Revolver: The Secret History of the Beatles [Hardcover]

Geoffrey Giuliano (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005

More than 35 years after their dramatic split, the Beatles continue to be the most famous and influential band in the world. Their unparalleled success has made them the gold standard against which all other bands continue to be measured. Now, for the first time, best-selling Beatle-ographer Geoffrey Giuliano has brought together exclusive interviews with the band’s inner circle, as well as rare tapes of the band’s private conversations, to create one of the most vivid portraits of the Fab Four ever published. Far from the fun-loving image so often presented, Revolver reveals the terrible pressures on the band, and how the four overcame poverty, personal demons, and tragedy to make the most enduring music of all time.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Drawing on a variety of published and online sources, as well as exclusive interviews with many of the principals, this latest Beatles bio focuses on an aspect of the group with which some fans may not be sufficiently familiar. Although the group's public image was one of playfulness and big smiles, the Fab Four were often mired in internal politics and conflict. The book details the enormous pressures the Beatles operated under and shows that, in addition to musicians, they very quickly had to become businessmen and diplomats. The Giulianos also offer up an assortment of trivia tidbits that may come as a surprise to some readers. For instance: Paul sang lead vocals on "Love Me Do," although it was supposed to be John; a key line in "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" was a blooper; John, not Ringo, played drums on "Back in the USSR." The book's usefulness to Beatle fans will depend entirely on how much they have already read about the group, but one thing is certain: for the average reader, it's an eye-opener. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Geoffrey Giuliano is the author of over twenty internationally bestselling biographies including the Sunday Times bestseller Blackbird/The Life and Times of Paul McCartney, and Dark Horse/The Private Life of George Harrison and biographies on Bob Dylan and Elisabeth Taylor. In addition, Giuliano is a frequent broadcaster and has written and produced over sixty original spoken word CDs and video documentaries on various aspects of popular culture.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 317 pages
• Publisher: John Blake (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844541606
• ISBN-13: 978-1844541607
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,788,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars GIUILIANO THE BIGGEST HACK IN BEATLES LORE, June 21, 2006

By 

Mitchell Cassman (BUFFALO GROVE, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Revolver: The Secret History of the Beatles (Hardcover)

Every book this guy writes is mostly created in his head with no facts to back him up. He writes his own Amazon Reviews and I'm sure he's his own fact checker. He is poorly regarded by The Beatle community almost as much as Albert Goldman. Save your money and buy "Here, There and Everywhere : My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles" by Geoff Emerick. At least you'll read the truth.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Secret History?, August 24, 2006

By 

Graham Hunter (Bellevue, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Revolver: The Secret History of the Beatles (Hardcover)

This book is very poorly written from a number of perspectives.

The timeline is atrocious. For example, you'll read about the death of Brian Epstein, then 50+ pages later he appears again in another section with no indication that the timeline has changed. This jumping is very frequent, and appears all over the book. Poorly organized.

Opinion is everywhere. The author feels the need to inject his commentary on the Beatles' behaviors. Of course, don't expect any analysis of WHY Lennon was so moody, or WHY McCartney was dominating, or why Starr and Harrison were resentful. Don't even expect to get enough information to let you make some of your own conclusions either.

Another key failing in this book is the way it quickly glosses over key events leaving you wanting to know more - just one example is the whole period during which they recorded Revolver - the very title of the book! Another example is when Ringo is quoted as not thinking Sgt Peppers was their best work. Well, why not and what was Ringo's favorite? Mr, Guiliano, you opened the door for us, so why not let us walk through?

On the other hand, there is FAR too much detail on their time with the Maharishi and the general workings of that organization. Enough already! I want to read about the Beatles, not some controversial religious figure! There's also a lot of tawdry details on the love affairs, drug use/abuse, drug busts, and other seedy aspects of their career that are pure tabloid fluff.

Unforgivable beyond all others, there are obvious factual errors everywhere. I've just finished reading Geoff Emerick's incredibly intriguing book and I can easily tell where Guiliano has either not done proper research or is simply inventing stories that will sound interesting. There are several contradictions.

Overall, this is written like a collection of articles from People magazine (or whatever they had back then), with no real substance or depth to the content. I'm sorry I spent the money on it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Grindstone for Mr. Giuliano's Axe, November 25, 2006

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Revolver: The Secret History of the Beatles (Hardcover)

Other reviewers on the US board have said it quite well - this book is nothing but a waste of money and time. Geoffrey Giuliano has fed off the Beatles' fame by digging up hearsay and inaccurate statements at best, malicious gossip and rumors at worst. George Harrison was no fan of Mr. Giuliano and I have no doubt the Messrs. Starkey and McCartney feel the same way. John Lennon did not suffer fools gladly and I have absolutely no doubt he would be disgusted with this work. This book is on a par with poorly written tabloid pieces. If you do decide to read this, check it out at your library or read it in your local bookstore and DON'T waste your good money on this. I am tired of Mr. Giuliano using the Beatles as a grindstone for his axe.

The Beatle Literati are extremely displeased with this book as well. Many Beatle Literati have read this so as to base an accurate opinion. My issues with this execrable work are as follows: the inconsistent time line; the nonlinear sequence in reporting; the subjective tone of the writing; relying on hearsay, e.g. "a friend of a friend said the following...;" the judgmental statements such as hostile John and controlling Paul. Horse manure! People are much more complex than this author would have his readers believe.

I agree with another reviewer on the US board who would rather read about the Beatles than the Marharishi! The overemphasis on the Fabs' sex lives is tiresome and tawdry; the tiresome dissertation on their drug use and busts is drawn out to the point of beating a dead horse.

This book lacks the research that so many others have provided, such as Andy Babiuk; Geoff Emrick; Joshua Greene; Pat Kinzer Mancuso; Alan Clayson and Ray Coleman, to name a few. Giuliano is notorious for his execrable hatchet jobs about the Beatles. Any man who would fake his own death as Mr. Giuliano did in 2001 would apparently stoop to any low level to hawk such tawdry trash.