Miss Pamela — Pamela Des Barres, famed groupie of the 1960s and 1970s… and beyond … — may have only been the first to pen exploits of her tales.

Then came Roxana Shirazi, whose The Last Living Slut is a memoir I keep meaning to blog about. It’s sitting on my desk and yes, I finished reading it. I know. What’s taking me so long?

I’m sure there have been others between Miss Pamela and Roxana.

Now there’s a third.

“Once Upon A Rock Star” is author Rita Rae Roxx’s ’80s sex-and-tell book about all the heavy metal rock icons she met who toured through Omaha, Nebraska back in the day and whom she followed to L.A., even while attending Omaha’s Central High School.

I shouldn’t. I shouldn’t. After all, this wasn’t even my scene; back in those days, I was already into the heavier stuff. I was the DJ. I was too cool to be a groupie, and we all thought I’d go work at a record label. One of the cool labels, that only hired the cool people, who looked down their noses at the groupies.

But… somehow… it’s like a train wreck… I can’t stay away…

Check out more info, including a photo album filled with really fucked-up men. How they did that much partying and still survived could be part of the alluring mystery of it all…

I was sloughing off recently, something I haven’t been doing nearly enough of (have you SEEN my editing calendar? You wouldn’t slough off, either!) and caught a Tweet from Dave Owens, who I was already following even though I had no clue until now who he really was.

In short: an author of Rock Fiction.

I tried to coerce him into throwing a review copy my way, but he didn’t bite. Probably a good thing ’cause he’s one of those authors (and you know who they, and you, are) who’ve only made their books available on the Kindle. Hello? Some of us prefer to get our nookie however we can, sad to say. TMI? Okay, how’s this: we like the idea of competition, so we own Nooks. Which means we can’t read books that are available for Kindle only.

Why are you teasing your potential audience like this, folks?

Okay. We’re not here to talk about exclusives (which suck). We’re here to talk about Dave’s book. Music or Death.

Sounds like the battle cry of my life.

Here’s the blurb, shamelessly stolen from Amazon.uk’s page:

London in the near future. Music has been outlawed in all its forms as part of anti-terrorism measures. The people have been emptied of emotion and are kept in line by The Anthem, a soulless mockery of music that hooks society like a drug. The people are addicted to government control.

Cain is accidentally recruited into the terrorist cell Music or Death when he is caught up in a bomb attack. It’s dedication to bringing down the government and returning music to the people draws Cain deeper into their world of violence. As MOD’s actions spiral out of control, culminating in a chemical attack on the London Underground, Cain’s dedication to the cause is confused by a budding romance with Sarah, girlfriend to MOD’s leader and believer that violence doesn’t have to be the only way.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Xementhis, head of elite police division Soundcrime, exercises all his powers to find and destroy the terrorist cell. As his actions become increasingly violent, it becomes apparent that his anti-terrorist fervour may be more personal than professional, culminating in a fatal clash deep in the tunnels beneath the city.

Does that kinda remind you of a dystopian Footloose, or WHAT? (That’s a compliment, by the way. I always liked the premise of Footloose.)

So. If you own a Kindle, go pick it up. If you don’t, join me in clamoring for other sales outlets. ‘Cause it really sucks when you find a book you want to read, but are a victim of elitism. Yes, I said it. I went there.

THAT’s how bad I want to read this book. Yes, the editor said BAD.

Don’t go all Beavis on me, here…

I can’t believe the world is this coordinated. I can’t, and not just because if I do buy into it, it means I’m a bigger disorganized mess than I am willing to face. That’s simply not an option.

What’s going on is that the summer is being set up for a summer of Metallica, something I ordinarily would be totally into. And maybe I am, but it’s hard to tell when I’m so focused on selling the existing books, writing new ones, and building up the editing business. Which means: my Metalli-love is limited and I didn’t travel to their inaugural Orion Music + More festival. (Hmm. I wonder if next year, I could be a vendor and go sell books, even though that’s not the sort of vendor they’re looking for… what do you guys think?) Truth be told, I was okay with missing it, if only because the only bands I’m currently interested in seeing are Avenged Sevenfold and, of course, the Mighty Met themselves. And there was that pesky matter of being at Boy Scout camp.

Sheesh. When did Metallica fall in importance to the Boy Scouts? It’s funny how life changes.

Which means if I hadn’t been at camp, I’d have stayed home and read a book. Or two. Doesn’t matter which (although one’s made me yawn already).

