Lock Down, Rock Down

As we celebrate (?) or better, tolerate, the one year anniversary of “15 days to flatten the curve,” and you’ve probably reached the point in binge watching things, or re-watching things, might I suggest an alternative? There has been a recent influx of truly entertaining rock books and memoirs worth not only checking out, but distracting you from the latest Fauci-isms.

Do You Feel Like I Do: A Memoir – Peter Frampton – (Hachette)

Legendary rocker Peter Frampton delivers his memoir in the form of Do You Feel Like I Do, in which he details the both the high highs and low lows of his decades long career. It is a familiar rock ’n’ roll refrain of drug and alcohol abuse, being ripped off by slimy managers and rising from the ashes.

The rising from the ashes part is quite literal, as Frampton recounts a running tale throughout the book of the search for his infamous Gibson Les Paul guitar, the one he totes on the cover of his mega-bestselling live album Frampton Comes Alive. He dubs the guitar The Phenix, (his twist on the spelling) as he tells the story of its alleged destruction in a plane crash in Venezuela. Thought to be destroyed in the flaming wreckage, the guitar was resurrected, stolen, bought and sold, spotted and disappeared, and finally reunited with its rightful owner over the course of many twists and turns.

Frampton could have become bitter and negative after all of problems that have befallen him, many of his own choosing, but the book offers insight into his thoughts on what amounts to a life full of unique experiences and opportunities.

They Just Seem a Little Weird – Doug Brod – (Hachette)

There is more than a little bit of fan-boyishness in veteran rock writer, Doug Brod’s They Just Seem a Little Weird, which recounts how the bands Kiss, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, and Starz, left an impact on rock and roll. Brod details the band’s beginnings, how the regularly crossed paths and the long running competition for supremacy led to strange alliances and long running feuds.

He delivers some insider insights into the strange and strained relationships that the four bands engendered. Starz, a hard rocking, New York based band seem like an odd choice for inclusion among this grouping, when you consider the fact that they came and went so quickly and that the other three are all members of the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Brod gives his take on why the quintet never quite lived up to their potential, ranging from mis-management, mismatched producers, and bad relations with their record label.

If you grew up in the 70s and these bands were an everyday part of your life, this book makes for a fun read. Be warned there is a bit of a ping pong ball bouncing around quality to the narrative that at times makes it hard to track.   

Right Place, Right Time – Bob Gruen (Abrams)

Unless you are a die-hard rock fan, obsessed with liner notes and photos of your favorite musical heroes, the name Bob Gruen is not a household one. Gruen has enjoyed a decades-long career as not only one of the photographers of choice for many rockers, but as a guy responsible for some of the most legendary photographs in rock history.

While he has released a number of collections of his legendary work, Right Place, Right Time, is the first time that he details the stories behind so many of his greatest photos. While the title suggests that luck played a part in his success, I would make the case that Gruen is not only a skilled practitioner behind the lens, but also someone that his built his career on being a trusted friend, who relied on the relationships he formed with the subjects of his work. This book offers unique insights into both the photographer and artists he shoots.

One Last Song – Mike Ayers (Abrams)

The concept is simple; If you could hear one last song before you died, what would it be and why? In One Last Song, author Mike Ayers explores that question with a range of artists and delves into their responses and reasoning.

I think the concept is a statement about the role and impact that music has on our lives. It can range from impacting our interactions, to being the soundtrack to our lives and even how we relate to one another. This book is thought provoking and surprising in how we respond to the question. Friends who are what I would consider music junkies struggled with the either the answer or the concept.

Music is a part of our life and this forces us to think about it being a part of our death. My responses ranged from the cynical; The Allman Brothers, Mountain Jam, from the Live at Ludlow Garage, two CD set, that times out at 45 minutes plus, to give me just a little extra time in this mortal coil. At the other extreme were things like the raw power of Van Halen’s Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love, always a favorite, to On the Wings of Love, which played at our wedding 30 plus years ago.

Punk, Post Punk, New Wave – Michael Grecco – (Abrams)

When you look back fondly to the earliest days of punk rock and its later incarnations, it becomes clear pretty quickly that the movement was more about the attitude than it was about the music. While the music certainly did its best capture that attitude, Punk, Post Punk, New Wave, a collection of photographs by Michael Grecco of that era, truly captures that attitude.

There is a sneering and leering quality to many of the photos in this collection, all captured in black and white. While Grecco is focused on the bands, much of the story in these photos is told by the settings and the people around the band. He does a masterful job of capturing the raw energy of the time and the scene, which makes this an indispensable part of any punk fans collection.