", since there is pictures from a broader period . It is written in cronologic date-by-date, where each year, as well as "The Movie" and the concert tours got its own chapter. You don't have to be an ABBA fan to enjoy this book, everyone can enjoy this trip in text and pictures through the fantastic story of ABBA.

lots of great old photos and pics. Stuff we never would have know otherwise...
ALL HAIL MASTER POPOFF

Very informative book. This makes me want to read everything Martin Popoff has written. It is done in a very easy to read style that is informative and enjoyable. The book gives an historical account of every Sabbath album and song. Well done!

This comprehensive coffee-table book is a perfect gift for the die-hard Black Sabbath fan. Loaded with band-member photos, interviews and graphics in a chronological progression, it's easy to open to any page and find yourself engaged with the narrative. I gave this to a friend who claims he hasn't read a book in years, and he was really excited to get it.

I have looked at some of the other Sabbath Books, and this one caught my eye. I can say it is probably the most thourough history of sabbath in one book. I was expecting a few more photos, but the history still is killer. It has all of the good stuff, from ozzy leaving, to dio's first comeback and second leaving, and ozzy's return. The history does seem complete from what I gather, including all of the details in transition with the band's line-up over the later years. The picture are nice as well, although I was thinking there would be a few more, it's still good. A must have book for Sabbath fans. Check this one out.

Martin Popoff knows his hard rock and heavy metal and this book is excellent. He goes into detail about every lp ever released and goes into depth about the songwriting at the time the songs were written. Tony Iommi's riffs are legendary and so are the details about the history of Black Sabbath in this book. This is a must read for any Black Sabbath or hard rock fan, it has everything, from Ozzy to Tony Martin from Dio to The late Ray Gillian to the legendary Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillian.
This book is the best Black Sabbath book out there bar none and Martin Popoff did a wonderful job. Buy this book.

In a previous review of this book, I mentioned some minor gaps in the discography. Actually, it was my own error, I hadn't noticed that the cut-off date for this mainly '60s-oriented work was 1972 and that releases by the artists discussed after that date were discussed fairly extensively in a "postscript" to the main entry on the group or artist.

In any event, that was only a very minor concern. As I've read more and more of this book, I've come to decide that it is an almost indespensible reference work for lovers of rock, blues and 60s music in general.

And I take issue with those who feel a bit miffed that this or that artist or group has not been included in this volume. If all goes as hoped, this book will be one of many in a series devoted to music of the 60s. The old goats at Old Goat Publishing are hard at work at follow ups, so please be a little patient. (You can check them out at www.oldgoat.com.) Many artists of the era were eclectic to the point where genre bending became their modus operadi. Creatively, that was an exciting and flat out wonderful turn of events. Critically, well, it makes classification and categorization all the harder.

Yes, Led Zeppelin had a strong blues influence, but there would be a much stronger argument for including them in a future volume on "metal" or "megastars." The focus of this work is more on those artists that you may NOT have heard of and whose work deserves attention. (No one can deny that Led Zep has not had a fair amount of ink spilled in their name.) By comparsion, the inclusion of Cream in this volume is justified, not just because Cream was significantly "rootsier" than Zep, but because (apparently) an editorial decision was made to include all of Eric Clapton's work in one volume.

And speaking of Erics, wouldn't Burden be more appropriate in an eventual "British Invasion" volume? Yeah, it's all somewhat arbitrary, but if you're familiar with any kind of criticism (literary, film, music or whatever), you know that those kinds of distinctions are absolutely necessary. There are people out there, for instance, who will tell you in no uncertain terms that "classical" music should NOT be an umbrella term for the music of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern eras. But sometimes that kind of critical shorthand is necessary if you're going to have any kind of discussion at all.

BLUES-ROCK EXPLOSION should help initiate discussion of the oft-neglected music to which it is devoted. There'll be plenty more to discuss with future volumes in the Old Goat series. At least this old goat hopes so.

Whenever I find a book that devotes significant ink to my all-time favorite singer (the criminally neglected Tracy Nelson--and no, I don't mean Ricky's TV actress daughter), I can't help get excited. BLUES ROCK EXPLOSION devotes several pages to Tracy and her original band, Mother Earth. And the info is all pretty much accurate, with quotes dug up from what now must be pretty obscure sources like late 1960s HIT PARADER articles. (HP used to be quite the informative little music mag back in the day--before it went heavy metal hair band crazy.) There are gaps in the discography, and that disturbed me a bit. But any coverage of this great singer in a major publication is heartening nonetheless.

Interesting though, the entry on Tracy goes on at some length about the inevitable Joplin comparisons (which were always somewhat misleading, since Tracy was more gospel influenced and much less raspy and raw than Janis--god love 'em both though). But oddly, there is no entry on Joplin herself. Hmmm. Could it be that they're going after only the rootsiest of "blues rockers" for this book, and that Janis and Big Brother will surface in some future volume (psychedelia maybe? or rock icons in general?).