Two Metallica books are coming out. The first is Birth. School. Metallica. Death. Yep, it’s the one that made me yawn, and I’m still yawning even with word that the book is finally scheduled for a US release — in fall of 2013. Which is, obviously, after the Orion festival, but whatever. We’re still seeing a lot of Metallica for a band who’s NOT recording a new album, let alone releasing it.

The other book is called Metallica: The Early Years and the Rise of Metal. It’s purportedly going to focus on “the massive impact of METALLICA’s first four albums on the international metal scene. The 208-page book shows the birth and rise of the monster known as METALLICA and will link the band — and the American metal scene — with the famed New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement in the U.K. and metal originators such as BLACK SABBATH and JUDAS PRIEST.” (Quote yanked from the press release I saw.)

It’s supposed to be the first and only book to do this.

Okay… I’ll reserve judgment, if you don’t mind.

At least this book is giving details about author Neil Daniels, even if they only say, “Daniels has written about classic rock and heavy metal for a wide range of magazines, fanzines and websites. He has written books on JUDAS PRIEST, Robert Plant, BON JOVI, LINKIN PARK and JOURNEY.” — it’d be nice if they’d provide titles and/or links to some of those backlist titles…

This one’s set to release on May 28, which means you could have read it before the Orion festival and used it to get all pumped. Or, if it sucks, I suppose you could make a collection of biographies about Metallica and say THAT’s your collection required to be a vendor…

I know. Some things get lost in the annals of history (what the heck IS an annal, anyway? Any of you erotic writers want to weigh in here?), and one of those things is that Randy Rhoads was in a band before Ozzy’s.

Now, we can read about it. And watch and listen, as well.

“Randy Rhoads: The Quiet Riot Years”, a new book from QUIET RIOT’s personal photographer/lighting director Ron Sobol, is tentatively due this spring via Red Match Productions. As a bonus, this book comes with a 90-minute DVD documentary of the QUIET RIOT years with Randy, containing interview footage telling the story of the band.

Know how far back in history we’re going here, folks? 1975. That’s right. Raise your hands if you weren’t even born back then. (No comment from THIS member of the peanut gallery!)

The pictures, the clothing alone… this could be a lot of fun. Plus informative… really. In all my years of learning about music, I think I’d skipped the Randy Rhoads pre-Ozzy lessons. It’s like the guy had joined Ozzy right after he jumped out of the womb, fully formed and guitar blazing…

Thanks to Blabbermouth for the heads-up. Now if they’d only send me this stuff instead of waiting for me to find it myself…

(demanding, aren’t I?)

You don’t have to be a child of Seventies Rock to be able to appreciate all Alice Cooper has brought to the world of rock and metal. From the stage show to the persona to the music to the classics, this man and his band have earned their spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Cooper once, at a show in the early 90s, I think it was. My friend was on the production staff; I spent most of the show backstage with her. But I made a point of seeing Alice’s set. It was everything it was cracked up to be — and best of all, it wasn’t slick and polished, like you’d expect after so many years. Nor was it a train wreck of drugs and addictions.

Neither was the man, himself. He was a kind, quiet, class act.

Just the sort to make me fall a little bit in love.

We’ll see how I feel after I read Welcome to my Nightmare, a new biography by multi-published rock biographer Dave Thompson. Maybe I’ll be inspired to create an Alice-like character who changes the face of rock and roll. Who knows?

Here’s a bit about the book, shamelessly — as always — lifted from the press release I saw:

“Drawing from exclusive and unpublished interviews with a variety of names and faces from throughout Alice’s career, the book follows Cooper’s tale from his life growing up as a preacher’s son in Arizona, through the early years of struggle in Phoenix and then Los Angeles, and then onto the roller coaster ride that has been the years since then. Includes interviews with original bandmates Michael Bruce and the late Glenn Buxton, drummer Neal Smith, the late Frank Zappa, manager Shep Gordon and producer Bob Ezrin. Includes tributes and recollections from many of the artists who call Alice an influence — from THE DAMNED and THE CRAMPS, to WHITE ZOMBIE and GWAR. Session players and songwriters who have made their own contributions to the Alice story recall their days spent with this Prince of Hell-raisers. The result is a story that alternately thrills, shocks, surprises and delights. Includes full discography and bibliography.”

That’s quite a roster of people paying tribute or, more hopefully, contributing great stories, anecdotes, and tales of wild (or not-so-wild) adventures.

This is one book that’s going to have quite a reputation to live up to… I can’t wait to read it.

I’ve long had an uneasy relationship with Slipknot. They either strike a nerve with me — usually but not always in a good way — or I find them too ugly to bear. I’m sure the band’s mastermind, M. Shawn Crahan — you may think of him as Clown — would be flattered.

His art is the same way for me. Fascinating, and not always in a sick way.

