MR

Sterling:

I remember reading in some post that you were contemplating writing a book on Van Halen, similar to "Grand Delusion", but you weren't sure since the new "Everybody Wants Some Book, The Story of Van Halen"" was out. I am now reading "Everybody Wants Some". It is a good book, but doesn't have the insider nitty gritty that the "Grand Delusion" had. It seems to be a book written by a real fan, but with no real insider stuff. GD was really well done and I think doing the same with Van Halen would be fascinating and essential for Van Halen fans. Are you going ahead with that?

Journey next

You know what, I'm still trying to decide. I actually read part of 'Everybody Wants Some', and while I agree the sourcing could be better, it does the job well enough that I don't know if it's worth my time to try for a second book on the same subject. That book has sold very well and that probably closes off a lot of what might have been my marketplace, so that's also a consideration. And to be honest, I made a few exploratory calls about it and found out for myself why that author doesn't have much in the way of new interviews . . . because nobody wants to talk about their VH experiences. I don't think I can change that and get anything he didn't.

Journey, on the other hand . . . I'm still mulling that one over. What a great story, but wow! It will take somebody who truly doesn't mind getting kicked in the teeth a thousand times to tell it properly. Funny, I actually had this exact conversation yesterday with a guy I know who also knows Journey well, and we agreed that the Journey story makes Styx look like summer camp by comparison, LOL. So it's down to whether I can get what I need from anybody who was ever close to the band. That will make my mind up for me.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Styx book! Thanks. I hope all is well.


Sterling

Rockwriter wrote:Journey, on the other hand . . . I'm still mulling that one over. What a great story, but wow! It will take somebody who truly doesn't mind getting kicked in the teeth a thousand times to tell it properly. Funny, I actually had this exact conversation yesterday with a guy I know who also knows Journey well, and we agreed that the Journey story makes Styx look like summer camp by comparison, LOL. So it's down to whether I can get what I need from anybody who was ever close to the band. That will make my mind up for me.

Agreed. The JOurney story is more ugly on so many levels.

AlienC on the Journey board used to work for Neal.

I'm sure you could get Herbie Herbert to talk (he has a few times, most infamously the Castles Burning interview), but the Journey fans would see that if it was the only truly close interview as a slanted story.

It's pretty well known that like Styx, the members themselves (meaning Perry, Schon, Cain) won't talk. Jeff Scott Soto I doubt would slag them but he has every right to. Augeri hasn't said boo in 2 years.

I'd be curious to see what you could do with Journey, but unlike Styx, I'm not sure you'd find the willing participants to talk.

Rockwriter wrote:You know what, I'm still trying to decide. I actually read part of 'Everybody Wants Some', and while I agree the sourcing could be better, it does the job well enough that I don't know if it's worth my time to try for a second book on the same subject. That book has sold very well and that probably closes off a lot of what might have been my marketplace, so that's also a consideration. And to be honest, I made a few exploratory calls about it and found out for myself why that author doesn't have much in the way of new interviews . . . because nobody wants to talk about their VH experiences. I don't think I can change that and get anything he didn't.

Journey, on the other hand . . . I'm still mulling that one over. What a great story, but wow! It will take somebody who truly doesn't mind getting kicked in the teeth a thousand times to tell it properly. Funny, I actually had this exact conversation yesterday with a guy I know who also knows Journey well, and we agreed that the Journey story makes Styx look like summer camp by comparison, LOL. So it's down to whether I can get what I need from anybody who was ever close to the band. That will make my mind up for me.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Styx book! Thanks. I hope all is well.


Sterling

REO....REO....REO.... why not?

Thenightbull wrote:

Rockwriter wrote:You know what, I'm still trying to decide. I actually read part of 'Everybody Wants Some', and while I agree the sourcing could be better, it does the job well enough that I don't know if it's worth my time to try for a second book on the same subject. That book has sold very well and that probably closes off a lot of what might have been my marketplace, so that's also a consideration. And to be honest, I made a few exploratory calls about it and found out for myself why that author doesn't have much in the way of new interviews . . . because nobody wants to talk about their VH experiences. I don't think I can change that and get anything he didn't.

Journey, on the other hand . . . I'm still mulling that one over. What a great story, but wow! It will take somebody who truly doesn't mind getting kicked in the teeth a thousand times to tell it properly. Funny, I actually had this exact conversation yesterday with a guy I know who also knows Journey well, and we agreed that the Journey story makes Styx look like summer camp by comparison, LOL. So it's down to whether I can get what I need from anybody who was ever close to the band. That will make my mind up for me.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Styx book! Thanks. I hope all is well.


