Monday, June 30, 2008

One-track mind

Over the weekend, I finished reading Slash's eponymous biography. Oh man, have you read it? The book had me hooked from the first page. There is so much debauchery in his stories, the envelope pushed over and over, way beyond what a normal stretch would be. His story is one of decadence in the midst of fragile creativity and determined drive, and the read is a wild ride. Before I picked up the book, I had respect for him as a guitar player and was intrigued by the curls pouring from his head and hiding his eyes, but I had no idea who the man was. Now that I've read his story in his own words, I know he's not the only one living his life - now I have boat loads of respect for his guardian angel, because he or she has put in overtime with that boy, that much I know. And God bless his mother.

I'm going away for four days on Wednesday and finishing Slash's book has left me at the end of my summer reading list. So today I ordered, for July 2nd arrival ,three more books: Tommyland, by none other than Slash's competition in true debauchery but Tommy Lee; Storms: My life with Lindsay Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac, by the poor woman who dated Mr. Buckingham after Stevie Nicks and before his wife. (Talk about crap timing.) The third book is, I'm with the Band, Confessions of a Groupie, a story I always wanted to tell because a groupie is something I wanted to be. Thank goodness I was never given that opportunity because, you know, I think that would be a very short career path, and besides it's not as if you can announce that goal to the school counselor, or your parents.

6 comments:

CreekHiker / HollysFolly said...

I used to temp at Geffen records during the GnR heyday. One day, I was at the front desk in A&R and in walked Slash...tight blue running shorts (nothing left to the imagination), black t shirt and...NO hat. His curls were pulled back and revealed the most gorgeous blue eyes! OH! I still swoon just thinking of him that day.

Thank God I'm missing the flirt gene because who knows what would've become of me!

Linda@VS said...

When my daughter Kim worked for Rolling Stone, her first cover story was on Guns N' Roses, and it was quite an experience for her. The story is still in the Rolling Stone archives if you're interested: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/15808339/cover_story_guns_n_roses_outta_control

Linda@VS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Linda@VS said...

Well, I've tried twice to leave a link, and it keeps getting cut off for some reason. If you google kim neely outta control, it's the first article that pops up.

Anonymous said...

I've just started "Redemption Song" which is a biography of Joe Strummer from The Clash. Not enough into it to recommend it, but I'm sure it would fit into your summer selections!
-sdhb

Duly Inspired said...

Oooh Linda, thank you for sending me to the article. I enjoyed reading it and am all six-degrees of someone who knows someone who met Slash one time... heh-heh!

And CH - I am incredibly envious. And delighted.