So… of course I’m totally coveting his forthcoming photo and art book, The Apocalyptic Nightmare Journey.

Here’s what the press release I saw has to say:

Apocalyptic Nightmare Journey, which will be published by MTV Books in June, is a collection of explorations in darkness and light from Shawn’s experimental photography, his second and equally powerful artistic outlet which he has honed for over a decade. Weird, wired, paranoid, endlessly imaginative and cancerously prolific, he’s created thousands of dangerous representations of reality through eye-gouging Polaroids in numerous styles in this hand-picked collection.

That says everything… and absolutely nothing. Notice that?

I’ve seen pieces of Clown’s work, as it’s been posted online. It’s been enough to make me realize that for a press release that says everything and nothing all at once, it’s dead-on accurate.

The book, featuring a foreward from one of my heroes, Lars Ulrich, will be out in June.

I’ve had a crush on Machine Head’s Phil Demmel since the first time I met him, back in the early ’90s. Back when he was in Bay Area band Vio-Lence. What a classy dude, always kind to the cool-assed radio chick. My sort of hot, too.

I’ve also totally been jamming to the new Machine Head single, Darkness Within. LOVE, love, LOVE that song! It’s about music as religion and it reminds me of an essay I wrote in college (that was good enough, my prof entered it in the college-wide essay-writing contest. The winner? Something with some long, dry, academic title. Of course) about the first time I saw Alice in Chains. It was the Limelight in New York City, a long-since-shuttered nightclub that had a long and fruitful previous life as … a church. Layne Stayley up on that old altar…

Yeah. In a setting like that, you get the idea of music as religion.

I’ve also been drooling on this here blog over the wordsmithing magic that is Joel McIver.

Phil Demmel + Joel McIver = Susan in HEAVEN.

If you can’t figure it out, Joel’s penned the first-ever biography of Machine Head. Okay, so Phil shares the spotlight with the rest of the band. I can deal.

What I can’t wait to do is read.

Here’s a follow-up to a book I’d blogged about over a year ago (see? Publishing DOES work slowly!).

An excerpt to Zakk Wylde’s Bringing Metal to the Children is now available. It’s a Facebook page and you’ll have to like it in order to gain access to the excerpt, but it’s a lot easier than some other sites I’ve been to…

The entire book went on sale April 10 — that’s yesterday! I still think you should save your money for King Trevor tomorrow, but that’s just me…

It was just a few days ago (okay, a couple weeks now. Whatever) when I posted about Shinedown’s song, Bully.

Now I’ve got MORE Shinedown news (and no, it has nothing to do with my current lust for Brent Smith, which is really odd ’cause he’s not my type, which means it’s all about the lyrics, baby. Maybe I ought to take a page from Ginny and start self-uniting with some of these men. I’m allowed to dream, no?)

Ahem.

Shinedown. Books.

Yeah. That’s the topic of the day.

I pulled this one off Brave Words:

Mashable.com reports that Atlantic Records has taken an uncommon approach to using Apple’s iBooks Author — touted as a creation platform that will “reinvent the textbook” — by building an interactive eBook for SHINEDOWN\\\’ next album, Amaryllis.

The 75-page iPad ebook will be available March 27th, coinciding with the Amaryllis album release. The eBook visually tells the story of the multi-platinum rock band’s new songs, creative process and cover art.

Frontman Brent Smith says the eBook, titled For Your Sake: Inside The Making Of Shinedown’s Amaryllis, revives the complete album experience, which changed when CD booklets and liner notes became less prevalent.

Hmm. Think they’re past the editing stage? If not, if I promise not to self-unite, can I have the gig?

We all have one spot, one place, one moment, one band who is so integral on our musical journeys that without them, life would be so utterly different, we can’t even begin to get our brains around it.

Such as it is for me with Bon Jovi.

I know! Me. Your favorite Metallica fan. The woman who swoons at the honey in David Draiman’s voice. Who has this strange pull and compulsion to the new Machine Head single.

It all began for me with Slippery When Wet. It really did.

Now comes word of a new book, Let it Rock. It’s going to detail the making of this seminal record (seminal for myself and many), and yeah. I’m quite sure it’ll come with a whole slew of memories and flashbacks to high school and beyond, when my only drive and desire was to write books while working for a record label.

Yep. Blame all my Rock Fiction on Bon Jovi. For me, that’s where it began.

Read more here. I’ve got memories to sort through…

It’s Danny Lilker!

