Beem Weeks's Blog - Posts Tagged "rock-and-roll"

The Dirt: Confessions Of The World's Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Sex, drugs, and rock n' roll. Nobody did it bigger or better than the guys from Motley Crue. They certainly didn't invent debauchery--even the Romans can't lay claim to that notion--but the Crue did their part in taking it to levels not seen since the early days of the Mighty Led Zeppelin.

Each chapter of The Dirt is a narrative from one band member or another, in their own words, sharing their own recollections. Bassist Nikki Sixx gives us all an inside look at the life of a functioning junkie. Drummer Tommy Lee tells all about being married to Hollywood stars. Guitarist Mick Mars, well, let's just say he's filled with his own complex theories as to how things work. And then there's lead singer Vince Neil, sharing his pain over the death of his five-year-old daughter Skylar, a victim of cancer. Even managers, past and present, get a few words in. But it's the back stage exploits that really gives this book teeth. Groupies, drugs, groupies, booze-fueled-excess, groupies, fights, fired personel, and, lest we forget, groupies.

Those of us who remember reading Circus Magazine, Hit Parader Magazine, or Rolling Stone Magazine back in the 80's know all too well the crazy world that was Motley Crue. Most of the lurid tales in this book are simply rehashed stories from the aforementioned magazines. But to bring them all together, between two paperback covers, is system overload. It's surprising that all four original members are still alive to tell what they know.(Temporary drummer Randy Castillo died of cancer.)

The Dirt dishes on the excess of the 80's, the firing of lead singer Vince Neil--or maybe he quit, depending on which side you take--and the slow transition into the elder statesmen of rock n' roll they've become. This may not be your cup of filth--I don't recommend it for any reader under the age of eighteen--but it is entertaining, to say the least. I saw them in concert twice back in the day. You always got your money's worth at a Crue show. Same goes for this book. Long live Motley Crue.



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I get them quite often—even though I’m an indie author. I’m talking about the tweets from indie musicians asking for a shout out, or if maybe I wouldn’t mind having a listen to a song or two from a recently released album, EP, or single. I always oblige. I can’t help it. I’m a massive music fan! I once—though briefly—played in a metal band way back in 1984. I sang lead vocals—though my first love was and still is guitar. My true calling, though, is writing. So I’ll gladly leave the music-making to those who actually know what they’re doing; which brings me to the most recent band to contact me via Twitter.

The Bloody Nerve is a duo currently based out of Nashville, TN. And the mere fact that I’m taking the time to write a blog post about them ought to let you know my opinion of this amazing pair. This doesn’t mean all of those other musicians that have contacted me for a shout out aren’t worthy of a blog post—several are, and may get their own if I can find time to squeeze them between work on my second novel and the myriad short stories I’m currently putting together.

The Bloody Nerve consists of singer/guitarist Stacey Blood and vocalist Laurie Ann Layne. The two came together after years of stumping through places as diverse as Dallas, TX; San Luis Obispo, CA; New York; and Miami. Blood arrived in Nashville first, back in 2004. Layne followed two years later. It was producer David Norris, a long-time friend to Blood, who steered the two into a working relationship that translates well into tight harmonies, stellar melodies, and poignant lyrics.

Both Blood and Layne are incredible singers. Their vocals complement each other in the same way an old married couple will finish one another’s sentences. The track that drew my attention is the haunting “Find Ya Love,” which can be viewed on their official website as well as on YouTube. This is one of those tracks that really puts the listener into a dreamy sort of mood, conjuring images of a stormy night somewhere deep in the American South. A second track, called “Place To Hide,” offers the true genius of simplicity: a guy, a girl, and an acoustic guitar.

These two serve up old-school rock and roll that sounds fresh and exciting in today’s often-stagnant music world. There’s no auto tune in this mix, just good old fashioned talent. Their newly-released EP entitled Red is available through their web site at http://www.thebloodynerve.com. I highly recommend this dynamic duo.

In case you need more convincing, have a listen and a look for yourselves:

“Place To Hide” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T7qtd...

“Find Ya Love” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cb-P9...

“Red” promo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px3vIf...