Wednesday, March 24, 2021

RIC LEE 'TEN YEARS AFTER' DRUMMER RELEASES NEW BOOK AND MUSIC: SPECIAL GUEST ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS WITH RAY SHASHO BBS RADIO TV

 

TEN YEARS AFTER

legendary drummer

R  I  C    L   E   E

NEW MEMOIR

“From Headstocks To Woodstock 

–A Drummer’s Tale”

and Deluxe Version release of 

'A Sting in the Tale'

Exclusive 

RIC LEE INTERVIEW

IN ITS ENTIRELY

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN

Ric Lee has penned a new memoir called From Headstocks to Woodstock focusing on his long music career, including his adventures with the famous U.K. blues-rock outfit.

The 448-page tome is available now exclusively from Lee's official website, RicLeeTYA.com.

"It was something I'd always wanted to do, and I actually started it more than 10 years ago, but kept stopping and starting for various reasons," Lee explains in a statement. "Then a chance conversation with a friend in Los Angeles persuaded me to get it finished." 

Ten Years After was led by singer guitarist Alvin Lee and had a series of popular albums in the late 1960s and early '70s. In the U.S., the band is best known for their scorching performing of "I'm Going Home" at the 1969 Woodstock Festival and their hit "I'd Love to Change the World," which peaked at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. Ric says some of the highlights in the book for him are "[m]y early days in bands in the Mansfield (my hometown) area, my stories about meeting people like Sir David Frost, Muhammad Ali, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis and many others, and, of course, playing at Woodstock. "Lee adds that he hopes his memoir will "also be an inspiration to any aspiring young musicians to keep going against all adversity to finally win through."

While Alvin Lee died in 2013 at age 68 from heart surgery complications, Ten Years after has continued on and currently is led by Ric and founding keyboardist Chick Churchill.  The band is working on a new studio effort that's due out later this year and is planning to release a deluxe version of its 2017 album A Sting in the Tale in March.


Order

A Sting

 in the Tale 

(Deluxe Edition)

by

Ten Years After

at amazon.com

For fans of Alvin Lee, Ten Years After, and Classic Rock! Over fifty years since the release of their eponymous debut album in 1967, Ten Years After has returned with a new studio album containing twelve tracks titled “A Sting In The Tale”. This “Deluxe Edition” also contains 4 live tracks from the bands recent tour including an amazing rendition of the smash hit “I’d Love To Change The World”, which remains as relevant today as when first released in 1971. The beginning of their meteoric rise to fame can be pinpointed to their performance at The Woodstock Music and Arts Festival in August 1969. The audience were blown away by the intensity of the band’s performance and their unique combination of Jazz, Blues and Rock, and their enigmatic frontman Alvin Lee. This made them one of the biggest bands of the early 70’s. As well as original members Ric Lee (Drums) and Chick Churchill (Keys), the band now features Bass Icon Colin Hodgkinson (Peter Green, Spencer Davis, Chris Rea) and multi-award winning Guitarist/Vocalist Marcus Bonfanti (Van Morrison, Ginger Baker, Ronnie Wood). The title “A Sting In The Tale” reflects the same sentiment Ric & Chick wished to convey in the 2015 live album “The Name Remains The Same”. Although the band lineup has changed and the music continues to evolve and grow fifty years on, the sound of the band will always be heavily rooted in the way they paved the way during the late sixties and early seventies and will never forget its incredible heritage. This new record is the ‘Sting’ in the continuing Tale of Ten Years After.

also


Order your copy

of Ric’s Memoir

“From HEADSTOCKS 

To WOODSTOCK 

A Drummer’s Tale”

by Ric Lee

at www.ricleetya.com

and amazon.com

Following the Woodstock Festival in August 1969 and the subsequent movie in 1970, Ric's band, Ten Years After, became huge on the world stage. Ric's autobiography charts the journey from the coal mining town of Mansfield in the UK to performing alongside the greats and in some of the biggest venues of the music scene: The Newport Jazz Festival with Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention, Miles Davis and The Godfather of Soul, James Brown all became part of Ric's life and enhanced the band's burgeoning worldwide appeal. Other festivals: The Miami, Atlanta and Texas Pop Festivals, 1970's Isle of Wight Festival (with Jimi Hendrix and The Who) and headlining London's Albert Hall, New York's Madison Square Garden and Tokyo's Budokan, further exposed the band's music to a global audience. It's thought that Ric performed to almost 4 million people a year between 1969 and 1975, not including the estimated 300,000 to 500,000 who saw their amazingly powerful performance at Woodstock nearly fifty years ago. A must read for anyone who wants to find out more about the music scene in the mid twentieth century and at a time when revolution in music was in the air.

