Race with the Devil: Gene Vincent's Life in the Fast Lane (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "THE GLEAMING TRIUMPH TIGER WAS TOUGH, A REAL BRANDO beast, a "whatcha-rebelling-against-Johnny-whatcha-got?..." (more)
Key Phrases: Gene Vincent, Blue Caps, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a moving account... [A] damned good read." -- Now Dig This, U.K.

"I loved it! I couldn't put it down!" -- Brian Setzer, Grammy-winning guitarist

"The best thing I've ever read on Gene Vincent." -- Ron Weiser, Rollin' Rock magazine and Rollin' Rock Records

"Using a bit of artistic license, VanHecke – a strong researcher – paints no pretty picture of 'Be-Bop-A-Lula's' self-destructive auteur." -- Goldmine, USA

Product Description

Gene Vincent--most famous for his classic 1950s rendition of "Be-Bop-A-Lula"--is one of the most influential rock and roll artists of all times.Elvis Presley adopted his loose-hipped style, and bands from The Rolling Stones to The Beatles toured Britain with him throughout the fifties and early sixties.Led Zepplin's Robert Plant lauds Vincent as his favorite vocalist of all time, Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck claims Vincent is the reason he played music, and Paul Westerberg of the Replacements calls him "the soul of Rock and Roll."But beyond his undeniable musical importance lay a man with an almost pathological personality whose creative talents and volatile temper never failed--for better or for worse--to touch those around him.Elvis Presley, with his suggestive gyrations, was disturbing to mainstream America in the 50s.Gene Vincent, with his earthy lyrics, moans and pants, and full-on bodily contortions was downright shocking.This is the first biography of this incredible figure in the history of American music. AUTHORBIO: Sue VanHecke's work has appeared in Spin, Creem, Kerrang! and Goldmine.She is the publisher of Original Cool, a Rockabilly fanzine, and currently writes for The Virginian Pilot.She lives in Norfolk, Virginia.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (August 19, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312262221
• ISBN-13: 978-0312262228
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,258,686 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hit Between The Legs, August 4, 2000

By	D. Sean Brickell (gorgeous Virginia Beach, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Gene Vincent was the prototype rock 'n' roller, and his contributions were formidable, influencing The Beatles, Van Morrison, Robert Plant, John Fogarty, Jeff Beck, Chris Issac and Jim Morrison to name some of the most vocal with their praises. This book widely explores Mr. Vincent's youth, establishing step-by-step how his Norfolk, Virginia roots helped mold "The Sound" he started in music. Before Mr. Vincent, popular music aimed to hit listeners between the ears or between the arms. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" clobbered listeners between their legs, and rock 'n' roll would never be the same. The author's obviously deep love and respect for Mr. Vincent and his music translates to an extremely intricate -- albeit highly readable -- study, I would say the best ever written on the subject. To her credit, Ms. VanHecke never lets her admiration overshadow reality. Mr. Vincent was no candidate for sainthood, either by destiny or by his own choice. And it's precisely this aspect of Mr. Vincent's personality that's so wonderful about the book. While it's quite easy to track the direct musical lineage created by Mr. Vincent, millions of rock music fans probably never recognized that the rebel personna also started with him. This book is a must-read for anyone who remotely appreciates rock 'n' roll.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, great singer..., April 30, 2004

By	stonehenge7 "stonehenge7" (Simi Valley, CA. United States) - See all my reviews

I love this man's music and in reading "Race With the Devil" one finds that as the man behind it crumbled, his wonderful voice never wavered. His live shows continued to thrill audiences long after his chart success had waned to almost nothing.
The author does a great job of showing Vincent as he truly was, a man with a magical voice and presence who was normally very gentle and agreeable, but also capable of frightful fits of anger.
To me the defining moment of Gene Vincent's life in this book was the instant his lower leg was smashed between the front bumper of a Chrysler and the side of his motorcycle. Vincent and the Caps would soon kick off years of almost non-stop performing and the leg would never have the chance to heal. This, of course led to Gene's abuse of alcohol as he drank more and more to mask the pain from a leg that deteriorated so badly that it would bend at the shin when he walked! The book reveals how several times in his tortured life he actually pulled weapons on friends and family in fits of rage brought on by intense touring, marital and legal problems, pain and copius drinking.
Be warned, to a fan this is shocking and could change the way you think of "the Screaming End". Upon reading this though, it's clear that very few people could have went down Vincent's "fast lane" without lashing out from time to time.
The almost constant personnel changes in his various backing bands put an additional strain on Vincent. But by far the biggest blow was the death of his very true and unwavering friend, Eddie Cochran of "Summertime Blues" fame, who died from injuries suffered in a car crash in which Vincent was also riding.
As I read on I was shocked to find that Vincent actually lived very nearby here in my town for a time and is buried in a place I've driven by countless times. How strange that when he lived in Simi Valley, his house was located on Cochran Street! This was years after the death of Eddie Cochran and probably was just coincidence, but still is pretty bizarre.
I loved the book but although it is well written and a very enjoyable account of the life of one or rock's true pioneers the lack of source attribution and dating of the events is a noticeable drawback. Still this is the only gripe and is pretty minor considering this is the only Vincent biography out there.
Vincent fans should read "Race With the Devil". Keep an open mind while doing so and it will greatly increase your understanding and appreciation of this wonderful artist.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Considering..., October 24, 2000

By	T. Broun (NYC, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

...that this is the only in-print bio on Vincent, I have to say this is an excellent book. Despite the tone of the writer at times to try to seem "country," and her habit of not really pointing out too many specific dates (or years even!), I did enjoy this. The extensive after-notes, and interview list were quite impressive and obviously a lot of research went into it. I guess I just wish it seemed more in depth than it read. It will definitely do for now...