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Too Late To Stop Now: More Rock’n’Roll War Stories
More than 40 stories from the glory days of rock'n'roll, featuring Lou Reed, Elton John, Sting and The Clash.
Allan Jones brings stories – many previously unpublished – from the golden days of music reporting. Long nights of booze, drugs and unguarded conversations which include anecdotes, experiences and extravagant behaviour.
- A band's aftershow party in San Francisco being gatecrashed by cocaine-hungry Hells Angels
- Chrissie Hynde on how rock'n'roll killed The Pretenders
- What happened when Nick Lowe and 20 of his mates flew off to Texas to join the Confederate Air Force
- John Cale on his dark alliance with Lou Reed
Allan Jones remembers a world that once was – one of dark excess and excitement, outrageous deeds and extraordinary talent, featuring legends at both the beginnings and ends of their careers.
Allan Jones brings stories – many previously unpublished – from the golden days of music reporting. Long nights of booze, drugs and unguarded conversations which include anecdotes, experiences and extravagant behaviour.
- A band's aftershow party in San Francisco being gatecrashed by cocaine-hungry Hells Angels
- Chrissie Hynde on how rock'n'roll killed The Pretenders
- What happened when Nick Lowe and 20 of his mates flew off to Texas to join the Confederate Air Force
- John Cale on his dark alliance with Lou Reed
Allan Jones remembers a world that once was – one of dark excess and excitement, outrageous deeds and extraordinary talent, featuring legends at both the beginnings and ends of their careers.
384 pages, Paperback
Published July 25, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 18, 2023
More outrageous and hilarious tales from the Wild West days of rock ‘n’ roll. This second volume of reminiscences by legendary rock journalist Allan Jones (I understand that ‘legendary’ is an obligatory adjective when writing about rock journos of a certain vintage) is every bit as good as the first one. Jones was the wild card on the otherwise rather staid Melody Maker back in the 1970s. It was a time when rock writers were almost as famous as the stars they wrote about and granted a degree of access that now seems unimaginable.
Jones had so much access that he practically moved in with the bands and became an honorary member. For many years he took his typewriter out on the road and lived the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. He didn’t just interview bands, he was right there with them in the bar, on the tour coach, in the dressing room, in the bar, on the plane, in the hotel, and on the odd occasion in the bar. It’s clear from his own account that his appetite for ‘the lifestyle’ was as voracious as that of any of the musicians he chronicled.
At one point he mentions ‘a quick drink after work getting monumentally out of hand’, but the reader would be surprised only if it hadn’t, as this is pretty much the story of his life in one sentence. Uproarious and undignified behaviour is the order of the day, the day after that, and every other day to the last syllable of recorded time: Jones and Wreckless Eric get into a drunken brawl with some Portuguese punks, he chats backstage with the Damned while their fans dismantle the venue around them, and entertains the Oakland Chapter of the California Hells Angels with something a bit stronger than tea and biscuits.
In contrast to many of his contemporaries, Jones makes no attempt to appear impossibly hip. He presents himself as a Falstaffian figure, full of hedonistic enthusiasm and happy to play the inebriated fool (‘I get somewhat unsteadily to what I presume are my feet’). He’s irreverent and iconoclastic but never cynical. His prose is perceptive in a deceptively offhand way, imbued with an amiably wayward spirit, and very funny. Its antic manner is a perfect match for the raucous and mutinous nature of the music that ignites his passions: Dr. Feelgood, Velvet Underground, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, the Blasters, the Clash, and almost anyone who ever recorded for the Stiff label. His love of the music comes across as loud and clear as the music itself.
He also has a nice line in deflating the pomposity of those he views as irredeemably self-regarding or pretentious; lots of nice lines, in fact. Progressive rock is a particular bête noire. Genesis are ‘not so much a rock band as the bell-bottomed equivalent of the school chess team on an outing to an owl sanctuary’. During a 1977 encounter with Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, at the height of the punk wars, he accuses the codpiece wearing flautist and his fellow proggers of ‘behaving like swooning French aristocrats in a tumbril on their way to the guillotine’.
In the final pages Jones reflects on all the friends and colleagues who are no longer with him (or anyone else, for that matter), the disappearance of the weekly music press and, along with it, the entire dissolute world through which he once staggered so proudly. Too Late To Stop Now is an affectionate and wonderfully funny celebration of an era now receded to history: ‘those dying generations at their song’, and all that.