Oh. Sorry. He goes by Dan now. Back when I knew him, back in the early days of Brutal Truth, he was Danny. Me, I was just another radio chick, presumed to be eager to meet an honest-to-goodness star! (Truthfully? I wanted to meet this dude my friends kept talking about ’cause he was cool in the good way, and nice, and a doll and … and … damn. Did I just blow the man’s image?)

Anyway, Dan’s the subject of a biography, and it’s going to be released this summer via a publisher I’ve never heard of (Paper + Plastick Records).

Maybe it’s an ominous sign that the press release says the author, Dave Hofer, isn’t “classically trained in long-form writing,” but I for one hope it’s more of a challenge — one that Hofer has risen to.

Of course, with the book not due out until summer, a certain Rock Fiction expert who is also a freelance editor could take a pass through the book and make sure it’s as good as it could be… just an idea…

Hey, it’s one way to read the book before its release date. And to bump it ahead of the stack of other Rock Fiction (and non-fiction, of course) sitting here, waiting for me.

Can’t blame a girl for trying…

Remember when I mentioned Steven Adler’s mother was writing a tell-all about her kid? Well, more information has been released. The book will be called Sweet Child of Mine (of course!) and the release date is April 5.

Just a reminder if you’re doing your book budgeting for April… King Trevor comes out April 5.

Now, back to Mama Adler… the press release I saw says:

an honest and revealing look into a life beset by abuse and betrayal and what it was like raising a child who became a member of one of the greatest rock bands in history, and a heroin addict of equally epic proportions. The book emotionally and enthrallingly details a mother’s love for her infamous son, whose phenomenal success is surpassed only by his astounding capacity for self-destruction.

There’s more, but this is the jist of it.

You know, as a mother, we want fame and fortune and all sorts of good things for our kids. But not at this price…

Speaking of price, you can pre-order for $15 (and autographs from Steven and Deanna). This is a 40% savings off the on-sale price.

No, this isn’t the editor in me raising her head, teeth bared in a snarl. It’s just that word came down earlier this month that there’s going to be ANOTHER definitive biography of Metallica.

Anyone mind if I yawn?

Maybe there’s hope for this one, as it’s purported to be penned (like my alliteration there?) by Paul Brannigan and Ian Winwood. According to the article at Blabbermouth, these two have been permitted “unparalleled” access. No word on ugly sweaters and not-so-camouflaged attempts to join the band.

They’re also promising never-before-told stories, but … c’mon. We’ve heard THAT before, too. And this is Metallica. Am I really supposed to drool at the thought of tales of hard drinking? Bed-hopping? Drugs? Fist fights?

I’m jaded. I’ll admit it. I’ll hold my drool until the reviews start rolling in. Unless I’m asked to write one of those reviews, at which point I’ll be drooling more over the opportunity than over the book itself.

Yawn.

Pardon me. I feel a nap coming on.

This is the third time*, now, that I’ve had reason to talk about Joel McIver on this blog. It took me a long time to work up the nerve ’cause I really respect the guy’s work and his contacts, but now that the dam’s been broken and he and I have even e-mailed a time or two, I’m over myself.

Which means I’m fairly drooling over word that Glenn Hughes wasn’t McIver’s stopping point.

Nope, now comes word that he’s writing a book about someone I’ve actually interviewed. Hung out with, too, if memory serves (and if not, it was his brother Igor who came with us to record stores that day in New York, but I really do think it was Max).

Max?

Yes, you Sepultura and Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy fans. Max Cavalera.

McIver himself, in the interview, says it’s a big change for him, particularly to go from Deep Purple to Sepultura/Soulfly/Cavalera Conspiracy.

Regardless, I still fully expect it to be every bit as amazing as the rest of his body of work.

If I’m not careful, I’m going to work myself back into a state of awe and jealousy…

*You can read the first and second times I’ve mentioned Joel via these links. Have fun!

I have so much to share with you guys, it’s mind-blowing. What a great time to be involved with music and that rare art form, Rock Fiction.

Today, it’s the news that,

ClassicRockRevisited.com Founder, CEO and editor Jeb Wright has cracked open the doors to his interview vault and blown the dust off of his favorite interviews of all time and put them in one collection.

They’re promising some never-before-seen interviews and some other stuff that sounds like it was grossly overlooked. Oddly, the book has two forwards, but hey, this is rock and roll and since when has rock and roll ever been conventional?

Ooh, I hope they send it to those people who are kind enough to pay me to write book reviews for them, and then I hope that my editor assigns it to me. Or that someone sees this post and sends it on, but really, I’ll read it faster if it’s from the paying people. I’ve got a lineup of really great-looking Rock Fiction that gets pushed to the side when the paying people pop up.

’cause, you know, they’re paying me.

