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Greg Prato

A Devil on One Shoulder and an Angel on the Other: The Story of Shannon Hoon and Paperback – September 17, 2008

by Greg Prato (Author)

471 ratings

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One of the most tragic stories of the 1990’s rock world was that of singer Shannon Hoon, and his band, Blind Melon. Despite scoring one of the decade’s most enduring singles and videos, “No Rain,”and a quadruple platinum hit with their 1992 self-titled debut album (in addition to touring alongside rock’s biggest names), Hoon could not overcome a dangerous drug addiction. Only two records into a promising career, Hoon was dead from an overdose at the age of 28. ‘A Devil on One Shoulder and an Angel on the Other’ is the first book to tell the group’s story—culled from over 50 exclusive interviews (including the surviving band members and those closest to the band) and featuring many never-before-seen photos. “I am honored that Greg has painstakingly accounted for what the hell happened during those crazy times. He has summed up all the chaos, jubilation, and paranoia that is Blind Melon.” -Brad Smith, Blind Melon bassist

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Print length

344 pages
Language

English
Publication date

September 17, 2008
Dimensions

6 x 0.78 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

0615252397
ISBN-13

978-0615252391

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"People who know and love Shannon will enjoy reliving the moments chronicled. Anyone who didn't know him will certainly know him now. You managed to capture the personality of Shannon, the good and the bad, I'm thankful it was mostly good. Thank you for immortalizing my son in print." --Nel Hoon (Shannon Hoon's mother), letter to author

"Probably as close as anyone outside the group will ever come to knowing our story, 'A Devil On One Shoulder' is an honest portrait of the Blind Melon experience as told by those who were there. A great read - thanks Greg." --Glen Graham (Blind Melon drummer)

"Greg, you did a great job on the book, you captured so many details. Maybe too many details. Ha! When my daughter is old enough, I will let her read it. On second thought, maybe I should let her read it after I am dead..." --Brad Smith (Blind Melon bassist)

"I was able to find out things that I never knew before. I really liked the perspective of having all the band's quotes basically in the timeline fashion. And also the perspective of family and friends from what happened. And from such a huge fan of the band, it also brought me back into my fandom. It made me go back to the records and I became an avid listener again of those records. It brought a whole new meaning and level to the records to read the book." -Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria guitarist)

"'A Devil on One Shoulder' offers an unparalleled account for the many fans who were left bewildered by Hoon's untimely death." --subba-cultcha.com

"From its startling jacket image of Shannon Hoon standing on the ledge of a high balcony apparently about to step off, there's an air of melancholic inevitability about Greg Prato's excellent history of Blind Melon." --Classic Rock Magazine, December 2008

"I am absorbed by what already goes down as one of my favorite all-time reads...'A Devil on One Shoulder.' I swear to you, it is a must read. I strongly recommend this. A killer effort." --Jeff Pearlman (Author, 'The Bad Guys Won!')

"Prato not only manages to gather the specifics, but more importantly paints a picture of a band and frontman possessed of brilliance yet troubled demons." --Under the Radar Magazine, Year End Edition 2008

"A Devil on One Shoulder' shows that Blind Melon was more than a one hit wonder band on some 'best of the 90's' show. It's gives you a real feel of what Shannnon really meant to music." --Stone & Double T WXRX, Rockford, IL

About the Author

Greg Prato is a Long Island, New York-based journalist, whose writing has appeared in such renowned publications as Rolling Stone, All Music Guide, and Classic Rock Magazine. He is the author of several popular books, 'A Devil on One Shoulder and an Angel on the Other: The Story of Shannon Hoon and Blind Melon,' 'Touched by Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story,' 'Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music, 'No Schlock . . . Just Rock!,' 'The Eric Carr Story,' 'MTV Ruled the World: The Early Years of Music Video,' and 'Sack Exchange: The Definitive Oral History of the 1980s New York Jets.'

