Loser : The Real Seattle Music Story (Updated Second Edition) (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"LOSER is a lovingly researched document, filled with historic pictures and posters. A must-read for anyone interested in the history of Seattle music." -- Peter Buck, Minus Five/R.E.M. guitarist

Product Description

The interconnected origins and spectacular rise of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Hole, Screaming Trees, Alice in Chains, Mudhoney, the Posies, Tad, the Young Fresh Fellows, the Presidents of the United States of America, and all the other stars of the early-'90s Seattle music scene. How a subculture of self-proclaimed 'losers' became the darlings of the music world, only to be tossed aside by the industry like an old grungy shirt. Now with even more pictures (almost 1,000) and stories, an updated discography, and many "whatever became of..." listings.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 2 edition (December 17, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929069243
• ISBN-13: 978-1929069248
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,077,889 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Holy Grail of information on the Seattle Scene!, November 22, 2000

By	metheb (Seattle, wa United States) - See all my reviews

LOSER is the most accurate, informative book about the Seattle music scene available today. Don't buy it if you are looking for nice flowery, stale synopsises of NIRVANA, PEARL JAM, and all the bands that made their name on major labels. If you want a detailed description of the birth and evolution of DIY punk rock in the pacific northwest that this is the book for you. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of interesting info on all of your favorite Seattle bands, but there are also bands that you've only heard mentioned in passing and some you've never heard of at all. This is the real Seattle, the whole scene, not just the bands that made "grunge" and punk commercially viable.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great descriptive account of the scene, July 12, 2005

By	Michael L. Goldberg "mlewisg" (Kirkland, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm confused about reviews that claim it's "not about the grundge scene (sic)" because the book is not supposed to be ABOUT grunge. However, the book does cover many to most of the local bands during the early 90s and of course references the ones that "made it," although you'll do better elsewhere for material on Nirvana, Mudhoney, etc. But the book is chock full of material on a huge number of bands--perhaps too many, because some of them fly by pretty quickly. Not much cultural analysis, but plenty of little insights about individuals, venues, etc. The book is strongest post-1975, especially post-1985.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Great All-Inclusive Work on the Seattle Music World, April 9, 2000

By	Samuel D. Carlson (Acworth, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When my cousin ..., told me of this book, I was all excited with anticipation... waiting to read up on all the bands and musicians I knew when I was part of the PNW music scene in the 60's.. ('63 to '67 with the Regents out of Tacoma). Well, there was some disappointment, and some satisfaction. The treatment of the "Golden Era" (50's & 60's) of PNW rock was prettly slim, yet still well presented. The 10 or so pages dealing with the "Golden Era" satisfied me, and the remaining 200 or so pages satisfied my daughter. If you are in to the more recent events of Seattle area music in the 80's and 90's, this is the book to get. Sammy Carlson... Bassist, The Regents '63-'67.