No One Waved Good-Bye: A Casualty Report on Rock and Roll

by Robert Somma

Success is a funny situation to be in. Brian Epstein, Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin had great success: they sold records, created styles, did their bit toward changing the world. People applauded, sent fan mail, wrote articles, requested interviews and photographs. But in the end, when their time, surprisingly, was up, no one waved good-bye.

What was it that turned their success sour? And why? This is an attempt to pierce the gloom and mystery that surrounds these four, tragic deaths. Contributors include all the best-known American rock writers: Lillian Roxon, Al Aronowitz, Jon Landau, R. Meltzer and Lou Reed.

There is both a growing concern and a morbid interest in the increased, and often fatal, use of hard drugs among musicians, and this collection of pieces presents a balanced and thoughtful analysis of this depressingly shady side to the music business.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The standout essay in here is Lou Reed's "Fallen Knights and Fallen Ladies." All the essays have merit, but Reed's thoughts seemed the most interesting to me. But I'm a longtime Reed fan, so perhaps I'm biased. The conversation between Danny Fields and Jeff Nesin wasn't that interesting, and it's unfortunately the longest piece in here. Somma's introduction and John Landau's essay are also quite good. I wish a little more attention had been given to Brian Epstein and Brian Jones, and a little less given to Janis Joplin. It makes sense that in 1971 she and Hendrix would get more attention as they were bigger stars than Epstein or Jones, but in doing so it kind of plays into the popularity, fandom trap that various points in some these essays tried to critique--pop culture never gets out of its own trap, it seems. Still, as an early collection of thoughts reflecting on the tragedies that came with the end of the 60s it is an interesting and useful look into a deeply problematic and amazing decade. The disillusionment that permeated the 70s is also very evident in these essays. Anyone interested in either decade should find this a valuable read.

[Tracy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the book name drops a few different artists all passing before they hit 30; the majority of the book is on Janis Joplin.

In a world, which sounds very parallel to the attitudes of now, with the increased drug use and a blind view on bedroom partners going instead on feel.
It did give me a few names to look up I wasnt familiar with. Which took me down the googled rabbit hole of random aspects of life. Like who was Brian Jones? *clearly what was thought to be a gorgeous man back then doesn’t hold the same for now* but Did you know he had 7 children outta wedlock? All different mamas, yet all the sons were Julian Jones (middle names changing slightly). Much like that joke on how men with second hidden families name all the kids the same as their primary marriage so as to not slip up.

Sheltered me also didn’t realize the word F*ck was so old fashioned (book printed in 1971) but seemed to be JJ’s favorite parroted punctuation of the authors were correct in their recollection.

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sad book about the causalties of rock .