Category Archives: Books

Journalist Steve Rosen Pens Titanic Tome on His Long Odyssey with Edward Van Halen

Posted on August 2, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

It was the early evening of December 30, 1978, and Steve Rosen figured he had blown it big time. Big Time. As a music listener, he was enthralled and captured by the guitar playing of one Edward Van Halen, member … Continue reading →

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The Spacey Life and Times of Leon Russell

Posted on July 29, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

Sometimes we tend to forget that even musical heroes have musical heroes. When Elton John came to these shores to play his first highly-anticipated run of shows at L.A.’s Troubadour Club in 1970 he was ecstatic to meet one of … Continue reading →

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Hendrix: A Voodoo Child’s Not-So-Slight Return

Posted on March 16, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

There are a lot of estate organizers, trusts and conglomerations that look after the posthumous interests and product of rock stars. But Experience Hendrix, LLC, is the gold standard in terms of how it should be done, for the artist … Continue reading →

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The Hard Road and Hot Music of Sly Stone

Posted on March 13, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

Maybe things started to get out of hand when the cocaine magically appeared on every possible spare bathroom countertop or mirror. Or when the huge amounts of cash arrived in suitcases. Or when the heavy dudes with gangster vibes and … Continue reading →

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Reelin’ in the Years (and Peeling Back the Layers) of Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

By picking Donald Fagen as the subject of a biography, Peter Jones certainly didn’t make things easy on himself. The Steely Dan co-founder has long been wary of the press and gave relatively few interviews during the band’s prime. And … Continue reading →

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Stephen Bishop’s Separate Lives Come Together in Autobiography

Posted on January 21, 2023 by Bob Ruggiero

In those long-ago pre-online days before TikTok, YouTube, or Bandcamp, if an aspiring songwriter wanted to get their work out there for more established artists to possibly record, he or she would cut a demo tape that would hopefully be … Continue reading →

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Robby Krieger Opens the Doors of His Memories

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Bob Ruggiero

Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar with the Doors By Robby Krieger with Jeff Alulis 432 pp., $29, Little, Brown and Company Of all the classic rock bands, the Doors might have the most solid connection … Continue reading →

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Gina Schock of the Go-Go’s Gets Snappy in Her Book

Posted on August 22, 2022 by Bob Ruggiero

Almost as much as music, Gina Schock has had a love for an interest in photography for her entire life. And that includes before, during, after, and again during her career as the drummer for the Go-Go’s. Backstage, onstage, at … Continue reading →

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Rickie Lee Jones Won’t Run Out of Chances

Posted on August 13, 2022 by Bob Ruggiero

It’s common for musicians to feel that their work lets listeners into their minds, their souls, or their hearts. It’s less common that fans are invited into their actual homes. But that’s what many artists did — at least virtually … Continue reading →

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The Many Mugs of Stevie Van Zandt Come Together in Memoir

Posted on July 15, 2022 by Bob Ruggiero

When talking to the multi-hyphenate man Steven Van Zandt, it’s a challenge to pick which version of him to start off with.  The musician who’s the best bud of Bruce Springsteen and core member of the E Street Band, but … Continue reading →

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