Customer Reviews

Roy Buchanan: American Axe

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This is not only a great rock biography, but a great biography period. Though most "rock stars" seek the spotlight, Roy avoided it. Yet Carson has managed to get closer to who he was than most bio writers get to their subjects, who give the public a persona but hide themselves more cleverly than R. B. This book is of interest to Roy fans, rock or country guitar afficianados, anyone interested in the early history of white rock and roll and anyone interested in exploring the world of a conflicted genius. Carson spends important time describing the early days of Buchanan in small town California. This is much more than the usual cursory treatment, for the seeds of who he became were rooted there. Carson makes few judgements, and lets Roy's friends and fellow players provide much of the insight. In many ways a sad story, but not maudlin. Although you wish it could have turned out differently, maybe it could not have. Buchanan was a man who had a chance at what we call everything, and turned it down to play his own music his own way. Was he a tragic figure or a hero? Read this book and decide for yourself.

I was about fourteen years old when first exposed to the innovative guitar playing of Roy Buchanan. I knew even back then how skillful he was, yet dissimilar from his peers. It was a PBS special on television. I sat mesmerized and frozen while listening to the sweet, steel guitar-like sounds of his Telecaster guitar for the first time. Hearing the beautiful, yet melancholy melodies of 'The Messiah Will Come Again', 'Sweet Dreams', and others still echo in my mind 30 years later.

'Roy Buchanan: American Axe', by Phil Carson, is a special biography of a special person. The book takes the reader on a journey through the guitarist's childhood straight through to his days as a journeyman guitarist, a man haunted by the same demons that haunt many an artist and musician, especially blues and rock guitar players it seems.

Carson tells the story of a warm night in June of '72 when an ordinary, mellow man first headlined to a full house in New York City's Carnegie Hall. Backed by his band, the Snakestretchers, Roy stepped up to the mic and began reciting in a soft drawl: "Just a smile, just a glance ... The Prince of Darkness, he just walked past ..." You know the rest. His solo then rang out through the hall in crystal clarity. The audience left awestruck at the end of the show, knowing they'd witnessed a guitar great for the first time.

Roy's life was cut short; only God knows why. But at least he was able to leave us an amazing legacy of recordings. He was an incredible blues player. This book is for the fans of Roy, and for those looking forward to learning about the life of the guitar legend himself. For those who have yet to get into him, start here as well ... while listening to a CD or two of his music. As great as his recordings were, though, it was almost impossible for producers to catch him in the right essence. Not only did they have difficulty choosing the proper material for him and his band to record, but Roy was always best in the live club setting as opposed to the studio. His earliest studio albums were his best, as they were raw and untainted. Try 1972's 'Roy Buchanan', or 1973's 'Second Album'. 'Sweet Dreams - The Anthology' is a good compilation, too.

This is an excellent book for those who love the guitar, and also for those who want to learn more about one of its true masters. 'Roy Buchanan: American Axe' is a receptive and comprehensive biography.

Phil Carson has hit one out of the ballpark with his biography of Roy Buchanan, a musical talent of first rank but probably not the easiest biographical subject.

This is an excellent book that gives one a feel for Roy as a person (as much as that is possible), his life as a journeyman musician, and his brief flirtation with fame after having been "discovered" in 1971.

As an added benefit, in the process of telling Roy's story, the author takes the reader on a wonderful voyage through the last 50+ years of American music; of course the two subjects are so closely related it's totally unavoidable, but I still have to say kudos because Mr. Carson has done such a fine job of weaving the two stories together in a very readable way.

Roy Buchanan's skill as a guitar player was unsurpassed and may never be equaled. Few guitarists (past or present) can even be compared to him, and many so-called "guitar gods" fall well short. But he was also a tragic figure, in many ways, and perhaps this was the price for his lofty talent.

We'll never know, but Phil Carson brings us as close as we'll probably ever get to understanding the contradictions that made Roy Buchanan who he was -- a genuine guitar god and deeply troubled mortal.

This is a nicely done book. I enjoyed it and do not hesitate to give it five stars here.

As a player and guitar history enthusiast, I was thrilled to see a biography of one of the true solid-body masters. The book did not disappoint. From its opening lines describing his family life in Ozark Alabama, to his tragic and still unresolved death in a Virginia jail, this book keeps entertaining and surprising. This book rates a 5 for anyone who has a deep love for guitars, especially telecasters and tele-players. Especially interesting is the detail that Carson goes into on Roy's quest for tone. Kids take note...Roy was pioneering distortion and screaming wah sounds, long before effects boxes were invented. In fact, he would use nothing more than a Fender amp turned backwards with the speaker cone sliced for distortion and his bare hands and the volume/treble knob for wah effect. The book also details some of the more obscure periods in Roy's career. Whether or not he really turned down the Stones offer play second guitar because he was pursing a life as a barber is known only to a few, and most are dead. The important thing to take away from this book is what a treasure he was to the music world. I would have no problem ranking him side-by-side with Jimi Hendrix and Wes Montgomery as the most influential guitar player of the last half of the 20th century.

