Customer Reviews

The Official Punk Rock Book of Lists

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

 

 

I picked up a copy of this about a month ago at the John Varvatos store (formerly CBGB's) in New York City. I needed a cool souvenir and this was sitting right on the front counter- last one! I skimmed through it a few times over the past month or so and there are some great lists, but yesterday I read it cover to cover and was a little disappointed for severeal reasons.

I'll start with the "Bad" first... (but there is lots of good stuff too- so please read all!!!)

One thing that stands out in almost every list is that it's very NYC biased. Don't get me wrong, some of the best punk rock of all time came from the Big Apple, but it's certainly not the only city to produce great punk music. They did mention "The Germs" quite a bit, but that's about the only California punk band that was represented in most of the book. Out of about 300 pages, I don't think they mentioned Social D or Operation Ivy once, and when they mentioned Rancid and NOFX, they mostly made fun of them. I'm not claiming these are the greatest bands of the genre by any means, and I'm from the midwest so it's not a personal thing- I just think there were so many obvious lists and stories that barely looked passed the Manhattan Skyline. (Please don't turn this into a EC vs WC punk feud- I just picked those bands b/c they were the first ones I thought of... and we saw what happened to Biggie and Tupac) The west coast bands they do mention, I think are more grunge / alternative than anything- the Butthole Surfers, Mudhoney, Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Dinosaur Jr are mentioned at least 50 times combined, but not one mention of Mike Ness?! Are you kidding me?

Another thing I noticed throughout the book is the massive amounts of quotes from other books. Some parts are almost literally pages from other's work. I've read "Please Kill Me" by Legs McNeil, and I felt like I re-read a quarter of the book when flipping through the lists. There are some great stories that are definitely worth re-reading (The NYDolls touring the south, Iggy's antics, Joey Ramone's hitchhiking), but again- it's very NYC biased. They also quote VERY heavily from Shane Magowan and John Lydon's autobiorgraphies, which are interesting, but might be old news for some readers. (One of the authors - Amy Wallace even confesses to the over-quoting toward the end of the book!)

At times the book is a little *too* obscure for the casual reader. Punk beginners probably would not know 85% of the bands they're talking about. And even people that are well-versed in the genre will undoubtedly have a few times while reading where they ask themselves "Wait? Who?!"

Now for the GOOD!

There are so many great stories told in the lists of this book. For someone like me, that absolutely loves random music trivia- it was perfect. One of the best lists was something along the lines of "12 things Steve Jones stole". The guy completely robbed Jagger, Bowie and Mick Ronson among others- plus stole clothes to look like Rod Stewart!

Another great thing about a book like this is that it makes you want to learn so much about the bands they're talking about. Half the time I was "reading" it, I was actually on YouTube looking up random Johnny Thunders or Dictators clips and on Wikipedia finding out about the Nihilistics. I'm sure this book will do the same for anyone that's a music fan. In fact, I would argue that price tag of the book and shipping can easily be justifies if the reader gets into even *one* band they didn't know about previously.

The Artwork. It's amazing. I can't think of his first name, but that last name is Mott and he truly is an awesome artisit! He even does one of the lists!

Overall, I'd give the book about a 7/10. As a bathroom book, it's perfect- cool pictures, lots of quick information, and you can just flip to another page if the list you're reading is too obscure, or uninteresting. After all, HDM moved his desk into this bathroom to write some of these. The downsides are that if you've read "Plesae Kill Me", "Our Band Could be your Life", "A Drink with Shane Macgowan" and Johnny Rotten's atuobiography- you've already got about half of the book covered. Also, they basically ignore the west coast.

I say, "Buy It". Plus - it will look super cool on the back of your toilet or on your coffee table. You never know - Aunt Mable might see it and start asking you "Now, who are these 'Dead Boys' fellas I was reading about?" - Totally Punk Rock.

Where the heck do I start? This book was highly recommended as, get this,BATHROOM LITERATURE. Since I spend as much time in the bathroom as the next idiot, I decided to buy it..not ONE, but TWO copies. Hey, I have 4 bathrooms, pal. So I was shocked to find out it isn't just hysterically funny, but rich in Punk Rock history as well. One of the authors is Handsome Dick Manitoba, who himself is an underground legend in the world of all things punk and rock and roll, and apparently has an opinion about EVERYTHING. The man is a scream, flat out. Amy Wallace, co conspirator here, is a writer of some renown, and appears to be bucking for a Nobel Peace Prize for wading into the insanity within these MANY pages. If you have ANY interest in punk rock, from a historical stand point as well as a 'oh shut up and get to the good stuff' standpoint pick this up...you'll laugh your @ss off. PLUS, the print is extra large so you can continue to read through the inevitable tears from reading of the antics of everyone from Joey Ramone thru Kurt Cobain. BUY IT...The Official Punk Rock Book of Lists

I put this book in my bathroom "bookshelf"...Each morning, while having my coffee, I read 2 or 3 or 5 or 6 pages, and have been highly entertained for months...The very accomplished writer Amy Wallace(from the orignal Book Of Lists family, The Wallaces), put this together with Punk Rock Icon, Bar Owner, Radio Host, Handsome Dick Manitoba.Along with GREAT drawings by Cliff Mott and a forward by Danny Fields, this is a steal in terms of how much pure fun it is, and how entertaining it is. Sometimes funny, sometimes silly, many times irreverant, and occasionally downright serious, The Official Punk Rock Book Of Lists is the "Feel Good Hit Of The Year"..And....An inexpensive XMAS present, to boot!