Some of the reviewers below complain about this or that artist or group not being included in this otherwise fairly comprehensive reference work. I AM guessing here, but as indicated above, this appears to be the first in a series of Old Goat publications, and it is likely that when the artists overlap genres that they will be included in some other volume. Led Zeppelin may strike some as the "ultimate blues rockers" as one poster notes below. But, as mentioned, this book's focus seems to be on the rootsiest artists--and Led Zep could be being saved for the metal volume. And of course, Zep only showed up at the tail end of the 60s (which is the temporal focal point of this volume) and went on to conquer the world mainly in the 70s, so that could be another factor.

I have less of an answer for why Eric Burden and the Animals didn't make the cut, however, although Eric could slip into a psychedelia volume later on too (that just wasn't his BEST work). And maybe Hot Tuna was too much tied to the San Fran scene as well (though on their own, they were pretty darn rootsy too). Well, we'll have to see what future efforts by the Old Goats bring. In the meantime, this is welcome coverage for some pretty deserving artists, much of whose work is still available. Even though the book is a bit on the pricy side, I recommend it to any half-way serious student of the blues.

No cobbled-together overview, this is an impressive, meaty book of great integrity. Care has obviously been taken to do the research & get the facts straight. "Heavy hitters" like John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, the Butterfield Band & the Yardbirds are covered admirably in a way that is both comprehensive & concise. Lesser known artists also appear, & when reading the book one constantly encounter players who would turn up in other places, at other times. The reader feels himself in good, knowledgeable hands from the get-go. (Martin Celmin's introductory essay is worth the price of the book in & of itself.)
It's that rarest of things, a book that is both entertaining & a solid reference work as well. The A-Z approach also makes it, as my friend Chris Darrow calls it, a great "toilet book." Meaning, I hasten to clarify, a book one can dip into whenever or wherever.
It's the first in a series, & I look forward to the future volumes.

This book is fantastic! The only thing that would make it better yet, would be the addition of a few more blues artists that seem to have been left out. (The Animals, Eric Burdon, Spencer Davis,...and WHERE is Led Zeppelin!...the greatest Blues rock band ever??) It is still well worth owning, if you can still get one...lots of information, and things even an avid Blues Rock fan probably didn't know. The "Introduction" is one of the best parts, giving you virtually a complete history of how this great music evolved. Gives Blues Music the attention it has deserved for so long, and never got.

Old Goat Publishing Company, located in Mission Viejo, California, is a group of elite rock music writers who have come together for a common purpose: Bring the vibrant music scene of the 1960's to life in a series of books that are painstakingly researched and meticulously detailed. Blues-Rock Explosion, the first offering in this series, delivers 42 profiles of many of the seminal groups of the so-called "Blues Revival Movement of 1968." Generously assisted by recollections from many of the principals involved, Blues-Rock explosion paints a vibrant portrait of a (primarily British) scene suffused with excitement, as the musicians start by slavishly imitating the great American bluesmen like Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters, then grow by leaps and bounds to create an entirely new genre (blues-rock) that forms the basis for much of popular music's later development into hard rock and heavy metal. One could argue for inclusion of more bands, such as, say, the Animals and Led Zeppelin, but the author's decision to limit the time period covered (from roughly the mid-1960's until 1973) puts sensible boundaries around the subject, making the book's length a very manageable 300 pages instead of 900. Several future Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are detailed in these portraits (the Allman Brothers, Cream, Eric Clapton, and the Yardbirds), but just as compelling are the chapters concerning artists whose careers were cut short by tragedy (the Mark Leeman Five, Jo Ann Kelly). Also, even though it is not surprising that many of the British artists played with and were influenced by each other (since England is a smallish country), it is a great pleasure to read that Chicago in the 1960's remained a vital component of the blues scene, contributing such greats as Electric Flag, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Mike Bloomfield, and Nick Gravenites. Last, and perhaps most important, Blues-Rock Explosion finally spotlights such long-neglected heavyweights as Savoy Brown, Chicken Shack, Canned Heat, and Ten Years After, many of whom are not only still alive in the 21st Century, but are still contributing relevant, listenable new albums to those of us who never tired of hearing the blues in its many incarnations. Good luck and continued success to the Old Goats for continuing to believe that these great artists are still worthy of our attention.

The Bodyguard and The Rock Star was my introduction to The Bodyguard series by Christy Tillery French. Apparently, this is the third book detailing the thrilling cases of bodyguard Natasha Chamberlain. Let me tell you, I am running out immediately to obtain the first two installments. The Bodyguard and the Rock Star is a fun-filled, action-packed, red-hot read. It was the perfect start to my summer, and I plan to spend more of my time with Natasha and her adventures.

Ms. French has light, easy style. The characters are very well developed and three dimensional; they feel real, familiar, and immediately comfortable, as if they have been your friends for years. Character emotions run the gamut, and all ring true, from the tantrums of the spoiled yet loveable rock star, to the concern and dedication of the smart, tough as nails bodyguard with a heart of gold and very human foibles, and on to the wild worry and fear of the passionate, handsome, super sexy fiancé. The pacing is supersonic; you are hooked from the first lines, and find you can't put the book down. The action, twists, and surprises continue until the very last word...and then some.

