Nine Hundred Nights

by Nick Apuzzo

For the members of the bar band Raw Deal, it was their love of the music led them into the clubs and eventually onto the stage. The bonds that were formed as they lived with their days and nights reversed were never broken and left a lasting mark on all who were part of it. Gradually the band's cover songs gave way to original material and an offer from a record company, but as often happens, reality intervened. In his second novel, Nick Apuzzo pulls us into the lives of a New York/New Jersey club band. From uncertain beginnings spent auditioning for that elusive 'chemistry', to the weekend chaos and mayhem of crowded nightclubs, Nick takes us on a wild and often hilarious ride that is the live music scene.

Genres: Fiction, Music, Humor

248 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2011

About the author

Born and raised in New York City, Nick Apuzzo spent his formative years in the Bronx during the 60's, 70's and 80's. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area of California.

Nick was voted "John Steinbeck's biggest fan.", has dreamed (in color) of writing a screenplay for Martin Scorsese, and remembers nearly every line of dialog from nearly every movie or television show he's ever seen.

He is the author of two novels: "Connected", a mafia fiction, and "NINE HUNDRED NIGHTS, Life in the Belly of the Heavy Metal Beast".


COMING IN MARCH 2012: Nick is putting the finishing touches on the long awaited sequel to "Connected", the title of this book has not been released yet.

Reviews

[Marty Essen]

You’ll laugh out loud!

Having run a talent agency that managed rock and roll bands, I didn’t expect to read anything in Nine Hundred Nights that I hadn’t heard before. But author Nick Apuzzo is as talented a story teller as he is a musician. He had me laughing out loud every few minutes and really caring about the fate of his band and its crew.

In the end, it didn’t matter whether some of the band’s adventures reminded me of those I’d heard from bands I had managed. Nick could repeat the most mundane band road story and make it both unique and funny.

And if you’re not a musician, or are not into heavy metal music, have no fear. As long as you aren’t easily offended (this book takes place in the 1980s, and the laughs fit the time period) and find the basic premise of the book interesting, you will love it.

Thanks, Nick, for a wild and wonderful ride. I will be looking up a bunch of my musician friends from the 1980s and recommending your book.

Marty Essen, author of Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents

[Jason]

liked this.. not really my genre, of either music or book. Very well written for author's second book, very impressive.

I kept forgetting it was a novel, it was written with such a tone that it felt like it was completely the narrator's life. As I read it, and got caught up in it, even almost to tears at one point, i had to stop and remind myself that it was fiction. Made me feel like an enthusiastic fan, during the growth of the era, and watching these guys grow into an incredible band--like i was there in Jersey with them, tagging along like a roadie, in it with them. VERY well written.

High marks!!

Kudos Mr. Apuzzo.

[Christy Wilson]

This is really more of a 2 1/2 star book...I liked it, but it was kind of all over the place which puts it in the "it was ok" category. Lots of funny scenes where a couple of the band members horse around. I kind of had the story figured out, I just wasn't sure which person it would be.

It's not a bad book but at times the all over the place dialogue and scenes (I can think of no other way to describe it) caused some confusion. At one point, I lost track of what time we were at in the book, because it starts in one year, bounces back two years, and at some point, it comes back to where the book started.

[Christie]

I lived the 80's heavy metal scene in Fort Worth, TX. Almost every weekend I was at Joe's Garage banging my head, being slammed against the stage by someone in the mosh pit. Countless days unable to hear anything but ringing in my ears.

So I was excited to snag this book when it came up on Pixel of Ink for free. I couldn't finish this book! The writing was so bad. It was like something my son wrote for his jr high lit class.

Not many books have I just said, ENOUGH! I feel bad about not finishing, so I'm giving it 2 stars.

[Liz]

This was a really fun book to read about a wanna-be metal band. No, you don't have to like that kind of music to appreciate this book. I would have given it 4 stars, but it needed an editor. The author switched from first-person to third-person a bit clumsily (one point I think it happened mid-paragraph). And there were some other nitpicky errors. But all in all a good read.

[Tracy]

This book puts you right up on stage with the band and gives you a glimpse into their offstage life. The memories and good times they share are how you wish all your favorite bands behaved. Good clean fun and a warm story to boot.

[Katie]

This book could definitely benefit from some editing, but the characters are fantastic.

[Kristina]

boring :/

[P. Christopher Colter]

If you were a part of music in the 80s, you will love this semi-autobiographical novel. Some further edits, particularly in narrative point of view would be helpful, but still a very enjoyable read.