Jones had so much access that he practically moved in with the bands and became an honorary member. For many years he took his typewriter out on the road and lived the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. He didn’t just interview bands, he was right there with them in the bar, on the tour coach, in the dressing room, in the bar, on the plane, in the hotel, and on the odd occasion in the bar. It’s clear from his own account that his appetite for ‘the lifestyle’ was as voracious as that of any of the musicians he chronicled.
At one point he mentions ‘a quick drink after work getting monumentally out of hand’, but the reader would be surprised only if it hadn’t, as this is pretty much the story of his life in one sentence. Uproarious and undignified behaviour is the order of the day, the day after that, and every other day to the last syllable of recorded time: Jones and Wreckless Eric get into a drunken brawl with some Portuguese punks, he chats backstage with the Damned while their fans dismantle the venue around them, and entertains the Oakland Chapter of the California Hells Angels with something a bit stronger than tea and biscuits.
In contrast to many of his contemporaries, Jones makes no attempt to appear impossibly hip. He presents himself as a Falstaffian figure, full of hedonistic enthusiasm and happy to play the inebriated fool (‘I get somewhat unsteadily to what I presume are my feet’). He’s irreverent and iconoclastic but never cynical. His prose is perceptive in a deceptively offhand way, imbued with an amiably wayward spirit, and very funny. Its antic manner is a perfect match for the raucous and mutinous nature of the music that ignites his passions: Dr. Feelgood, Velvet Underground, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, the Blasters, the Clash, and almost anyone who ever recorded for the Stiff label. His love of the music comes across as loud and clear as the music itself.
He also has a nice line in deflating the pomposity of those he views as irredeemably self-regarding or pretentious; lots of nice lines, in fact. Progressive rock is a particular bête noire. Genesis are ‘not so much a rock band as the bell-bottomed equivalent of the school chess team on an outing to an owl sanctuary’. During a 1977 encounter with Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, at the height of the punk wars, he accuses the codpiece wearing flautist and his fellow proggers of ‘behaving like swooning French aristocrats in a tumbril on their way to the guillotine’.
In the final pages Jones reflects on all the friends and colleagues who are no longer with him (or anyone else, for that matter), the disappearance of the weekly music press and, along with it, the entire dissolute world through which he once staggered so proudly. Too Late To Stop Now is an affectionate and wonderfully funny celebration of an era now receded to history: ‘those dying generations at their song’, and all that.
July 25, 2024
3.5 stars.
June 19, 2023
Too Late To Stop Now: More Rock 'n' Roll War Stories will be released on July 25, 2023. Bloomsbury USA provided an early galley for review.
I had not read Allan Jones' 2017 Can't Stand Up For Falling Down of which this new book is a follow-up companion of sorts. Still, as a music fan, I enjoy hearing the behind-the-scenes details from favorite musicians and such. My hope was to hear some good stories.
Allan's offerings here cross the decades, going from 1974 all the way into 2014. There are several familiar names as well as some that are completely unknown to me (British fans might have the advantage here as Jones wrote and was editor for Melody Maker for a large portion of this time period). His approach is casual and approachable, with each story covered in small, digestible takes. That makes this is easy volume to read and use for reference.
What I got out of his stories (and so many music biographies that I often read as well) is the reminder that these performers that fans often put on pedestals are, in fact, just everyday kind of folks who just happen to have talents and a means to share them with the world. I find this to be a great study in humanity and character. I would recommend this one specifically to folks who like to get behind the music and the stage personas.
I had not read Allan Jones' 2017 Can't Stand Up For Falling Down of which this new book is a follow-up companion of sorts. Still, as a music fan, I enjoy hearing the behind-the-scenes details from favorite musicians and such. My hope was to hear some good stories.
Allan's offerings here cross the decades, going from 1974 all the way into 2014. There are several familiar names as well as some that are completely unknown to me (British fans might have the advantage here as Jones wrote and was editor for Melody Maker for a large portion of this time period). His approach is casual and approachable, with each story covered in small, digestible takes. That makes this is easy volume to read and use for reference.
What I got out of his stories (and so many music biographies that I often read as well) is the reminder that these performers that fans often put on pedestals are, in fact, just everyday kind of folks who just happen to have talents and a means to share them with the world. I find this to be a great study in humanity and character. I would recommend this one specifically to folks who like to get behind the music and the stage personas.
September 21, 2023
I used to read MM and NME in the 80s. It was hard but it helped me to improve my English and was exciting as it talked about any type of music.
This book brought me back in time but it was also exciting and a bit nostalgic.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
This book brought me back in time but it was also exciting and a bit nostalgic.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
May 2, 2023
Let me start by stating that music is important to my life. I don't play music, but hearing a record for the first time, or seeing my favorite bands/singers live has such an affect on me. There's nothing that soothes my soul more.