This book is a clever, unusual, and down right funny combination of detective mystery, chick lit, and romance. I found the story and the characters delightful, fun, and very entertaining, and I am certain that you will, too. I wait with breathless anticipation for Book Four.

Occasionally when reading an action thriller I will come across a steamy love scene, obviously thrown in to keep the attention of some male readers. By contrast, this latest edition of the Bodyguard series has an adventure story included with the remarkably hot love scenes between our heroine, Natasha, and her lover/competitor/hero/antagonist and fellow bodyguard Jonce Striker. Natasha Chamberlain is a protection specialist hired by rising young rock star Giki to protect her from some anonymous internet threats. Giki has all the issues you might expect would come from too much money and fame at a young age, and a few you might not, such as an addiction to donuts and chocolate. (I was able to relate to this portion of the character.) Natasha does a fine job protecting Giki from dangerous others and even from herself. The author, in turn, does a fine job disguising the true nature of the threat from the readers untill the very end.

But throughout the novel I felt the "real" story was about bodyguards Natasha and Striker. Passionately in love with each other, the two are also highly competitive in every sense of the term. This is hardly a case of opposites attracting. Natasha is, in many ways, the mirror image of Jonce Striker and when she is not head over heels in love with him she can be dangerous to his physical and mental health. Having "caught" Striker in a compromising situation, she once announces to him, "I thought you were my life mate. I thought you were the one meant for me. I had such plans for us. ... Now the only history we're gonna have is me holding a doll that looks an awful lot like you and sticking pins in it you sorry...." A hot scene nonetheless follows, as do more misunderstandings and mutual threats against each other. Natasha is nothing if not feisty, physical, and independent, qualities mirrored by Striker who, while loving her more than anyone else, also offers to kick her --- and at one point carries her away kicking and screaming.

The dynamic tension between Striker and Chamberlain almost overshadows a great thriller story; almost but not quite. Indeed, that very tension ultimately ties the story together as both Giki and Chamberlain's relationship are saved simultaneously. Sub plots involving Natasha's friends and Striker's employees Pit and Bigun, and the paparazzi Lumpy are all handled nicely as well. In all, the story keeps your interest from beginning to end.

On the whole, I enjoyed the story as I read it aloud to myself and my wife while camping in a tent. She agreed it was good, but protested vigorously the scene in which Natasha's "no" meant "yes." Guys assume that is often the case but I am not about to test the theory. That is better left for alpha males in romance novels. There were a couple loose ends that I wish had been tied up better. Without spoiling the plot, I will only say that I think the real villain got off way too easy and I hope future novels will resolve any long term relationship prospects for rock star Giki.

But impressed as I was by the story, I was yet more impressed with the author, who donates all procedes from her novel to helping homeless dogs, cats, and other animals. Our society brutalizes such creatures by killing them in large numbers. The (mostly) government agencies that do these disgusting acts wash their hands of it (one suspects rather like Lady MacBeth--they never really relieve their guilt) by blaming the population at large for not spaying and neutering their animals. There is something to that complaint, but not enough to justify the wanton destruction of animals in our society. No kill shelters deserve your support and animal rescues, I know from personal experience, make fine pets. (Two such animals are on my shoulder now.) So by all means read the book if you like action, adventure, and hot romance. And if you don't, find another way to support the author and her cause. Part of being human is caring for those who sometimes cannot care for themselves and the bodyguard, Natasha, exemplifies this element of humanity to the fullest. So does the author.

Have you met Natasha Chamberlain, bodyguard extraordinaire? Oh, she's memorable! Opening this book is like walking into a hurricane. Natasha -- Nattie to her friends -- is a wild woman who swears in several languages, holds her own in a barroom brawl, and drives her friends to distraction. She's just the one you'd want riding shotgun if you find yourself in trouble.

Nattie's fairly new to the bodyguard business and this gig seems like a good one, providing "personal security" for an English rock star named Giki. How hard can that be? Nattie doesn't know that Giki's email is full of death threats, or that she's into sex, drugs, shoplifting and junk food. Giki with a donut rush -- one of the funniest scenes I've read all year. With hijacking and shooting, stalkers, paparrazi, stray dogs, infuriating relatives, a protective boyfriend, rendezvous gone wrong and love scenes gone passionately right, there is no situation Nattie can't conquer.

Through some cosmic oversight, I missed the first two books of Christy Tillery French's BODYGUARD series. That will be remedied! Things I need to know: has Nattie ALWAYS been so passionate about her career? where did she learn to swear in Dutch--that IS Dutch, right? where can I read her hilarious Grammy's books? how did Nattie learn to be a one-woman wrecking crew when tangling with redneck kidnappers? has her incendiary boss Jonce Striker been so protective of her from the beginning of the series? Oh, I'll find out!

The Bodyguard and the Rock Star is my idea of a perfect fun read. The characters are impulsive and lovable and the action is non-stop. For all her intensity, Natasha's not just another reckless hothead--well she's certainly that, but she has the skill and the caring to back it up. How many women would love to reinvent themselves, be as capable, strong, smart and sexy as our Nattie? And what man wouldn't love to meet her and feel her fire and tenderness? Pick up this book and you can have all that, if only for a little while.

Congratulations to Christy Tillery French. She brings these characters to life and makes you want more. Christy, we want more--bring it on!

Linda Bulger, 2008

I first met the beautiful, feisty, strong-willed female bodyguard, Natasha Chamberlain, in Christy Tillery French's first novel of this series. Her initial assignment was protecting a nerdy billionaire; in the second book she "got stuck" protecting a spoiled-rotten show dog who had received kidnap threats; and in this book The Bodyguard and the Rock Star, as the title clearly depicts, she's guarding a rock star.

The fun-loving, off-beat "Nattie" is portrayed so realistically by French that I began to think of her as a friend, and now--two books later--she seems like my best friend forever (my bff). That's how lovable she is--and her Tennessee dialect is irresistible ... "danged" irresistible.

I bet you will love her too. But how could you not? This girl can get into more trouble than ten monkeys in a cage of lions ... or do I dare say: more trouble than Janet Evanovich's legendary Stephanie Plum?

Natasha thinks it will be fun and easy to guard popular English rock star Giki as she tours the southern states. So what does our heroine do when she finds that Giki is involved in the crazy world of sex, drugs, and shoplifting? With her penchant for trouble, Natasha gets shot and comes close to being arrested. In fact, she boomerangs into so many bizarre, life-threatening situations that her boss, Jonce Striker, sends in his best men, the intimidating duo of Pit and Bigun, to "bodyguard the bodyguard."

Despite the mystery and intense action in this book, it's a hilarious romp, a real hoot. You will die laughing when you see the creative way Natasha uses Giki's "sweet tooth" to combat her drug abuse. And when she mistakenly traps the "wrong" cyber-stalker who has been threatening the rock star ... Well, that's when Striker rushes to her side in an attempt to rein her in.

As in all the books of this series, Natasha feels she has to prove herself capable of being a good bodyguard and will do anything to do her job well. Her friendship with the big, strong, hunky Striker has developed through these books and they are now engaged. Further complicating matters, Striker wants her to quit her dangerous career when they get married. But will Natasha agree? Fat chance!

When Natasha's on the road with Giki's tour, she and Striker miss each other like crazy, so perhaps you'd better cover your eyes when they pair up. Natasha's not only feisty and funny, she's hot for Striker. While not erotica, this author is pretty descriptive in her love scenes--but it's not really her, it's her characters taking control ... just Natasha and Striker being themselves, loving each other to distraction.

Striker is the perfect match for our heroine who comes complete with a mother named Stevie, a "wannabe" bodyguard herself, and a worldly Grammy who's a well-known author. These colorful characters stir the pot, making for so many twists and turns your head will spin as you are kept guessing to the very end.

As female readers will see parts of themselves in Natasha, every man will undoubtedly see himself in Striker's strength and "studliness." ... lol ...

French is a gifted, award-winning author and poet who really knows her craft. From dialog and characterization to exquisite description and pacing, she grabs you from the first page ... and doesn't let go until the happy resolution. I've been a huge fan of this author, starting with her first three books. The Bodyguard and the Rock Star is her sixth book. I hope she continues this series because I would miss my bff Natasha. I also admire French because she's an animal activist and donates part of the proceeds from her books to rescue groups and animal shelters.

If you like humor, mystery and romance, don't miss this series.

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008
author of: 1106 Grand Boulevard

Ms. French's characters, especially Natasha and Striker, seem to gallop in from wherever they are and whisk us away with them. From the first moments, I felt pulled into the drama, from the rock concerts to the chase scenes, and as if the characters were now part of my life. I couldn't put the book down, carrying it everywhere, until the final scenes. Natasha is so real and gritty, with her cursing, and then she could segue so completely into the romantic heroine when she and Striker had their "makeup sex". These two would seem completely wrong for each other, constantly fighting over control issues...until you get to those aforementioned love matches!

And I love the mother and grandmother characters...they explain a lot about why Natasha is so independent, fierce and yet deeply romantic.

The story itself is full of suspense and the action kept my heart pounding.

So many unanswered questions, too...so, of course, there must be another Bodyguard book on the horizon! Will Striker tame Natasha, or will she rein him in?

Wonderful story and wonderful characters! Many kudos, Ms French!

This is a really effective authoritative publication of Hunter's lyrics. Robert Hunter had a big impact on the lyrical imagination of 60's rock, and this book bears witness to that fact. It presents the lyrics with minimal distractions, which causes my only complaint with this book. Hunter's notes/comments are sparse and usually very brief. Some additional explanations and background information, while perhaps being somewhat distracting from the lyrics, would make this more interesting.

Hunter's words, the inspiration, soul, and backbone of the Grateful's Dead's songs, are here collected in all their subtle grace. His songs read like poems, and his poems burst like songs. Vital reading for dead-heads and poetry lovers alike.