 For more information

about

 RIC LEE

and

TEN YEAR AFTER

Visit

www.ricleetya.com

Ric Lee Book site

www.ten-years-after.co.uk

Ten Years After official

http://ten-years-after.com/

Ten Years After Page

www.alvinlee.com

Alvin Lee Official

 TEN YEARS AFTER DISCOGRAPHY

Ten Years After 1967

Stonedhenge 1969

Ssssh 1969

Cricklewood Green 1970

Watt 1970

A Space in Time 1971

Alvin Lee and Company 1972

Rock & Roll Music to the World 1972

Positive Vibrations 1974

About Time 1989

Now 2004

 Evolution 2008

A Sting in the Tale 2017






MY NEW BOOK 
IS FINALLY OUT!

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE


CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE




 …Order yours today 

on the collectors edition Hardcover

 or E-book

 at bookbaby.com and amazon.com


Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of

the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST



THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

 

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time. 

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   Gold Award Winner


Thursday, March 18, 2021

MIKE RENO THE VOICE OF CANADIAN ROCK LEGENDS 'LOVERBOY' SPECIAL GUEST ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS WITH RAY SHASHO ON BBS RADIO TV

 

L O V E R B O Y

Limited vinyl LP pressing of the Canadian rock band's 1980 debut, released to coincide 

with the album's

40th ANNIVERSARY

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

with

M I KE  R E N O

Lead singer of the legendary rock band 

MIKE RENO INTERVIEW 

IN ITS ENTIRELY 

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN

Canadian Music Hall of Fame group, LOVERBOY, celebrates the 40th anniversary of their 5x Platinum-certified, self-titled album Loverboy this year. To commemorate this sonic work of art, the group releases a special limited-edition vinyl of the legendary rock classic today via Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.

Originally released in October 1980, Loverboy features many fan-favourite singles, including “The Kid Is Hot Tonight”, “Turn Me Loose” and “Little Girl” – the latter serving as the inspiration behind the iconic album sleeve artwork. Contemporary Canadian artist Barbara Astman was commissioned to create the cover art, and brilliantly typed the lyrics from “Little Girl” onto a self-portrait Polaroid as it developed. The 2020 special edition is printed with a full cover emboss on Astman’s typed text to pay homage to this process.

While reminiscing about making the album and the musical test of time, lead vocalist Mike Reno reveals, “Boy did we get lucky in late 1979 to work with the best in the business, Bruce Fairbairn and Bob Rock..... oh and don’t forget Mike Frazer. This record still sounds great.” Echoing Reno, Guitarist Paul Dean confirms, “Considering we recorded ‘Get Lucky’ 40 years ago, I think it holds up really well. Especially on this new deluxe vinyl edition, I would say it’s the best it’s ever sounded.”

Loverboy went on to become a major Canadian rock hit, winning a record-breaking six awards at the 1982 Juno’s – a record the band still holds today. Upon release, the album sold more than 700,000 copies in Canada, two million copies in the U.S. and four million copies worldwide. The band’s success catapulted them into the Top 5 touring acts in the world, making them the first Canadian group to ever earn Columbia Records’ exclusive Crystal Globe Award, celebrating the sale of over five million albums outside their native country. Since 1992, the band has maintained a steady road presence, with Sony/Legacy releasing a greatest hits compilation. The group was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the 2009 Juno Awards.

