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Road Mangler Deluxe
Book by Kaufman, Phil, White, Colin
402 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 5, 2021
From the mid 1960's to the present day Phil Kaufman has been many things: a road manager for the likes of The Rolling Stones, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Marianne Faithful, Frank Zappa, Etta James, Joe Cocker, The Byrds, Rosanne Cash, The Everly Brothers, Elizabeth Ashley, The Divinyls and many others. He's also been a bar owner, The Demonstration Fleet Manager for Harley Davidson UK, a failed drug smuggler, the guy who stole and burned Gram Parsons' body in Joshua Tree national park and the friend and record producer of Charles Manson. His many stories and exploits are recounted in this colourful and humour-filled memoir of his eventful life. An irreverent read like no other. - BH.
February 15, 2026
A great, rollicking, rock n roll, country, country rock, load of fun.
Phil Kaufman, 'The Mangler's', reputation precedes him, so anyone picking up this book to read already knows all about him road managing celebrities and, most especially, his relationship with, and eventual theft of---- quite literally, the great Gram Parsons. Phil's book, as told to Colin White, is much like Phil himelf ---- honest, raw, and funny, and certainly lives up to his reputation. He might like to call himself the 'Road Mangler' but, in all honesty, he was an exceptional Road MANAGER, which is why celebrities hired him. He was trustworthy, loyal, organized, and, in the case of Emmylou Harris, he would 'jump on a grenade' for her. But celebrities also hired him because he was no nonsense, capable, hysterical and, as Elizabeth Ashley said, 'Only Mangler knew where to find lip gloss and pantyhose at 1:30 in the morning'.
Years before Phil's escapades road mangling, he served a stint in the Air Force and, a stint in jail. Both, probably, providing a good foundation for his future road work. Along the way, Phil had numerous wives and girlfriends, including the famous, or infamous, Sweet, Sweet Connie. Phil walked the walk, talked the talk, and lived the life. The road may be a lonely place but with Phil Kaufman around, he more that made it bearable..... and then some.
Phil Kaufman, 'The Mangler's', reputation precedes him, so anyone picking up this book to read already knows all about him road managing celebrities and, most especially, his relationship with, and eventual theft of---- quite literally, the great Gram Parsons. Phil's book, as told to Colin White, is much like Phil himelf ---- honest, raw, and funny, and certainly lives up to his reputation. He might like to call himself the 'Road Mangler' but, in all honesty, he was an exceptional Road MANAGER, which is why celebrities hired him. He was trustworthy, loyal, organized, and, in the case of Emmylou Harris, he would 'jump on a grenade' for her. But celebrities also hired him because he was no nonsense, capable, hysterical and, as Elizabeth Ashley said, 'Only Mangler knew where to find lip gloss and pantyhose at 1:30 in the morning'.
Years before Phil's escapades road mangling, he served a stint in the Air Force and, a stint in jail. Both, probably, providing a good foundation for his future road work. Along the way, Phil had numerous wives and girlfriends, including the famous, or infamous, Sweet, Sweet Connie. Phil walked the walk, talked the talk, and lived the life. The road may be a lonely place but with Phil Kaufman around, he more that made it bearable..... and then some.
May 8, 2026
Trying to Play Music Will Do That To You
This book isn’t profound literature, as I’m sure the author, aka The Mangler, would readily admit. But it is a romp, as his life has been.
Having been born at the beach in LA, my musical tastes and limited garage band skills took form in the late 1950s. I wanted a life as a rocker but possessed neither the skills nor the guts to take a shot at it. So, I became a newspaper reporter and often covered visiting rock and country acts. None hated speaking with me, sometime several times over many years and they liked me - I was not a critic. I admired them all.
The author had similar relationships with performers - he liked them all, some more than others, but above all he loved Emmylou Harris … who wouldn’t? I saw her live outdoors in the first year of her time playing with The Hot Band, and apparently the author was managing her tour then. Six degrees of separation, yet again! That was more than half a life ago, my body has aged, my instrumental and vocal skills have eroded, but my memories are alive as ever.
This was a fun, retrospective of life on the road when I, too, had dreams at arm’s length. This is a good read.
This book isn’t profound literature, as I’m sure the author, aka The Mangler, would readily admit. But it is a romp, as his life has been.