Driving around a curve on a mountain backroad, I saw what looked to be a book lying in the middle of the road ahead. I stopped, opened the door and reached down to pick it up. Must have fallen out of someone's car and then been run over: the cover pockmarked by gravel, the pages loose.

The title instantly grabbed my awareness: A Box of Rain - Almost 40 years of a prodigious poetic output, the sculpting of over 250 songs.

This collection of lyrics represents most of what the Grateful Dead performed - along with many songs either done by other groups or sung by Hunter himself. This book is a superb fusion of the mystical and the mundane - If Garcia's music was the skeleton of the Dead, these lyrics surely must be the flesh.

Would the Dead have acheived anything near their anointed state without these lyrics? I truly doubt it. Robert Hunter and Bob Dylan are in a class by themselves; these writings bear witness to that fact.





Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts

... one of the greatest poets ever. in my opinion. reading his poems as oposed to listning to them on a album is a vastly differnet experiences. his words touch me like no other. this book is absolutly amazing, especially reading the things the dead never played. "jack o roses" the seventh section of "terrapin station" is the most beautiful thing iever read ( you can hear hunter sing it by going to the hunter archive at dead.net". everyone should read this, and for the few that really get it, it will be a transcendant experinece.

...and my tunes were played on the harp unstrung would you hear my voice come through the music would you hold it near as it were your own?' Part of the experience of a Grateful Dead concert (and now The Other Ones, Ratdog, Phil Lesh and friends, and Mickey Hart's band) was listening to the words of Robert Hunter dance and twirl in your head. Hunter probably isn't the greatest American poet of the second half of the 20th Century, but he does know how to turn a phrase, borrow a line, and mix a metaphor. And his strange mix of phrases went well with the strange mix of American music written by the late Jerry Garcia. Box Of Rain is a must reference for anyone interested in the lyrical end of rock and roll. The book will clear up many an on going debate on just what Jerry was singing all those nights so long ago. And for all those people who can't understand why the Grateful Dead was so successful, this book will let you in on part of the secret. 'If you get confused, just listen to the music play....'

Cheese Chronicles is a faced paced, funny, and event-driven journey through the life of a rock band. The story, on its own, pales in comparison with similar stories such as Rock Scully's 'Living With the Dead.' Womack doesn't show us Government Cheese as a hedonistic troupe by detailing sexual exploits or bragging about the volume of drugs ingested. In fact, no one even dies in the story. Therefore, unlike comparable books, the greatness of this one isn't attributed to the incredibility of the band's adventures. Instead, the book is a great read because of Womack's unique writing style, which allows us to feel the intensity of his experience.

Womack is always willing to sacrifice his ego for the sake of getting the story across accurately. He is brutally honest, self deprecating, and throughout, he's insistent on making the reader aware of the lousy state of the human condition. It is funny to read that Womack's apartment was broken into, but the burglars didn't take anything and in a sense that was insulting to him.

Also notable, is that Womack has a skill for being completely frank but yet still being a southern gentleman. In the book, most of the judgements he passes are on himself. If he has a beef with someone or something they did, he is quick to defend that person or try to offset his disclosures by mentioning something good about that person. He creates almost no villians in a book packed full of nights gone wrong.

At the time of this review, Womack's web site had a collection of songs on it in mp3 format available for download for free. Among those are some songs that are mentioned throughout the book and hearing them (while I was about half way through the book) enriched the stories.

I wish this book hadn't ended but that's part of the story's theme.

Tommy Womack is a great writer! I too was a Cheesefan back in the day, but this book would be amazing even if I hadn't heard of them. I laughed, I cried...I could not put it down! Facinating and definitely a must read for any young bands out there.

I used to go see this rock and roll band you've never heard of when they played my Middle Tennessee college town. Although none of them would ever remember me, I've actually met and spoken with them on a couple of different occasions. So, reading this book was like getting in on all the shows I missed. For me, it was a funny bit of nostalgia. For those of you who've never heard of Government Cheese or heard their music...well, that's a real shame.

Tommy Womack's excellent book, Cheese Chronicles, is an essential read for anyone interested in the music business. The book is hilarious and at the same time, it provides a gritty look at what it's really like to be in a rock band. I cannot say enough good things about this book. BUY IT AND READ IT!

This is the story representing the 1,000 bands who didn't make it for every one that did -- and I'd MUCH rather read about Government Cheese's failures than N'Sync's successes.

Tommy is a fabulous musician, a clever writer and funny as hell. I grew up near where he did and have never read a more accurate expression of wanting to be a rocker soooo badly in a place that has NO desire to be rocked, thank you very much. Tommy has never grown out of the pure fun of jumping on your bed playing your tennis racket to "Surrender" or air-drumming Peter Criss' "God of Thunder" solo on Alive II. (Try it, I don't care if you're a 42-year-old accountant with a minivan. It will keep you young.)

I once chased Tommy across a bar to praise his book with beer-induced enthusiasm. The next day I sent a letter apologizing and received a reply that still hangs on my wall: "I'll accept no apologies for drunken behavior. I heartily endorse it."