Sterling

REO....REO....REO.... why not?

Because they suck...

How about one on Judas Priest? That would be interesting.

Meatloaf and Jim Steinman

Thenightbull wrote:

Rockwriter wrote:You know what, I'm still trying to decide. I actually read part of 'Everybody Wants Some', and while I agree the sourcing could be better, it does the job well enough that I don't know if it's worth my time to try for a second book on the same subject. That book has sold very well and that probably closes off a lot of what might have been my marketplace, so that's also a consideration. And to be honest, I made a few exploratory calls about it and found out for myself why that author doesn't have much in the way of new interviews . . . because nobody wants to talk about their VH experiences. I don't think I can change that and get anything he didn't.

Journey, on the other hand . . . I'm still mulling that one over. What a great story, but wow! It will take somebody who truly doesn't mind getting kicked in the teeth a thousand times to tell it properly. Funny, I actually had this exact conversation yesterday with a guy I know who also knows Journey well, and we agreed that the Journey story makes Styx look like summer camp by comparison, LOL. So it's down to whether I can get what I need from anybody who was ever close to the band. That will make my mind up for me.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Styx book! Thanks. I hope all is well.


Sterling

REO....REO....REO.... why not?

Actually, another writer is already working on an REO book . . . and I fully expect for a certain member of REO to tie her up in court over it, LOL. Talk about a guy I don't want to cross, this is it. Behind his folksy public persona, this person is preceded by a three-decades-long reputation for being the King of the Control Freaks, and he's not above using legal threats and intimidation to get his way . . . as VH1 can attest. No thanks, I'll pass on REO, LOL. You're right, though, there IS an amazing story there. I just don't know if it can be told.


Sterling

I just finished the Van Halen book. It was well written, but not as enjoyable as Grand Delusion.

Van Halen has a lot of history and this book came out at a very good time.

I too would be interested in reading a comprehensive Journey biography.

BidForGreen wrote:

Thenightbull wrote:

Rockwriter wrote:You know what, I'm still trying to decide. I actually read part of 'Everybody Wants Some', and while I agree the sourcing could be better, it does the job well enough that I don't know if it's worth my time to try for a second book on the same subject. That book has sold very well and that probably closes off a lot of what might have been my marketplace, so that's also a consideration. And to be honest, I made a few exploratory calls about it and found out for myself why that author doesn't have much in the way of new interviews . . . because nobody wants to talk about their VH experiences. I don't think I can change that and get anything he didn't.

Journey, on the other hand . . . I'm still mulling that one over. What a great story, but wow! It will take somebody who truly doesn't mind getting kicked in the teeth a thousand times to tell it properly. Funny, I actually had this exact conversation yesterday with a guy I know who also knows Journey well, and we agreed that the Journey story makes Styx look like summer camp by comparison, LOL. So it's down to whether I can get what I need from anybody who was ever close to the band. That will make my mind up for me.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Styx book! Thanks. I hope all is well.


Sterling

REO....REO....REO.... why not?

Because they suck...

How about one on Judas Priest? That would be interesting.

I bet there's a great story there, but for me to spend that kind of time on a subject I have to really enjoy it, and I barely know one thing about Judas Priest. Interesting idea, though. Somebody like Martin Popoff could do a great job on that.


Sterling

Rockwriter wrote:

Thenightbull wrote:

Rockwriter wrote:You know what, I'm still trying to decide. I actually read part of 'Everybody Wants Some', and while I agree the sourcing could be better, it does the job well enough that I don't know if it's worth my time to try for a second book on the same subject. That book has sold very well and that probably closes off a lot of what might have been my marketplace, so that's also a consideration. And to be honest, I made a few exploratory calls about it and found out for myself why that author doesn't have much in the way of new interviews . . . because nobody wants to talk about their VH experiences. I don't think I can change that and get anything he didn't.

Journey, on the other hand . . . I'm still mulling that one over. What a great story, but wow! It will take somebody who truly doesn't mind getting kicked in the teeth a thousand times to tell it properly. Funny, I actually had this exact conversation yesterday with a guy I know who also knows Journey well, and we agreed that the Journey story makes Styx look like summer camp by comparison, LOL. So it's down to whether I can get what I need from anybody who was ever close to the band. That will make my mind up for me.

I'm glad you enjoyed the Styx book! Thanks. I hope all is well.


Sterling

REO....REO....REO.... why not?

