Customer Reviews

Jews Who Rock

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

After reading a book about Jewish Sports Heroes (no it is not that slim), the Israeli born music exec and Madonna Maverick partner, Guy Oseary, got the idea to compile a book of 100 top Jewish rockers, or rockers with some Jewish parentage or heritage. The forward by Ben Stiller and the afterward by Perry (Peretz) Farrell (Bernstein) are interesting, and I wish the rest of the book followed their formats. Stiller talks of his Bar Mitzvah and how his band played at the after party. Stiller played on a drumset that he got for xmas (hmmm). They played "Hey Jude" (Jew'd). Farrell writes about the Biblical musicians, such as David. My complaint with this book is that it lists the artists, one per page, giving some bio info, such as birthdate, birthplace, and discography, but there are no interviews with the rockers. It left me hanging. I wondered, how is Warren Zevon Jewish? How did the Beastie Boys bnai Mitzvot affect their work? How did Saul Hudson go from Saul to Slash? I was hoping for something akin to the webzine PLOTZ, which actually interviewed Beck and other Jewish rockers about their Jewish heritages. But this book just lists some basic facts. I am sure it will make a good gift for other Jewish rockers and trivia specialists. It includes no brainers, like barry Manilow, Gene Simmons, Randy Newman, Mark Knopfler, Paul Simon, Lisa Loeb, Billy Joel, Dylan, Carole King, Kenny G (Gorelick), The Beastie Boys, and Phranc; but I wish it had given more data on Herb Alpert, Malcolm McLaren, and Zevon. The rockers out there will be excited to read about the Jewish members of The Doors, Foo Fighters, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Yo La Tengo, Matchbox 20, Elastica, Wang Chung, Blue Oyster Cult, Counting Crows, Janes Addiction, The Mamas and the Pappas, and Megadeth.

I admit a certain potential conflict of interest. I run a web site that is largely devoted to the relation of Jewish people to popular culture.... When I heard this book was coming out--I looked forward to some new insights from an "insider." The book consists of one page profiles of "Jewish" performers. Each page consists of credits that could be found anywhere on the web. The biggest surprise to me was the listing of John and Michelle Phillips of, "The Mamas and the Papas", as Jewish. Mama Cass Elliott (born Ellen Cohen) was Jewish--this is well known. But the Phillips are not! How can I be sure? I am in contact with an author who is half way through a major book on the band. But this error seems typical of the tossed off quality of the book. Another Amazon reviewer noted that Robbie Robertson is listed and that he is half Native American and questioned whether he was "half" Jewish. He has, in fact, a Jewish father--but he is much closer to his Native roots. You would never find this out from the book. Also listed are a number of people who are "half" Jewish, but who were raised in another faith. There are so many Jewish rockers today who relate to their Jewishness in their work or lives. Many writers have written articles on this very subject. I hate to be mean--but it appears that this gentleman used his name and connections to put out a book that is little more than a list of "possibly" Jewish rockers. In some cases, he lists some Jewish members of a band (J. Geils band stands out)--and omits other Jewish members of the same band! Beyond everything else, if he blew it on the Phillips--how can we trust other stuff? The final weirdness is that he dedicates the book to his pal, Madonna--"the rockingest Jew I know." Well, Madonna has studied Jewish mysticism--but she is not Jewish by birth and a formal conversion has never been reported anywhere. But he calls her, "Jewish". Do you know something we don't? Care to share it with us?

For those interested in all things Judaic and rock n' roll, "Jews who Rock" seemed like a most welcome book, but the actual product is purely tossed-off. Most of the inclusions are obvious, and despite a few surprises, highly dubious (Robbie Robertson, who has acknowledged his Native American roots through his music and in many interviews, is Jewish? And John Phillips? How?) Or simply untrue -- Lenny Kravitz may have a Jewish father, but he is an avowed Christian, and hence not a Jew who Rocks. Moreover, the "did you know" factoids are bland,oft-reported,and generally reveal nothing about the artist's relationship to Judaism. Why didn't Oseary bother to ask any of the artists about how they personally relate to Judaism, or how Judaism informs their music? Only Perry Farrell's typically cosmic, but reverant, essay suggests the book that might have been with greater research and insight. Hardly the definitive book on an otherwise fascinating subject.

After having received this book as a gift, one wonders how much griping is allowable. Nonetheless, after having skimmed through the book and after having read the entry on Bob Dylan, it gave me good pause. Since there were multiple errors on Dylan's one page, it naturally made me ask the question, "How many other errors might abound?" I am not proposing that the book should be error-free (no book is), but after having read some of the reviews, it's clear that someone should take the responsibility (Guy Oseary? or maybe his editor or researcher? or maybe the publisher?) for the many errors that fill its pages.

