Some Good Things Still to Come
While I have been critical of some recent hard rock and heavy metal books, it should be obvious that I am a huge fan of this genre of music. The more opportunities that I have to learn about the musicians I admire, the better. My forthcoming book covers this genre so when I criticize this…
continue readingA Note on Co-Authors
During this weeklong examination of the hard rock and heavy metal memoir trend, it’s impossible to ignore the role of the co-author in these projects. Sometimes the co-authors (or ghostwriters if you prefer that title) can bring a level of literary high art to the proceedings. Other times, co-authors are reduced to mere typists by…
continue readingSomething for Nothing: The Cash Grab of a Shitty Book
I’ve seen Motley Crue nine times in the last five years. I’ve purchased plane tickets in order to travel to Crue performances. My love of the band is so well-known that people often come to me with motleyish questions. “On that first reunion tour in 2005, I could see how Vince Neil might have been…
continue readingGimme More: Why Recent Rock and Roll Memoirs Leave Me High and Dry
As the proliferation of hard rock and heavy metal memoirs continues, there is a growing trend of what I consider very “thin” books. This description doesn’t apply to the actual page counts, but instead the depth of detail and examination. All of these books made the bestseller list so clearly a certain amount of readers…
continue readingAce’s Authorial Wardrobe
That Metal Show on VH1 Classic is required viewing around my house. Hosted by Eddie Trunk along with Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine, the show focuses on classic hard rock and heavy metal. It has also become a prime outlet for musicians to discuss their books. For example, drummer Carmine Appice recently discussed writing his…
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