Actually, another writer is already working on an REO book . . . and I fully expect for a certain member of REO to tie her up in court over it, LOL. Talk about a guy I don't want to cross, this is it. Behind his folksy public persona, this person is preceded by a three-decades-long reputation for being the King of the Control Freaks, and he's not above using legal threats and intimidation to get his way . . . as VH1 can attest. No thanks, I'll pass on REO, LOL. You're right, though, there IS an amazing story there. I just don't know if it can be told.


Sterling

It's amazing how a guy that can write such wimpy ballads can be such a controlling SOB...makes DeYoung look like Mr. Rogers...

styxfansite wrote:Meatloaf and Jim Steinman

If you're taking requests, (cause I'm sure you base your writing on what strangers on a web site tell you to do) this is a good one. The craziness and "issues" of Mr. Meat and the songwriting genius of Steinman.

P.S. I too enjoyed your book very much. As was said previously, given the fact that it is fact/date/detail filled it does take a second & third reading to digest completely. Well worth the price of admission.

MCM wrote:

styxfansite wrote:Meatloaf and Jim Steinman

If you're taking requests, (cause I'm sure you base your writing on what strangers on a web site tell you to do) this is a good one. The craziness and "issues" of Mr. Meat and the songwriting genius of Steinman.

P.S. I too enjoyed your book very much. As was said previously, given the fact that it is fact/date/detail filled it does take a second & third reading to digest completely. Well worth the price of admission.

Yepp

He can Call it "Book out of Hell"

Rush, Forigner, or Boston........

There have been a few Rush books out. I'd like to see books on Boston, Foreigner and REO. There are still a few members of REO that came and went in the late 60s/early 70s(horn players, etc.) that I still don't know about. I've heard that neither Alan Gratzer nor Neal Doughty have the complete list of names.....

Ok, Sterling. Lots of suggestions here. GET BUSY!


Bugsy

Hey Sterling:
I bet you could get Gary Ritchrath to talk to you the rest of his and your lifes about REO. Or how about a book on the Eagles, I bet Don Felder would have a few chapters along with Randy Miesner. But if KC scares you, I bet Don Henley and Glen Frey would send chills down our spine. They invented the word control.

LordofDaRing wrote:Hey Sterling:
I bet you could get Gary Ritchrath to talk to you the rest of his and your lifes about REO. Or how about a book on the Eagles, I bet Don Felder would have a few chapters along with Randy Miesner. But if KC scares you, I bet Don Henley and Glen Frey would send chills down our spine. They invented the word control.

Gary Richrath is, I believe, already cooperting with another writer for a book, which ought to be interesting. To be brutally honest, I don't know how lucid Gary could possibly be. I hear he's in terrible shape. The Eagles have a great story, but there are already two different books about them, both of which are reasonably good. And Don Felder was supposed to have his own book out at Christmas, which has been delayed because of some legal issues, but hopefully will still come out. That would be a blockbuster! I grew up hearing Eagles stories; when I was a kid, my uncle worked for them for many years and was close friends with them.

Which kinda brings me back to Journey . . . the group most likely to be my next book, as it stands. I hope all is well.


Sterling

Rockwriter wrote:

LordofDaRing wrote:Hey Sterling:
I bet you could get Gary Ritchrath to talk to you the rest of his and your lifes about REO. Or how about a book on the Eagles, I bet Don Felder would have a few chapters along with Randy Miesner. But if KC scares you, I bet Don Henley and Glen Frey would send chills down our spine. They invented the word control.

Gary Richrath is, I believe, already cooperting with another writer for a book, which ought to be interesting. To be brutally honest, I don't know how lucid Gary could possibly be. I hear he's in terrible shape. The Eagles have a great story, but there are already two different books about them, both of which are reasonably good. And Don Felder was supposed to have his own book out at Christmas, which has been delayed because of some legal issues, but hopefully will still come out. That would be a blockbuster! I grew up hearing Eagles stories; when I was a kid, my uncle worked for them for many years and was close friends with them.

Which kinda brings me back to Journey . . . the group most likely to be my next book, as it stands. I hope all is well.


Sterling

Man, a Felder book would be great stuff. Lookin forward to the Journey book

Rockwriter wrote: Which kinda brings me back to Journey . . . the group most likely to be my next book, as it stands. I hope all is well.

I hope you get people to talk

The Eagles book came out overseas already but is a bit pricey. It's set for release here in May.

I have one of those Eagle books. The description of Glen Frey and Don Felder fighting back stage was hilarious. "28 more songs and I am going to kick your ass".