PURCHASE

CANADIAN MUSIC 

HALL OF FAME GROUP

 LOVERBOY 

40th ANNIVERSARY

 VINYL EDITION

OF THE MULTI-PLATINUM CERTIFIED SELF-TITLED ALBUM 

'LOVERBOY'

Limited vinyl LP pressing of the Canadian rock band's 1980 debut, released to coincide with the album's 40th anniversary.

At amazon.com

For more information about

MIKE RENO

and

LOVERBOY

 Visit

https://loverboyband.com/

Official Website

https://www.facebook.com/loverboyband

Facebook

https://twitter.com/LoverboyBand

Twitter

 

Loverboy discography

Studio albums

Loverboy (1980)

Get Lucky (1981)

Keep It Up (1983)

Lovin' Every Minute of It (1985)

Wildside (1987)

Six (1997)

Just Getting Started (2007)

Rock 'n' Roll Revival (2012)

Unfinished Business (2014) 









MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY OUT!

ENTITLED

THE

 ROCK STAR 

CHRONICLES


SERIES ONE



CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE

 

…Order yours today on the 

collectors edition Hardcover 

or E-book

 at bookbaby.com and amazon.com


Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of

the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST

 


THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER


BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time. 

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   Gold Award Winner

 



Wednesday, March 10, 2021

DANNY ZELISKO LEGENDARY CONCERT PROMOTER RELEASES NEW BOOK AND UNVEILS THE SECRETS OF THE BUSINESS: SPECIAL GUEST ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS WITH RAY SHASHO BBS RADIO TV

 


D A N N Y   Z E L I S K O

Recounts His Legendary Career in His New Book

ALL EXCE$$ Occupation: Concert Promoter 

Hundreds of remarkable photos

 and astonishing stories

Special Guest on

Interviewing the Legends with Ray Shasho

 

DANNY ZELISKO INTERVIEW

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN 

IN ITS ENTIRETY

Danny Zelisko began promoting concerts in Arizona in 1974. He founded the legendary concert promoting firm called Evening Star Productions, that brought worldwide attention to the youngest state on the US mainland, by the entertainment industry. He became known as one of the world’s best promoters and talent buyers, a true rainmaker when it comes to discovering and booking talent in all sorts of situations.

Beginning with promoting concerts at Dooley’s Nightclub (700 capacity) in Tempe, Zelisko and his team promoted hundreds of new and veteran bands in facilities across the valley. Acts such as The Police, Cheap Trick, Pat Benatar, Talking Heads, KISS, Bon Jovi, No Doubt, and Nirvana (among many others) performed at the intimate venue from its opening in 1976, until it closed after several ownership and name changes (aka After the Gold Rush and Electric Ballroom) in the mid-1990′s. Nightclub concerts by recording stars began happening all over the country, with Zelisko leading his territory in this area of booking. 


In the 1980′s Zelisko’s company and staff grew. He became the state’s most prominent concert promoter, producing hundreds of shows each year, while also becoming New Mexico’s busiest promoter. Evening Star also promoted shows in almost every state in the USA during the 80′s and 90′s, while promoting shows in every venue, small and large alike, all over the southwest, including Vets Memorial Coliseum, the original home of the Phoenix Suns, then America West Arena, now known as US Airways Center.  Pink Floyd and Paul McCartney were among the stadium events promoted by Evening Star.

In 1990, Evening Star began promoting shows in the Desert Sky Amphitheatre, with its grand opening show with Billy Joel. The facility has undergone several name changes, including Blockbuster Pavilion, Cricket Amphitheatre, Ashley Furniture Homestore Pavilion, and finally now known as Ak-Chin Pavilion.

By the year 2000, consolidation of concert promoters began by SFX, as they bought up many of the country’s biggest promoters, including Bill Graham Presents from San Francisco, Electric Factory from Philadelphia, Don Law from Boston, Pace Concerts from Texas, and many more. Evening Star joined the ranks of these fabled promoters, by selling to SFX in 2001. Zelisko became President of the Southwest office of SFX. A few years later, Clear Channel Communications bought SFX, and Zelisko and his staff became part of Clear Channel Entertainment.

In 2006, Clear Channel spun the entertainment division and all of its promoters and venues into what is now called Live Nation, where Zelisko remained as President and then Chairman of Live Nation Southwest, until he left his post in 2011, to begin promoting shows as Danny Zelisko Presents.