That's why I decided to check this book out. I'm a fan or music biographies, or music behind the scenes books. This is one of them. There are some great stories in this book. Sadly, most of them are self-indulgent about the author bragging about getting drunk or high on a lot of drugs with the band. I understand that's part of the rock and roll world, but it's overkill with the author trying to take center stage in some stories. Where the book works, it tells some great stories of the singers/bands talking about how they formed, and behind the scenes of their albums/tours. This was a good book, but I wished for more of the essays that were great such as the ones told about John Cale, R.E,M., and The Clash.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bloomsbury USA for the advanced copy.
#TooLateToStopNow #NetGalley
That's why I decided to check this book out. I'm a fan or music biographies, or music behind the scenes books. This is one of them. There are some great stories in this book. Sadly, most of them are self-indulgent about the author bragging about getting drunk or high on a lot of drugs with the band. I understand that's part of the rock and roll world, but it's overkill with the author trying to take center stage in some stories. Where the book works, it tells some great stories of the singers/bands talking about how they formed, and behind the scenes of their albums/tours. This was a good book, but I wished for more of the essays that were great such as the ones told about John Cale, R.E,M., and The Clash.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bloomsbury USA for the advanced copy.
#TooLateToStopNow #NetGalley
June 6, 2023
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Bloomsbury USA for an advance copy of this book of recollections on meeting the famous, the infamous, and the forgotten in both the world of music, film, and other odd places.
The art of interviewing famous people has become as controlled and regimented as just about everything else in the world has. Zoom meetings have taken the place of mass interviews where a star would sit in a hotel and answer the same questions over and over. A member of the star's team would be present, stopping questions outside the project being pushed, or what was discussed earlier. Zoom gives even more power to the stars, as one can be banned, or if done using Twitter or Meta, just blame the horrible programming. The days of the embedded journalist are probably over. For COVID reasons, stars can't get sick, and for cost, no media organization is going to pay for ten nights at the Chez Expensive to find out what an American Idol runner-up is going to do. Plus with podcasts so easy to do, who needs media when Bruce Springsteen can do his own show, and again control all the questions, and who gets to hear it. That's why books like Too Late To Stop Now: More Rock’n’Roll War Stories by rock journalist Allan Jones are so important, and yet seem from a bygone age. Sitting with a star and asking questions, and calling them on their bad answers, is shocking for the rawness and the information that one gets. And is a lot of fun to read.
Allan Jones was lucky to talk to many people, and have a magazine that not only put up with him, but paid him to talk to these people. A talk with Peter Gabriel about justifying his exit from the band Genesis, to talking to Jon Anderson about the band Yes leaving him. Jones is almost rude in his questions, but in his not treating them like porcelain dolls, Jones gets to the truth of the matter with them. Jones was able to speak to people at their best, sometimes their worst, or even more interesting lost. Or drunk, high and full of conspiracies. Jones interviewed Little Feat hours after full cavity searches by English custom inspectors. Drank numerous bottles of champagne with Elton John after his album Caribu came out. Smoked primo dope with Roy Harper while Harper wondered about his career and why it never took off, Embedded himself bands in America, and even drank and got a a decent interview with Lou Reed. That in itself is a story to be proud of.
The stories are told from interviews with a lot of filling in. Sometimes modern mentions can be a little weird like a mention of QAnon in an interview with Peter Gabriel. The stories are interesting in some ways, a few are bands that might have been big in England or Japan, not so much here. However they are mostly interesting, if not outright hysterical. Funny in that idea that there music was going to change the world, or in some bands be remembered forever. Also sometimes Jones tends to talk alot about how annoying he finds some of them, and there are quite a few mentions of hopefully this interview will be over so I can get to the pub.
Recommended for music fans, especially English music fans. The interviews can be quite revealing, and funny. The real feeling is that this was a special time, that could and will never happen again. No media company would print these reviews, or even follow a band for longer than a Zoom call. However for fans like myself who love to listen and read about music, this book is really fun.
The art of interviewing famous people has become as controlled and regimented as just about everything else in the world has. Zoom meetings have taken the place of mass interviews where a star would sit in a hotel and answer the same questions over and over. A member of the star's team would be present, stopping questions outside the project being pushed, or what was discussed earlier. Zoom gives even more power to the stars, as one can be banned, or if done using Twitter or Meta, just blame the horrible programming. The days of the embedded journalist are probably over. For COVID reasons, stars can't get sick, and for cost, no media organization is going to pay for ten nights at the Chez Expensive to find out what an American Idol runner-up is going to do. Plus with podcasts so easy to do, who needs media when Bruce Springsteen can do his own show, and again control all the questions, and who gets to hear it. That's why books like Too Late To Stop Now: More Rock’n’Roll War Stories by rock journalist Allan Jones are so important, and yet seem from a bygone age. Sitting with a star and asking questions, and calling them on their bad answers, is shocking for the rawness and the information that one gets. And is a lot of fun to read.
Allan Jones was lucky to talk to many people, and have a magazine that not only put up with him, but paid him to talk to these people. A talk with Peter Gabriel about justifying his exit from the band Genesis, to talking to Jon Anderson about the band Yes leaving him. Jones is almost rude in his questions, but in his not treating them like porcelain dolls, Jones gets to the truth of the matter with them. Jones was able to speak to people at their best, sometimes their worst, or even more interesting lost. Or drunk, high and full of conspiracies. Jones interviewed Little Feat hours after full cavity searches by English custom inspectors. Drank numerous bottles of champagne with Elton John after his album Caribu came out. Smoked primo dope with Roy Harper while Harper wondered about his career and why it never took off, Embedded himself bands in America, and even drank and got a a decent interview with Lou Reed. That in itself is a story to be proud of.
The stories are told from interviews with a lot of filling in. Sometimes modern mentions can be a little weird like a mention of QAnon in an interview with Peter Gabriel. The stories are interesting in some ways, a few are bands that might have been big in England or Japan, not so much here. However they are mostly interesting, if not outright hysterical. Funny in that idea that there music was going to change the world, or in some bands be remembered forever. Also sometimes Jones tends to talk alot about how annoying he finds some of them, and there are quite a few mentions of hopefully this interview will be over so I can get to the pub.
Recommended for music fans, especially English music fans. The interviews can be quite revealing, and funny. The real feeling is that this was a special time, that could and will never happen again. No media company would print these reviews, or even follow a band for longer than a Zoom call. However for fans like myself who love to listen and read about music, this book is really fun.
July 23, 2023
Step back in time to early 1970s British pop and then fast forward through punk, rockabilly, New Wave and even some country music. You are living the wacky life of a British music reporter and it’s Too Late to Stop Now!
It is no surprise now to discover that Elton John is a polite nerd or that Sting is an insufferable egomaniac. Most of the musicians that will be familiar to Americans contain few surprises within their chapters. The biggest surprise is found in the chapter dedicated to the Rolling Stones, in which none of the Stones appear. What?
However, I really enjoyed reading the stories of bands that were popular in the UK that never made it to America at all. As I was reading, I asked Alexa to play the songs mentioned. Many of them were great or at least equivalent to American music at the time.
Too Late to Stop Now is a good way to find “new” music to listen to. However, most of the stories are predictable and run together into one blurry memory like the morning’s memories after a blackout drunk session the night before. Also, some of the very British slang and other references may be incomprehensible to Americans. It was too much for my kindle’s dictionary as well.
The book reads less like a tell all and more like a memoir of a nostalgic reporter’s drunken escapades alongside stars of the time. I, for one, feel like I have a hangover headache just from reading it. 3 stars.
Thanks to Bloombury Caravel and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
It is no surprise now to discover that Elton John is a polite nerd or that Sting is an insufferable egomaniac. Most of the musicians that will be familiar to Americans contain few surprises within their chapters. The biggest surprise is found in the chapter dedicated to the Rolling Stones, in which none of the Stones appear. What?
However, I really enjoyed reading the stories of bands that were popular in the UK that never made it to America at all. As I was reading, I asked Alexa to play the songs mentioned. Many of them were great or at least equivalent to American music at the time.
Too Late to Stop Now is a good way to find “new” music to listen to. However, most of the stories are predictable and run together into one blurry memory like the morning’s memories after a blackout drunk session the night before. Also, some of the very British slang and other references may be incomprehensible to Americans. It was too much for my kindle’s dictionary as well.
The book reads less like a tell all and more like a memoir of a nostalgic reporter’s drunken escapades alongside stars of the time. I, for one, feel like I have a hangover headache just from reading it. 3 stars.
Thanks to Bloombury Caravel and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
July 17, 2023
Too Late To Stop Now by Allan Jones is a fun collection of anecdotes and stories from his time interviewing and profiling music artists.
These very much resemble sitting down with someone you might know and listening to them tell you about what they used to do. Informal and, seemingly, relatively unfiltered. By that I mean neither the artists nor Jones always come out of each story looking good. They all do, however, come out looking human. And that is what the fascination is with behind-the-scenes type books.
