Power Chord: One Man's Ear-Splitting Quest to Find His Guitar Heroes – Behind-the-Scenes Stories from Metal's Golden Age

by Thomas Scott Mckenzie

Power Chord is the story of one man’s epic pilgrimage to gain rock enlightenment from the gods and guitar heroes of the Golden Age of heavy metal. Author Scott McKenzie set off to make contact with the legendary metal superstars he worshipped in his rural Kentucky youth—men like George Lynch of Dokken, Glen Tipton of Judas Priest, and Ace Frehley of KISS—hoping to gain wisdom and a better understanding of the electric guitar mystique. The result is a veritable treasure trove of enthralling behind-the-scenes stories and “where are they now” revelations that will delight anyone who has ever felt a Mötley Crüe, Guns ’N’ Roses, or Black Sabbath song reach out from the speakers and grab them by the ears.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

308 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2012

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sometimes a book is so unbearably awful, you just have to keep hate-reading it until the end. For years now, when I've been looking for some music-related light reading, I've seen the book Power Chord : One Man’s Ear Splitting Quest to Find His Guitar Heroes. The premise sounds interesting enough. A guy obsessed with rock/metal guitar music from the 80s, tracks down the guitar gods of his youth. I was this exact demographic as a teenager, I'm in. But the author's personality permeates each page and that's not a good thing. He spends all this money on guitars and music fantasy camps and travel, and that's fine, he can do whatever he wants with his money, but then he complains about stuff his wife wants to spend money on, like fertility treatments, etc. and whines about how if/when they have kids, he's gonna have to stop traveling and start spending time with his family. And I keep thinking, this is the version that got published. How terrible must his early drafts have been? Oh what a tragedy. He has to spend time with his spouse. Oh, and I forgot. HE CAN'T EVEN PLAY GUITAR. He does all of these expensive jamming with the rock star things and buys these pricey instruments and he doesn't even know any basic chords yet! I feel so sorry for his wife. And there are so many terrible misogynistic asides.

[Brian Kovesci · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm conflicted.

The story is fun. It's nice to read about McKenzie meeting his guitar heroes. I'm sure those interactions mean a lot to him.

But he's a big poser. And he had to shell out a lot of money to have those interactions. It just seemed a bit stupid, especially that last interaction between McKenzie and George Lynch who mentioned missing his son's birthday and the birth of a grandchild to be on the road because being a musician was his job and he had to work. The interview was in a Winnebago. It just seems so wrong.

It just... it seems to me like McKenzie benefited from the hard times of some of these heroes of his. It just feels wrong.

BUT the story was a fun read. So if he's able to fund this bizarre series of interviews and concerts and conventions, then why shouldn't he have a ball and tell his story?

Conflicted.

[Vernon Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully honest look at the “guitar hero” phenomenon, through the eyes of a fan that just happens to be a great writer. Scott follows his guitar heroes (many of whom are not widely known, and whose most ‘successful days are behind them), asking questions, seeking advice, and getting s guitar lesson every so often. The result is a sincere, heart-warming look at what it means to dedicate your life to something you love.

[Jamie Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the author I too was a fan of the genre known as "hair metal " that originated mostly from Los Angeles during the '80's. This book appeals to a niche market - of which I happen to fall into. If you are not then this may not appeal to you. Fun light read overall. Party on Wayne.

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fun read if 80s rock is your thing .

[Darrell Reimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott McKenzie's Power Chord is, I think it's fair to say, a boy's book. The guitar heroes he tracks down and yacks with are all fellas who had their highest hay-day before Grunge appeared. Now they shill for guitar companies, form various iterations of the act that made them famous and rock out smaller venues, or give one-on-one guitar lessons at advanced rates.

McKenzie combs the highways and byways for these dudes, to gather wisdom -- not of the "living life" variety (which is just as well -- the one guy who could legitimately offer it, Warren DeMartini (married 20 years and counting) from Ratt, resolutely refuses to discuss family life), but of the "What's it take to really play this thing?" variety. This is advice McKenzie heeds well, so that by the end of the book he is, despite a disastrous Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy camp experience, a proficient player.

The conversational tone to these exchanges is strictly of the "from one guy to another" variety, including McKenzie's tone as a writer. Is that a bad thing? If you're (cough) a midlife guy who's just picked up his first electric guitar . . . not even remotely. I had a gas.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally, this would not be a book that I would choose off the shelf. I initially began reading this book because it is written by my childhood friend, Scott McKenzie. I loved metal hair bands like most kids growing up in the 80's but I have to say that I learned a lot more while reading! This book was very entertaining. I felt like I was catching up with an old friend, having a beer and hearing all these stories about his life and how he set out to meet his guitar heroes.

I enjoyed how Scott intertwined information about guitars, band history, and bios from the musicians all while pursueing his own ambitions and fears about learning to play his guitars. There were also snippets of life growing up in rural Kentucky and present day personal stories to round out each chapter.

I am inspired to pull out some of my old music and download some tunes I haven't heard in years all to really listen to the guitar and appreciate these musicians all over again.

[Du · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. The tone and style is perfectly suited for the topic of going on a guitar hero quest. I am glad this was suggested to me, and the idea of listening to metal while reading it was a good suggestion as well. I kept hearing the songs in my head anyway.

The frank and honest interweaving of the quest and the desire to learn to play guitar was really well done. It had potential for the guitar lessons to drag the pace down, but they really contributed to the overall flow of the book. I definitely want to check out other books by the author.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book was totally up my alley, and is probably what kept me reading it until the end. Unfortunately, the writing just wasn't very good. I know it is the author's first book, and and you can tell. This probably would have been better off as a magazine feature. Too rambling, and some of his comments made him come off as a bit of a jerk. Not a horrible book, and but not one I would recommend to anyone.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend for any gen X'er who grew up reading Circus and Hit Parader, wishing you lived near the Sunset Strip. I learned some interesting things and took the journey vicariously with the author. Nevermind the complaints about poor writing, you won't notice if you are as interested in the music and characters as I was. Thanks for the ride Scott!

[David Webber · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun to reminisce about 80's metal and hair bands, when maybe we all dreamed of being a guitarist. The interviews with the author's guitar heroes were fun, but I agree with another comment that stated that you could tell this was the author's first book. Overall though, it was a fun read.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise (guy tracks down and interviews guitar idols from his youth), but the writing was underwhelming and the author's attempts to insert himself into the story felt awkward.

[Jay Clement · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Like several books in this genre, it's a journey of self-discovery for a guy as he combines his quest to learn how to rock with interviews with his guitar heroes. Entertaining.

[Brijesh Kartha · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok book as far as jotting down the experiences of a person trying to and succeeding to meet his guitar heroes.