"Like a Rolling Stone" - book reco

Frank_Kimball · May 17th, 2008, 10:33 PM

Like a Rolling Stone by Steven Kurutz

The simile of the title is literal - I just polished off this slight but entertaining book about the culture of tribute bands, focusing on two Northeastern-based Stones tribute groups: Sticky Fingers and Blushing Brides, and their foibles as they gig across the country, playing frat houses, hotel ballrooms and in one case, Uncle Leo's 50th birthday party. It also provides a brief glimpse of the tribute band circuit, discussing groups like Crystal Ship, Dark Star Orchestra, and the daddy of them all, Beatlemania.

It's also a fun look at band dynamics, as the egotastic lead singers of both bands churn through lineups, rail at underlings and generally behave like, well, frontmen, while the various "Keefs" and "Chollys" grouse about life on the road and how their careers should have really gone.

My favorite moments were the pages spent with Sticky Fingers' "Keith" Kevin Gleeson (or one of their Keiths, since they have several backups located strategically across the country should Keith A become unavailable due to, say, a lack of vacation days at his day job). Kevin is a completely brokea$$ ex-junkie (taking the Keith metaphor beyond its logical conclusion) who is only comfortable in Keef drag, which includes a homemade headband/wig with coins and bits of bone that he meticulously blends with his own hair; counterfeit Keith, but he sounds like at least 10 people I know (and play with).

There are some glaring errors evident only to musicians - the author refers to the guitarist's "blond maple" Telecaster, for instance. He also attends the Stones show at Fenway with the thrilled "fake Keith" Kevin, who remarks through the entire show on the real Keef's instrument choices, performance notes, etc. - just like we would.

One useful moment came during the discussion of the Blushing Brides, who based their Stones performance and song choices on the famous Stones bootleg, "Bedspring Symphony". This boot from the Stones 73 European tour showcased the Stones at their crunchiest and perhaps most musical point in their career.

Anyway, it's (yet another) one for the bookshelves. Quick read at just over 200 pages, it will kill a Saturday...or a 5 hour drive to Uncle Leo's birthday bash in the back of the band van.

May 17th, 2008, 10:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Frank_Kimball Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Carlsbad, CA Age: 47 Posts: 698 7 Photos	"Like a Rolling Stone" - book reco Like a Rolling Stone by Steven Kurutz The simile of the title is literal - I just polished off this slight but entertaining book about the culture of tribute bands, focusing on two Northeastern-based Stones tribute groups: Sticky Fingers and Blushing Brides, and their foibles as they gig across the country, playing frat houses, hotel ballrooms and in one case, Uncle Leo's 50th birthday party. It also provides a brief glimpse of the tribute band circuit, discussing groups like Crystal Ship, Dark Star Orchestra, and the daddy of them all, Beatlemania. It's also a fun look at band dynamics, as the egotastic lead singers of both bands churn through lineups, rail at underlings and generally behave like, well, frontmen, while the various "Keefs" and "Chollys" grouse about life on the road and how their careers should have really gone. My favorite moments were the pages spent with Sticky Fingers' "Keith" Kevin Gleeson (or one of their Keiths, since they have several backups located strategically across the country should Keith A become unavailable due to, say, a lack of vacation days at his day job). Kevin is a completely brokea$$ ex-junkie (taking the Keith metaphor beyond its logical conclusion) who is only comfortable in Keef drag, which includes a homemade headband/wig with coins and bits of bone that he meticulously blends with his own hair; counterfeit Keith, but he sounds like at least 10 people I know (and play with). There are some glaring errors evident only to musicians - the author refers to the guitarist's "blond maple" Telecaster, for instance. He also attends the Stones show at Fenway with the thrilled "fake Keith" Kevin, who remarks through the entire show on the real Keef's instrument choices, performance notes, etc. - just like we would. One useful moment came during the discussion of the Blushing Brides, who based their Stones performance and song choices on the famous Stones bootleg, "Bedspring Symphony". This boot from the Stones 73 European tour showcased the Stones at their crunchiest and perhaps most musical point in their career. Anyway, it's (yet another) one for the bookshelves. Quick read at just over 200 pages, it will kill a Saturday...or a 5 hour drive to Uncle Leo's birthday bash in the back of the band van. __________________ Seems like every time you turn around/There's another hard-luck story that you're gonna hear... -Dylan, "Black Diamond Bay"