Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards
Memoirs of a Rock 'N' Roll Survivor
Memoirs of a Rock 'N' Roll Survivor
(Book). A rock 'n roll classic, back in print, updated and revised. One of the funniest rock memoirs ever, Al Kooper's legendary Backstage Passes is available again! Al's quirky life, from would-be teenage rocker, to crashing Bob Dylan's recording session and playing the organ on Highway 61 , to forming Blood, Sweat, and Tears and masterminding the Super Sessions, it's all here...plus, in this updated version, Al rides with us all the way back to the end of the 20th century. There has never been a more wickedly humorous and honest book by a man who has made such rock history.
Reviews with the most likes.
Al Kooper's story is one of various chapters that seem to defy a theme. His early career is an amazing tale of unlikely success. The underdog - right place, right time, hits the big time with Dylan during a session that must have been a surreal experience. At that point I sensed this was a guy who would make the very most of his skills. While I enjoyed parts, too often this reads like a mediocre book report (“what I did last millennium”).
In the end I couldn't help but feel some sympathy for a guy who was immersed in the music business; the plastic, hyper materialistic land of - at best, very conditional - at its worst, phony friendships and convenient, shaky alliances. I'd say one couldn't help but be bitter, but I did also feel used, because its clear Al wrote this book partly to do some subtle settling of scores. The second half of this book especially, feels like a series of diary entries by a scarred and insecure individual who is presenting his side of the story regarding a series of engagements/endeavors that didn't quite work out.
It is worthwhile reading about his early experiences of starting the Blues Project, BS&T, working with Dylan and the Stones. But even those are too thin and there's a lot in there about Al's views, feelings and memories but not quite enough observation of the rich characters around him. Very few of us are story-tellers, Al is not the exception, and when it comes to books like this, the art of storytelling is essential.
To be honest I got about 85% through but couldn't finish it just now. I wouldn't use the word “boring” but there is a point where it starts feeling very monotonous. I guess if you're one to gush at an inside look at the Lives of the [sometimes] Rich & Famous, you might enjoy it all the way through. But for me there was way too much minutiae regarding a series of transactions. Come to think of it, that might be the best way to describe my feeling about this book: too transactional and self conscious. Sorry Al, and sorry to some of the more sensitive people who read these reviews.
I started by saying the book - i.e. his life story, lacked a theme, but I have to believe there is a theme in there somewhere, and it's just a matter of the author puling himself up a few thousand feet for the sake of perspective.
In the end I'm still a fan of his music and think he's probably a decent guy, but I have to say I liked him better before reading this. Love the title though!
