Cornflakes with John Lennon: And Other Tales from a Rock 'n' Roll Life by Robert Hilburn

Aug 18, 2009

Lauryl rated it

Shelves: music-boox

Okay, so actually, if I could get fussy, I would give this book 3 and a half stars. Overall, a very good little adventure through mainstream rock of the 70's/80's by Robert Hilburn, the rock critic for the Los Angeles Times. The book is solidly if not sparklingly written...no Lester Bangs-ian bursts of prosaic epiphanies here, but a lot of good rock journalism.

Despite my dislike for the title of this book (BARF!), I especially enjoyed reading about Hilburn's warm relationships w...moreOkay, so actually, if I could get fussy, I would give this book 3 and a half stars. Overall, a very good little adventure through mainstream rock of the 70's/80's by Robert Hilburn, the rock critic for the Los Angeles Times. The book is solidly if not sparklingly written...no Lester Bangs-ian bursts of prosaic epiphanies here, but a lot of good rock journalism.

Despite my dislike for the title of this book (BARF!), I especially enjoyed reading about Hilburn's warm relationships with John Lennon and Yoko Ono and Johnny Cash, and about his bizarre encounters with Michael Jackson. (I read this maybe a week or two before MJ died, and it all seemed of a piece, somehow. Weird coincidence, I guess, but the result was that I was not surprised at all by the news of his early passing, which almost seemed inevitable after reading RH's essay. You find yourself asking whether you can picture an 80-year-old Michael Jackson at all, and sadly, the answer is, "no".) Hilburn also writes about Bob Dylan in a way that doesn't quite make me want to shoot someone, which is rare.

Hilburn saves the rhapsodizing for Bruce Springsteen, which, I'll admit, gets real old real fast. This is the only major flaw in the book. Hey, dude, I love Springsteen too, but it gets old. There are other musicians, and you only have so many chapters to go devoting half of them to the Workin' Man's Bard, okay? Even if he did write "I'm on Fire". Hilburn's experiences are all so interesting that are I really wish he had used all of those Boss chapters to touch on some other bands.

Overall, Hilburn is a thoughtful rock fan and a genuinely interested interviewer. ou get the sense that, at least most of the time, he truly likes the people he meets, and has empathy for even the spikiest of interviewees. Bruce Springsteen-o-philia notwithstanding, I would say that one of Hilburn's great strengths is his ability to humanize rather than lionize his subjects, even when they're also his friends.(less)

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Mar 02, 2010

Lynne Perednia rated it

Back in the dawn of time, Modern Era, popular music wasn't even as interesting as it is now in this synthesized, American Idol age. Then along came musicians who knew rhythm and blues, who knew how important it was to be young, who knew there is nothing like a backbeat to get people to listen. Robert Hilburn was there when things really began to take off -- getting rebuffed by Colonel Parker in his attempts to meet Elvis, following Bob Dylan through his ups and downs over the decades, talking hi...moreBack in the dawn of time, Modern Era, popular music wasn't even as interesting as it is now in this synthesized, American Idol age. Then along came musicians who knew rhythm and blues, who knew how important it was to be young, who knew there is nothing like a backbeat to get people to listen. Robert Hilburn was there when things really began to take off -- getting rebuffed by Colonel Parker in his attempts to meet Elvis, following Bob Dylan through his ups and downs over the decades, talking his editors into letting him go up to Folsom Prison to see a country singer named Johnny Cash perform.

Stories of those times, up to the death of Michael Jackson, are included in this memoir by the longtime Los Angeles Times music critic. Whether it's early recognition of Elton John and being lauded as a starmaker, recognizing the talent of John Prine and watching the rest of the world ignore his albums or being an early advocate of Jack Whyte's talent, for decades Hilburn has been in search of the next big thing that will keep rock 'n roll alive.

He's known them all and been close to many. The title comes from a time he was with Lennon on tour who was delighted to be eating corn flakes with cream on them. That was the height of luxury to the poor lad from Liverpool, even after the Beatles and the world's continued attention through his house husband days. Kurt Cobain used Hilburn to get a favorable report how he loved his daughter published while Social Services was investigating whether to take Frances Bean away from him and Courtney Love. Michael Jackson chose him to work on a book project that Jackie Onassis was editing, but was more interested in watching cartoons. Dylan finally opens up after years of taciturn behavior when he's playing for small audiences at small colleges. But his revelations about songwriting when Hilburn proposes a series about the subject are indeed revealing.

