Scan barcode
bill_flanagan's review against another edition
3.0
Despite the salacious cover and title, this was actually quite a good history of rock music leading up to 1973 and the first big rock tours. This is the second book by Michael Walker that I've read (the other on Laurel Canyon), and he puts together lots of interesting information at just the right level of detail and pacing.
shinychick's review
1.0
So, the blurb says it's about the summer of 1973, when three huge rock bands (The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Alice Cooper) did their biggest tours ever. These are the backstage stories of rock stars and excess, from a roadie who lived it.
Sounds great, right?
Except the first few chapters/prologue/intro is all numbers and dry background info. Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies tour had a setup that cost $250,000 and had to be hauled by two semi trucks. Led Zeppelin's name came from an inside joke about how well their music would do in America. The Who specialized in rock operas.
I was So. BORED.
The most interesting thing I got out of these 30 pages was that Cooper himself (real name Vince) had six broken ribs at the end of the tour.
If the whole book was like that, I would have blown through it; riding high on Caitlin Moran and Allan Jones, it did not hit the spot.
Sounds great, right?
Except the first few chapters/prologue/intro is all numbers and dry background info. Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies tour had a setup that cost $250,000 and had to be hauled by two semi trucks. Led Zeppelin's name came from an inside joke about how well their music would do in America. The Who specialized in rock operas.
I was So. BORED.
The most interesting thing I got out of these 30 pages was that Cooper himself (real name Vince) had six broken ribs at the end of the tour.
If the whole book was like that, I would have blown through it; riding high on Caitlin Moran and Allan Jones, it did not hit the spot.
sushai's review against another edition
4.0
Appalling and fascinating, this is the story of why your favorite rock star should not be your hero...
bent's review
Gave up on this book very quickly. I read the introduction and then after just a few pages of the actual book, had to give it up. Walker writes like I wrote in first year university when I was trying to hit a page count but didn't have enough content - never use one word when you can use ten, never use a simple word when you can use a longer one and twist your sentences to fit it. The language was pretentious, and I could tell I was going to hate this book. Too bad, because it looked like it could have been interesting.
booksuperpower's review
4.0
What You Want is in the Limo: On the road with Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, and The Who in 1973. the year the sixties died and the modern rock star was born by Michael Walker is a Random House publication and is set to be released on July 23rd, 2013.
The author wisely focused on just three top bands in 1973. There were many excellent albums and artist performing at their best in 1973, but these three groups were among the hardest working in that year.
With live shows being booked into larger arenas and the stage shows becoming more elaborate, there was a gap wedged between the fan and the band that wasn't there during the sixties. Groupies that had attached themselves to one group or artist, now latched on to whom ever was there at the time. The audience was more cynical and critical. The bands began to believe in their own hype. Their egos and sense of entitlement grew outrageous.
In the sixties, backstage accoutrements amounted to a few cases of cola and maybe some cookies. Now bands were demanding cases of beer, whiskey, fine foods etc. in EACH dressing room.
Of course all that is common place now and the demand much more ridiculous, but in 1973 this trend was just beginning and set the stage for all future rock stars.
The Who:
This band was already a household name. But, the group was at a crossroads musically. They didn't want to continue to pump out the same old stuff over and over because they were afraid they would fade away in this new decade. Quadrophenia was Pete Townshend's baby all the way. It was a rock opera type album. It was successful on the album charts and Adult or Album oriented FM radio, but the live audiences didn't respond to the new music like Pete felt they should. They still wanted to hear the old stuff. So, out on the road supporting this new album the band came unhinged.
Led Zeppelin:
The critics hated Zeppelin in the beginning. But, the fans LOVED them. They were a great live band. This group didn't have progressive rock stories or huge stage equipment, their entourage were a bit "thuggy" looking, but they always had a following. Their shows were marred by violence at times, severe fatigue and of course too much drinking and drugs.
This band too would lose it's identity after too many tragedies.
Alice Cooper:
What can you say about Alice? The group's name was Alice Cooper. It wasn't until the band broke up that Alice actually changed his name legally, mainly for business reasons. Alice was one of the hardest working guys out there. Billion Dollar Babies was a landmark album.
None of this stuff is really news to fans of these groups or for people that grew up in or around that time frame. In fact, most everyone has heard these bands history rehashed every which way. But, this book was a reminder of how things evolved in the rock world at such a fast pace and was enlightening as well as giving us a little taste of nostalgia, with a big of a longing for the good ole days.