You could read this book 50 times and never tire of it.

Nanobacteria have been researched by many prominent scientists worldwide. This book looks at the findings of scientists with respect to Nanobacteria and the science of Geology. Nanobacteria, specifically Nanobacterium Sanguineum, have been studied by scientists and medical researchers as they pertain to causing human disease or Pathology as well. Nanobacterium Sanguineum is a Nanobacteria that is approximately 10,000 times smaller than regular bacteria. It replicates from 1000 to 10,000 times slower than regular bacteria as well. It grows in the human system in blood, and has been found by various medical researchers and scientists to cause many human problems. Some of the various diseases that it has either been implicated to be involved with or to cause are: Calcification in atherosclerotic plaque, kidney stones, calcification in the lenses of eyes that ultimately causes "cataracts", soft tissue calcification in scleroderma, calcification in tumors, calcification in arthritis or osteoarthritis and other pathological disease states in humans. These Nanobacteria colonize and secrete a "biofilm" over themselves that causes them to be covered by a calcium "shell". These Nanobacteria are implicated to be the cause of all calcification in the human system that you were not born with, that you subsequently develop as you age. These Nanobacteria are also implicated in causing some forms of cancer and "apoptosis" or cell death. Scientists are now working on ways to eradicate Nanobacterium Sanguineum with prescription medications. Please keep your eyes open for further research regarding Nanobacteria. Try surfing on the web for "nanobacteria". Sincerely, Gary S. Mezo, President of the Academy of Medical NanoScience, Tel:813-264-2241.

For starters I will never look at my mineral collection quite the same again. Dark Life has shown that nanobacteria (only recently confirmed)is the absolute frontier of a new world. Minerals and "life" coexist and the nanobacteria "feed" upon the chemical compositions of minerals. The scientific world will be turned on its' head in the near future as a whole new science emerges. This book is easy to understand for those of us who aren't scientits but who are interested. As one who also has Multiple Sclerosis the possible connection with nanobacteria and mineral plaques in the brain was astounding as I read it.

_Dark Life_ by Michael Ray Taylor was a very interesting book. The author began it writing as a science journalist - having written a previous book on cave exploration as well has having articles published in such magazines as _Audubon_ - but over the course of the two and a half years he worked on this book went from becoming an observer to an active participant, a point he himself made several times in amazement and wonder. Originally he had set out to chronicle what was known about "dark life," microorganisms that dwell far underground or in the deep sea, organisms that derive their nourishment from sources independent of sunlight. These organisms, which have been found in such varied places as salt domes, Antarctic ice cores, and in highly acidic caves, have continually challenged notions of what life can tolerate, organisms so common that they may outnumber surface organisms (indeed Taylor rejected the commonly used term "extremophile" as he believes the term implies that these organisms are a "rare curiosity"). Taylor wrote of the history of the search for these microbes, the personalities involved, and where current research was in the field (as well as possible applications of this research).

Somewhere along the way he became part of the story, as he became the friend and later colleague of several of the researchers he covered. While not a trained scientist per se, at least not in the field of microbiology, he assisted in and even proposed a number of experiments in the search for controversial nanobacteria (microbes with a size of less than 0.2 micrometers, once thought to be too small to be an independent functioning organism or at least too small for a prokaryotic organism, including known bacteria and archaea; not a virus) in a variety of environments, mostly notably Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. By the end of the book he was regularly exchanging email with researchers, providing samples for them, and even had co-authored a few presentations at various seminars.

Much of the book is focused on personalities - understandable given Taylor's increasing personal involvement in the story himself - though mainly in the context of research on the topic at hand. The main characters (if you will) in the book were Larry Mallory (a scientist who had devoted his career to harvesting and culturing cave microbes in a promising search for a cure for cancer, particularly from microbes from the fascinating Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, an interesting place described in great detail in the book), Bob Folk (a colorful scientist who discovered nanobacteria and their presence in a number of substances and had been in the lead in efforts to prove that microorganisms are vital in the formation of travertine in caves and hot springs as well as in some cases at least entire caves and cave systems), and Anne Taunton (an undergraduate student who as part of a NASA internship became embroiled in the efforts to determine whether or not the famed Martian meteorite ALH 84001 contained fossils of extraterrestrial nanobacteria). Others are followed to lesser degrees, among them Finnish nanobacteria expert E. Olavi Kajander, who had done pioneer work showing that nanobacteria may be the possible agents of many maladies such as kidney stones, Alzheimer's, and Mad Cow Disease that involve mineral precipitation in the body. In large measure these and other personalities faced considerable skepticism, criticism, and worse in their studies, as scientists found it hard to accept (in different instances) what was thought of as "impossibly" small bacteria, biological origins for various types of minerals and mineral formations, and the presence of microfossils in ALH 84001. Mallory had to leave his university because he was essentially denied tenure, the administration not believing his study of cave microorganisms important, Folk faced considerable criticism for suggesting that such substances as travertine owed their origins to bacteria, and Taunton (and the team she worked with) had a very difficult time with several scientists - including even her own undergraduate academic advisor - over efforts to demonstrate that the ALH 84001 microfossils were evidence of Martian life or even life of any kind. Although Taylor did a good job of showing the fact there was sometimes intense and even rather personal criticism in science, I don't know if he always showed why people had such a hard time accepting bold new theories. In particular some of the opposition to ALH 84001 fossils was quite heated.