Hilburn's astute interview skills bring out such observations as Bono's that rock music has something no other kind does -- it is a combination of rhythm, harmony and top-line melody to appeal to the body, the spirit and the mind. Hilburn concludes that the artists he most admires have something in common. They have idealism and commitment. They believe ideas and music matter.

The reader can reach the same conclusion while tracing the careers of Cash, Dylan, Lennon, Springsteen, U2 and Jack White through the years Hilburn has known them, talked to them, listened to their music, questioned them and cared about them. Hilburn provides ample proof of how idealism expressed through music has inspired people. He is more reticent about his own life, with a few tidbits thrown in to provide some background to a particular idea or anecdote. But that's because like any good journalist, Hilburn knows it's the story that matters, not the reporter.

Hilburn also knows to not stretch the story beyond its scope. He admits not knowing what's going to happen to rock in these days of corporate plastic singers with synthesized voices and celebrity celebrated over talent. But he also believes that genuine music will continue to move people.

Rock on, Bob.(less)

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Jan 03, 2011

Desiree rated it

When I was a teenager in the 1990s, I didn't wear flannel shirts. I showered. I didn't cut myself. That's because I was a happy adolescent, and part of the reason why was because I hated grunge music.

Grunge didn't speak to me. It growled, snarled, and grated my nerves. Instead of chasing Cobain, reveling in Reznor and channeling Corgan, I studied the rock & roll canon. I'd always preferred the melodious genius of Sun, Motown, Atlantic, Stax and Casablanca, and thought swiveling hips...moreWhen I was a teenager in the 1990s, I didn't wear flannel shirts. I showered. I didn't cut myself. That's because I was a happy adolescent, and part of the reason why was because I hated grunge music.

Grunge didn't speak to me. It growled, snarled, and grated my nerves. Instead of chasing Cobain, reveling in Reznor and channeling Corgan, I studied the rock & roll canon. I'd always preferred the melodious genius of Sun, Motown, Atlantic, Stax and Casablanca, and thought swiveling hips and punctuated pelvic thrusts were a much better visual assault against illogical conservatisms, rather than mopey heroin addicts. When I discovered Brian Wilson and his Beach Boys in my room, my love for music way before my time took on an obsession with as many layers as the Wall of Sound. I unwisely splurged my allowances on the recently-released "two-fer" re-issues of Beach Boys albums, wrote a biography of the band on an old typewriter, and declared "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" my anthem, although wouldn't it be nice if we were older, then we wouldn't have to wait so long?

I felt like no one understood me; that is, no one in my generation. Nobody listened to the same music as I did. I couldn't exchange mix tapes in school because nobody wanted to listen to oldies. So as I read "Corn Flakes with John Lennon," I couldn't help but think: Bob Hilburn, where were you when I was growing up?

I always hold rock writers and critics in very high regards - at least, those that I respect. Cameron Crowe, Greg Kot, Austin Scaggs (but not Rob Sheffield nor Jim DeRogatis) - I follow like a puppy dog. I had never read any Bob Hilburn, but I lap up rock & roll tales like Hank Williams and spilled whiskey, so buying this book was as natural as tapping your foot to "Jailhouse Rock". I expected godly, flowery, screaming-out-to-be-underlined prose from Hilburn. Not so - he writes well, but I'm not picking my heart up from the floor. Besides the intimate conversations and friendships with rock & roll iconography and his thoughtful, insightful perspectives - all of which are spot-on about his milieu - I'm not sure I'm learning anything more about being a rock music fan. But that's the allure - Hilburn isn't so much speaking to you as he IS you. He picks up all the scattered notes and clefs on the bar room floor, in your mind, and doesn't transpose them into a different octave as much as arranges them into a sweet symphony. He doesn't tell you how cool his life has been so you are jealous that he's eaten corn flakes with John Lennon in the middle of the night, had Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen change their set lists because of his feedback and helped Bono grow up. He shares these tales with you like your grandfather might about the war, humanizing these legends and giving them a quiet dignity far away from screaming fans so you can appreciate and enjoy them for the personalities they truly are. And Bob knew who they truly were and are. You know those late-night record listenings when you really should be in bed for school, your heart aching because music can be so beautiful? Imagine that emotion and aural pleasure between the hard covers of a book. That's this book.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is Hilburn's skill as a reporter. In narrating his memories and experiences as they were in a simple but careful selection of words, he reveals much more about what happened in dressing rooms, studios, hotel suites and A&R offices than maybe if you were there. It's writer's intuition and journalistic skill; in describing Elvis Presley's unease in the presence of Colonel Tom Parker, all Hilburn wrote was that Elvis starting using the word "sir" again. Hilburn addresses both albums and tracks he likes and dismisses in the same even, stoic tone, possibly one of the fairest critics I've ever read. He leaves it to you to make up your mind a lot, which is the greatest respect a writer can afford his reader, I think. I have to be honest - a big part of why I enjoyed this book so much is because I feel Bob. It was like hanging out with an imaginary friend that you could talk Bruce Springsteen with all day and night.