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Greg Prato
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 17, 2008
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 344 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0615252397
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0615252391
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.78 x 9 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #200,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #41 in Heavy Metal Music (Books)
- #547 in Rock Band Biographies
- #572 in Rock Music (Books)
Customer Reviews:
471 ratings

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Greg Prato

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Greg Prato is a writer and journalist from Long Island, New York, whose writing has appeared in such renowned publications as Rolling Stone, Classic Rock, and Vintage Guitar. He is also the author of several popular books, including Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History Of Seattle Rock Music, MTV Ruled the World: The Early Years of Music Video, and A Devil on One Shoulder and an Angel on the Other: The Story of Shannon Hoon and Blind Melon, among other titles. And you may even have heard him on one of his many radio or TV appearances, which include interviews on The Howard Stern Wrap-Up Show, Eddie Trunk Live, and Feedback with Nik Carter and Lori Majewski.

Customer reviews

471 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a great read, particularly for Blind Melon fans, and appreciate its informative content about the underappreciated band. The story is described as a down-to-earth narrative with often heartbreaking details, and one customer notes it's written in an oral history format. Customers praise Shannon Hoon as a wonderful songwriter, and one review highlights how the book provides insight into his life.

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Readability Information quality Story quality Talent Writing style Band profile Memory retention Inspiration

35 customers mention "Readability"32 positive3 negative

Customers find the book readable and entertaining, with one customer noting it's particularly enjoyable for Blind Melon fans.

"Great read. Feels like a behind the scenes look at Blind Melon and their music. Gives everything a whole new feel with resonating effects...." Read more

"Great book for Melonheads a lot of interesting facts about Shannon great read" Read more

"It is simple: if you are a fan of Blind Melon, it is a must read. If you are just a lover of music, it is a must read...." Read more

"...It is a fun read" Read more

17 customers mention "Information quality"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative, particularly appreciating its insights into an underappreciated band.

"Some interesting insights into an under appreciated band...." Read more

"...Great insight from those that were there including band members, industry peeps, friends and family. I love the format of the book." Read more

"...Wonderfully written, great pace and filled with knowledge. It was great to hear the history and experiences...." Read more

"Excellent bio on a fun life love talented kid who took everything to the limit" Read more

12 customers mention "Story quality"11 positive1 negative

Customers find the book's story quality positive, describing it as a down-to-earth narrative that is often heartbreaking. One customer mentions being enthralled by the first-hand accounts, while another describes it as painfully hopeful.

"...This is a wonderful, tragic story of a real band coming together with all their brilliant flaws on display and making some of the most powerful..." Read more

"...This is a very interesting and sad read...." Read more

"Good story. Enjoyed reading this book." Read more

"Blind Melon is my favorite band, and this book tells the whole story. From the beginning to the tragic end of Shannon Hoon's life...." Read more

9 customers mention "Talent"9 positive0 negative

Customers praise Shannon Hoon's talent as a songwriter and musician, with one customer describing him as a tragic yet amazing artist.

"...Greg Prato is an amazing writer and I highly recommend this book...." Read more

"...What an amazing talent the world lost on October 21, 1995...." Read more

"Fast shipping! Great condition! Awesome book about an awesome musician!" Read more

"...despairingly addictive themes of the album; and the masterful musicianship of all band members...." Read more

9 customers mention "Writing style"7 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one customer noting it is written in an oral history format.

"Loved this book. Being a Blind Melon fan this really hit home. Wonderfully written, great pace and filled with knowledge...." Read more

"Very well written. AWESOME!!" Read more

"Written in an oral history format, while takes a few pages to get used to, was very interesting because you got to hear exactly what people said and..." Read more

"...Many of the quotes are fragmented thoughts and incomplete sentences that pulled me out of the story frequently...." Read more

6 customers mention "Band profile"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the band profile of the book, with some describing it as amazing, and one noting it provides a great account of an underrated group.

"...They were a great band that never truly got their opportunity to shine as brightly as they should have...." Read more

"...this book will be unchanged by the firsthand recollections of this amazing band and all close to them...." Read more

"...singer Shannon Hoon, are absolutely still, one of my favorite bands of all time...." Read more

"...It is a very good read, and very respectful of the band and Shannon. It is a very quick read, I read in less than 2 days I think...." Read more

5 customers mention "Memory retention"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's memory retention, with one customer noting how it takes a look into Shannon Hoon's childhood, while another mentions how it recounts his life in an amazing way.

