West of Mars

We’ll end this grand Rocktober month with one of my favorite bands: Apocalyptica.

During the luscious month of Rocktober, it seemed I was getting word of an upcoming book every few days. I told you guys about as many of them as I could. Here’s one more.

Apocalyptica, those hot Finnish cellists, brought a photographer friend on the road with them, intending to put out one of those behind-the-scenes books that make music junkies like me pine for a return to the days when working in the music business was practical — and happening.

I guess no one is smart enough to fund this project because, in true Kickstarter fashion, they are asking their fans to chip in and help the cause. Baby, if I weren’t busy trying to fund my OWN cause over here, I’d be involved in this, especially if it would get me my very own copy of the book. (and I ought to read more carefully because this is better than Kickstarter. It’s called Pledge Music and it’s got a charity component. AND you get a copy of the book.)

The band is also offering some nice-sounding goodies, most of which are already gone as I type this, way earlier in the month. Go look it over, yourself.

Ahh, this is one I truly covet, to the point where if I ever get my hands on it, I just might sleep with it under my pillow…

As I’m typing this, the book on my nightstand, for before bedtime reading, is Aerosmith’s famed autobiography, Walk This Way. I hadn’t realized it was published in 2003; I have no idea how long it’s been hanging around in my house, waiting for its turn to get read. And I’ve got to admit… the early stuff is slow going.

Now comes word that, hot on the heels of Steven Tyler’s Does The Noise in my Head Bother You (Yet ANOTHER long title!) comes his Aerosmith bandmate, Joey Kramer. Joey’s written his own biography: Hit Hard: A Story of Hitting Rock Bottom at the Top. (Another title that goes to 11…)

At first, I kinda groaned. Here we go again. How many train wreck rock star autobiographies can there be, already? And given the plethora of them, is it any wonder that so many entries in the rock fiction genre are so amazingly stereotyped?

Well, guess again. This is the story of Joey’s battle with depression — and more. Not a train wreck, at all.

Bring it.

I know! I’ve spent this WHOLE month coveting books. Rocktober, baby. I hope you’ve been following the reviews over at Rocks ‘n Reads, too. It’s not all been wishful thinking.

Here’s one that’s a little bit off the beaten path, but I will want it once it has a title and a cover and … well, a spine. And I don’t mean that metaphorically.

WAAAAY back on October 4, it was announced via GalleyCat that Duran Duran bassist, John Taylor, has signed a half-million dollar deal for his memoir.

I know. What I could do with a half-million dollars.

He won’t GET a half-million dollars. After taxes and agents’ fees and the way deals are structured, he’ll really only get a part of it. If you thought Hollywood accounting was convoluted…

Anyhoo, the book is described like this:

This book recounts the million tiny seductions that are required to make the journey from English suburbia to selling out Madison Square Garden—seductions that go by a hundred different names; family, friendship, romances, collaborations and strategic alliances. Here is my journey and where it took me; into fantastic success, more than a little decadence, darkness, and finally, I like to think, a little enlightenment.

That’s a quote from Mr. Taylor, himself. Sounds like it’ll be good, juicy, and inspiring to me, no? I’ve been lately wanting to learn more about pop music and how it differs from Rock and Roll. My one experience with a bubble gum tour wasn’t terribly enlightening. Except, of course, for the ways in which it was…

By and large, I’d consider it against my religion or good sense to consider reading a book with more than ten words in its title. Maybe it’s against both.

We live in a world where it’s okay to make exceptions, and I’m glad of that. I’d like to read this one. It’s about Deep Purple, after all. In fact, the fist part of the title is Deep Purple and Beyond. And yes, it IS about the band Deep Purple.

Want to know how I know? It’s easy. The author is none other than Deep Purple singer Glenn Hughes.

Want a bonus? My buddy Lars Ulrich — yeah, THAT Lars — wrote the foreward.

Need another bonus? The highly esteemed (by me) Joel McIver was Glenn’s co-author.

I’d read pretty much anything Joel McIver wrote. I say that ’cause I’ve already had the pleasure. More, Joel! More!

I’ll own up to it. I will. I own two cookbooks full of Rock Star Recipes. (maybe one day, we should sponsor a cookoff? Hmm.)

I still don’t have a copy of Mosh Potatoes, but I’d love one. (HINT)

And now comes word of a new one: For Those About to Cook. It’s brought to us by Bruce Moore, and at $35, it’s a bit pricey. Too pricey for me here (fix that! Buy my books!). Is it too pricey for you?

This isn’t your typical cookbook, I don’t think. It’s described thus: “a collection of recipes, anecdotes and pictures from musicians and music industry personnel” and twice in the book description are mentions of this being a collector’s item.

