Electric Light Orchestra Story [Paperback]

Bev Bevan (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Putnam Pub Group (Paper) (September 1981)
• ISBN-10: 0825632447
• ISBN-13: 978-0825632440
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,726,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars amzing book about an outstanding band, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Electric Light Orchestra Story (Paperback)

This book covers all the history of the Electric Light Orchestra from the authors origins at school, the bands predecessing groups, and the history of the band through its most successful years.. Because it is written by a band member there are some amazing personal photographs and a chance to see the band froman insiders point of view. Any true fan of ELO must see a copy of this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Story From The Drummers Point Of View, August 8, 2008

By 

PHILIP S WOLF (SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Electric Light Orchestra Story (Paperback)

I got lucky one afternoon and found this book on the bargain table of a bookshop in Inverness, Scotland in 1985. My paperback {limp edition} cost me .75p {75 pence}. The cover is a bit freaky, but the insides are great. I grabbed this book up before some other punter beat me to it.

This is the story of rock drummer Bev Bevan, drummer for The Electric Light Orchestra and good friend of Jasper Carrott. From Bev's early days in Birmingham playing in bands with Denny Laine in 1963, to massive Wembly Arena watching from behind the curtains as Tony Curtis introduces ELO to a packed house in 1978. It is the story of a rock drummer, as told by that rock drummer.

Much like: Ian Hunter's fantastic book ~ "Reflections of a Rock Star" it is a highly personal read, and like Ian's book, you are transported into Bev's world on stage, backstage, in the studios and on the road with a living breathing rock band. It is almost put together as a scrapbook of all his memories of his first 33 years {in 1978.} But, with some many wonderful and rare photos included from the 1950's, 60's and 70's, it is much more than that. Bev, talks of all his fellow musicians from the past, and gives lot's of insight about the other chaps in ELO as well. He talks of his favorite Move & ELO records and will tell you which ones that he is not fond of as well.

A very young Sharon Arden, is in a photograph holding a gold record for: "Discovery", the ELO record that sold several million copies in 1979. That very same lass later married some guy named Ozzie, and had a few children. Backstage dinners of fish & chips, a dog named Pongo, the dramas with Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood and encounters with Brit Ekland {she was everywhere in the 1970's.}

The story is fun to read and photos are real cool. I have refered to this book many times over to get my facts straight when the subject of The Electric Light Orchestra is brought up. The real story is right here in Bev's wonderful book.

I have entertained two offers to sell my copy of this book for good sums of cash {a wee bit more than .75p!} But, I turned those offers down, as I really like this book, and I want to hang onto this for a few more decades. For me out of the hundreds of books that I have seen on the subject of rock music, Ian Hunter's book is the best, and this one by Bev Bevan is: number two, hand's down.

This is a rock story as told from the inside. Bev, has written an honest account of what his world looks like, from the drummers stool.
Five Stars !!!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The E.L.O. Story is GREAT reading for the true fan., June 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Electric Light Orchestra Story (Paperback)

This book is great!Even without going over the whole history of this great band,the book covers alot of ground on the early and middle years.The concert photos and the photos of the guys during "DOWN TIME" are a good part of the history that you just do not get from the records.There are good bits on "THE MOVE" as well as photos and other info on what became "THE BIG 7" and a part on "The author at work".This book does cover the beginnings of what became the legend that was THE ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA. A VERY GOOD READ ABOUT A GROUP THAT,UNLIKE OTHER GROUPS,DIDN'T HAVE ALOT OF BOOKS ABOUT THEM.