Who wouldn't like that?(less)

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Oct 23, 2010

Tara rated it

An intimate and revealing memoir-style series of vignettes about Robert Hilburn's interactions with the great rock-n-roll artists of the last 50 years--Cash, Presley, Dylan, Lennon, Elton John, Springsteen, U2, Nirvana and White. With rock artists under increasing pressure from digital downloads and TV-borne pop singers like American Idols and Disney teens, Hilburn's book undoubtedly defines an era of music the likes of which may never be seen again.

Hilburn's writing style is straigh...more

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Oct 09, 2009

Marvin rated it

Shelves: first-reads, non-fiction, music

This will be a hard book to be non-biased about. I first start reading Hilburn's columns in the Los Angeles Times in 1968 when I started going to college, coincidentally the very same university that Hilburn went to himself. It was the LA Times trinity of columnists; Hilburn, Jazz critic Leonard Feather, and classical music critic Martin Bernheimer, that taught me there was even a thing called music criticism. Hilburn continued writing during the golden age of rock music criticism and beyond unt...moreThis will be a hard book to be non-biased about. I first start reading Hilburn's columns in the Los Angeles Times in 1968 when I started going to college, coincidentally the very same university that Hilburn went to himself. It was the LA Times trinity of columnists; Hilburn, Jazz critic Leonard Feather, and classical music critic Martin Bernheimer, that taught me there was even a thing called music criticism. Hilburn continued writing during the golden age of rock music criticism and beyond until he retired from the Times in 2005. When I did a little music writing of my own some mentors compared my style to Hilburn's, sometimes complimentary but sometimes not. I always took it as a compliment. While he didn't have the mad genius of Lester Bangs or the scholarly vision of Greil Marcus, he had something the others did not bring to pen and paper. He wrote for the everyman, the nine-to-fivers who needed the music to enrich their lives. Hilburn himself didn't smoke or drink and around these superstars that lived in an insane world brought enough sanity that these artists came across as real human beings. He may not have been the best of the music writers but he had empathy which served to show his readers the hearts behind the music.

All of this comes out in his new book, Cornflakes with Lennon. This book is a memoir of his experiences as a rock music writer and his relationship with some of the most important musicians of rock music; Lennon, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Kurt Cobain and others. As a memoir it does what the writer rarely did in his own columns It gave us a look at the writer himself. Yet even here the bulk of this book is about rock music and rock artists. Hilburn brought out the best in his subjects whether it was a troubled Lennon, a vulnerable Janis Joplin, a insecure Michael Jackson or an obsessively searching Bruce Springsteen. Hilborn wants us to see the thoughts and the person behind the songs and he does that better than any other writer of his time.

Yet there are some issues with this book that troubles me. Hilburn spends way too much time with the superstars, especially Springsteen, but little about the less revered artists that changed the music yet didn't get a mass of fans. I know he paid a lot of attention to artists like P. J. Harvey, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Rickie Lee Jones but little is in this book. I suspect that may have been a publishing decision. Yet they also have tales to tell and I know Hilburn paid more attention to them than this book would let on. Also the writer could have a evil pen to those he called "the superficial artists who shouldn't be on stage in the first place because they have nothing to tell you". Yet he only shows examples of this briefly in about one page which does include an especially right-on assessment of Michael Bolton. Most bewildering is his exclusion of the rather notorious feud with Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson that led to the musician writing a scathing song about the critic called "Only Solitaire." Yet, I assume Hilburn wanted his first book on his own writings and experiences in music to be positive and not focus on the negative.

So I really wanted to give this book five stars, maybe even a bonus sixth star, for a lot of personal reasons. But I also realized that without my nostalgic baggage, this book is still a very strong four stars. Certainly if you want to know about the real musicians that made the music and not just the promotional hype, Hilburn will deliver.
(less)

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Jan 18, 2010

Dom rated it

Hilburn spent decades reviewing pop, rock, and country artists for the LA Times, so a collection of his memories seems appropriate. There were sections of this book that were quite fascinating, primarily providing some behind-the-scenes anecdotes of superstars in the music biz. However, it seemed to constantly come back to a mere handful of artists time and again: Dylan (ugh, enough), Bono, Johnny Cash, and Springsteen were everywhere. I personally would have loved less of them and more of the o...more