Not sure about the anger involved in the review :"Has Been-Never Was"....How angry can one get about a book this light?...A personal vendetta, perhaps?

I've loved lists since i was a kid waiting for WABC & WMCA (AM, friends, AM) to unveil the new survey (chart) every week. Where would the new Stones record be? Would it blow past The Beatles latest? Aretha's new one could be this week's PICK HIT OF THE WEEK!! Watching your favorites jockey up and down the charts was like betting on the horses for kids; except we didn't bet and there were no horses; but THAT degree of seriousness. In the years since i have found that i still compulsively read year-end (or whenever they appear) Best Of' Lists, whether it's records, movies, books, restaurants, etc, etc. BUT, i can tell you that this one here is unlike any book of lists you've ever seen. These lists are as passionately compiled as any you've seen but when did you last see lists like KIM FOWLEY'S TEN GOLDEN MOMENTS IN PUNK ROCK preceded by NICK TOSCHES' 10 WHO WERE PUNK BEFORE THERE WAS PUNK alongside THEY OD'd: 13 PUNKS WHO ACCIDENTALLY BOUGHT IT, which itself precedes THEY DIDN'T OD: 21 PUNK DEATHS. I think my favorite ones were the ones about food. There's Handsome Dick's own 5 FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPINGS, VIKIING THRUST'S 5 DISGUSTING BURGERS YOUR BAND CAN HAVE NEXT TIME YOU TOUIR AMERICA . I've had a few of 'em myself. Viking Thrust are right! And, i feel compelled to mention the always inappropriate 6 GREAT MOMENTS IN PUKING. Ok, now! Really, it's just a lot of fun, pick it up any page, anytime, anywhere, and you'll find something to argue about, laugh about, even think about. It's a great gift, as it just has a cool, irreverent spirit to it that i've found endlessly entertaining. Lots of cool rock types show up throughout and they all behave like they too grew up waiting for the new survey each week from their local radio station/lifeline. They obviously all enjoyed making their lists and show obvious, compulsive care in the execution, and i'm sure all changed their mind a few times about what should be #3 or #7 or # 10 or Number Whatever - because it mattered. A lot of fun, but yeah, it matters too. Hats off to Amy & Dick for a great read and a great time.

I've read the book. I've read the reviews. The naysayers are all missing the point, which probably makes them true punks - if one subscribes to the theory that a person must be brain damaged to be a punk rocker! Who cares if the authors don't pay much attention to the West Coast. Seriously, did you ever meet a NuYawker who actually liked SoCal music - post Beach Boys? Okay, there are some cool bands from out there, before ya all trash me, but the point is The Punk Rock Book of Lists is a New Yorker's view and it is FUNNY! Nothing wrong with that. As noted by other writers, it reads great between wipes and makes the time spent on the bowl last way too long - I know, it sounds like a criticism, but it ain't!

I gave this as a gift last holiday time and will do so again this year. I guess, now that I've read the reviews, I'll concentrate on my west coast buds this year. What's better than finding new ways to piss them off?

But, the book itself has loads of genuinely useful, fun information, along with its forgivable silliness. Marty Thau's quote on the origin of the term "new wave" is a brilliant expose of the biz in a sentence. Blag Dahlia's list of things punks say when they want something for free is cool, while punk hair care tips, seems outdated now that those Mohawks have given way to comb-overs.

Look, could it be better? Sure, that's what Volume 2 will be for! In the meantime, no one ever complained about getting it as a gift for free from me. And I still read it (in my living room, actually) and laugh out loud. What's better than that in this world full of misery and bad news?

Manitoba & Wallace paid due respect to NYC Scene, but really gave short-shrift to the West Coast Scene. I found one measly entry on X, for instance, and nothing on Social Distortion- probably two of the three most important original California punk bands(the other being Black Flag, the coverage of which is heavily Rollins-oriented). Plus, there is a lot of nonsensical stuff, like so-and-so's favorite movie weapons, and crap like that. If you can get it used for 99 cents, then go for it, but take it all with a grain (or pillar) of salt.

Fast delivery. The book arrived quickly. I would definitely suggest this book to anyone interested in punk music. Lots of interesting things in it to make you go "hmm".

I guess having Handsome Dick Manitoba as a coauthor is why it is so NYC-based.
26 Queercore Bands with Cool Names did not include Pansy Division not Tribe 8! How can you have a queercore list without these important SF Bay Area bands?
Where did they get information that Patti Smith was a Jehovah's Witness? I think she was Baptist.
Otherwise, it's a fun read.

Book showed up on time & in great shape. System was easy to use and will use it again. No problems. Thanks.

Seriously, how can you not love this book? It encompasses everything I hold near and dear to my heart - lists, punk, and Handsome Dick Manitoba!

It is chockful of great stories and, oh, did I mention the lists? Great conversation starters, even if you're just sitting on the can alone and then the cat kicks in the door to join you in your daily ablutions.

As a native Long Islander, I wish everyone out here would at least read the Punk Fashion Do's and Don't. Life out in the 'burbs would be a lot better if everyone would take HDM's sartorial advice.

As other reviews have stated, this is a wonderful bathroom read - much better than last week's National Enquirer or the latest Victoria's Secret catalog - but right now this book is sitting beside me in my den, and I keep reaching for it, even if I don't "have to go."

Oh, just buy it already. Handsome Dick Manitoba is a great guy and he deserves our support!