Hellfire: The Jerry Lee Lewis Story by Nick Tosches
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*Welcome reprint of an essential biography*When the central figure of your book has lived a life that's taken in alcoholism, in-breeding, bankruptcy, the deaths of two sons, the collapse of several marriages, the accidental shooting of a band member and sundry other scandals, it might be hard to find any space for the pioneering music he made. Tosches manages to cram it all in, however, and this absorbing tome, first seen 25 years ago, is a masterclass in psychological study, social, cultural and geographical history, and a celebration of an extraordinary talent. Put simply, it's the best single subject music book ever published. 
From the poverty of the Deep South, Jerry Lee's journey to worldwide fame and subsequent downward spiral punctuated by continual flirtations with self-destruction is told with an innate understanding of the times and the people. But while the wildman excesses are recounted in jaw-dropping detail, Tosches never loses sight of the importance of Lewis as a performer, and the impact he's had on those who followed. Where Tosches really scores, though, is in his use of language. Hellfire's prose is awash with the powerfully evocative phrasing of a southern preacher, the sermonising tone perfectly suited to the story of a man struggling for salvation while simultaneously inviting his demons round to break open another bottle. The author imbues the life path of a real human being with the colourful characterisations of a fictional character, so the book reads like a movie green-lit in Beelzebub's back yard, or a sombre obituary fable waiting for its last page to be written.
From the poverty of the Deep South, Jerry Lee's journey to worldwide fame and subsequent downward spiral punctuated by continual flirtations with self-destruction is told with an innate understanding of the times and the people. But while the wildman excesses are recounted in jaw-dropping detail, Tosches never loses sight of the importance of Lewis as a performer, and the impact he's had on those who followed. Where Tosches really scores, though, is in his use of language. Hellfire's prose is awash with the powerfully evocative phrasing of a southern preacher, the sermonising tone perfectly suited to the story of a man struggling for salvation while simultaneously inviting his demons round to break open another bottle. The author imbues the life path of a real human being with the colourful characterisations of a fictional character, so the book reads like a movie green-lit in Beelzebub's back yard, or a sombre obituary fable waiting for its last page to be written.
Comments (5)
Sounds like an interesting read. Was this book the basis for the film made six or so years later?