Tag Archives: book reviews

books

(book review) Lonely Boy – Tales from a Sex Pistol

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I admit that punk rock 77 style and all those early bands except maybe Damned are not my thing, nor they have ever been. I grew up into more of California skate punk and hardcore bands, and all that British punk legends were just too boring and slow with their punk rock anthems and disgusting vocals, like Johhny Rotten, singer of Sex Pistols, his goat like singing is still something that makes me puke.

So, I decided to learn more and get this book, written by guitarist of Sex Pistols, one of the most known and legendary first wave punk bands ever. In this book, he deals with his life, from upbringing as poor boy, lonely and abused, to playing with Pistols and all the wild years of punk, drugs and rock n roll, to his later work and bringing himself up from the gutter to host popular radio show and deliver some solo work and guest guitar playing to some of the biggest rock stars. Book is divided into three parts, before Pistols, during and after. What I do mind about this man is total rock star attitude, spitting on all punk ideals and proclaiming that all punks who stick to the ideals and free philosophy are losers and that all is about money and nothing is about music. The guy is obnoxious, full of himself and I totally dislike him. But, like they say, never trust a junkie, huh? Okay book about an asshole who has illusions of grandeur.

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(book) Harley Flanagan – Hardcore Life Of My Own

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Well, there is is. Finally. I remember when I interviewed Zach from Pears five years ago, he told me that Harley Flanagan is genuine epitome of hardcore punk, one of the rare guys that lived through all that he sang about and still sings about. I love Cro-Mags, their first two albums (Age of Quarrel and Best Wishes are an unavoidable milestones of NYHC). I remember when I first saw that video for We Gotta Know, I was scared of this beast of bass player, tattooed and vicious skinhead. I eagerly sought for this book until I finally obtained it and now it is a proud part of my collection and probably one of the top three books I have read this year.

Harley is, like Vinnie Stigma, Jimmy Gestapo, Roger Miret, Raybeez and couple of other guys, true O.G. of NYHC, founder of Cro-Mags and this book says it all, from his childhood and drumming as a 12 year old for his aunt´s punk band Stimulators, across founding Cro-Mags and all the battles and fights, early NY skinheads, founding of the scene and all the stories. But, what fascinates the most are stories about all the fights, drug abuse, Lower East Side and all the dirty mischief Harley has been through and I am sure he would have at least one more book to tell about all of the misadventures and literally blood, sweat, drugs and beatings.

This book is a punch in your face, hardcore and street punk tour de force. I recommend it to all hardcore people throughout the world.

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(book review) The Blood And The Sweat: The story of Sick Of It All’s Koller brothers

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New York hardcore, or NYHC is one of my personal favorite genres of hardcore punk ever since I was a kid and Sick Of It All is a very important part and was in my music upbringing and becoming the man I am today. They were first international, let’s say big hardcore band I watched when I was a kid almost thirty years ago and I watched them more times since then and they never disappointed with their live shows or their records.

This is not ordinary boring biography book. This is a book done in kinda interview way, with Lou Koller, SOIA singer and his brother, guitarist Pete Koller tell their story through chapters thematically divided into some meaningful sense. Like you may have guessed it all starts with their childhoods and upbringing as being youngest of four brothers and growing up in Queens, first going to shows and discovering metal and hardcore, which made up their minds to form a band.

Then it goes through first ten years of hardships, with weekend tours and Mondays back to day jobs, fear how to make a living and struggles to overcome all life’s obstacles to days when they can live off touring, but that is not so secure life as we all witnessed last two years. I love how there are lots of anecdotes and unknown stories from touring with other bands I love, seeing some other side of some bands that I am not sure I like, because I idolized some of them. This is a book about positivity, about love for music and that’s what helped most of us continue through hard times and what gave us strength to continue. I recommend this one warmly, go read it.