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Jun 16, 2011

Erik rated it

Shelves: bio, history, library, music

p.100
Bruce Springsteen
“You write about what you know. You may not have the same expectations. You're not as open to options. You may have a wife and a kid and a job. It's all you can do to keep those things straight. You let the possibilities go. What happens to most people is when their first dreams get killed off, nothing ever takes their place. The important thing is to keep holding out for possibilities, even if no one ever makes it. There was a Norman Mailer article that said the ...more

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Mar 16, 2011

Mara rated it

Liked this book for all the anecdotes - Hilburn really got to know the greats of rock 'n' roll, from Elvis and Johnny Cash all the way to Jack White. And I liked what he had to say about the communal experience of music and passion and inspiring hope and the importance of hearing music live. But I don't really think it had a clear theme - it was a collection of stories about different artists he met as he was writing his column. There wasn't a lot of analysis beyond what the individual artists c...more

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Jul 11, 2009

Matt Comito rated it

Not a speed-fueled scatter-gun poet like Bangs, not a synthesizing visionary like Marcus but an enthusiast; relatively clear eyed if (only) occasionally sycophantic Hilburn speaks to the fan in all of us because he plainly is one himself. The book claims to be a memoir; is there such a thing as a vicarious memoir? Hilburn seems to live through the highs and lows of those he covers. Is this true? I suspect not, or at least not to the degree this implies. I suspect he's witholding, focusing on wha...more

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Jul 28, 2010

Blog on Books rated it

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What a surprise. As many suspected, but couldn’t exactly put their finger on, Robert Hilburn was keeping a secret. A three decade secret. The secret, finally revealed in this ‘memoir’ of sorts, is that while we all thought he was the pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times, Hilburn was quietly on another mission. The search for the replacement Elvis.

As the pop (or more aptly, rock) music critic of one of the nation’s largest daily broadsheets, Hilburn was charged with bringing the...moreWhat a surprise. As many suspected, but couldn’t exactly put their finger on, Robert Hilburn was keeping a secret. A three decade secret. The secret, finally revealed in this ‘memoir’ of sorts, is that while we all thought he was the pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times, Hilburn was quietly on another mission. The search for the replacement Elvis.

As the pop (or more aptly, rock) music critic of one of the nation’s largest daily broadsheets, Hilburn was charged with bringing the world of rock’n'roll to the doorsteps of his avid readers weekly and he developed a solid reputation for doing so within music circles. Over the years however, many readers began to notice the critic’s seeming obsession with a small cast of characters who garnered outsized coverage often at the expense of other so-called talents. The plurality of Hilburn’s coverage seemed to center around a handful of iconic figures (Springsteen, U2’s Bono, Prince) as well as a coterie of other performers that played to the critic’s early country leanings (John Fogerty, the Band’s Robbie Robertson, and even a true country act like Waylon Jennings). While the writer certainly covered other acts (LA’s “X” was a perennial favorite as was P.J. Harvey in his latter day writings), most acts escaped much of his purview presumably due to his judgment as to their lesser cultural importance. (In these pages, Clapton, R.E.M., Pearl Jam and The Clash collectively get less mentions than a single Springsteen album, ‘Nebraska,’ while Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd simply don’t exist.)

In “Cornflakes with John Lennon: And Other Tales from a Rock ‘n’ Roll Life,” we now have the answer, the reason, the motivation for it all. Simply put, Hilburn was searching, consciously or otherwise, for the successor to Elvis Presley; an act that left an indelible mark on the young critic that proved difficult, if not impossible to dismiss. Hilburn’s quest was to find and identify the next icon to capture the imagination of the mass rock audience. Not just good bands or those who made great records, but singular performers who could rise to take the leadership of an entire genre, much the way Elvis did until his demise. To Hilburn, it is all about the message, the grand statement and the commitment needed to carry it to the world.

Along the way, the author shares stories – most rather candid and personal – from his Louisiana upbringing filled with country and blues to his time spent with his idols like John Lennon, Springsteen and even Michael Jackson. Through his unique access, we are given quite a window into many a superstar’s otherwise private moments; backstage with Yoko, coaxing reluctant interviewees like Springsteen and Dylan, and yes, even corn flakes with John Lennon.

