Recommended Reading: 25 February 2012

Here's a list of recent books that have made it through my library/Kindle/iPad that might be of interest to you.  If you happen to read any of the following or if you have any recommendations of your own, please pass 'em along.

On a Cold Hard Rock:  Tales of Adventure in Canadian Rock by Dave Bindini

I have a theory that the reason Canada creates so many singer-songwriters is because this country is just too damn big for an entire band to haul its ass from coast-to-coast again and again.  Dave Bindini know of those hassles first hand as a member of the Rheostatics.  He's put aside writing hockey books to put those part memoire/part warning.  Rock'n'roll wannabes:  study this.

Pop Goes the Weasel:  Rock and Roll Off the Record by Gerry Young

Gerry's history dealing with Martha and the Muffins, the Parachute Club and other Canadian bands gives him a unique perspective on what it's like working within our music industry.  If you're at all interested in what goes on behind the scenes in this country, read this.

The Marvelous Beauhunks:  Do Not Resuscitate.  Cautionary Tales from the Best-Looking Band in the World by Steve C. Wright

Noticing a theme with this round of recommendations?  The Beauhunks had a short but very fierce run in Canadian musc in the early 90s before it all went wrong.  Don't worry if you've never heard of the band before because what you really want are Wright's stories about what it was like to be in an alt-rock Canadian band in the 90s.

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

I just booked a trip to Seoul for this summer and I plan on taking a trip through the DMZ--providing, of course, that the crazy North Koreans don't lay waste to SE Asia before then.  This novel about someone growing up in the North seems to be just the ticket for my preparations.

Moon:  The Life and Death of a Rock Legend by Tony Fletcher

I know, I know.  After the telling story about the limousine in the swimming pool, how is it possible to fill up 624 pages with details on the life and death of Keith Moon, The Who's crazy drummer?  The hint is in that last sentence.  The man was truly and very deeply crazy.