Though much of the focus was on personalities, politics, and the process of research the microbes were much discussed as well, many with bizarre biologies. Some cold-loving organisms were termed "psychrophiles," capable of growth below freezing, at -5 degrees Celsius, organisms that exhibit slower metabolisms at temperatures above freezing and death at anything approaching human body temperature (organisms that for years - like many other examples of dark life - proved difficult to study and culture in the lab). Some organisms found in apparently solid rock two miles deep, existing only on hydrogen and water, have unbelievably slow metabolisms, appearing to divide cells no more than once per century. Though many caves and indeed individual pools in caves produced unique microorganisms there were also astonishing similarities; the closest relatives to some sulfur-oxidizing thermophilic (heat-loving) bacteria from a cave in Kentucky were found to be a sulfur-oxidizing, symbiotic bacterium from a deep sea polychaeta worm, a relationship that has not yet been explained.

At least as far as this reader is concerned Taylor made his case that nanobacteria exist, that they are key in the formation of some minerals and many caves, and I am very open to the idea that ALH 84001 may indeed contain Martian microfossils. I enjoyed reading about the discussions scientists had about whether or not subsurface Antarctic lakes such as Lake Vostok and Jovian moon of Europa might have dark life and hope that both can be analyzed in the not too distant future.

I read this book after buying on a discout shelf in some clearance book seller. It was a pleasant surprise. It, as I wrote in the title, a little heavy on human drama and soap operatic themes. The science behind it is absolutely interesting and has spurred me to read further on the topic of nanobacteria. This is a great starting out book, but not a great book for those reading for the science of it.

This book documents journeys of discovery and transformation at several levels. It documents a journalist's personal journey from observer to active participant. It also serves as a chronicle of the journeys being taken by scientists all over (and underneath) the Earth and across our solar system to obtain an understanding of life's amazing ability to exist and thrive in the most improbable places.

The author starts out as a spelunking (cave exploring) science journalist and ends up as an active participant in the science he had originally set out to cover. In so doing he has provided an interesting mix of observer and participant perspectives. Being a seasoned cave explorer, the author is at home and adept at describing the techniques and hazards of natural laboratories such as Lechuguilla Cave located in New Mexico.

Astrobiologists have found caves to be excellent laboratories for the extreme environments that may be found on other worlds such as Mars. Moreover, the amazing adaptations Earth life has made to these environments also serve as indicators of what is possible in terms of life's ability to adapt - and may be indicative of what we might find underneath Mars. Getting around in these caves is not your run of the mill field trip. Sulfurous and caustic fumes, anoxic conditions, temperature extremes, risk of injury, and a myriad of other hazards all combine to make these explorations something that only skilled individuals should undertake. In so doing, the rewards to the risk takers are obvious - and are thoroughly documented by the author.

There is much more to this book than crawling around stinky caves with excited astrobiologists. There is tedious work back at the lab, and the inevitable politics that accompanies academic life and government-sponsored research. Given that the discoveries being made about life in extreme environments are brushing aside long held views about biology, the politics can get rather nasty at times. The author provides a cogent description of what happens when the politics and dogma of science collide with new data and ideas. As you read this book you can almost hear the old paradigms crumbling as life's very definitions get an overhaul.

In describing some of the research done at NASA on the ALH84001 Martian meteorite, Taylor provides a classic description of paradigm crumbling - and the threat it can represent to the status quo. The events described surround the work of a student involved in a career-making discovery (possible fossils within a piece of Mars) and an advisor who disputes the findings and seeks to thwart her education at every turn.

While not nearly as dramatic, the author describes many other situations wherein old accepted notions about what life is and where it can be found are challenged. As you travel around - and under - the world with Taylor, you learn about life at abyssal ocean depths, within rocks miles under the Earth's surface, in the cold dry Antarctic, within volcanic deposits, and within highly radioactive environments. Such are the abodes of Earth's so-called "extremophiles".

If astrobiologists have learned anything in the past decade or so, it is that Earth life is capable of existing everywhere that it can theoretically exist. Since some of these "extreme environments" may well pass for "normal" elsewhere in the solar system, the chances of finding life elsewhere start to become quite probable. It is that exciting prospect which is woven by the author throughout the fabric of this book.

The author has gone to great physical extremes to write this book - and it shows. If you want a status report on how astrobiologists are using the Earth as a laboratory for what life may be possible on other worlds, this is it. Moreover, if you are looking for proof that science can still be a bona fide adventure in this Internet-shrunken world, then this book offers that as well.

This is such a great book. I really enjoyed reading it. It tells Buddy, Ritchie and J.P.'s story in a very interesting and easy to follow book. I would recommend this book to any Buddy fan. Five stars!