"Loved this book. Being a Blind Melon fan this really hit home. Wonderfully written, great pace and filled with knowledge...." Read more

"...It was personal and took a look into his childhood which I hadn't read much about previously." Read more

"...unfortunately he also was overlooked, the author did an amazing job recounting his life" Read more

"For any Melon Head. Loved these memories...." Read more

4 customers mention "Inspiration"3 positive1 negative

Customers find the book inspirational, with one mentioning how the author provides insight into his life and includes statements from many people.

"...A real genuine singer and person and this book gives inspiration and meanings behind the songs on the albums, etc." Read more

"...Hoon is very sad on so many levels...but the author does a good job providing insight into his life and those around him." Read more

"...Many of the quotes are fragmented thoughts and incomplete sentences that pulled me out of the story frequently...." Read more

"It is a really down to earth story. With statements from a lot of people who were close to Shannon. It is a fun read" Read more

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Holly M. Beck
Life-Changing Work
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2010
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I remember, in vivid detail, when I first heard of Shannon Hoon's death, like many remember with photographic accuracy their whereabouts upon learning of the Challenger disaster or the terrorist destruction of the Twin Towers. Not to make light of the latter national tragedies, but I am perhaps disproportionately affected by the early demise of troubled musicians.

Sunday, October 22, 1995, 8:00 am: I was preparing mass batches of yeasty dough for my collegiate workplace, Runza. I turned on my favourite local radio station, 105.9 the Lazer in Lawrence, Kansas, to hear the DJ somberly announce that the frontman of Blind Melon had been discovered lifeless on the tourbus prior to sound check in New Orleans, the day before. I was so stunned that I had to quit working and call my boyfriend. After all, Blind Melon's latest release, "Soup" had become the soundtrack for my life that year. Honestly, I had become irritated by MTV's overplay of the "No Rain" video and was not as enamoured by the "Bee Girl" as the rest of society. I could relate to the dark undertones of the lyrics on "Soup"; the alternately optimistic and despairingly addictive themes of the album; and the masterful musicianship of all band members. I abruptly stopped listening to Blind Melon music, confused and discouraged by the lack of answers surrounding the details of Shannon's demise.

Nearly 15 years after Shannon Hoon's death, intuition led me to revisit my former favorite album "Soup". I discovered Greg Prato's book, "A Devil on One Shoulder and an Angel on the Other: The Story of Shannon Hoon and Blind Melon." All of my previous unanswered questions regarding Shannon's untimely death were answered in entertaining, candid, and often heartbreaking detail. Greg has painstakingly compiled quotes from hundreds of interviews of those closest to Shannon. I can't imagine the amount of time it took to sift through the countless interviews of Blind Melon band members, Shannon's family members, music industry associates, and personal friends to weave such a well-organized anthology of Blind Melon's inception, rise to stardom, and struggles as Shannon battled and ultimately lost to his demons. Greg has also tenderly pieced together recollections of Shannon post-mortem, as well as the efforts of the band members to revive Blind Melon over a decade following Shannon's death.

I devoured most of the 300+ page book on a flight from California to Kansas; once I started reading, I could hardly put the book down. For anyone who has been touched by Blind Melon's music or any soul who has been tormented by addiction, this book is a must-read. Though Shannon's life met a tragic end, this story can provide inspiration and hope to anyone artistic yet conflicted, loving yet pained by the demands of life. No one who reads this book will be unchanged by the firsthand recollections of this amazing band and all close to them. Many thanks to Greg for creating this most important work.

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Neednewname
Very interesting
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2014
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I was in my 20s when Blind Melon was popular, one of my favorite bands at the time and it was shocking when Shannon Hoon died. This is a very interesting and sad read. It seems to touch a little bit on possible mental problems, and how they can contribute to addiction issues, especially if they happen gradually. Knowing people in my life who were diagnosed with manic depression (in their early 20s) seeing it come on gradually in the late teens until when they were diagnosed, I can see some of the similarities in the descriptions of Shannon.

The books is written like an interview, from the people who knew him, and you really do get the feeling you know him and the people around him in the book. It is a very good read, and very respectful of the band and Shannon. It is a very quick read, I read in less than 2 days I think. They book includes some neat pictures.

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ManBearPig
A must have for Shannon Hoon fans.
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2023
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Purchased as a gift for my wife who has always loved Shannon Hoon. She even got me, a 50 year old with an insatiable appetite for the most brutal metal, to recognize his talent and now I can say I am also a fan. This book contained things even she didn't know which made her very happy and that was the point. Her happiness is my happiness.