Beyond the wall of fame, Hilburn examines his own influence on star-making (Elton John’s U.S. debut at the Troubadour) or lack thereof (John Prine’s early work). Through it all, what comes across are two things. One, that Hilburn was keenly aware of zeroing in on the artist even over and above any singular piece of musical output, and, two, that much as his critics argued for years, the writer was, at times, perhaps indeed guilty of acting as a fanboy in ‘critic’s’ disguise. And while this may have given rise to some contempt during his years as a top metropolitan arbiter of taste, it certainly makes for a great (and appropriate) read when presented in a book of reportage that is both personally insightful and a fun behind-the-scenes ride through the three most powerful decades of rock and roll as only a person of Hilburn’s stature and access could deliver.

Coming to paperback this October.(less)

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Jan 20, 2010

Stephanie rated it

This is a really fun read from one of the great music reviewers of our time. The narrative is casual and friendly, like you are sitting with him and sharing stories over a beer. In the last decade I’ve really lost touch with my love of rock music, but after reading this book I’m excited to dig out my old rock albums and even explore some of the county and blues stuff I’m not so familiar with.

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Oct 06, 2010

Megan rated it

Hilburn is an articulate critic, able to explain his opinions and impressions of music in a useful way. He had friendly and intellectual interactions with many great artists over the years, and his tales of things he learned with people like John Lennon, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Kurt Cobain are fascinating. Hilburn is able to be both kind and honest depicting his subjects.

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Apr 09, 2011

Melissa rated it

Shelves: 2011, netgalley

This is an interesting look at the private and professional lives of some of the biggest names in rock & roll. Hillburn has a very conversational writing style, which allows the reader to feel like they are sitting in on his interviews. I particularly enjoyed the brief interludes between several of the chapters, in which Hillburn discussed some of his favorite things (i.e. best quotes, best tours, most desired dinner guests, etc.).

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Nov 04, 2010

Sandi rated it

Shelves: memoirs-essays-bios-travel, movies-music-television, read-2010

One of the better rock memoirs I have read. Hilburn, the former rock critic from the LA Times, has a very readable style and obviously was a great interviewer. All of the stories of the various artists in this book were very interesting and I hope that someday he does a follow-up since I am sure he has many other rock tales to tell.

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Aug 07, 2010

Nick Duretta rated it

Excellent overview of Hilburn's coverage of the singer-songwriter era (1970-1990s) in modern popular music. Not a lot of "dish," but some interesting insights on the songwriting process, and creativity in the spotlight of fame.

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Dec 28, 2009

Shannon rated it

Shelves: music, non-fiction

3 stars only because there was too much Bruce Springsteen commentary for my taste (45% of the book), although anything over a page on Bruce is too much for me. Other than that, decent.

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Oct 12, 2009

Wiley added it

AuthorsOnTheWeb Internet Marketing/Publicity campaign for author Robert Hilburn.

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Apr 07, 2010

Andrew Fechner rated it

Great balance of new revelations and classic stories, all told by a great writer with a real passion for his subject. A little heavy on Bruce Springsteen and U2 coverage for this reader, who's not a huge fan of either artist.

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Apr 01, 2010

Ian added it

Rec'd.

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Aug 02, 2010

Bill rated it

I actually am not a fan of most of the artists Hilburn features in this book (Lennon, Dylan, Cash, etc.), though I respect most of them. I will say, though, that even if you aren't a fan of the artists but are a fan of music, this book reminds you why you fell in love with popular music in the first place. This one was a joy to read.

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Aug 16, 2010

Mark rated it

Shelves: music, abandoned

How odd. I'd forgotten I don't like Robert Hilburn.

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Mar 31, 2011

Karen rated it

Good read, but the parts about rap and Bono went on for too long.

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Jan 14, 2011

Justin rated it

Shelves: non-fiction-biography-autobiography

Robert Hilburn shares some stories from all the artists he had the fortune to befriend during his time as a rock journalist:
Bob Dylan
Elvis Presley
Janis Joplin
Elton John
Elvis Costello
John Lennon
Paul McCartney
Johnny Cash
Bruce Springsteen
Kris Kristofferson
Jack White
Bono
The Edge
Kurt Cobain
Ice Cube
Yoko Ono

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Nov 24, 2009

Jonathon Arntson added it

Shelves: 2009, non-fiction

A well-written, intertwining tale of our idols from the Sixties and Seventies.

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May 31, 2011

Maggie rated it

Shelves: borrowed-books

I love the behind sceens true stories of rock royalty, but without getting into too much drama and gossip.

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Feb 05, 2012

Ali rated it

Jan 24, 2012

As rated it

Jan 30, 2012

Diana Lang rated it

Shelves: beatles

Jan 19, 2012

Jill rated it

Jan 18, 2012

Mike Tuholski rated it

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Cornflakes with John Lennon: And Other Tales from a Rock 'n' Roll Life

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