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VINE VOICEon February 26, 2013
This is a fantastic account of life on the road with the Rolling Stones as they toured America after a three year hiatus in 1969. At the time, the Stones were the ultimate ticket and everybody wanted to see them. If you've ever seen the movie "Gimme Shelter," then you'll recognize this as the same tour which ended with the tragedy at Altamont.
Lydon does an excellent job describing the pleasures and the agonies of being on the road with one of the biggest rock acts in the world. I particularly enjoyed Lydon's analysis of what the individual city's fans were like. From glam, pretentious LA to defiant Oakland to crazily energized Detroit.
He also does an excellent job describing the constant human circus around the Stones. He explains very early on that access to "the boys" was extremely limited and very controlled by their handlers. One of the problems with access becomes clear around halfway through the book; although Lydon was invited to travel with the band, he is clearly an outsider and subsequently his contact with the actual band members was as limited as everyone else outside their inner ring. There is some cool info about the band, but most of it is observations from a distance as opposed to actual personal interviews or discussions. That's not so bad though because it sort of placed him between the Stones and their adoring audience which definitely gave him a unique perspective on what was going on.
This is a fun read if you are a fan of good times rock and roll in an era just before the corporations took control and rock concerts became stadium spectacles. It is also a great document of one last wild fling of the 60's before the Hell's Angels brought down the curtain on the community born of the Summer of Love.
Lydon does an excellent job describing the pleasures and the agonies of being on the road with one of the biggest rock acts in the world. I particularly enjoyed Lydon's analysis of what the individual city's fans were like. From glam, pretentious LA to defiant Oakland to crazily energized Detroit.
He also does an excellent job describing the constant human circus around the Stones. He explains very early on that access to "the boys" was extremely limited and very controlled by their handlers. One of the problems with access becomes clear around halfway through the book; although Lydon was invited to travel with the band, he is clearly an outsider and subsequently his contact with the actual band members was as limited as everyone else outside their inner ring. There is some cool info about the band, but most of it is observations from a distance as opposed to actual personal interviews or discussions. That's not so bad though because it sort of placed him between the Stones and their adoring audience which definitely gave him a unique perspective on what was going on.
This is a fun read if you are a fan of good times rock and roll in an era just before the corporations took control and rock concerts became stadium spectacles. It is also a great document of one last wild fling of the 60's before the Hell's Angels brought down the curtain on the community born of the Summer of Love.
on April 4, 2013
A bird's eye view of the madness and chaos that culminated in the Stones' 69 tour of America, capturing them at the height of their touring and recording history. After Altamont, the great fault line in the Stones career, nothing would ever be the same for the band again. Never again would they cede such control of their affairs to others, Jagger in particular, and, arguably, never again would they make or perfom such truly great music. Lydon had an embedded access to the band in a way on the '69 tour that is hard to imagine in the tightly controlled image management modern media and writes with a candour and energy that both represents the innocence and idealism of its times. The unique characters of each band member emerge from his penetrating, perceptive prose. Jagger the arch ringmaster of the motley circus careening around him, endlessly non-expansive. Keith, the camp vamp, baby, the one most committed to the music and the fans. Charlie, doleful, dutiful, but never doltish, the true honest heartbeat of the band. Bill, quietly English and so detached from the melee as to be almost absent from proceedings. And Mick Taylor, the new boy, warily watchful in the way new boys have to be. Around and surrounding them at all times are the band personnel and assorted hangers-on that somehow seem necessary to the tour and give it its seedy, sinister glamour. Sam Cutler. John Jaymes. Ronnie Schneider. All emerge as memorable, if not always likeable, characters. It all ended in tears, violence and confusion amidst the mud and mayhem of Altamont, a tattered, bloodied finale to a tour that by every other measure was a triumph of music, showmanship and the Stones own unique brand of dirt glamour. For those who were there and bore living witness to their success, and for the impossible band that will not fade away, The Rolling Stones Discover America is both a tribute and a timepiece that is well worth the price and time to read.
on January 15, 2013
Fascinating. A must read for any Stones or rock fan. I read Michael Lydon's excellent biography of Ray Charles and his collection of articles and interviews with some of the great rock and blues musicians in Flashback so I was excited to see his Kindle Single about being on tour with the Rolling Stones. The tour that ended with the tragic Altamont killing by the Hell's Angels. The descriptions and details of the times and the inside information on the Stones is captivating. It's the perfect length as well to enjoy on a winter's afternoon.
on January 25, 2013
Loved this book. Started reading it and couldn't put it down. The Stones love of music; their dedication to their art and their fans. Keith's and the band's commitment to play in Florida even though it was freezing , they were 12 hours late; the fans were still there and the show must go on. Not a lot of glamor and partying in this book. Just a hardworking band surrounded by some needed parasites working out the tour details so the band could do what it does best: play their music, listen to music,write music, sleep, eat, move on and do it all over again. Only true music lovers would understand!
on February 26, 2013
But nothing really new if you have read any or all of the past Rolling Stones books. A short read that covers the time leading up to the infamous Altamont gig. I'd recommend this to someone who is interested in the history of the Rolling Stones, but isn't too big on reading long biographies. I enjoy both long and short reads and have read pretty much everything out there on the Rolling Stones, yet still gleaned some new information here. I particularly liked how the author didn't try to "sensationalize" anything about or surrounding the Stones.
All in all, not bad.
All in all, not bad.
on February 24, 2013
A great quick read on the Rolling Stones return to the US to tour at the end of 1969 through the infamous Altamont concert. While I certainly could have read another couple of hundred pages of this type of behind the scenes reportage, Lydon captures the nostalgia and essence of the quintessential bad boys of rock and roll with great morsels to whet the appetite of any Stones or rock and roll fan. Certainly well worth the $1.99 and 30-45 minutes of reading time to journey back 40 years and life on the road with Mick and company.
on July 9, 2013
This is an author who apparently was traveling with the stones a while back - Im talking years back (late 60s early 70s) which is just a little before my time but actually my favorite time musically speaking so for me this was an absolute treat - if you're looking for something more current - this isn't for you. but if you're a Stones fan then this is a definite treat!!! EXCELLENT!!
on January 3, 2016
I enjoyed the feeling of being transported to the Tour of the Americas 1969 by the Author, while not really inside the inner sanctum that is The Rolling Stones, but still offering well written prose about being a moth around the flame. I enjoyed it.
on February 10, 2013
This is one piece of great, entertaining writing. Lydon captures the gestalt of the period perfectly. While I wasn't at the Florida concert, I was at the Monterey Pop Festival and he nails the spirit of joy and anarchy and hope that infused the air. Fascinating.
