Back when I had no bandmates, no idea how to record music on my own, and no idea if I could actually write a song anyone would want to hear, I kept this book next to my bed permanently.No matter how exhasted I was after coming home to a house with no heat after 10-14 hours of working my day job, I would be sure to practice for at least one song and read at least a few lines from this book every night. Sort of like how I imagine pioneer famlies saying their prayers and reading from the Bible every night before bed.
The first few chapters of Michael Azerrad's biography of Nirvana was one of the first things that made me want to be in a band, and Your Life kept me on the path when things got rough. So: thanks, Michael Azerrad.
Some of what Phil Freeman says about this book may be true, but I still love it. Any criticism of the book is best answered in the introduction when Azerrad says something like, "There are plenty more books to be written about this subject; I invite you to write one of them." I look forward to reading all the books and hearing all the music inspired by this book.
Cheers,
Ryan
2 comments:
The thanks are all mine, Ryan! That was so nice of you to say.
The Freeman piece is odd — he makes incorrect assumptions about me personally, then bases his assessment of the book on his incorrect assumptions. Oh well.
Now that you say that, I see what you mean. I didn't really consider that the first time I read the Freeman piece. Thanks for stopping by!
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