Brian Jones Straight From The Heart: The Rolling Stones Murder [Paperback]

Gloria Shepherd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2007

Brian Jones life was a David vs. Goliath. Young, petite, and naïve, his Goliath was the Rolling Stones money machine. Unlike the Bible, Brian lost his life. This book levels the battlefield by telling what happened to the band’s founder. Written from Brian’s POV, the Stones rise to stardom is chronicled, ending with British authorities lack to properly investigate the bi-sexual bandleader’s death at 27.

Brian recalls being an incest victim, homeless at age 16 and forced into prostitution. Regardless, with extreme talent, sexuality, and imagination he led the band he picked, taught and named to glory. His vision was to bring world music to the Stones catalog; the band declined—content to crank out mundane sounds as long as records sold.

After a fight over musical direction Brian left the band planning to start anew and take the Rolling Stones name with him. Three weeks later he drowned in his swimming pool. Brian’s tale of death threats and witness accounts recount what actually happened.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gloria Shepherd is an award-winning screenwriter, ghostwriter, and columnist. She has published an illustrated children’s book, whose proceeds are donated to humane charities. Info on www.brian-jones-book.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 386 pages
• Publisher: High Seas Publishing (March 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974209368
• ISBN-13: 978-0974209364
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,089,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars rolling stones fan, July 5, 2007

By 

C. Creed (north carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brian Jones Straight From The Heart: The Rolling Stones Murder (Paperback)

While the book was interesting to read and the author was obviously interested in her subject, I question the accuracy and where her sources came from, such as Mick Jagger participating in Brian Jones' death, that Brian Jones was raped by Allen Klein's assistant and Keith Richards at Mick Jagger's insistence, that Anita Pallenberg and Mick Jagger plotted to bring Brian Jones down, that Brian Jones was sexually abused by his mother, etc. It is all so much over the top. I searched the back of the book to find the sources for Brian Jones' quotes and some of this information, but it was not clear if Brian was speaking to her beyond the dead or whom was giving these facts to her. Much of the book is not flattering to the other Stones, true or not.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!, August 10, 2007

By 

Anonymous J - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brian Jones Straight From The Heart: The Rolling Stones Murder (Paperback)

While this was an interesting read and no doubt mirrors some of Brian's feelings, emotional and mental problems, and experiences, it would appear to be a fictionalized account of what Ms. Shepherd imagines Brian would have said to describe his life. If anybody should doubt that, there are three points that make this apparent:

1. Nowhere is the reader provided with any sources for Brian's "quotes". Yes, read here quote-unquote quotes. Given that the majority of the book is based on Brian's words, you would think that sources would be at least mentioned in the preface. There are supposedly audio tapes that Brian made? There is no mention of this -- why can I find no mention of these audio tapes ANYWHERE? Given the sheer number of quotes provided, there must have been hours and hours worth. WHERE ARE THEY? WHO HAD THEM ALL THESE YEARS?

2. It's all too pat with a plethora of "quotes" that cover almost every facet of Brian's life and controversies that we find in various biographies previously published. It's as if somehow Brian magically foresaw what people would say after his death (or this unknown interviewer did) and managed to have something to say about every single thing. It is just too convenient and feels as if someone read these other biographies and made up quotes to counter them point by point!

3. The ending is POSITIVELY LUDICROUS -- is the reader expected to believe that Brian was speaking into a tape recorder up to the point of his actual death? If not, why is Brian being quoted in reference to the very day he died? It's ridiculous -- while the men who supposedly killed him were there, drugging him, he was narrating what was going on? If I had any doubts as to the sincerity of the source for these quotes, the final chapter clinched them.

Save your money, PLEASE. There are other far worthier books. Check out Golden Stone and Who Killed Christopher Robin? Let's face it, most of Brian's life does not make for good copy. The guy had problems and could be equally horrific as terrific. Any book on Brian will give you tales on both sides of his personality. While the author will kindly explain these things away as keeping the audio tapes from being turned over to the Brian Jones estate, etc., I still say steer clear of this one until someone comes up with those mysterious audio tapes!

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Brian Jones "Straight" From the Heart?, June 13, 2007

By 

Constance R. Swift "Carly" (Wakefield, RI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brian Jones Straight From The Heart: The Rolling Stones Murder (Paperback)

Although Ms. Shepherd is a capable writer, I refuse to believe half of the "biographical" information in this book. First, she quotes Brian as if she spoke with him yesterday; I couldn't find where she credited anything or anyone with his words...some of which were NOT in use in the late 60's. Give us a break. Some readers are just too smart to fall for that. The other thing I'm not comfortable with is she has Brian sleeping with Mick, and Keith and numerous other men and quotes him as being "bisexual". Maybe he was, and I am FAR from homophobic, but she creates conversations with his partners as if she was in the room!
I am very disappointed in this book, and wonder if Ms. Shepherd just didn't fantasize this entire thing!