I'll simply point out the errors on the Dylan page. The singer did not graduate from the University of Minnesota in 1959 (nor any other university). He graduated from his high school, Hibbing High, in 1959, and then merely attended the Univ. of Minn. for a few semesters. And Dylan's second album, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" didn't come out in 1962 (it was 1963). Additionally, to say Dylan's songs "extolled the use of certain drugs" and to use "Rainy Day Women #12&35" as an example ("everybody must get stoned"), oversimplifies things; the lyrics to this song are actually quite rich (despite them being made almost cliche because of radio overplay and overplay in concert) but Dylan has denied--on more than one occasion--writing "drug songs." In one interview he mentioned it was hard enough to write songs without making it harder [through drugs].

After referencing the 1966 era, we're then told that Dylan "toured and recorded tirelessly" for the next 30 years. Really? Most fans will vividly recall when Dylan did not embark on a single tour from 1967-1973; he also abstained from touring in 1977, 1982-1983 and 1985.

And the "Never-Ending Tour" is listed as "1988-1996" which is odd. Dylan's touring didn't stop in 1996 (this book was published in 2001), it has continued to this day, i.e., "1988-2002."

As for the book's statement that "Bob took his adopted name from poet Dylan Thomas," this too isn't factual. Dylan has denied this on a number of occasions and others close to Dylan have corroborated his denial although the exact origins of the name are not entirely clear (typical Dylan).

We are also informed that Dylan was involved with the Lubavitch movement in Jerusalem in 1984. But this is the wrong location, and year. He studied with the Lubavitchers in Brooklyn in 1983.

And then there's the matter-of-fact statement that Dylan "explored various religions outside of Judaism, to which he ultimately returned." In 1979-1981, Dylan did more than "explore" Jesus (and he still sings about Jesus, for whatever reason, to this day). He also has never announced his departure from or return to Judaism. In typical contrarion fashion, Dylan quoted a biblical passage from the Hebrew Scriptures on his 1980 album, "Saved." And then in 1984, the year after he studied with the Lubavitchers, Dylan was asked if he thought the Old and New Testaments were equally valid. He replied, "To me." (Rolling Stone interview with Kurt Loder). Dylan has participated in the Lubavitchers' Chabad telethons (1986, 1989 & 1991) but has also continued to sing songs from the "Slow Train/Saved."

Even with all the religion hububb aside, it seems that for all I've pointed out it could've been a case of my having scoured through a full-length book...but it was, again, only a one-page entry on Dylan! And there were many errors, so buyer beware.

Maybe one day we'll have an updated, mostly corrected edition and some quotes from the artists on the significance of their rich cultural heritage.

I have not read the book. I leafed through it in a book store. What can I add that others haven't already said. The one page bios are superficial and there are many mistakes and omissions.

I response to the reviewer who said that Iggy is Jewish. Well he isn't. I read his autobiography about 12 years ago. I think he said his father was an orphan who had been adopted by a non-practicing Jewish family. But he wasn't brought up Jewish. Iggy isn't Jewish by decent, upbringing or in any other way except in name (James Newell OSTERBERG) You can hear various anti-Semitic remarks in live and `unofficial' recordings of the Stooges.

I've read this book and have found many errors which could have been easily checked. For example, when giving the title of the legendary Al Kooper's book, they got it wrong. Also had Bob Dylan graduating from the University of Minnesota at 18 (he left after one year to begin his career). In addition, when giving credits to songs written by Robbie Robertson on The Band's debut album, of the two songs listed, one, "This Wheel's On Fire", had no involvement in writing by Robertson (it was written by Rick Danko and Bob Dylan). And these are only examples which I know about from my own knowledge.....I'm sure they aren't the only ones. Whoever was hired as the fact-checker on this book, should be sued for taking their pay under false pretenses.

Including Kenny G, Michael Bolton, and Neil Diamond in a book called "Jews Who Rock" only confirms that Jews have an elevated sense of humor.

This book should be titled "Jews Who Changed Names and Then Tried To Rock and Occasionally Succeeded."

I would have given this book 2 stars if it hadn't let me know that Gene Simmons real name is Chaim Witz. Wow.

Including Kenny G, Michael Bolton, and Neil Diamond in a book called "Jews Who Rock" only confirms that Jews have an elevated sense of humor.

This book should be titled "Jews Who Changed Names and Then Tried To Rock and Occasionally Succeeded."

I would have given this book 2 stars if it hadn't let me know that Gene Simmons real name is Chaim Witz. Wow.

finally found a great B'nai mitzvah book that all kids like. This little book is really packed with info on famous musicians who happen to be Jewish. Our whole family enjoyed it!

I've read this book and have found many errors which could have been easily checked. For example, when giving the title of the legendary Al Kooper's book, they got it wrong. Also had Bob Dylan graduating from the University of Minnesota at 18 (he left after one year to begin his career). In addition, when giving credits to songs written by Robbie Robertson on The Band's debut album, of the two songs listed, one, "This Wheel's On Fire", had no involvement in writing by Robertson (it was written by Rick Danko and Bob Dylan). And these are only examples which I know about from my own knowledge.....I'm sure they aren't the only ones. Whoever was hired as the fact-checker on this book, should be sued for taking their pay under false pretenses.