Here Today... Gone To Hell!

From Paul Stennings myspace blog
Tuesday, January 24, 2006

    
Slash approves of The Band That Time Forgot
Current mood:  accomplished

Yes yes y'all you read it here first. As Slash's wife Perla Hudson recently told me, Slash has seen The Band That Time Forgot and whole heartedly approves! I was surprised but very pleased with this. According to Perla Slash said "it was probably one of the most accurate writings on the band"... So now you have no excuse not to buy an unauthorised biography as it's endorsed by the man himself!


I'm surprised not only that Slash read the book but at the fact he was happy with the portrayal of the band, mainly because if I'm honest the book does centre on Axl and he and Slash are notoriously no longer friends. Perhaps Slash felt I dealt with the hostility and life of Axl in a balanced, diplomatic way? I hope so, as this was my intention, and I always felt Slash would be intelligent enough to read through the bullshit and see what I was trying to accomplish.

I fell out with his publicist before the book came out, and I wrongly attributed her shitty attitude as being representative of Slash but Perla tells me that was all down to Arlett, and not Slash himself. I was happy to hear that because Arlett Verleecke is one fucking bitch who seriously tried to mess things up for me, and succeeded in some ways. Yet, I now know she is out of the picture, hence the mail from Perla apologising.


I won't go into everything she said as some of it is private but I thought you would all like to know this book is appreciated by one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and he has actually sat down and read it himself...huge kudos to Saul Hudson and what more can I say? The doubters can just use their illusions...

8:02 AM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Great man, I would like to read the official Book, do you know when is it going to be officially released?

Carlos, it was released a couple of years ago, and is available.  It's not really very telling....pretty much covers how they got together, recordings of songs, etc.  Pretty much stuff we all already knew.   Truthfully, I'd love to see a book about the band that had more "dirt", where several members (I'm talking original band) would just talk about what it was really like.  However, I don't believe we'll ever see that, because I think there was some type of don't ask/don't tell confidentiality clause that was Axl's brainstorm.    I've learned more by just reading interviews with Duff or Slash.  It's an ok read, but just pretty much follows the pretty basic stuff about the songs & recordings & tours, etc.     

Oh now I get it... Thank you very much for the information...  :yes:

I read the first edition of the book, and I knew most of the facts in the book from before.
there were also some errors in that edition, but I understand the guy has straightened them out for the second edition so it will be a good read if you don't know most existing facts about GN'R already.

I read the book and it's really not that good. The guy got names, dates and events wrong throught the entire book. Definately not the best book out there on GNR to get if you ask me.

Maybe Slash liked it because he couldn't remember any of the dates or information?  :hihi:

That wouldnt surprise me considering how out of it he was from like 87-98 (or later) lol

to me the book was a good read, just to much quotes and saying what axl might have been thinking..

that book is without doubt the most pathetic GNR bio ever

Is there a Cliff Notes Version?  I don't like to read.  Just kidding.  I will be in Dead Horse brushing up on my GNR history.

So if this is not the best bio, which is the best out there? Any suggestions?

And if it's not the best bio, why does Slash himself approve it? Just curious. I myself haven't read it so I don't know how good or bad it is.

Ive read a few, Mick Walls one, The most dangerous band in the world was good - captured the spirirt abd legend of GNR

Avoid Danny Sugermans book. Is basically a drugged out reminicience/comparison to Jim Morrison with some bizarre and very dull passages explaining GNRs spiritual connection some Greek god of excess (Dionysis? sp.?)

The best one I read, I cant recall the name - was a very balanced account (went up to about 1995) and was highly critical of Slash and Axl in equal measure

Damn, what was it called - i think I brought this up in another thread and Pandora correctly identified it

ahh .. just remembered, its called "Over the top"

A very good read - well written, incisive and balanced not to  mention a very enjoyable read

  Those mistakes were recognized that is why Mr. Stenning came out with a revised addition!!!!!

  Yes I ordered that book on Amazon in September, I waited for it to ship forever, and then they couldn't get their hands on it, just let me know in January I wasn't getting it.  Pissed me off after waiting so long!!!!  Have any idea where else i might find it?

Im talking about the revised addition. There are still a pile of mistakes in the book.

Thanks for that.
It's curious, now that Mick Wall's book is mentioned too, i see his interviews a very interesting.
Recently i read one with Izzy, it couldn't have been better.

Do you know if there is an e book ?

There are none.? A really good bio has the band members participating with it.? I just think you will never see this with this band.? Something about everyone & anyone who was involved with the band having to sign confidentiality agreements so no one could tell the dirt.? Probably an Axl paranoia thing, at the time.? But, bottom line, there is nothing out there that is good.? ?

I've read Walk This Way (Aerosmith) and No One Here Gets Out Alive (The Doors).? Those were, in my opinion, very good books, with band members involvement.? And I think I read some book about the Stones, a long time ago, in which they were involved with the writing of it.? The next thing I'd like to see is a GnR book - we all know about the songs and how they were written and the recordings and videos.? I want a book that is "telling" about what it was really like.? ?But, I don't think we'll ever see it, just because of the "confidentiality" thing.? I learn more by reading interviews with former band members.? ? ? ? ? ? ?

That's a point to be taken in consideration.
I mean i'd love to read about technical info about how many takes were used in any particular song, or the process of composition (which is easy to find having interviews spread all over the net). But to be honest, yeah i'd love to read about the dirt as well. And someday if it's considered to publish an "official" book, it must include controversy, for good or bad.? But yeah there's the confidentiality factor you mention, which sucks, but it's understandable.?
I'm a happier person since i entered Gn'R on Google, believe me in comparison to the years when all i had was my AFD LP sleeve and a ocassional article on the news.