Yes Wyman was the bass player of the Rolling Stones. Which may explain why he wrote his book 20 years before anyone else. Considering he’s allegedly shagged more girls than physically possible and married a girl 40 years younger than him, he wasn’t lacking for subject matter. So why the hell does he keep telling you about office telegrams and bank balances? He has a fully journalised recollection of life on the road with the stones. But I

This book would be of interest of anyone that is a major Brian Jones fan. But that’s like saying crack is awesome if you aspire to being a homeless whore on borrowed time. He gives an interesting insight into Jones, who Keef had written off completely as an unreliable prima donna. However Brian had such affection for him that his book is almost entirely dedicated to the Jones era finishing around 1969. This was a bloke who was in the band until the early nineties(?). So clearly he tagged along for 20 years with clearly nil interest in the band. Makes you wonder.

If there was anything I got out of this book, it was don’t ever read anything written by a bass player – slight caveat for Lemmy or Nikki Sixx. They are accountants and gantt chart warriors, each and every one of them. Please I urge you, don’t bother. Leave it on the shelf. He’s a great bass player and accountant. That’s entirely the problem.

According to the Wikipedia, this book was compiled from something like 12,000 pages of notes from the Roth man himself. If that’s the case, the co author can take a bow. Because this book is a bit dated (1997) but it’s one of the best reads in rock history. In fact with the recent reunion, a re write would be interesting!

For shear entertainment value it’s hard to beat. David takes you from his humble origins in deepest, darkest, anti semetic 1950s Indiana, right up through the glory days of Van Halen. There’s plenty of crazy road crew stories, how me met the Van Halen brothers and shenanigans galore.

What’s most impressive about it though is his insight into the rock business. He talks a lot about riding his bike while on tour around towns in the wee hours of the morning. Pretty much because it’s the only time he got to see the sights on the road. Also intriguing is how involved Diamond Dave got himself in the business. From renting out the PA to the Van Halens (a sure fire way to get in the band) to producing his own records, even the touring merchandise.

There’s also some scathing insights into the world of rock management and getting royaly shafted as big acts often do. With lots of useful advice for would be musicians. What really makes the book remarkable though is Roth’s passion for adventure. He’s taken his love of old school adventure books like Huckleberry Finn to the extreme with stories of rock climbing, exploring the Amazon jungle, even Mount Everest!

Admitedly, this all sounds like ‘Geez Dave must be a top bloke!’ and you have to be a bit objective. He tries not to pick on any former band mates too harshly, although in doing so glorifies himself a bit. But until Van Halen or a few particular session musos retort, meh this is all the testimonial we have. And while those guys are virtuosos, Dave is a true show man with more than a few surprises up his sleeve. Their books wouldn’t be anywhere near as amazing as this.

A definite must read for fans of rock books. Five out of five.

This book calls on archived rock magazines and interviews with Scott’s wife, girlfriends, family and flings. Of course, there’s heaps of interview excerpts with roadies, friends but sadly very little first hand stuff from the band or their record label Alberts. Apparently the author suggests they run a very tight ship.

Unlike Lemmy’s bio, this book is written by the erudite and journalistically inclined Clinton Walker. He’s very successfully journalled Scott’s teens, in Fremantle, his family background, a brief stint in a correctional centre, right up to his formative years in bands the Valentines and Fraternity. The hard ships of these times in his life, and the depiction of the Australian music scene (in all states) in the late 60s/early 70s is vivid and enlightening to say the least!

It’s evident after reading this book that there was no accident in Bon Scott’s stardom. Scott gigged his arse off all over Australia and had been through the band ringer not once but 3 times. Scott was definitely the antipode of the Young brothers. He was experienced, sociable, well aversed and exuberant. Qualities that the very talented, and youthful Youngs, lacked. Especially Angus who was still in his teens when Bon was almost 30. The recalcitrant and apparently paranoid way in which the Youngs ran the band would ultimately ostracise Scott into a life of loniless and alcoholism on the road.

The events around Bon’s death are discussed objectively. Around that time, Bon had found all the trappings of success but still no life partner and was living a lonely existance. Suicide is implied in that he was drinking especially heavily before his death, but there’s nothing too conspiratorial here. But those who’d think he was a chauvenistic old rocker would be interested to see all the letters in this book he’d written to lovers. He also had a penchant for all things Japanese. He was far more gentle, according to Walker, than most would imagine.

This book is well worth a read just to remember how much cooler other people lives are than yours! There’s plenty of rock and roll stories, anecdotes and the plain the good, the bad and the ugly. I’m loathed to say that the Australian history aspect of the rock scene is in itself enough reason to buy the book. But the real reason is that whilst you may not have a Whole Lotta Rosie, your life’s definitely a lot easier to live than that of a soon-to-be iconklast rock starm waiting to be a millionaire. Yes, the whole book is worth it just for that. Bon lives. 5 out of 5!