Our Band Could Be Your Life - Independent Music Fans Must Read This
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Rarely do I read a book that strikes me enough to MOG about, let alone that becomes such a staple to a genre of music that it deserves a plug on MOG. The book, Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes From The American Indie Underground, 1981-1991 by Michael Azerrad is a fantastic archive of 13 of the most important independent acts of the 80's.
The book has fantastic exposure to the inception and crumbling of Black Flag, the true intensity of Husker Du's live show and touring woes, J. Mascis and Lou Barlow's facinating and insufferable feud, and things that make you go hmmmm....from McKaye's nearly militaristic strong-hold on Minor Threat to the insanity that was The Replacements' life span on an indie. The accounts come straight from the horses' mouths. The side bar conversation are from people who were there. The history is accounted in narrative form, accounting in somewhat of story form, creating an experience of feeling like you were there with the band following its start and ultimately, demise (which the exception of a few).
Even if you think you know something about Black Flag, Minor Threat, The Butthole Surfers, Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, Beat happening, Big Black, The Replacements, Husker Du, Mission of Burma, Mudhoney or The Minutemen, you'll be surprised at what you didn't know. Maybe I'm naive but I'm sure as heck that you'll learn a thing or two about the power of the independent music scene from not long ago.
This book covers the following topics - facinating tour stories, independent record labels, classic seven inch singles and their hard-to-find B sides, day jobs of ordinary dudes, Sub Pop's start up, Rollins' meltdown with Black Flag, Ian McKaye's desire to never sell out (and how he did it), heated feuds between band members, unknown but historic rock clubs across the states, influences and friends of the 80's independent music scene, SST Records' start, confusion over sexuality, life on the road, how to record a record on little to no money and big breakthroughs before the big breakthrough record.
I learned something new about the music and its culture during that period. I found myself discovering (and rediscovering in some cases) some classic records. I wish I had been keen enough to have known and been a part of this music scene when it was thriving (mind you, I would have been 5 when it all started, but 15 near its end). It sounds so damn invigorating and you can hear it all in this fantastic book.
Comments (13)
Sounds like an essential read next to "Get In The Van" and "Please Kill Me". Gonna check my library now! Thanks for the review. I'd heard it mentioned, but never really checked to see what it was about.
Yeah. Please Kill Me is on my To Read list. I got Get In the Van years ago on audio cassette, before I even knew anything about Black Flag. I don' t think it really kicked in how influential that band was even back then. I just remember story after story of Rollins getting the crap kicked out of him. This book gives good insight on why Rollins is the way he is.
Yeah, hearing Rollins take on it, it was some dark times. Definitely, made me never want to be in a band. Black Flag had an amazing work ethic though. Definitely no prima donnas there.
Oh! My boyfriend gave me this book 3 days ago! With this added vote of confidence from you, I'll have no choice but to read it (but make sure that he thinks that it was my idea in the first place anyway mwuahaha!).
Cheers :)
Awesome. The chapters are broken down nicely into sub sections where every page and a half or so is a break. Easy to read w/in cramped times of the day...
hmm...I just saw Ian McKaye and Thurston Moore speak at the Brooklyn Book Festival this past weekend. My to-read list is pretty long, but I'll tack that on, too.
Thanks for the review & recommend.
I was going to pick this up a few years ago but I got Heavier Than Heaven instead. If I ever get over how bad that book was Our Band... will be the next on my list
I haven't heard of the book. What made it so horrible? Azzarad's writing is pretty good in my opinion.
It wasn't written by Azzarad, it is just the last rock star related book I read. it is a Cobain biography by Charles Cross and what bothered me wasn't that it was poorly written, it just reminded me that I don't care about any of the stuff that actually made it into the book and that it lacked all of the things I was hoping to find out by reading the book, which is pretty much always the case with books of that ilk.
You make a compelling case that Our Band Could Be Your Life might be a pretty entertaining read nonetheless, which is why I say that if I should ever muster up the will to read such a book, it might help correct my attitude about them.
Three cheers, Eric...I am actually reading this book right now and likewise highly recommend it.
Aside from giving an excellent introduction to college rock and the indie scene before it was all over The O.C., this book provides some great contrasts between the bands discussed: it was fascinating reading the single-minded vision shared by the members of Fugazi and Sonic Youth, especially when contrasted with the complete dysfunction of Dinosaur Jr and Black Flag....yet they all made vibrant, amazing music!
A great read. Check it out, every'all.
Much agreed. Fugazi's ethic, not just McKaye's, was amazing to reflect on. It was amazing it maintained for as long as it did.
Looks like I've got another music book to add to the list...