No comments about Fashion Rocks - Fall 2008: Justin Timberlake, Joan Jett, Dhani Harrison, the Kills, and More!.

1 comments about Omnibus Press Presents The Story Of Fall Out Boy (Omnibus Press Presents...) (Omnibus Press Presents...) (Omnibus Press Presents...) (Omnibus Press Presents...).

1. This book was purchased as a Christmas gift for my 15 yr old daughter, who is OBSESSED with FOB. She knows alot about FOB and absolutely loved this book. There were several giggles and laughs as she read it so that is a definate sign that this book is all that and more. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about FOB. She finished the book in 2 days, with no stop reading. :)

No comments about blink-182: Guitar Play-Along Volume 58.

5 comments about Rat Scabies and the Holy Grail: Can a Punk Rock Legend Find What Monty Python Couldn't?.

1. "Holy Blood Holy Grail" - and this one.
   
   The first because - despite the fact that other books on the subject preceeded it - it's the one that really put the subject on the map. And Dawes' book because it's the only one I've read that really seems to pick up where the first one leaves off, with a very entertaining and comical, yet touchingly personal, spin. Is there anything to the mystery after all? Who knows? But with a book like this, the quest is just as beguiling a read as any blockbuster revelation could be.



2. What happens when a journolist and a punk rock legend go off to find the Holy Grail? Well read this to find out. An hilarious account of adventuring in the misty world that most people have only heard of due to The DaVinci Code. A good travel book and mystery book. Highly recommended.



3. If you've read/see the Da Vinci Code this is a must read book. The same basic idea, just a little more tongue in cheek.



4. This book is awesome! I've read it three times already...It just doesn't get old. I originally got it because I'm a fan of The Damned. Any fan of The Damned, the DaVinci Code, the esoteric, or anybody who just wants a laugh-out-loud read should buy this!
   
   Funny as hell, interesting, mysterious, spooky, and, oh yeah, funny as hell!! Great book!!



5. While most of the plot deals with the Rennes-le-Château mystery, deep inside this book is about friendship. It is also quite funny.

2 comments about Keep it together!: Cosmic Boogie with The Deviants and The Pink Fairies.

1. The City Kids / Deviants with a cast of thousands. Lives and crimes finally put to print whooooowhooo... at bleeding last! I suppose Farren couldn't really do it being a Fairy himself "no pun intended", so it needed a man of good standing, not an insider nor a music hack but a fan yes a fan in the form of one RICH DEAKIN and what fitter tribute could be embellished onto (the underground crusaders from Ladbroke grove popular peoples freedom front) or as a python sketch may have said "wot did the hippies ever do for us!!? Well pigs from Uranus this bunch of sweeties did quite a lot. I got into the fairies at the tender age of fifteen 1975 (see my biog, PEOPLE CALL YA CRAZY WHEN YA TALK LIKE THAT) yep cheap arse book plug ...but hey Rich plugged his on my review. Anyway as you probably know the Fairies broke up and got back together more times than a Nick Cotton meets the Dingalls in a street fighting pig punching brawl in Eastenders and never got round to recording as much material as we the fans would have enjoyed but hey ho that's life. But I still shiver at Larry Wallace's metallic guitar riffs Paul Rudolf's long long feedback solo's that you just cant get away with these days "mores the pity being a bit of an old plucker myself" and Sandy's sturdy bass keeping the sometimes chaotic live set in order, not to mention the drummers Twink unt Russell Hunter. There's an introduction by Mick Farren,and if you look around theres a spoken word format available. The biog itself is written in great detail from the early beginnings of Farren's Deviants with all the references to squat culture, drug culture, the ins and out's of the underground press "IT" of which Farren was the editor for a while the bizarre and hilarious way the records where recorded in all the confusion of drugs "n" stuff, anarchy in all its glory well before the Pistols ever reared the monster that would be and spat the mothers milk of west London home grown amphetamine/tuinol laced anarchy back in the face of its surrogate mother. Up to the post punk and beyond bands such as the Rings, kicks, Lightening Raiders etc, telling the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth be it good or bad. Some people come off better than others but all in all I think "as only being an outsider fan myself" it's very well documented and as accurate as you need to get. A story long over due and needed telling with some great insight and story telling from all the usual suspects from the hippie days to the birth of punk and so on. So I'll stop bigging MR DEAKIN up... press the BUY IT NOW button "God knows the royalties will be well, well, well received". I'll stop quoting titles from Fairies songs and you can give a copy to ya grandkids as a history lesson. So that's it and as in the immortal words of Twink's wisdom DON'T THINK ABOUT IT IF YA AINT GONNA BUY IT!!!



2. Drawing sense out of a chaotic time of two equally chaotic bands, this comprehensive probe of broken fragments by Rich Deakin shows how the underground London rock scenes of 1977 and 1966 were not as far apart as it may have seemed at the time with this saga of The Deviants/Pink Fairies family. Both bands were responsible for blazing a trail of defiant, independent noise and attitude that would provide a template for generations to come. Flying high not only a spirit of rebellion but musical statements that (more often than not) proved to be ahead of their time, their efforts only assured them a place of respect long after their respective demises and after years of ignominy.
   
   A coherent work on two bands that were rarely anything but, this book is the first ever book dedicated exclusively to The Deviants/Pink Fairies family tree and is written with a thorough knowledge of its subjects. By not blindly overlooking or exaggerating the flaws or missteps that crossed the swerving paths of both bands (of which there were many) but through dedicated and thorough research, Deakin works up both a sense of the times and the chaotically-woven personal fabric of both bands into a consistent and engaging read.
   
   Along with many previous unseen photographs, the author corrals together most of the facts, small tales, big myths, medium-sized yarns of humour, drug-induced mania and paranoia that remain burned into the collective memories of those responsible.
   
   In Mick Farren's introduction, he states exactly why the story of the Deviants' and Fairies' strange odyssey from the late sixties into the seventies remains so compelling to the present day: "The story you are about to read is neither one of triumph or tragedy. If it's about anything, it's the grim appreciation that one is keeping it real when reality is at its most elusive. Which, deep down, where the spirit survives, is what the hardest core of rock'n'roll is about." As a book on Rock'n'Roll, "Keep It Together" is a success. And one measure of that success is in the way it'll send you back to your music stack digging out "PTOOFF!" or "Kings of Oblivion" if you know these records -- or ordering them online immediately if you don't.

3 comments about Social Distortion - Live at the Roxy.

1. If you want to learnn the rifs, beats, and all that makes punk have the sharpest teeth in music, then this book is for you. You will learn to walk, then run, as you play the music that defined an era of Orange County's finest hour. Hang out in alleys drinking Guiness an Mickey's, warm yourself up for the show, an help punk reach another generation of the quintessential American youth.



2. This book is awsome. It shows you how to play things that I never would have figured out. I also like this book because it has all of SD's greatest hits. I recommend this book to any Social Distortion fan!



3. If you like Social D, then you probablt already have this, but if not, its worth buying just for "Prison Bound." The recording and instrumentation far exceeds the original. Great album!

5 comments about Suicide: No Compromise.

1. I was lucky enough to see Suicide play at Max's during the late seventies and have followed them ever since. Along with The Velvet Underground, Martin Rev and Alan Vega's sound has influenced many over the last thirty years and too many to mention here.
   
   It is great that someone has been brave enough to get off their backside and write a book about them. This is the first book about Suicide since they started in 1971.
   
   This book is an oral history of Suicide that documents not only their story, but also what was happening in music and politics in New York at the time. There are fresh interviews with Rev, Vega and comments from those that witnessed and were involved in Suicide's harrowing, moving, often funny and confrontational story.
   
   The author does an excellent job with his research and calls on Chris Stein from Blondie, Sylvain Sylvain from the New York Dolls and Jayne County to tell their side of the story. Lydia Lunch and James Chance also give their comments. There are also eye witness accounts and comments from fans such as Bobby Gillespie, Michael Stipe, Jim Reid, Bono, Moby and Marc Almond.
   
   The chapter on Suicide supporting The Clash in '78 does not flinch away from the barrage of physical abuse that was thrown at these two pioneers by a vicious and misunderstanding audience. The book brings their story right up to date and also includes a chapter on their more recent side projects. No Compromise is a highly enjoyable read and a long overdue tribute to a pioneering band and the New York most of us never want to forget. One last observation. This book would make a great documentary or film.



2. Suicide, New York's electronic, pioneering stroppy legends finally get the book treatment. Suicide were sadly not featured in Legs McNeil's excellent Please Kill Me and No Compromise thankfully gives them the chance to fire off their story.
   
   Author, David Nobakht, has gone for the oral approach and No Compromise is packed full of exclusive interviews with Rev and Vega where they discuss their influences, poverty, struggle, rejection, confrontation, sound and surviving New York right up to the present day. There are also comments from the people that were there and the people that were influenced. This book captures the grime of seventies New York and Suicide's uphill struggle to gain recognition, which they eventually did years later. With many of New York's legends now sadly gone and CBGB's facing closure, we should not take Suicide for granted and it is cool that a book has at last been dedicated to them and a fine book it is too...



3. The Book is a must for 70's nyc RnR sceen fans. It's very informative however needs an extreem make over as far as editing goes. The worst part is it's a gradual revelation or should I say death. At first I thought Martin Rev spoke a little scattered but when you see Alan Vega's qoutes feature similar grammar, you realize they are misquotes and punctuation errors. Misplaced periods are all over the book or should I say jotted notes!



4. It is hard to believe that a book about NYC's Suicide has not been done before whilst the Velvet Underground have a fair few books on the shelves about them.
   
   No Compromise mainly consists of interviews with Rev, Vega and people like New York Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain, Chris Stein from Blondie and many others. This book is a must for anyone into New York's seventies music scene. Maybe there could have been more analysis of Suicide's music, but I would rather read what the band have to say than pages and pages of boring speculation. No Compromise is well worth getting.



5. this is more or less and oral biography told by the members themselves and those around them. a great read with a lot of info about one of the most influential rock and roll bands of our time.

4 comments about I, Shithead: A Life in Punk.

1. I will start by claiming 100% bias as I've known the author for well over 20 years and have greatly enjoyed his contributions to punk rock for over 25 years. DOA taught a lot of us how to go out and get it done, with "it" being spreading the music and message to the less than masses spread out among the world. Joe's book is simple, straightforward blast of history that will interest anyone into the punk rock way of existence. Essential reading, so get it and enjoy!



2. As a big fan of DOA since the late seventies, I was really looking forward to reading this book. Joe gives you a great amount of background about one of the hardest working bands ever.
   If you love punk music and the DIY attitude, this book is must read.



3. Sit down at a kitchen table with Joe Keithley. Open a few beers, and hand him one, or two... Ask him to give you a crash course on himself and his legendary punk band, D.O.A., making sure not to gloss over the interesting bits.

   If you can't arrange to do this with Joe, picking up a copy of this book would be your only alternative. It's 200+ pages of compelling reading, written by a man who helped define punk music both in and out of Canada, and who certainly put Canada at the roots of the punk historical tree.

   Unlike a lot of books about punk bands, this is first-person stuff of the first order.




4. Anyone, and I do mean ANYONE, who is interested in the west coast punk scene needs to read this book. Keithley gives a fantastic first hand account of how he formed his band and all of the tests they endured going from relative nobodies to one of the biggest and best known punk bands in North America.

   The book is also a mini how-to manual for anyone interested in starting up their own punk band. Keithley talks about the business side of the music industry, what it's like to play gigs to crowds of different sizes and interests, and above all, he gives a great first hand account of just what it takes to make it in the music business.

   Finally, Keithley's writing style is very easy to digest. The book is written like the lyrics to many of his songs; straight ahead without and BS! What's more, the book contains many pictures and personal anecdotes about Vancouver and places beyond. In reading the book it easy to see yourself sitting at a bar with Keithley as he tells a couple tales over a couple of beers.

   If you're a punk, or even think about calling yourself a punk, then you owe it to yourself to give this book a read.

5 comments about New Brunswick, New Jersey, Goodbye: Bands, Dirty Basements, and the Search for Self.

1. All you need to know if you're looking at the page already, is that yes, it's way worth picking it up. GO!
   
   If you need more prodding, then I'll just say that this book almost fully encapsulates what it was like to grow up with the hardcore scene as a driving force in your life. If this is something you can relate to, you'll find yourself remembering so many stories from your own past and looking back on how you reached the point you're at now. If this is something new to you, you'll find that while the soundtrack is different, the themes are universal to all alienated kids searching for their place in the world, and Ronan so perfectly puts into words what we all were thinking and feeling.
   
   Also, if you dig the book, check out Ronen's podcast Issue Oriented.



2. I just got this book a week ago and I am so sad that I finished it already! It was fantastic! I visited/lived in New Brunswick at the same time and am the same age as Ronen, so I just kept finding myself laughing out loud and exclaiming "I was there!" or "We did that!" for many of the events in the book...It was such a trip down memory lane for me! Besides that, it is so well written and really makes you feel like you are experiencing things right along with the author...so even if you have never been to New Brunswick, you really get a taste of what it was like there! If you read this book, you WILL enjoy it! :)



3. My cajones are mentioned in this book. Twice.
   
   Is that a reason to buy it? No. Is it a reason to love it? Unequivocally.
   
   Here's an old school Go! for all you new school kids...Go! pick this book up. You'll be glad you did.



4. This book rules! It was a straightforward and fun read, though the language borders on colloquial at times. Recommended for those who like any kind of punk rock memoirs or cometbus, but be mindful this is NOT a formal documentation the scene at the time (though it doesn't CLAIM to be!), it is before anything a coming of age centered around the authors experiences and the effect that hardcore & punk had on his life, which is inspiring and very easy to relate to. Also recommended for fans of the author's podcast which is rad.



5. This is essential reading for anyone who's even been involved in the NJ/NY punk/hardcore/emocore/etc community. For those of you who enjoy Thursday, Saves the Day, The Bouncing Souls, Lifetime--learn about the scene these bands rose from. For fans of Taking Back Sunday, Brand New, and other more popular bands--learn the scene that inspired these bands.
   
   The history lessons keep on coming. The author clearly states he is not attempting to capture the history of the scene, but merely the part he was involved with.. and it's done wonderfully.
   
   Pick it up.

5 comments about Invincible Summer.

1. This beautiful anthology compiles Nicole's first 8 issues of her self-published zine plus some new material. Nicole is a beloved fixture in the Portland zine scene, and she does that scene proud in this book. You really get a feel for her life in PDX; her jobs, friends, dogs, her many cups of coffee per day. Her drawings seem ripped right from her sketchbooks, which gives them a real spontaneity. She draws herself like a little girl or inner child version of herself, perhaps that's why I found her comics so innocent and endearing. Many of us can relate to wanting to settle down but feeling unsettled about it. I like Nicole's stories because she's searching, at times with hesitancy, at times with blind bravery, she explores and tries to live the way that feels right to her. There are many obstacles to this, hence, comics for us to read and learn from. . . . Reviewed by Kelly Froh.



2. I'm a total fan of Nicole Georges' work. Not only are her scenarios witty and her humor charming, her drawing is beautiful in its sweetness.



3. ...but at the forefront, always sincere. Nicole is NOT just a young, sarcastic hipster, as is often the case in arts and entertainment nowadays. She gives thought to the people, community, family, friends, reality, and things beyond just herself. The initial sighting of her own pets, her commissioned pet portraits, or her anthropomorphous animal artwork might suggest surface kitschy cuteness, but through her zine work you see she has an obvious empathy for animals that extends towards real pet and animal issues.
   
   Lastly, her comic-diaries are FUN, as fun as any graphic work out there. A perfect balance of intelligence, realism, animation creativity, and humor.



4. Reading this book reminded me that even ordinary moments carry magic. Riding your bike is important. Having your morning coffee is important. Not in a narcissistic way, but in a mindful way. This collection of stories was like freshly mowed grass. Like a day spent thrift shopping with your best friend. A perfect example of life as art.



5. First, might I point out that though the book has garnered 4 5-star reviews (as of 1 Aug 08), that at least 3 of those 4 reviews come from folks in Portland, the author's adopted hometown? Coincidence? As for the book, I found the artwork murky and the writing uninspired. What could have been a fascinating subject (living the hippie life in Portland) instead unwittingly made a mockery of itself. Remember the "Basted in Blood" skit on SNL? By the end of the book, I was convinced that the author WAS one of those characters. --Please note, I don't WANT to think that about anybody--the book drove me to it.