"The band that time forgot": reviews/comments

[Pandora]

It's out now, and I've just finished reading it.

Despite a few factual inaccuracies, I would say it's one of the best GN'R biographies I've read so far. It also has the advantage of exhaustivity since it covers everything from the early days to the making of Chinese Democracy and the latest tour. Of course you don't learn much if you've followed the band for a while, but it shouldn't come as a surprise to regulars of this message board  
I would say it's relatively biased in favour of Axl, for a change. At least the author delved into a pretty deep analysis of his personality, and made a good job out of it IMO.

The book also features :
- a full tour calendar
- a discography (not exhaustive)
- a selection of bootlegs
- a list of other GN'R-related books
- a list of fan websites (damn, no HTGTH   )
- charts placings for the US
- pictures of the band, concert flyers, bootleg covers and a few collectibles.

Speaking of collectibles, I advise you not to trust what this guy says about quoted values on the market. The few prices he mentions are totally insane !!! For example, he lists a promo flexi from 1987 as being worth ?1,000 !! Unless it's a printing error, he's gotta be nuts, the value of this item is nowhere near that price !  

And since I'm picky, I have one last complaint : spelling, and punctuation ! For God's sake, has this guy ever heard of comas? I'm not saying there's none, but not nearly enough, and it makes the reading rather bizarre and unpleasant in some places.

But overall, judging on pure content, I think it's worth a read. For those who doubted of the quality of this book or those who want to learn more about the band, I suggest you to have a look at it  

[Will]

Excellent! Thanx for the review.

I've ordered it on Amazon.com but I'm still waiting for the book...

Are there any exclusive pics of the current band members? I would like to see professional shots of the last tour...

[starchild_666]

You made me interested in buying this book   Until this moment I thought it's crap, because many of this board members were telling that about the company that put out the book

[Pandora]

Are there any exclusive pics of the current band members? I would like to see professional shots of the last tour...

Nope, no exclusive pics unfortunately. Actually, there's nothing exclusive in it, so people who know the band by heart and are not collectors might not be interested in it.  It's just a good summary of GN'R's history  

[Garden]

Merchi

[kockstar99]

where did you get this book?? Amazon says its still not published??

[Pandora]

where did you get this book?? Amazon says its still not published??

I bought it from amazon.co.uk . They had it earlier because it's a british book.

[Will]

They must have ordered only a small batch of copies because now when I go to Amazon UK it says "available in 3 to 5 weeks"...damn! I guess I'll have to wait.

I'm used to it!

[Pandora]

They must have ordered only a small batch of copies because now when I go to Amazon UK it says "available in 3 to 5 weeks"..

Yeah, I saw that too. I was lucky to get it last Monday, but I had preordered it so maybe it made a difference.

[Reinaldo]

Pandora, what is said about CD, new band members and the 2002 tour? Anything new to us?
Thanks in advance.

[Ignatius]

Thanx for the review.

We will always have ebay if people don't feel like waiting.

I might buy it, just for the hell of it. I own a shit load of GNR books, one more is not going to hurt - especially since it has info and comments on the recent  tour and making of CD - actually this leads me to the following question, does the author have an opinion on why the 2002 tour was aborted?

[Pandora]

does the author have an opinion on why the 2002 tour was aborted?

No, he doesn't really have an explanation for it, he just mentions the facts, which might be a good thing since nobody really knows what happened.

Concerning the making of CD, the author mainly took quotes from different participants, like Tommy, Brian May or Moby. But they're not new, we've already read them in articles.

[kockstar99]

No, he doesn't really have an explanation for it, he just mentions the facts, which might be a good thing since nobody really knows what happened.

I think its prob all still in litigation for lawsuits..  hes prob still got lawsuits against either him or Guns n Roses from Clear Channel, Philly, Vancouver,  and prob who ever lost money from the cancelled dates....  fucking lawsuits.

[GlynC]

thats a helpfull review, im gonna buy it just to catch up on thing si didnt know coz i dont really have the time to find out everytrhin that goes on.

[WalrusOct9]

Someday, someone's going to write a tell-all book about what's happened with Axl/Gn'R in the last few years.  Some crew person, or former band member, or something.  It's inevitable.  I just don't know what's taking them so long.  

Confidentiality agreements and legal documents can only go so far in the internet world...i'm really surprised no one has come out and said anything about the 2002 tour or what Axl's been up to.  There still has to be people in the studio with the band, and lots of people on the tour, certainly a couple of them would have something interesting to say.  It's only a matter of time, I suppose.

[Buckethead Superstar]

i got the book about 4 weeks ago and its a gem...its really good stuff...ive just spent the past 3 hours reading it listening to randomly selected tracks from UYI 1, UYI 2 and Contraband...its been a great evening...try it

[Slashly]

Thankx, I?ll nuy it (if I can) to see if what you say is true


Baby Slash//

[badapple81]

Does anyone know if anyone in Australia stocks this book? I dont want to order it and pay shipping from the US  

[2NaFish]

I bought it. I read it I gave it away.

Most of the facts are correct, but the guy seems to constantly try and analyze Axl and he's never met him. Yes, give a personal opinion on the man, but he built up several pretty stupid theorys (the guy knows dick about psychology), and then passed them off as fact. Outside that, the general writing was pretty subpar and uncompelling.

For a gn'r fan it's got nothing you don't already know; and for a non gn'r fan it would be too crap to bother finishing.

[GNR_Green]

This is a link to the amazon.co.uk page of the new GN'R book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1842402463/qid=1086970675/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_11_1/026-0934255-3644421

If it's been posted b4 then please forgive me.  I just liked reading it, especially where he rips into the press!  Q magazine has no place to criticise, you should see the drivel on their tv channel!!