Back then studios were willing to give creative license without sticking someone in a "target audience" hole- never to develop beyond that. They were willing to put thought into album covers and stage shows and promotions giving us some of the best music ever. People bought albums by the millions. Every song was good too.
But, the excesses were their downfall. Drugs, booze, groupies, limos, private jets, and women all made the rock star life seem so glamorous. But, when the author breaks down the money issues for us in simple terms,in the end the band members didn't end up with near as much money as you would think.
We got a glimpse inside the business end of the music business in the early seventies, and an inside look at what really goes on while the bands are on tour. Well, in the seventies at least. These three bands set the standard for the future Peter Frampton mega stardom, the huge arena rock period and the infamous Van Halen demand of removing the brown M&M's.
This is an interesting inside look at how the rock music industry became big business and how rock stars became like royalty. You name it, Michael Walker covered it. No matter what "generation" you grew up in, you will recognize most of the names in here. For some you will be like a flashback, for others like a history lesson. A very insightful book, but also entertaining.
I give this one an A
Thanks to the publisher and edelweiss for the ARC of this book.
The author wisely focused on just three top bands in 1973. There were many excellent albums and artist performing at their best in 1973, but these three groups were among the hardest working in that year.
With live shows being booked into larger arenas and the stage shows becoming more elaborate, there was a gap wedged between the fan and the band that wasn't there during the sixties. Groupies that had attached themselves to one group or artist, now latched on to whom ever was there at the time. The audience was more cynical and critical. The bands began to believe in their own hype. Their egos and sense of entitlement grew outrageous.
In the sixties, backstage accoutrements amounted to a few cases of cola and maybe some cookies. Now bands were demanding cases of beer, whiskey, fine foods etc. in EACH dressing room.
Of course all that is common place now and the demand much more ridiculous, but in 1973 this trend was just beginning and set the stage for all future rock stars.
The Who:
This band was already a household name. But, the group was at a crossroads musically. They didn't want to continue to pump out the same old stuff over and over because they were afraid they would fade away in this new decade. Quadrophenia was Pete Townshend's baby all the way. It was a rock opera type album. It was successful on the album charts and Adult or Album oriented FM radio, but the live audiences didn't respond to the new music like Pete felt they should. They still wanted to hear the old stuff. So, out on the road supporting this new album the band came unhinged.
Led Zeppelin:
The critics hated Zeppelin in the beginning. But, the fans LOVED them. They were a great live band. This group didn't have progressive rock stories or huge stage equipment, their entourage were a bit "thuggy" looking, but they always had a following. Their shows were marred by violence at times, severe fatigue and of course too much drinking and drugs.
This band too would lose it's identity after too many tragedies.
Alice Cooper:
What can you say about Alice? The group's name was Alice Cooper. It wasn't until the band broke up that Alice actually changed his name legally, mainly for business reasons. Alice was one of the hardest working guys out there. Billion Dollar Babies was a landmark album.
None of this stuff is really news to fans of these groups or for people that grew up in or around that time frame. In fact, most everyone has heard these bands history rehashed every which way. But, this book was a reminder of how things evolved in the rock world at such a fast pace and was enlightening as well as giving us a little taste of nostalgia, with a big of a longing for the good ole days.
Back then studios were willing to give creative license without sticking someone in a "target audience" hole- never to develop beyond that. They were willing to put thought into album covers and stage shows and promotions giving us some of the best music ever. People bought albums by the millions. Every song was good too.
But, the excesses were their downfall. Drugs, booze, groupies, limos, private jets, and women all made the rock star life seem so glamorous. But, when the author breaks down the money issues for us in simple terms,in the end the band members didn't end up with near as much money as you would think.
We got a glimpse inside the business end of the music business in the early seventies, and an inside look at what really goes on while the bands are on tour. Well, in the seventies at least. These three bands set the standard for the future Peter Frampton mega stardom, the huge arena rock period and the infamous Van Halen demand of removing the brown M&M's.
This is an interesting inside look at how the rock music industry became big business and how rock stars became like royalty. You name it, Michael Walker covered it. No matter what "generation" you grew up in, you will recognize most of the names in here. For some you will be like a flashback, for others like a history lesson. A very insightful book, but also entertaining.
I give this one an A
Thanks to the publisher and edelweiss for the ARC of this book.
More...