Guilty of Everything [Paperback]

John Armstrong (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 2001

Cultural Writing. Memoir. Music. 1978: the first shock of punk hits Vancouver, and John Armstrong is at the center of the maelstrom. As Buck Cherry, lead singer/ guitarist for the Modernettes, Armstrong met and made music with I Braineater, Joey Shithead, Dimwit, Chuck Biscuits, Mary Jo Kopechne, Art Bergmann, and other punk luminaries. His account of drug-addled, booze-soaked days and nights with Los Popularos, DOA, the Subhumans, and the Modernettes brings this anarchic era to life. "It's a fluke of history that someone who writes as well as John Armstrong would have been at the very heart of the original Vancouver punk scene. Little did they know that Armstrong, aka Buck Cherry, would be their recording angel, but he was and here it all is: from White Rock to the back of the Smilin' Buddha and beyond. Very few recollections of a life lived in rock are this honest, or this funny"--William Gibson.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A great read to take you back to the days of punk rock ghosts." -- The Nerve (Vancouver)

About the Author

John Armstrong is an award-winning journalist, writer and musician. His early life as a "minor punk rock cult figure" is chronicled in his first book, Guilty of Everything, which was shortlisted for the Roderick Haig-Brown prize, awarded to the best non-fiction book published in BC that year. After dropping out of high school, he played in the legendary first-wave punk band the Modernettes. An accomplished journalist, Armstrong won multiple awards for critical writing, feature writing and hard news during his 15-year tenure at the Vancouver Sun. He is co-owner of Paramount Recorders, a Downtown Eastside recording studio, where he is finishing his first album of new material in 23 years. He currently lives in East Vancouver's Skid Row with a Rotweiller named BoBo.

Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: New Star Books (November 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0921586868
• ISBN-13: 978-0921586869
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,083,616 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Drunk, Cold, Poor But Happy!, August 1, 2003

By 

Glenn S. Hawley "glenn with 2 'n's" (NEW YORK, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Guilty of Everything (Paperback)

The First, I've found, but hopefully not the last book about the Vancouver Rock'n'roll scene. Modernette's Bass Player Buck Cherry(John Armstrong) lets us know his experiences of not wanting to enter the grind of an ordinary life. Guitar lessons, 7 Elevens, Touring. Vividly descriptive, with all the mess, beer & music rightfully in it's place. Things may not have turned out the way he might have wanted, but This guy's no loser or Quitter. I admired these guys for taking it on the road in a Very different Punk Rock world than what we have today. I will be on the look out for those Lost Canadian punk records & future books. My home now seems more empty without them.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A PEEP INTO THE MOST UNDERRATED SCENE EVER, November 23, 2002

By 

donn vanak (northeast United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guilty of Everything (Paperback)

as guitarist/singer for the powerpop/ punk legends the MODERNETTES...he gives you a candid sordid drunkseye veiw of the fertile and psychotic late 70s-early 80s vancouver canada punk/indie scene. vivid and detailed and a hell of a fun ride thru the wastlands of pre-MTV music america. fans of D.O.A, SUBHUMANS, POINTED STICKS and many canadian others need this book...as well as the out of print MODERNETTES retrospective disc "get it straight" on ZULU records. start here first.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story Buck!, January 8, 2009

By 

Hermy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guilty of Everything (Paperback)

Great little book. Easy to read and very funny. Captures this scene perfectly. Also pick up a copy of the Modernettes CD - great combo pack!