Electric Review - Rat on Music Books

SOUND OF THE BEAST (THE COMPLETE HEADBANGING HISTORY OF HEAVY METAL). Ian Christe. Harper Collins. This study by Ian Christe covers the history of the heavy metal movement in music from 1970 through 2002. Well written, and augmented by countless new photos, Sound of The Beast seeks to shed light on this often misunderstood genre, the prose delivered in a crisp 'reportage' style: "On September 19, 1985, The Senate Commerce Committee convened hearings at the insistence of Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Gore to advance their belief that record albums should be rated and restricted in the same manner as movies. As Tipper Gore told the mostly Republican panel, 'We're asking the recording industry to voluntarily assist parents who are concerned by placing a warning label on music products inappropriate for younger children due to explicit sexual or violent content.' Meanwhile, religious protesters outside the congressional offices waved placards for the TV cameras reading ROCK MUSIC DESTROYS KIDS and WE'VE HAD ENOUGH." (Page 120).
Sound of the Beast is, without a doubt, the most detailed account of the Heavy Metal movement to date. In his analysis, Christe uses interviews with members of the break-through bands (including Black Sabbath, Metallica and Megadeth) to show step-by-step how Heavy Metal assumed the torch from Sixties Rock and Roll bad-boys like the Doors and Rolling Stones (taking their mission to the next level): From its onset, this was music on the edge -- musicians in the role of circus performers and hedonist healers, at once testing the bounds of the acceptable and the rational, questioning the standards of plastic 1970s morality, banging down the walls.

In the role of rock journalist, Ian Christe tells the story of the Heavy Metal through the perceptions of the men who made the music, offering head bangers and casual music fans alike the most definitive account of this riveting American sound.

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BOB DYLAN: BEHIND THE SHADES (REVISITED). Clinton Heylin. Harper Collins. This is the revised edition of Heylin's 1991 biography of the legendary folk-rocker. This edition's of note because it brings the story current and includes material about Dylan from the late 1990s, complete with much information on Dylan's "never-ending tour."
The first edition of Heylin's bio was billed as the "definitive" study on the musician; however, in retrospect, it seems less stylistically elegant than the Anthony Scaduto books that predate it. Yet, this is not to say that Heylin's work is flawed; to the contrary, his vast knowledge of Dylan shows through on every page, and he tells us many new tidbits about the reclusive star and his music:

"In late June 1975, Dylan seemed to be on a scouting mission, looking for a new sound. Driving around the village, he ran across an exotic-looking violinist by the name of Scarlet Rivera, and invited her to his rehearsal studio to run through some songs. Perhaps he wanted to explore a guitar-violin blend, perhaps he just wanted to get to know this particular gypsy soul...There was a mantralike quality to Rivera's violin playing ...[and]...there was an obvious chemistry between her and Dylan." (From Page 392 of Paperback edition)

Heylin's prose is easy to read and easy to comprehend, and the interviews with Dylan's contemporaries that pepper each chapter are absolutely captivating (Heylin, a veteran music writer from England, has written several other Dylan studies; he also serves as the general editor of Schrimer's Classic Rock Album series). In the end, Behind The Shades proves to be a well-paced and well-plotted rock and roll biography with strong appeal to both hard-core Dylanites and younger fans looking to discover what all the fuss was about. Also worthwhile because of the fine photos and detailed discography. At $15.95 for the paperback, this book is a necessity for anyone with 2 or more Dylan albums in their collection.

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Bob Dylan's website is BobDylan.com.