Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 368 pages
- Published by: Chicago Review Press March 1, 2005
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 1556525745
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-1556525742
-
Book Dimensions:
8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
- Weighs: 1.2 pounds
From Publishers Weekly
The
History of Ferry and the influential English glam rock group Roxy Music, like that of many innovative rock bands, is one of charismatic musical exploration fraught with problems: revolving-door musicians, financial arguments and futile attempts to break into the American market. (Roxy Music had only one major U.S. hit, 1975's "Love Is the Drug.") At the center of both the iconoclasm and conflict stands Ferry, the group's founder, lead singer, primary songwriter and image dictator. While Buckley (
David Bowie) clearly loves the music and admires Ferry's creative skill, he also points out the musician's flaws: an inability to deal with direct confrontations, micromanaging recording sessions, and being less than generous with the press. This book isn't just for hard-core Ferry fans—Buckley explores the
History of 1970s British rock using Roxy Music as a core, explaining how innovative original Roxy member Brian Eno's sound-altering experiments were; how Ferry picked to market the group like a product, rather than depend on concert touring; and how infatuated British youth became with Roxy's nouveau glam rock concept that image/style was just as important as the music. This is a thorough if unevenly presented
History alternately page-turning, tedious and gossipy. Photos.
(June) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Review
"[Buckley] draws on his own interviews and an impressive amount of research to paint vivid portraits of the key players." —
Chicago Sun-Times"This is the best Ferry/Roxy read yet." —
Library Journal"Buckley succeeds in painting a remarkably sympathetic portrait of a decadent musician." —
The New York Times Book Review
Reader Reviews
I am not through with the book yet (I am up to THE BRIDE STRIPPED BARE): this is very thorough and SLANTED - but that's okay. I purchased the entire Roxy/Bryan remasters and Buckley's harsh assessment of some of Ferry's solo work has made me play his solo recordings OVER and OVER and they only get better and better. He is a CRITIC so he is CRITICIZING - and a gushing book over the brilliance of Bryan would probably not work; I believe this author - being of course, very British, had his view which is what makes the reading so enjoyable. However as he states over and over - that Roxy/Bryan were too smart for the U.S, audience is so apparent I can almost shed Bryan's tears. If you have had the luck to see them live (especially their recent "reunion" tour of @ 3 years ago that was so amazing I can still lose my voice just thinking of the screaming) - you know the genius of these men (and their darling Roxy Tottsies). A treasure.
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