Jones does play a part in these stories because, well, they're his stories. These aren't snippets from interviews where he is simply relaying what he was told. He is there, he is spending time with these artists. So, yes, he is part of it. If he hadn't been there, there would be no story to tell. This isn't rocket science. I have no problem with his authorial voice, so I am not bothered by it. Maybe some just don't like his voice and rather than just say so have to try to attribute some negative tag to it. Oh well.
If you enjoy behind the scenes stories from someone not only there but usually involved to some degree, you will enjoy this collection. The entries are generally short, so this would make an excellent book to keep bedside or on the end table for when you have a few minutes to read.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
These very much resemble sitting down with someone you might know and listening to them tell you about what they used to do. Informal and, seemingly, relatively unfiltered. By that I mean neither the artists nor Jones always come out of each story looking good. They all do, however, come out looking human. And that is what the fascination is with behind-the-scenes type books.
Jones does play a part in these stories because, well, they're his stories. These aren't snippets from interviews where he is simply relaying what he was told. He is there, he is spending time with these artists. So, yes, he is part of it. If he hadn't been there, there would be no story to tell. This isn't rocket science. I have no problem with his authorial voice, so I am not bothered by it. Maybe some just don't like his voice and rather than just say so have to try to attribute some negative tag to it. Oh well.
If you enjoy behind the scenes stories from someone not only there but usually involved to some degree, you will enjoy this collection. The entries are generally short, so this would make an excellent book to keep bedside or on the end table for when you have a few minutes to read.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
November 10, 2024
I mentioned in a note included in my review of Jones's previous collection, "Can't Stand Up for Falling Down," that this second volume of "rock'n'roll war stories" suffered from their elaboration and expansion into the generally longer chapters found here. That impression didn't linger, ultimately, and this book was quite a good read. Not as sordid as the first, but rather more reflective, at times more somber (I'd called this "sullen" in my earlier review). Jones settles into his memories and prior writings here in a way that feels more "living room" than "pub" -- quieter, considerate, with long pauses for reflection. I ended up feeling like I was saying farewell to someone who had become a sort of friend by the end, and felt a little tug on the heartstrings by the final farewell of the "Afterparty" coda.
Very much recommended.
Very much recommended.
December 20, 2023
I'd wish I could have liked this book more, because where it is good it is VERY good; well written, incisive and interesting. That tends to be in the longer pieces, unfortunately there aren't nearly enough of those, and way too many stories along the lines of 'Getting pissed/high/wasted with musicians'. Basically, a collection of anecdotes about a large number of binge alcoholics, and I say that in a completely non judgmental way. The number of people in this book who gave up booze is a testament to the fact that many of these people had a booze addition that was out of control.
The first couple of times it's funny. After a while, it just gets kind of dull.
The first couple of times it's funny. After a while, it just gets kind of dull.
July 13, 2024
This book was fine, I just think that I am not the right audience. I am not British and I am not in my 50s/60s. A lot of the essays/interviews were with bands that never made it in the states, which meant that I struggled to be engaged with that particular content. I didn't feel like I learned anything about any of the subjects (most of the longer pieces were simply a summary of the bands career or formations story), gained any insight into the bands, or even heard any scalations tour stories. Sols as "war stories" all of these pieces happened after the war, maybe hinted at some battles, but were in no way war stories. The highlights were, by far, R.E.M and Chrissie Hynde.
March 19, 2023
This was actually about 3.5 stars.
This is a great book full of interviews the author did during his times working for various magazines. It’s all over the place in terms of who he interviewed, so it’s got something for everyone.
Jones doesn’t pretend to like all the people he interviewed and I thought that was one of the best things about him. He shows you can still get a good story without having to suck up to celebrities. It’s refreshing.
Lots of good things here. You’ll definitely find a few you’ll love.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
This is a great book full of interviews the author did during his times working for various magazines. It’s all over the place in terms of who he interviewed, so it’s got something for everyone.
Jones doesn’t pretend to like all the people he interviewed and I thought that was one of the best things about him. He shows you can still get a good story without having to suck up to celebrities. It’s refreshing.
Lots of good things here. You’ll definitely find a few you’ll love.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
September 24, 2023
Matt Bates reads the audio version brilliantly, giving it real verve and life.
March 28, 2024
I bailed after 100 pages, one of the most boring music books I’ve ever read. A litany of just how pissed the author got with musicians in hotel rooms and on tour is not my idea of fun. Useless.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews