Power Chord: One Man's Ear-Splitting Quest to Find His Guitar Heroes [Paperback]

Thomas Scott McKenzie (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 31, 2012

Power Chord is the story of one man’s epic pilgrimage to gain rock enlightenment from the gods and guitar heroes of the Golden Age of heavy metal. Author Scott McKenzie set off to make contact with the legendary metal superstars he worshipped in his rural Kentucky youth—men like George Lynch of Dokken, Glen Tipton of Judas Priest, and Ace Frehley of KISS—hoping to gain wisdom and a better understanding of the electric guitar mystique. The result is a veritable treasure trove of enthralling behind-the-scenes stories and “where are they now” revelations that will delight anyone who has ever felt a Mötley Crüe, Guns ’N’ Roses, or Black Sabbath song reach out from the speakers and grab them by the ears.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A highly entertaining tale about heroism, dreams, debauchery, unnecessary umlauts and loud, loud music.” (A. J. Jacobs )

“Power Chord captures the essence of why we become lifetime devotees to our rock gods.” (Rudy Sarzo, bass player for Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, & Dio )

“Scott McKenzie captures why we all became obsessed with the electric guitar. There was something that spoke to us. The look, the sound, and the whole embodiment of the electric guitar took us to another world. Put down your guitar and read POWER CHORD!” (Stacey Blades of L.A. Guns )

From the Back Cover

When Scott McKenzie was a young man, he thought he saw God . . .

The deity was all in black with knee-high silver boots, a patent-leather breastplate, and full face makeup, clutching a beautiful, custom Les Paul guitar. Ace Frehley, lead guitarist for the rock group KISS, wasn't God—but hearing his piercing, shrieking, screaming, outrageous guitar solos was a transcendent spiritual experience for a boy from rural Kentucky, making him feel uplifted, a witness to a higher power.

Two decades later, a grown-up Scott McKenzie vowed to meet Ace Frehley in the flesh—as well as the other gods and demigods who have held divine power over a generation of worshipful metal fans: legendary guitar champions like Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest and Phil Collen of Def Leppard, hallowed names like Steve Vai, Warren DeMartini, and John 5.

Power Chord is a chronicle of Scott McKenzie's epic quest to stand in the presence of metal greatness—to meet his omnipotent guitar gods face-to-face and get them to divulge their otherworldly secret.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: It Books; Original edition (July 31, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061964964
• ISBN-13: 978-0061964961
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,635 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #65 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Musical Genres > Heavy Metal

More About the Author

Raised on a thoroughbred horse farm in Bourbon County, Kentucky, Thomas Scott McKenzie received a master's degree in creative writing from the University of Mississippi. His nonfiction has appeared in Tin House, Paste, Premier Guitar, InSync, Stuff, and many more.

McKenzie runs Slushpile.net, a books-and-publishing blog and is a contributor to CrunchGear.com. He has been a reviwer for PopMatters.com and a staff writer for Crimescene.com.

He is the co-author of THE MAN BEHIND THE NOSE: ASSASSINS, ASTRONAUTS, CANNIBALS, AND OTHER STUPENDOUS TALES by Larry Harmon.

He is the author of POWER CHORD: ONE MAN'S EAR-SPLITTING QUEST TO FIND HIS GUITAR HEROES.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read if your favorite band ever inspired you to buy a guitar. August 16, 2012

By Chuck Moore

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've read other books by authors who were fans of guitar driven rock - including Guitar Man by Will Hodgkinson and Fargo Rock City by Klosterman. While I enjoyed those books, this book is my favorite. Not only did reading this book take me back to the heydays of my youth, but it almost felt as if the author was among my circle of friends. This book offers up the same thoughts and opinons that my friends have discussed over the years about the music we love. If you were a fan of KISS before they put the makeup back on then this book is even more enjoyable. There are also a lot of interesting facts placed throughout the book that I was surprised to learn. The author supplements his quest with some solid research. Highlights for me include the Ramones/Kiss conversation, Bruce Kulick, John 5, and of course Ace. If you ever bought a really nice guitar before you learned how to play, you've got to read this book. I gave it 5 stars because I really enjoyed reading it. If you love 80's rock, you'll enjoy it too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More than Just a Metal Book August 13, 2012

By paintmeblue88

Format:Paperback

Power Chord is surprisingly more than just a book about metal music.

As the author goes about hunting down and meeting his heroes, you can't help but think, "I would have loved to have met my own idols." We all had them as children. Maybe athletes, maybe actors, maybe even software developers. But whoever they might be, we all idolized someone. What would it be like to meet that person and interact with them?

Power Chord answers that question. Plus, much more about the role of music in pop culture and the role it plays in our lives.

I'm not a fan of this genre of music. But I am a fan of this book!

4.0 out of 5 stars Show me your rock heroes, and I will tell you who you are... October 21, 2012

By Rev. Joe

Format:Paperback

Power Chord is not a "where are they now?" campaign for 80's guitar gods (although you will learn a lot about the current whereabouts of Steve Vai, Bruce Kulick, Oz Fox, Glenn Tipton, etc). It's more of an autobiography told through the author's quest for the Perfect Guitar Lesson...and it's a great read.

If you were a male growing up in the 70's and 80's, odds are you wanted to be a rock guitarist at some point. Most of us abandoned the campaign by the time we got to college. Scott McKenzie doesn't even start his quest until he gets married, starts a successful career, and has triplets on the way. The unorthodox quest for guitar glory provides a unique insight into the author's psyche as he gathers guitar lessons from his heroes while serendipitously learning life lessons. It is a sobering reality to discover that with few exceptions, rockstardom doesn't last forever, yet these guitarists don't move on to second careers as accountants or firemen. They become working musicians, earning a wage (and often not a very good one) like the rest of us. Once a guitarist, always a guitarist.

Power Chord is not preachy in the least. Nor will you be bludgeoned with an epiphany in the final chapter. It's all about the journey...and the book is fun, raw, often hilarious, and even educational. It's a quick read as each interview/chapter flows smoothly into the next. Recommended for just about anyone, whether you were obsessed with 80's rock and metal, or only "practiced" in front of the mirror with a tennis racquet-as-guitar. I'm excited to see what comes next from Scott McKenzie!