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Hardcore Troubadour: The Life and Near Death of Steve Earle
If Steve Earle weren't a living, breathing person, he'd be a character in a blues song -- a raucous ballad about a gifted rebel who drank too much, lost most of his women in a blizzard of crack and cocaine addiction, and always came out on the wrong side of the law. Somewhere in the midst of all this, he also managed to weld rock to country, the Beatles to Springsteen, and...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
January 20th 2004
by Harper Perennial
(first published 2002)
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Why would you want to read a biography of a musician? Well, for me to find out where the music came from is key. This is what's missing from this. There's too much about the marital breakups, management breakups and drug addiction. There is some good stuff in here, but too many people, are saying he is this benevolent, kindly person, yet this is contradicted by much of the evidence. I wonder what biography will be written about him when he is not around anymore. Not that I'm wishing that, I saw...more
Fairly entertaining story of the life of one of my favorite songwriters. As one not intimately familiar with the alt-country scene in the late 80s and early 90s, I will withhold judgment on whether albums like "Guitar Town" are / were as groundbreaking or influential as the author seems to convey. I suspect at least a hint of hagiography involved, but that is typical for the genre of book, I suppose. In spite of this, I enjoyed reading about Steve's influences and experiences, as he is a writer...more
SKILLED AUTHOR: I've read unauthorized accounts of the astonishing personal and incredible musical story of Steve Earl's life. I was particularly interested in reading this book because author Lauren St John was granted unrestricted and candid access to information by Steve Earl and his acquaintances. I imagined that such a book would be worth reading. It definitely was. St John did a fabulous and comprehensive job. If you know anything at all about Steve Earle you appreciate that being comprehe...more
This biography is well-researched, full of detail, and well-written. Lauren St. John does her best to keep up with the frenetic pace of Earle's life, and she does a good job capturing the energy of Earle's life and music.
However - like many music biographies - this book could definitely have used a stronger editorial hand. In addition to numerous copyediting problems (random typos, alternate spellings, and several pages where paragraphs are not indented), the chapter breakdown doesn't seem to ma...more
However - like many music biographies - this book could definitely have used a stronger editorial hand. In addition to numerous copyediting problems (random typos, alternate spellings, and several pages where paragraphs are not indented), the chapter breakdown doesn't seem to ma...more
Ive been a Steve Earle fan for as long as I can remember so I wasn't hard to please. I know some critics expected more but I thought it was a good read. The guy has had an incredible music career, 7 wives, a heroin addiction and has crashed on the couches of some of the greatest singer/songwriters ever...how bad can it be?!
Gives context to Steve Earle's songs. A little difficult to remember who's who at times. (To state Steve Earl's private life is "complicated" is understatement of the century)Lauren St. John
Excellent, compulsively readable bio of the great Steve Earle. Highly recommended. I'd like to see an updated version, as the decade since this book's release has been yet another amazing era of Earle, he's made some of his best music in the past 10 years.
Love Steve Earle's music and learned what a big jerk he can be. Whether it was the drugs, alcohol, sex addiction or what, he has really treated a lot of people poorly. Of course the book ended as he sobered up, so it's been a few years. An interesting read.
It must be one of those books that I just can't get into. I really can't say why. I got about 120 pages into it and it did not grab me. I had to force myself to pick it up. Anyway, I love Steve Earle as a singer/songwriter and performer so I guess I'll leave it at that for the time being.
Crazy stories from a crazy life that's somehow still goin'. Noteable quote:
"She could match me drink for drink and suck the chrome off a trailer hitch, and I was twenty-one years old, how the hell was I supposed to know it wasn't love?"
"She could match me drink for drink and suck the chrome off a trailer hitch, and I was twenty-one years old, how the hell was I supposed to know it wasn't love?"
"If Steve Earle weren't a living, breathing person, he'd be a character in a blues song -- a raucous ballad about a gifted rebel who drank too much, lost most of his women in a blizzard of crack and cocaine addiction, and always came out on the wrong side of the law. Somewhere in the midst of all this, he also managed to weld rock to country, the Beatles to Springsteen, and bluegrass to punk, establishing himself among the most thoroughly original and politically astute musicians of his generati...more
Perhaps a bit too detailed for a casual Earle fan, but this is one fascinating, sad, terrible, but ultimately uplifting story. One that would be classified as "fiction", if it didn't happen to be true.
An engaging and affecting biography of one of the finest songwriters. Definitely worth the time for Steve Earle fans, and probably for anybody halfway interested in music or surviving one's own demons.
A little dry at points. Some of the musical industry stuff just drags on. Fairly good read though.
I love anything about Steve, but this book is kinda boring.
A must read for fans of Steve Earle.
So, so bloody good!!!
Hardcore indeed...
I'm a huge fan of Steve Earle's music, so I got his biography as soon as I heard about it. It's always great to read a detailed account of the life of an artist I really like. His music and opinions reflect the struggles he's faced, and the book makes me appreciate his songs even more. He's a bad-ass romantic. And he guest stars on the Wire (best show of all time), so the man's practically a god in my opinion.
Nov 24, 2007
Bobby Vallecillo
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
country/folk music fans
Shelves:
favorites
I was amazed and disturbed at how extensive Steve Earle's drug abuse was. I have been a fan of the songwriter for 20 years and knowing that he broke free from the drugs and survived to create more musical masterpieces earns him respect from me. Being a former Nashville resident and Music Row visitor, I was familiar with most of the people mentioned in the book. I will probably read it again in the near future!
Really skimmed over what should have been the most interesting parts (drug use, being on hte US blacklist) an a whole heck of a lot of time spent on names after names after names.
Still, and interesting man.
Still, and interesting man.
I'm not generally a fan of music biographies but I really enjoyed this one. It's a fairly quick read and the story rolls along at a good pace. A must for Steve Earle fans. I really enjoyed reading it while listening to his back catalogue. Really gives you a sense of the breadth and depth of his talent.
While I am incredibly interested in the life and times of Steve, I felt the writing to be much too dry. I prefer Steve Earle's own 'I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive'.
Jun 06, 2008
Bryn R. McLeod
is currently reading it
ahhh i put it twice and now i don't know how to delete. such a dinasour!
Steve Motherfuckin' Earle, y'all. Bow down to my favorite socialist cowboy.
An interesting read. Brutally honest account of Steve's life.
Jul 05, 2007
Courtney Morse
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Music Lovers
Great book of a greatly underappreciated musician.
good so far
Jun 17, 2013
Karin Kasak
marked it as to-read
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