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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
dark
informative
fast-paced
The dirty behind-the-scenes story of the early years of punk. Kinda trashy and gossipy in the most awesome way possible.
If you’re even remotely passionate over any aspect of music, this book is a MUST. Every page was educational and mind-blowing, I just couldn’t stop (and this was a second read-thru). McNeil expertly weaves countless interviews together like the tiny pieces of a mosaic to provide us an intimidatingly massive portrait of horror and beauty. Many names were expected, even more were pleasant surprises. As a trained historian, I love being forced into understanding the truest version of events when conflicting viewpoints are presented one after another. Like looking at those “magic eye” photo books, it just slaps you in the face; often times hilariously. McNeil even includes himself as one of the hundreds of narrators, in the third person, when he takes credit for coining the label term “punk.” Which is great because I don’t believe him, and I mean that most un-sarcastically. #readingrainbow
I have to add: I ADORE how, no matter their differences, everyone in the scene loved Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, David Byrne, Miles Davis, and Keith Richards. No exceptions. Stephen Tyler was a piece of shit, though. lol
I have to add: I ADORE how, no matter their differences, everyone in the scene loved Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, David Byrne, Miles Davis, and Keith Richards. No exceptions. Stephen Tyler was a piece of shit, though. lol
dark
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
William Burroughs: I always thought a punk was someone who took it up the ass.
honestly expected to come out of this book being like “wow all those guys sucked.” but really like the last 200 pages just made me so sad. sid vicious is such a tragic sort of guy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Blood
Minor: Homophobia, Suicide, Transphobia
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5 stars
I’ve always loved proto-punk/punk music. I discovered The Stooges around age 12-13, I would watch hours of grainy footage of their late performances and was mesmerized. As it turns out, many other people had the same reaction to Iggy and The Stooges. I’ve been into (mostly) the 70s New York punk scene ever since. (of course I like some of the British stuff too)
I’d never heard of this book until I listened to a podcast called No Dogs in Space, hosted by Marcus Parks and Carolina Hidalgo. They cited this as a source on a Stooges series they did, and I immediately picked this up to read it. I’d heard of Legs McNeil and Punk Magazine, but somehow never came across this book. This oral history is told chronologically in five parts from the proto-Punk of the mid to late 60s through the waning years of the movement in the late 80s, with an epilogue that touches on the impact of punk on the world, both musically and societally. The narrative is concise and easy to follow with both recognizable names, and characters I’d never heard of but became acquainted with immediately. It’s a true oral narrative, the stories told in each individuals own words, contradictions and opinions in all. I think that makes it so much more authentic.
Of course this book’s focus is the history of the music and the rockstars, but I found it to be such an amazing record of a New York City that we don’t often see. The real New York City. A dirty, lively, hard, queer, exciting, dingy, caring scene that people really lived in, that real people were a part of. The good, the bad, and the ugly. No rose tinted glasses here, only some dark shades.
True to form, this book is kind of punk in terms of a narrative nonfiction story, it’s not telling you what’s the truth, who’s right or wrong - it’s simply letting you sit in a room and listen to what everyone has to say. Draw your own fucking conclusions.
I loved this book. I absolutely will reread this again and again.
I’ve always loved proto-punk/punk music. I discovered The Stooges around age 12-13, I would watch hours of grainy footage of their late performances and was mesmerized. As it turns out, many other people had the same reaction to Iggy and The Stooges. I’ve been into (mostly) the 70s New York punk scene ever since. (of course I like some of the British stuff too)
I’d never heard of this book until I listened to a podcast called No Dogs in Space, hosted by Marcus Parks and Carolina Hidalgo. They cited this as a source on a Stooges series they did, and I immediately picked this up to read it. I’d heard of Legs McNeil and Punk Magazine, but somehow never came across this book. This oral history is told chronologically in five parts from the proto-Punk of the mid to late 60s through the waning years of the movement in the late 80s, with an epilogue that touches on the impact of punk on the world, both musically and societally. The narrative is concise and easy to follow with both recognizable names, and characters I’d never heard of but became acquainted with immediately. It’s a true oral narrative, the stories told in each individuals own words, contradictions and opinions in all. I think that makes it so much more authentic.
Of course this book’s focus is the history of the music and the rockstars, but I found it to be such an amazing record of a New York City that we don’t often see. The real New York City. A dirty, lively, hard, queer, exciting, dingy, caring scene that people really lived in, that real people were a part of. The good, the bad, and the ugly. No rose tinted glasses here, only some dark shades.
True to form, this book is kind of punk in terms of a narrative nonfiction story, it’s not telling you what’s the truth, who’s right or wrong - it’s simply letting you sit in a room and listen to what everyone has to say. Draw your own fucking conclusions.
I loved this book. I absolutely will reread this again and again.
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
I would have liked this better if it didn't immediately put me to sleep the first few times I tried to read it. That's probably my own fault though, thank you chronic insomnia. I also think I would have gotten more out of it if I could have identified some of the people faster or better, but again, that's probably my fault.