I just finished reading this awesome book by Laurie Kaye, Confessions of a Rock and Roll Name Dropper, and wanted to leave a review here, something I do not often do, but wanted to give Laurie Kaye’s book a big thumbs up, and say how much I enjoyed reading it!
This book is about John Lennon and Yoko Ono Lennon’s interview by Laurie Kaye and a colleague of hers on December 8, 1980, and her life and previous interviews that led Laurie to this moment; to interview one of her greatest heros: John Lennon, as well as his wife, partner, artist, muse, Yoko Ono. The book goes back and forth between this all important last interview of John and Yoko, and other moments in her life….other interviews of other Rock musicians, and moments that shaped Laurie’s life and career. This was very well done, and kept me interested, entertained, and reading far into the night and all of the next day, until I finally finished it. We all know, unfortunately, how the story ends for John, but for Laurie, this interview ends up being the best and the worst. The best because of her finally getting the opportunity to sit with, spend time with, and interview John and Yoko. The worst because unbeknownst to them all, it turned out to be John’s last day of this life. I realize that for many, the day the music died was when Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens plane crashed, and I can respect that, but for me, it was this day, December 8, 1980, in front of the Dakota in NYC that the music died. Not just the music, but also the beautiful soul that was John left this earth, leaving a gaping hole that no one else could fill. He was no angel, but he gave everything of himself to his music. We are all lucky to have been here at the same time, and benefitted from it. His music lives on for all to enjoy, and I thank Laurie for letting us sit in on this last interview of a true Rock and Roll icon.
Additionally, it was some much fun to read about Laurie’s early life and love of music, and of her listening to her transistor radio to KFRC, a SF AM radio station that played all the top hits of the day! I also was listening to KFRC, as well as KYA, on my portable radio. It brought back wonderful memories of listening to music all summer long, lying on the grass, and stringing flower leis with a needle and thread, while I sang along. Days when music was everything in my life. What great times those were! Thanks, Laurie, for bringing them all back!
It was also interesting to read about all of the talented musicians she interviewed over the years, many of them also being great favorites of mine! What a wonderful time that must have been! What a great job to have! The way Laurie tells it, it’s like you are right there, next to her!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves music, books about music, and the many talented musicians who create those songs we all love so much! This book is so engaging that I read it in 2 days, and now I’m sad that it’s over! Please pick it up and give it a try! I’m sure you will be glad you did!
Thanks to Laurie Kaye and her book, we can all be there too!
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Where were you on Dec. 8l, 1980...?
For those of us who were there - and cared - when John Lennon was murdered it was a moment seared in our individual and collective hearts as if it just happened yesterday. Now imagine being a twenty-something uber-talented and up and coming rock 'n' roll journalist getting the scoop of her young professional life -Lennon's comeback with "Double Fantasy" written and produced with his wife/muse/spiritual guide extraordinaire, Yoko Ono, in 1980. Continue to imagine the interview not only going well, it was an authentic conversation with the quick-witted young journalist and John and Yoko et al that ranged from child-rearing (Sean Ono Lennon), reflections on the Beatles (John's two favorite musical collaborators), what inspired him to write music again (after the drunk-hazed "lost weekend" in L.A.), to his excitement over the prolific outpouring of music he and Yoko were ready to release. And finally, now imagine this uber-talented and up and coming journalist heading home to transcribe the interview tapes of her wildest rock 'n' roll dreams only to hear the news that John Lennon had been murdered where she had only hours left and crossed-paths with his murderer. And that's only Chapter 1. "A Rock 'n' Roll Name-Dropper: My Life Leading up to John Lennon's Last Interview" is one of the most riveting, heartbreaking, and yet hilariously relatable page-turners for anyone who lived, loved, and lost the magic of John Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024
For those of us who were there - and cared - when John Lennon was murdered it was a moment seared in our individual and collective hearts as if it just happened yesterday. Now imagine being a twenty-something uber-talented and up and coming rock 'n' roll journalist getting the scoop of her young professional life -Lennon's comeback with "Double Fantasy" written and produced with his wife/muse/spiritual guide extraordinaire, Yoko Ono, in 1980. Continue to imagine the interview not only going well, it was an authentic conversation with the quick-witted young journalist and John and Yoko et al that ranged from child-rearing (Sean Ono Lennon), reflections on the Beatles (John's two favorite musical collaborators), what inspired him to write music again (after the drunk-hazed "lost weekend" in L.A.), to his excitement over the prolific outpouring of music he and Yoko were ready to release. And finally, now imagine this uber-talented and up and coming journalist heading home to transcribe the interview tapes of her wildest rock 'n' roll dreams only to hear the news that John Lennon had been murdered where she had only hours left and crossed-paths with his murderer. And that's only Chapter 1. "A Rock 'n' Roll Name-Dropper: My Life Leading up to John Lennon's Last Interview" is one of the most riveting, heartbreaking, and yet hilariously relatable page-turners for anyone who lived, loved, and lost the magic of John Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2023
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2023
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Phil
An Inspiring Memoir of a Real Rock Legend!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2024