Zelisko’s focus has always been on putting the right acts in the right places at the right time with the right ticket prices in order to maintain fun and excitement for audiences and artists alike. DZP continues to bring top name acts to the Phoenix area, as well as Las Vegas and Albuquerque.



Purchase

DANNY ZELISKO’S

 NEW BOOK

ALL EXCESS Occupation: Concert Promoter

by 

Danny Zelisko  (Author)

 Tondra Dene (Editor)

 Kirk Gibson (Foreword)

Available at amazon.com

ALL EXCE$$ - OCCUPATION: CONCERT PROMOTER ---The new book by DANNY ZELISKO This is the 2nd edition of the original book. Landscape style layout makes it the perfect coffee table book. Making the book even more unique and valuable, it is signed by the author, Danny Z. Four years in the making, enjoy 360 pages bursting with stories and over 700 never before seen photos from Danny’s personal collection from over the years. The Foreword was written by baseball legend and live music fan Kirk Gibson. Pictures and stories feature Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, as well as Chicago Bears sports legends Brian Piccolo, (the subject of the movie Brian’s Song) Gale Sayers and The Cubs’ Ernie Banks, along with so many more! The book chronicles Danny’s childhood passion for collecting memorabilia and autographs, all the way through his rise to becoming Arizona’s premiere concert promoter. For a limited time, get your edition shipped to you in the classic White Castle crave clutch box, complete with coupons for free burgers, while supplies last.

Book Reviews …

Roger Waters: "I approve of your book. I particularly like the photo of you with the big box of cash after the Pseudo Floyd gig. Though the touching bit is the ’72 Chicago gig, Pat Leonard stuff. Nice!"

Joe Bonamassa: "Never a dull night hanging out with my friend Danny Zelisko and hearing classic music stories of the bands I grew up with. Looking forward to reading his book."

Rob Halford: "From Chuck Berry to Barbara Streisand to Whitney Houston as well as Judas Priest - Danny has worked with them all, And along the way witnessed huge moments not just in music but also our country’s history and culture. This book is one hell of a ride from a guy who’s had one hell of a life. With many moments to make, no doubt!"

Garland Jeffreys: "Just got my copy and it's filled with hilarious hijinks and behind the scenes tales that only a brilliant promoter and story teller like Danny could tell. Sample chapters include "Sam Kinison Guilty as Charged: I was a bad influence on THIS guy?" "Working with Pink Floyd - I Know Which One's Pink" "When a Deal is not a Deal - Lessons in Being Fair." Danny is one of the people who really knows how to make the music business fun and his love for artists has always made me love him in return. Get your copy now!"

David Ellefson: "So proud of my dear friend and legendary Arizona concert promoter Danny Zelisko as he releases his memoir "All Excess". Danny has promoted most every Megadeth show in the area since the "Peace Sells..." tour in 1987. Order a copy now and savor some killer stories of the concert business harkening back to when the independents ruled the roost. I'm proud to be a part of his story."

Bill Siddons: "When I saw $40 I thought “Is he nuts.” Then the book showed yesterday and we saw the scope, the magnitude, the accessories (I love the bookmark) I realized ‘it’s all worth it." Elayne saw it and said “I want to use those ideas for my book!” Well done Danny!

Larry LeBlanc, Celebrity Access: "Zelisko’s most recent project is the 4-year birthing of his 364-page book, “ALL EXCE$$ — Occupation: Concert Promoter,” maybe the best single book ever written about America’s concert business; it’s a damn fun first read, and a fascinating second read."

 

For more information

about

DANNY ZELISKO PRESENTS

Visit

www.dannyzeliskopresents.com

Official website

https://www.facebook.com/dannyzeliskopresents

Facebook

Danny Zelisko Presents (@DZPresents) / Twitter

Twitter

 









MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY OUT!

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE


CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE

 



…Order yours today 

on the collectors edition Hardcover

 or E-book

 at bookbaby.com and amazon.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of

the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST


THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

 

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan.

 Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time. 

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   Gold Award Winner