Customer Reviews

Guardian Of The Gods: An Inside Look at the Dangerous Business of Music

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Guardian of the Gods is a great book for any music fan. There is a lot of trash out there written about the music industry and I was thrilled to see that this book is not a part of that. To find a good quality written book from "behind the scenes of the music business" is rare.

The stories are great - I bought it for the rock stuff and did not think I'd read the rap sections - but I have to admit that I found the whole book intriguing.

Mark Rodgers did a great job of capturing Andre's life and career in the music business.

The whole book is great - and all the color photos - WOW. I felt like I was right there in the stories.

Guardian if the Gods tells the story from AndrŽ Augustine's perspective as the head of security, and in some cases, the tour manager for various Rap and Rock bands. From the start of his career touring with Run D.M.C. and the Beastie Boys in their early days to touring with KISS, Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi, Augustine and writer Mark Rodgers have produced a book that keeps the reader interested from the first page to the last. It also includes a lot of great private, never-before -seen photos from Augustine's private collection. Guardian of the Gods is not an exposŽ, but more of a highlight journal that shows the good times, wild times, and in some cases the sad times of the music world, plus, the dangerous times dealing with over zealous fans and groupies.

This is a great book for any music fan. There is a lot of trash out there and I was pleased to see that this book was above all that. It was a fun book and hard to put down. The behind the scenes stories gave you a peek at the inside. And the photos were fantastic.

Bought the book from the Omaha KISS Expo recently while Andre was there to sign the book. Of course, I got his autograph. What a quite nice guy. Also, had a Q & A session with him. It was pretty interested to listen what he had to say but told us to get better information by read this book. He's right about it. Because it was a well informed on how the life on the road to protect the stars such as Aerosmith, KISS ,etc. I laughed so hard when he told the stories about Ace Frehley, the lead quitarist of KISS. If you like KISS, better get this book so you will enjoy to know what the deep inside of how the life of KISS when they are on the road. Mostly on Ace. I am still laughing here...I won't tell you. So you better read this book!

I've read a lot of books about Rock-N-Roll. This one is unique in approach resulting in seeing the industry from the other side. Not from just fans or musicians, but from behind the scenes. What really does go into each show, day after day - and somehow they come off successfully. The author has a remarkable ability to make each of Andres Augustine's episodes come to life. It really is a thrilling read. You won't be sorry.

As I read the book there were times I actually said are you kidding me, out loud! I have many friends in this business and although I won't deny that the experiences that Andre Augustine went through were like he explained, he did leave out the realistic side of the business. The chapter about the ticket swap was so laughable. The bands basically want girls with big breast and no dates up in the front, come on do you really think Gene Simmons wants to look at a guy who looks as if he spent his last dollar on a ticket or a girl with a 44DD and is there with no one but another 36/24/36. We are not that naive guys. Although the book was fast reading I think it was because I was laughing so hard and wanted to read what was next.

I found the book fast-paced and very hard to put down!! You never realize the musicians you idolize are people too and therefore have private lives. Andre Augustine and Mark Rodgers let you see the side of music not many of us see and they make you seem like you are right there next to them. I have a whole new respect for those guys with the flashlights behind the stage or at the door of a dressing room.

"Guardian of the Gods" is a must read for anyone that has the slightest interest in popular music. I was pleased to see a fan's perspective of the lives of those people who had such a huge influence on my musical tastes as an adult. The book told enough to satisfy curiosity without compomising the privacy of the musicians. The author brings to life the events and stories that we only heard about on the news, MTV, or in "Rolling Stone." I felt as though I was reliving my youth, even for a moment. "Guardian of the Gods" showed me insight into the events and people that shaped a generation.

"Guardian of the Gods" is a must read for anyone that has the slightest interest in rock music. I was pleased to see a fan's perspective of the lives of those people who had such a huge influence on my musical tastes as an adult. The book told enough to satisfy curiosity without compomising the privacy of the musicians. The author brings to life the events and stories that we only heard about on the news, MTV, or in "Rolling Stone." I felt as though I was reliving my youth, even for a moment. "Guardian of the Gods" showed me insight into the events and people that shaped a generation.

Mark Rodgers and Andre Augustine shed a fresh new perspective on the world of rock music. They don't paint a glossy picture of these people. The author shows us that these people are not that different than the rest of us. They just have a different, and in some ways, more dangerous job than the rest of us. As a huge fan of rock music from a young age, I often wondered what it would be like to live on the "other side" of the fence. Mark and Andre allow the reader to live there, even for just a short period of time. For anyone who is a fan of rock music, this is a must read. You will definitely appreciate your musical roots after reading Guardian of the Gods.