This week, I did something that I have not done for a long
time. But I don’t want to write about that, this is a family-friendly forum.
This week, I did something that I have not done for a long
time. I bought a book and instead of putting it somewhere near the bottom of
the pile of books awaiting my attention, I read it. The queue-jumping tome to
which I allude is entitled “Shell Shocked”, and is the autobiography of Howard
Kaylan. (Who he? Ed.)
One of my favourite songs of the 1960s was (and still is) “She’d
Rather Be With Me”. I loved it the first time I heard it, and remember seeing
the Turtles on Top of the Pops, in a film (that I cannot now find on the
electric internet) that was full of joy and happiness. It is a really simple
song, as most of the best pop music is. They had had an earlier hit in the UK –
“Happy Together”, but “She Rather” did better in the UK, whereas “Happy Together”
was their biggest hit in the USA.
Mark and Howard were first rate singers, and later appeared
with Frank Zappa, and sang on lots of tracks by all sorts of rock bands. If you
want to appreciate just how good Howard was, watch and listen to this, where
the instrumental
sound track has been stripped. (Go on, watch it)
I went with some friends to see them with the Mothers of Invention
in Liverpool in 1970. I can recall little of it, I suspect I may have been an
unwitting victim, and inhaled the smoke from narcotic substances that may have
been in use among certain less respectable members of the audience. Howard
remembers my being there, because he was kind enough to reply to a message I
sent him some time ago, and when I mentioned that I was the one with long hair
and under the influence of drugs he confessed to having had a clear
recollection of that.
Before I discuss the book specifically, I need to give it
some context from my perspective. I seldom read biographies or autobiographies;
my preference is for fiction. I have an iconoclastic view of most of those
performers of the music that makes up my record collection. I am not overly
interested in their lives and deeds, much less their opinions. I occasionally
watch some programme or other on the electric television where the survivors of
the music scene of my youth talk about, and usually overhype their fellow
travellers, and such chat normally descends into reminiscences of people who
were “really amazing”, of whom no one else has ever heard. On the whole, I am
glad that I remained undiscovered. I was not, contrary to rumour, invited to
replace Mick Taylor when he left the Stones. I did not shag Janis Joplin, nor
appear on the cover of Sgt Pepper. From here, I don’t think anything other than
the anonymous hippy scene that I found myself part of would have suited me. I
had a really good time, and I am pleased with the path of my existence since
then.
Anyway, the book begins with a stonking introduction by Penn
Jillette, and Howard’s narrative begins with the sentence “I was snorting coke
on Abraham Lincoln’s desk in the White House”.
‘Shell shocked’ follows a fairly standard plan. It is
largely chronological, with much of the story concentrating on the period with
the Turtles and the Mothers. It is not laden with deep insights, and that is
clearly not the intention. It is free from malice, and captures some of the feeling
of that time. There is little psychoanalysis and it is largely unjudgemental.
If he is hard on anyone, it is on himself. It is full of anecdotes with plenty
of reference to sex and drugs without any unnecessary embellishment.
So far it seems as if I am unenthusiastic, but I liked it
immensely. In reading it the character of those guys who I first saw over 45
years ago having such a great time singing their song shines through to the
end. I think what is so cool about it is that I get no sense of hype. There is
a story to be told, and those who were there will want to read it, and those of
us who weren’t there but observed it will probably rejoice in seeing the
protagonist survive all of the adventures and remain the same guy that started
off, just wanting to play music, have a good time and be a drug crazed hippy. I
feel as though I have read a story written by a friend – I think to have
produced a story like that is quite an achievement.
I hope some of you read the book and, if you do, I hope you
enjoy it as much as I did.
Love and peace.
You can buy it here:
(and other places)
9 comments:
I have no idea what you are talking about. Now look what you've done, took my attention off the cricket and Peterson's out. What was I saying?
Easy to get distracted after the third pipe, padre.
Are you suggesting the entire England team are abusing substances? They're certainly abusing my faith in them.
You auditioned for the replacement Mick Taylor gig in Amsterdam and apparently you taught Keith the riff to Gimme Shelter. But as you say, you probably couldn't remember.
Well I did understand it. But while I was reading it Ballance got out. DOES HOWARD KAYLAN CARE NOTHING ABOUT THE STATE OF ENGLISH CRICKET???
Richard. Audition? Me? I only respond to invitations.
It may be that the great man has a weakness, Tim. He sang some nice songs, though.
I am just in the process of writing a book and music related post for my own blog. Again.
I know the song "Happy Together" but prior to this afternoon, I couldn't have named the performers. Having watched that clip, I think the song is improved by the stripping out of the music. What a tremendous singer!
I love a good autobiography and as you have piqued my interest, I have added "Shell Shocked" to the wish list that I have with a certain online retailer. There are 38 books on said list so I may not get to it for a while.
oh blimey, I started singing along. What a travesty, Thank you for the link and the recommendation, however. Um, apologies for a straight comment. Don't know what came over me.
Be careful Liz, it has a habit of making its way up the list.
Zoe - of course you sang along with it, you have to. Probably want to dance to it to. Go on, make a video and post it.
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