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R. Bennett
I really enjoyed it. They were a great band that never ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2014
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
I have to say that at first I was a bit put off by the format. Interview pieces and quotes by the band and other people connected to the band, including Shannon. I was waiting for more of a storyline or timeline, but once I got used to how it was presented, I really enjoyed it. They were a great band that never truly got their opportunity to shine as brightly as they should have. Sure, they had a huge hit with "No Rain". I loved that song too, but it wasn't a full picture of what they really were or would have become. The book is a tragic story about a tragic man. Shannon sounds like a "magical" guy that touched almost everyone he met. I'm from the St. Louis area and played in a band before and during their rise to commercial success. They had a show at "Mississippi Nights" and I couldn't go because my band was playing at another club down the street. Sadly, our band played to a bigger crowd that night than they did. I remember thinking that it was a shame that everyone was missing this great band. After reading the book, it makes me wish even more that I could have gone to see them at least once. I never got the chance.

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Liza
Highly Recommended!
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2013
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
I could not stop reading this book once I started. I must admit at first I was a bit disappointed with the format, but as I started to devour the book, I became so enthralled with the first hand accounts that I now can't imagine the story being told any other way. This book is a wealth of information for any Melon/ Hoon fan. Everything was relevent and so well presented. I especially loved reading how the songs were written. I cherish the memories shared from Shannon's childhood friends, his awesome mom, his devoted girlfriend, the members of the band, and their lovely wives. I bought it on Kindle and I was very disappointed that there were no pictures. Other than that, I consider this book a masterpiece that I refer to often.

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Bryan R
A great biography about an even greater band!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2010
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Blind Melon, even 15 years after the death of their original singer Shannon Hoon, are absolutely still, one of my favorite bands of all time. Unfortunately with being a fan and not a close friend, I only knew them through their music and what I saw on tv, in magazines, etc. which was very limited and repetitive at best.

That is until now. Greg Prato has poured his heart and soul into creating a piece of well documented rock and roll history for which myself and thousands of fans around the world are eternally grateful.

On a closing personal note, after reading this book I will never listen to Blind Melon's Sophomore effort, "Soup" again without understanding or feeling all the love, pain, beauty and tragedy that marked this special time in music and I have Greg to thank for this.

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Marco Antonio Gonzalez Galvan
Que libro tan GENIAL
Reviewed in Mexico on August 7, 2020
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Blind melon fue una JOYA en todos los sentidos
Ame el libro de principio a fin, cuenta todas las historias del la banda y recopila las entrevistas que hubo con los miembros antes de que la banda quebrara y despues de la muerte de Shannon
VALE LA PENA 100000%

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Sarah
Amazing
Reviewed in France on July 1, 2021
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Shannon, my dear Shannon you are incredibly missed. You were to pure for this world. Reading this book made me cry countless times.. Great book !

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Amazon Kunde
Biographie eines zu früh Verstorbenen
Reviewed in Germany on January 25, 2024
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Biographie von Shannon Hoon und Blind Melon. Enthält auch ein Kapitel über Axl Rose.

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Mary
The most under-rated band, Blind Melon.
Reviewed in Canada on June 24, 2020
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is my second copy as I wore out the first one. An enlightening read...loved it.

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Susana
Impresionante
Reviewed in Spain on September 4, 2023
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Muy entretenido y refleja muy bien la vida del grupo

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5.0 out of 5 stars Life-Changing Work

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for Shannon Hoon fans.

4.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed it. They were a great band that never ...

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!

5.0 out of 5 stars A great biography about an even greater band!!

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Que libro tan GENIAL

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing

5.0 out of 5 stars Biographie eines zu früh Verstorbenen

5.0 out of 5 stars The most under-rated band, Blind Melon.

5.0 out of 5 stars Impresionante

Life-Changing Work

Very interesting

A must have for Shannon Hoon fans.

I really enjoyed it. They were a great band that never ...

Highly Recommended!

A great biography about an even greater band!!

Que libro tan GENIAL

Amazing

Biographie eines zu früh Verstorbenen

The most under-rated band, Blind Melon.

Impresionante