But… there’s no mention of who the musicians and music industry personnel are. No mention of the recipes included. Of course, the book insists this is perfect for collectors. Does that mean collectors don’t cook?

I know that if this one finds its way to me, I’ll devour it the same way I devour every other rock and roll memoir and rock novel. At least, I begin to devour them all the same way. If they lose me, they lose me and life goes on.

Will this one lose me? I have no idea. Only one way to find out!

Now, here’s the thing. The subject of the book is a singer whose music I pretty consistently turn off when it comes up on my radio dials. It’s not that I don’t like his stuff, it’s that … well, it’s old. I’m tired of it. And the new stuff I’ve heard… well, okay. I don’t like what I’ve heard of that.

That doesn’t mean someone whose career is as long-running as Rod Stewart has a life story that’s going to be as unwelcome in my world as some of his songs have become. For one, Rod’s old enough to have lived — and to have the wisdom (one would hope) to share some nuggets with us. For another, Rod’s lived through some pretty darn amazing times. He’s seen shifts in the music business that kids today only read about.

Yeah. I’ll read Rod Stewart’s forthcoming memoir. Absolutely.

I know! What IS it with these long book titles on autobiographies this month??? Sheesh, people. Rock and roll relies on a four-count to make music. What’s with the 11-word book titles?

(Yeah, yeah. These go to 11. Bite me.)

Today it’s the famed, great, amazing Tony Iommi who has written a book. Not just any book, of course, but his autobiography. Tony Iommi is a legend.

I shouldn’t need to say another word.

I hope I’ve made it clear that despite my best attempts, I am NOT a musician. I really am not. I wish I was, but … it’s not in the cards for me.

I’m usually at peace with this. But every now and then, a luxury item pops up and makes me wish things were different. Here’s one: it’s a line of guitar straps made for Kirk Hammett — you know: that Metallica dude — that look so lush and wonderful that I wish I had a reason to justify one. But… I don’t.

If you do, go for it. Me, I’ll stay over here and dream…

Been having fun with Rocktober?

I sure have been. I’ve been here, I’ve been there, I’ve been … well, not everywhere yet, but I’m sure trying!

Now come hang with me at Horror. Punk. Buddhism. I’m talking about everyone’s favorite rebel, Trevor Wolff.

Not enough? Need something more? How about some talk about what exactly Rocktober is. I dropped into The Top Shelf for that.

There’s more yet to come… I’ve been working the promo machine and loving every second of it. Loving you guys who share my whereabouts, as well. Vive la Trevolution!

One of the best things about Rocktober this year hasn’t been great book reviews or lovely sales reports (although those are quite nice, as well).

Nope. It’s been meeting other Rock Fiction authors. One of them is ME Purfield, who was kind enough to feature me on his blog — and to let our friend Mary at BookHounds re-run the same post.

Mike is good people. So, of course, on hearing he’d just published a new book, Breaking Fellini, I had to ask him that burning question of mine: What song makes you think of your book?

Here’s what he said:

I’m going to give you a trick answer for this one. The Trilogy songs from Sonic Youth’s Daydream Nation: The Wonder, Hyperstation, and Eliminator, Jr. The rhythm of it is so New York, especially the lower east side.

I tried hard to bring a feel of the lower east side during the seventies in my novel Breaking Fellini. With any luck I hope the reader gets something fast, something droning, something weird, and something original. Just like the Trilogy on Daydream Nation.

Definitely like the Trilogy. That is some angry music.

Here’s the blurb for Breaking Fellini:

Breaking Fellini is a novel of No Wave and New York during 1977.

Sixteen-year-old Joni Corso loves to play rock guitar, but being in a local cover band just doesn’t excite her anymore. She wants to perform originals and join the scene in New York City were Blondi, Patti Smith, and The Ramones found fame.

Able to convince her mother to spend some time with her estranged father in Manhattan, Joni jumps at the opportunity to redefine herself and join a band. Amidst a whirlwind of classic rock, drugs, urban recession, and drag queens, Joni meets Phaedra a homeless girl with a mission to destroy rock idols and the mainstream. Joni joins her band No! and starts plays the kind of music she’s been craving. The kind of music that out punks Punk.

But Dad sees her as something else: a famous rock guitarist with a band on the Top 40 charts, something Joni doesn’t want to be anymore. Now she has to decide which musician she can live with being and for who or risk losing her new life and father she just found.

I left the Smashwords link above (oh, look. There it is again!), but if you’re a purist or something equally odd, here’s the Amazon link.