This is a great book. I have always been interested in "The day the music died" I had read several books and magazine articles about Buddy Holly's life but there was little in the way of the actual Winter Dance Party or the other musicians. I purchased this book and was shocked at how well and detailed the accounts of the musicians lives and the aftermath of the plane crash was. Larry Lehmer did an excelent job and should be commended on telling the truth not just what Buddy Holly's widow wanted or others who are wanting to cover the truth about what life was really like for all those involved. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in rock and roll, Buddy Holly or just 50's style music.

This book is great because it not only tells of the careers of those involved in the Winter Party Tour, but also tells details leading up the crash (including stops in many small towns along the way). It was quite informative.
Buddy Holly is the best known,yet most elusive and enigmatic of all Rock 'n' Roll legends.This man was a genius.The way he constructed his songs was sensational.

The initial first run of this great book was not around very long and people have been begging since for a reprint and here it is! This one is hard to put down, it is intriguing, informative and FACTUAL, which most Buddy book are not (avoid the Amburn book at all costs). What is particularily nice is that it features a great deal of updated info about the last tour & crash, info about Roger Peterson, and a good deal about Ritchie & The Bopper that usually doesn't get included. Lehmer talks to people that were at the shows, helped with the Tour, etc. No wild theories here, just the facts. Top notch in every regard. You see any bad reviews here? 'Nuff said!

Larry Lehmer has crafted one of the better journalistic books about a historical rock 'n' roll event. He brings a newspaperman's observations and senses to the project, which connects all the dots in the tragic last tour for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. "The Day the Music Died" is not only entertaining -- somber and occasionally macabre in appropriate moments, and humorous elsewhere -- but it describes the days and weeks leading up to the tragic crash in Clear Lake through the eyes of people who were there. In each case, he paints a vivid portrait of a fallen star, making their stories all the more tragic. To read this book is to understand how American rock 'n' roll evolved from its early, innocent roots toward the fragmented, even chaotic market it encompasses today. I highyl recommend this book.

There is no question about it: "The Devil, Me and Jerry Lee" is entertaining and fast reading. The author is the younger sister of Jerry Lee Lewis. It is for those of us that already appreciate the Killer. Folks who don't know who "The Killer" is should stop reading this review now. The faithful will be treated to a tale of life on the road and a little on the wild side of Jerry Lee. There are few surprises for those familiar with Lewis' past. His up and down career is covered form the mid -1950s at Sun Records in Memphis until the "present day". It's a bit foggy, perhaps intentionally so, as to what the Killer is doing right now. To quote the trailer in the movie "Great Balls of Fire" `he is probably playing his heart out-somewhere'. DMJL also tells the tale of the author's own strange career both on and off stage. The details of the latter are frank, earthy and mostly believable. (As to the former, it's a mystery: What "career" did Linda Gail have?Billboard credits her with 2 chart hits.) They are delivered in a take me or leave me fashion, just the way her big brother would want. The author has a definite manipulative charm to her, a trait she no doubt shares with her sibling. I am certain her 8 husbands could attest to that! The bottom line is that DMJL is recommended for Lewis fans only. The story won't win any new ones. Any serious country fan should possess at least one Killer CD. Amazon has several available! Jerry Lee is an entertainer one has to listen to, not merely read about. As for his little sister, she wore me down: 5 stars.

I found this book to be a very interesting look at the upbringing and early influences on Jerry Lee's life which was not detailed in earlier books on his life. It was sometimes shocking, but always interesting.

Reading this book is like having a conversation with Linda Gail Lewis over a cup of coffee. If you like knowing the inside scoop, this book is a must read. Sit down to and have a heart-to-heart talk!

Sister to Jerry Lee Lewis, Linda Gail has written a blunt, fascinating warts-and-all showbiz book about her life and that of the rock and country legend. Linda Gail, who hit the Top 10 with her duet with Jerry Lee "DON'T LET ME CROSS OVER", toured with Jerry Lee for 15 years as a background singer , and her love and concern for her brother shines through this fast-paced 166 page book co-written with Les Pendleton. The family grew up in a shack in Ferriday, La. with no insulation, no bathroom and no lack of hardship. A drunk driver killed their 9-year-old brother, their father spent time in prison for bootlegging, and Jerry Lee, when 22, married his 13 year old cousin, Myra. Writes Linda Gail, "Myra looked like she was 20, and she was more than a little bit on the wild side herself. In Ferriday, I could have married a cousin and not even known it. It was no big deal." Despite his career ups and downs, Linda Gail notes, "Momma would remain in new Cadillacs and housekeepers until she died." If there were book ratings, this one would be PG. And, if there were ratings on the most interesting books - on a scale from 1 to 10, this would be an 11. Linda Gail, now happily married and living in Big Sandy, Tenn., has written a compelling, no-holds-barred, true-life story with a very appropriate title. Gerry Wood, Country Weekly - January 12, 1999

What a great story and well written. Coming from a religious family, I enjoyed reading all the interesting circumstances that Linda and her big family went through. I've never read a much more shocking story and laughed so hard!! Double Thumbs Up!!!!!