Yeah, yeah. Bowing to the almighty dollar is NOT very rock and roll. In fact, it’s the direct opposite. But you’d miss me if my Internet was shut off!

I don’t care who you are or what music you like, there’s at least one Ramones song that gets your toes tapping. (Go ahead and name your fave in the comments. I don’t have a prize for the best choice, other than some fun.)

I’ve read Lobotomy, Dee Dee Ramone’s autobiography. It holds a place of honor on my bookshelves, all silvery goodness between some of my favorite Rock Fiction volumes. Now comes a new autobiography to join it.

Johnny Ramone’s written an autobiography. It’s called COMMANDO, and I really hope that’s not to publicly settle the boxers or briefs discussion. Doing so takes some serious brass balls, doesn’t it? Like, WOW.

Which means, undie issue aside, I covet this book. As if that’s any surprise to any of you.

It comes out in April, but if you only buy one book in April, make it mine. King Trevor. April 12. Just a reminder. (Johnny will wait for you to have book-buying funds in May. So will I, for that matter, but … c’mon. Trevor may be worth the wait, but you’ve also waited way too long as it is.)

I’ll admit it. The more I’ve seen of Dee Snider of late, the more I am intrigued by the guy. First hearing he’d be on Broadway in Rock of Ages. Then watching old footage of him talking about the PMRC hearings back in the 80s. And most recently, watching him on Celebrity Wife Swap.

Yep, I watched it. Got a problem with that?

There was something really sweet about a man who takes his borrowed wife out on a date. I will carry that envy with me to eternity.

All this means, of course, that when news came out the other day about his new autobiography, Shut up and Give Me the Mic, I drooled. If I can’t be friends with the man (at least as how he’s presented himself of late) and his wife, who is tough-as-shit and who can be my mentor any day, then the next best thing is a book. Right?

Riiiiiiight.

News broke last Thursday about this one: the original four MTV VJs — yes, from the days when the M in MTV stood for music — have signed a book deal. Here’s from what I guess is the press release, as quoted in GalleyCat:

“Among the highlights will be the vjs’ never-before-told stories about getting, doing, and ultimately leaving the most coveted job of the decade; the truth behind Roger Daltrey’s demands to visit MTV; days and nights spent partying with Van Halen; the ‘Paint the Mutha Pink’ contest with John Cougar Mellencamp that went toxic; joining the mile high club while flying to see the band Asia play at the Budokan in Japan; and all true tales of hair styles gone horribly wrong as a new kind of broadcast medium was being created hour by hour and day by day — all perfectly set against the era when you would still call into your answering machine from a pay phone.”

I remember those early days of MTV. I remember the video revolution. I remember being at CMJ and hearing reps for Slayer say they were making a video, and I remember how the entire room shook at that news. Hell, I remember the furor over the groundbreaking “One.”

So, yeah. It was, in part, the Original Four who set me on my musical path. Who made me want to work behind the scenes and be part of what made the magic come true.

You’d better believe I’ll be getting my hands on this one.

It seems that when I get Rock Fiction recommendations, they come from one of three sources: Misty of Top Shelf e-Books, Maria Savva, or Mary at BookHounds and Forever Young (Adult).

The rest of you DO know that if you come across something not on my Rock Books page, you’re encouraged to drop me a line, or post it over at the West of Mars Fans page at Facebook, right?

Anyway, today’s find comes from Mary. It’s author Heather Jensen, who wrote a Rock Fiction/Vampire book, Blood and Guitars. Yep, that’s pretty much it. Guitars. Vampires.

Which means that of course it’s another one I need. It’s in print, the Kindle store, and up at Smashwords (that’s where the link above will take you), so if you get your hands on it before I do, feel free to send me your review. I’ll link to it from the Rock Fiction page.

Read and rock on —

Of course I worked for a concert promoter! Two, actually. While I liked the idea and the environment, I can’t say it was the right fit for me. That doesn’t mean, if the opportunity presented itself, that I wouldn’t go back. I would. Maybe the third time will be the charm.

Barry Fey was the concert promoter in Denver. He’s a legend among promoters. And now, he’s written a book that may or may not help me decide if my two experiences with promoters were worth being open to a third go-round.

It’s called Backstage Past, and it’s the story of his life as a promoter — and all the adventures and hijinks and craziness he witnessed and was part of. This was during the heyday of rock, you know: the sixties through the nineties. Before corporate America entered the picture.

This could have been my life, if I’d made different choices. And been born earlier (wow! I don’t feel old for once!). And … and …

Yeah. Nevermind.

Backstage Past. Another Rock Nonfiction book I’m busy coveting.