Having been born at the beach in LA, my musical tastes and limited garage band skills took form in the late 1950s. I wanted a life as a rocker but possessed neither the skills nor the guts to take a shot at it. So, I became a newspaper reporter and often covered visiting rock and country acts. None hated speaking with me, sometime several times over many years and they liked me - I was not a critic. I admired them all.
The author had similar relationships with performers - he liked them all, some more than others, but above all he loved Emmylou Harris … who wouldn’t? I saw her live outdoors in the first year of her time playing with The Hot Band, and apparently the author was managing her tour then. Six degrees of separation, yet again! That was more than half a life ago, my body has aged, my instrumental and vocal skills have eroded, but my memories are alive as ever.
This was a fun, retrospective of life on the road when I, too, had dreams at arm’s length. This is a good read.
February 14, 2021
This book is so much rock n' roll fun! And look at the cover ... How could you not love a book with a cover like that!? This is the story of Phil "Mangler" Kaufman, the legendary road manager who worked with The Rolling Stones and a whole slew of rock & country greats. From being tangled up with Charles Manson, to being the man who inspired Frank Zappa's song "Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?", he is perhaps most famously known for stealing the body of Gram Parsons and cremating it in Joshua Tree.
July 26, 2019
Ph Kauf!
Gotta love Mangler! (So many of us in Nashville do!) Truly one of the great characters of our time, Phil’s stories about how his life intersected with some of the most famous and infamous people in history are fascinating and funny. We are lucky that he got out of the 60s alive to tell his tale in his own words. A fabulous read!
Gotta love Mangler! (So many of us in Nashville do!) Truly one of the great characters of our time, Phil’s stories about how his life intersected with some of the most famous and infamous people in history are fascinating and funny. We are lucky that he got out of the 60s alive to tell his tale in his own words. A fabulous read!
April 2, 2026
King of the road.
Wanna read a book about someone who has had a more interesting life than you? Read this. I found out about this book because some critics compared my book, Stagehand: A Backstage Pass to my Life Stories to Phil's book. His book Road Mangler Deluxe is better, but that's just my opinion.
Buy it. Read it.
I had more to say but if I do Amazon won't post my review.
Wanna read a book about someone who has had a more interesting life than you? Read this. I found out about this book because some critics compared my book, Stagehand: A Backstage Pass to my Life Stories to Phil's book. His book Road Mangler Deluxe is better, but that's just my opinion.
Buy it. Read it.
I had more to say but if I do Amazon won't post my review.
June 15, 2017
Extremely entertaining about one of the few people behind the scenes in the music business who can actually claim to be as much of a legend and rock star as the actual performers themselves. In his own words and others'.
January 26, 2021
What a life!!
Interesting, humorous, informative read. I was lucky enough to meet Phil once with my dear friend Larry Robinson. Ever since then I think of Phil every time I have ice cream.......so glad I read this book.
Interesting, humorous, informative read. I was lucky enough to meet Phil once with my dear friend Larry Robinson. Ever since then I think of Phil every time I have ice cream.......so glad I read this book.
December 28, 2024
I was hoping it would provide me more of a insight into the life of a road manager and how one gets there and that kind of thing while it did a little bit it was mostly stories about drugs and very depressing things. I could not finish it it was depressing. If you're into story's about sex drugs and rock and roll, always being broke running from the law and all kinds of other negative stuff you like this if you're looking for something positive this isn't it.
August 5, 2011
What a character this guy is. Tons of good little ancedotes, mostly about Gram Parsons. Who can resist the story about how he stole Gram's body, then tried to cremate it at Joshua Tree National monument?
July 10, 2019
What a character! He is a great friend of friends, who can make them laugh at a funeral! I hope to meet him one day, but, in the meantime, I have an affectionately inscribed copy of his book in my shelf. (Rating is for literary quality only. For storyline it would get 5)
October 7, 2010
This is Gram Parson's road manager's, (i.e. the guy that stole his body and burned it in Joshua Tree)autobiography and one of my favorites. Its filled with all kinds of crazy.
November 24, 2013
manson family or carter family?
March 31, 2016
For hardcore Gram Parson fans only, but still entertaining in more than a few places. The guy is definitely a real character.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews