Beer, Blood & Cornmeal: Seven Years of Strange Wrestling [Paperback]

Bob Calhoun (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008

Delving into the organized insanity of Incredibly Strange Wrestling (ISW), this memoir takes a look at the bastard offspring of post-punk garage rock and masked Mexican wrestling. Fielding a cast of crazed characters with names like El Homo Loco, Macho Sasquatcho, and El Pollo Diablo, the show lived up to its name. And if that wasn’t enough, cult bands such as NOFX, The Dickies, and The Donnas provided the raucous rock and roll in between the highflying mayhem. ISW emerged from the back alleys and seedy clubs of San Francisco’s South of Market scene to headline the historic Fillmore and barnstorm North America on the Van’s Warped Tour. At the height of its popularity, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong and Metallica’s James Hetfield could be seen tossing tortillas (which the promoters supplied) at ringside with the rest of the hell heads, boozehounds, and tattooed party girls.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In this unforgettable insider's account of the bygone era when punk rock and wrestling ruled San Francisco, Bob Calhoun (aka Count Dante) proves that he's still the fastest mouth in the business. You may run, but you won't be able to hide from this gleefully warped tale. I couldn't put it down."  —Matthew Polly, author, American Shaolin

"Like music and sex, wrestling is so much more fun when it's local, no-budget, and sleazy."  —Jello Biafra, singer, spoken word flamethrower, and former wrestling manager

"Well-observed and sharply funny. [Calhoun's] characterizations nicely communicate the wrestlers' addiction to performance and risk-taking in and out of the ring."  —Slam! Sports

"A behind-the-scenes look at one of the best oddities to come out of the Bay Area over the past few decades."  —San Francisco Chronicle

"Calhoun's reflections on his time in ISW make you feel as though you are ringside. . . . His insightful social commentary adds an unexpected dimension as well, enlightening outsiders to San Francisco's rich history and extremely unique culture."  —Ottawa XPress

"Calhoun intricately traces the developmental trajectory of [Incredibly Strange Wrestling] . . . the book gives readers a look at a formerly shadowed part of non-mainstream culture. Highly recommended."  —Recommended Readings, Butler University

"This book was like candy—I could not stop eating it up. . . . A great read."  —Maximum Rock & Roll

"For seven years, Calhoun tried to help ISW break through to the mainstream . . .  [and now he] chronicles that unsuccessful quest—as well as the twisted characters he met along the way."  —Scripps Howard News Service

About the Author

Bob Calhoun is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in Filmfax, Salon.com, and the San Francisco Chronicle. He is the coauthor of martial arts and Hollywood stunt legend "Judo" Gene LeBell's autobiography, The Godfather of Grappling. He lives in San Francisco. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: ECW Press (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550228277
• ISBN-13: 978-1550228274
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Wrestling

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Awesome Reading, April 17, 2008

By 

Brandi Valenza "brandi valenza" (san francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beer, Blood & Cornmeal: Seven Years of Strange Wrestling (Paperback)

If you have ever stepped foot in San Francisco, seen these wrestlers in the ring, been to a punk rock show, or lived through this time in the past, you should read this book. You should read this book even if you've done none of those things. It's more than a memoir, more than an autobiography and filled with all of the drama and excitement you would expect -- in and out of the wrestling ring -- from the show and more. So much more.

I lived in San Francisco during the era that this book covers and worked at The Transmission Theater as a bartender for many of Incredibly Strange Wrestling's shows. Bob Calhoun covers this spectacle in such depth and with such precision and detail, it was almost like being in the 90s again, except this time I am a fly on the wall privy to bits and pieces that I never would have known about until reading.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, strange, and a wild ride! Recommended., February 7, 2010

By 

Joan S. Duane "Bookieforlife" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beer, Blood & Cornmeal: Seven Years of Strange Wrestling (Paperback)

I think the title of the book says it all. This is a great read, and a great ride, through a world that otherwise you'd never get to see. Very well done.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let the tortillas fly!!!, July 27, 2009

By 

Scott Woll (Granite City, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beer, Blood & Cornmeal: Seven Years of Strange Wrestling (Paperback)

I'm not your average book reviewer but this book is beyond average, It's amazing! I can clearly remember seeing Incredibly Strange Wrestling at the Warped Tour in 2001. I've never had more fun at a wrestling event. Before the matches even started, they handed out tortillas to throw at the wrestlers. It was so much fun. The charachters are hilarious, such as El Homo Loco, a gay luchador would carry a milk jug filled with cum. There was also El Pollo Diablo, who was a wrestler in a full chicken suit, much like a sports mascot. There was no way you could deny the pure entertainment that ISW brought to the masses that day. As I said before, I've never forgot ISW and my friend recently told me about this book, Beer Blood & Cornmeal, wrote by the ISW announcer/wrestler Count Dante. I couldn't wait to find a copy and I haven't been able to put the book down. The Count was a master of the microphone and he really put together a great read. I would highly recommend this book to any fan of wrestling. It recounts the beginning of ISW in San Francisco and covers the entire 7 year run of the fabulous company. I hope that this book helps more people discover the greatness that was Incredibly Strange Wrestling and maybe one day they will make a comeback. I know that I would be first in line at the show with a bag full of tortillas.