Phil Carson did great research here. The book stays away from speculation and rumor. Had this book been fiction it would have seemed far fetched. A phenomenon like Roy Buchanan could never occur in todays high glossed music scene. The author not only chronicles Buchanan's life but also captures the spirit of that golden era of rock music. Highly recommended!!

This was a great read from start to finish, I always loved Roy's playing & heard some of the stories about him. I thought I would read this book & like it but was not prepared to be this blown away,the author Phil Carson knew Roy personally & just gives such insight into this unique man, who after reading this turned out to be nothing like I thought he would be. He basically lived to play his guitar & even though I get the feeling he loved his family I do not think he could have lived any other life. Not much more to say but you should read this book & listen to his music,a 1 of a kind person & a 1 of a kind guitar player. We all miss you Roy. Thanks Phil for writing such a great book!!!!!!!!1

Great book. Lots of details and little known facts are presented in a very readable manner. This book also goes a long way in dispelling a lot of the myths surrounding Roy. Finally, the book demonstates why this myth-making was unnecessary -- when you are as great as Roy, you don't need to make up stories. The music speaks volumes.

Great book. If you're a fan of Roy's its a must.

WARNING: Careful when you read this book... you'll end up buying a lot of Roy's stuff to listen to. I bought 4 of Roy's CDs in the time it took me to finish this little volume. Thank goodness for amazon.com, they carry almost all of Roy's catalog.

Phil Carson sets a new standard with his musical bio of the late eclectic virtuoso guitarist, Roy Buchanon. Combining great empathy for his subject, musical knowledge, researching skills and a narrative style that is at once hip, entertaining and informative, Carson spins a fable for our times. Buchanon's career spanned the birth and development of rock 'n' roll and Carson weaves a story at once poignant and provocative as Buchanon squanders his phenomenal talent while wrestling with the inner demons that plagued his life. As much a human interest drama as an essential book for guitarists and fans of all persuasions, "American Axe" also includes terrific photos and a detailed discography.

1988 Roy Buchanan decided, to hang up himself with his own T-shirt in a police cell in Fairfax, Virginia, aged 49. In the year 1971 a TV documentation had been sent titled "The Best Unknown Guitarist In The World". Nothing had (and has) changed since then. Buchanan worked as a studio musician for Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins, Ricky Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Stefan Grossman, Tom Paxton. He even got offers by the Rolling Stones [to replace Brian Jones] or by John Lennon [to play his part in the Plastic Ono Band]. Buchanan played the electrical melody guitar like a devil, chased so many notes in second fractions through the amplifier, that one could not count or write down these notes any more. On the other hand he mastered the art, to slow down melody-lines so much at certain points, that one forgets the melody never more: alike Mark Knopfler or Santana, Eric Clapton or Mark perfectly are practicing this way. I will never forget his version of "After Hours". I recorded this pretty piece of music with my tape recorder [turned old now] from the radio in 1959. Roy Buchanan (1939-1988) learned to play the Hillbilly Steel Guitar at the age of nine years, experienced public worships of blacks and whites in the South of the USA. His father was a preacher in the "Pentecostal Church Of God" and he liked to say, that his mother sang better than Billie Holiday. So Blind Boy Fuller or Elvis Presley, Delta Blues or Rockabilly lay in his cradle. He played the guitar lick of "Susie Q" nearly every evening, tantalized by the wish, to arouse the attention of the young ladies. 1963 Roy Buchanan married his girl-friend Judy and lived in the area around Washington. He had to get through his little family occasionally by working as a hairdresser. After a Rolling Stone interview in 1971 finally he became more publicly known. He played in a sold out Carnegie Hall, his first LP appeared and that mentioned television program was broadcast with the title "The Best Unknown Guitarist In The World". He played together with other "claptonesque" guitarists, came into the charts in Great Britain with a CC-Rider version, appeared in Japan and Amsterdam - and then (just back in the USA) hung himself in that prison: The backside of his great musical brilliance was an emotional instability. Though his curriculum vitae ended so sadly, he indirectly remained unchanged for us with his most creative and joyful minutes of his life - because we still can listen to his unforgettable music ...

I'm a huge fan of Roy Buchanan, so no doubt I was excited when I heard about this full-length biography. Despite the fact that Roy was the most talented of the guitar virtuosos of our time, his music remained largely unknown for the general audience. And even for a hardcore fans, little was known about Roy's life and background.

The author Phil Carson concentrates on the musician Roy Buchanan. He has done a throughout research work on Roy's early influences, as well as interviewed and collected other musicians experiences with Roy. Despite being a fan, the author manages to give us an objective, and also a critical view of Roy's work. The numerous anecdotes given in the book lighten up the story.

This is essential book not only for those specifically interested in Roy Buchanan and his music, but also for guitar players in general as Roy's guitars and techniques are presented.

And while reading it be sure you have some of Roy's music in your stereo!