StonesFanatic wrote on May 11
th, 2009 at 10:00am:
Gazza wrote on May 11
th, 2009 at 9:55am:
Yes, he wrote Hammer of the Gods.
For Stones books, what sort of ones do you mean? The biographies, etc?
Most of the best ones are books that deal with a specific time period where the author gives a first hand account :
"True Adventures of the Rolling Stones" by Stanley Booth (1969 tour)
"STP - Journey Through America" by Robert Greenfield (1972 tour)
"Lipstick Powders and Chemicals" by Chet Flippo (1975-78 tours)
"Nankering with the Stones" by James Phelge (1962-63)
Most of the biographies are patchy at best, although Victor Bockris' and Barbara Charone's bios of Keith are enjoyable, even if they stray into gushing-fan territory at times.
Those first 2 have been on my "to buy" list for a while...same with Stone Alone. What about Wyman's big "Rolling with the Stones" book? Looked good..is it?
Yep. Certainly is, although its more of a coffee table book than an autobiography. 'Stone Alone' is surprisingly dull at times actually, but obviously its an essential read as it's the only autobiography from a band member for that period (it only goes up to 1969, tantalisingly). Ronnie's autobiography is a bit of a wasted opportunity in many ways, but it has it's moments. Bill German's new book (see separate thread on this board) is a good read as well, and fills in a few missing pieces in the jigsaw as it's done from a fan's eyewitness account and deals with the period from the late 70s through to the '90's.
There's also the two 'official' band biographies - According to the Stones (2003) and A Life On the Road (1998), and not forgetting Marilou Regan's excellent "Love You Live" book which gathers some great stories by fans and which was supposed to be officially sanctioned until the Stones organisation shafted her (at great personal expense to herself) so that they could go with the 'Life on the Road' book instead.