Review: “Rock Stars Stole My Life”

The unassuming man behind some of my favorite music publications — including the beloved Word magazine — has just released his memoir, and it’s a fun ride. 

Mark Ellen’s ”Rock Stars Stole My Life!: A Big Bad Love Affair with Music” documents an adventurous 40-year career in British music journalism, starting as a freelancer with New Musical Express; later in editing roles at publications like Smash Hits, Q, Mojo and, perhaps most memorably, The Word; and side trips into broadcasting as a controversial stand-in for legendary British DJ John Peel and as host of “Old Grey Whistle Test.” 

“Rock Stars” is a fast read, with short chapters and tons of vignettes spanning the mid-1970s through late 2012 (when he hilariously documents the sausage making behind Rihanna’s boondoggle of a tour). There are so many unexpected adventures that I started to get the sense Ellen is a musical version of Forrest Gump, a quirky but likable fellow who seems to find himself in the most unexpected of scenarios. 

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Deceptive advertising

Not much offends me more mad than deceptive advertising, and here's an egregious example I found tonight on AllMusic.com, a normally excellent site I frequent. 

Here's a screenshot of the top of the AllMusic.com homepage. Take a look and see if you spot any deception.

I'll wait. 

OK, time's up. 

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Nashville, the Bakersfield Sound and musical magic

Updated on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 8:32 AM by Logan Molen

If you’ve ever had a hankering to visit Nashville, now is the time. And if you’re a lover of The Bakersfield Sound, you have a once-in-a-lifetime window to see something magical. 

I recently parachuted into Nashville for 2.5 days, using frequent-flier miles to control the costs on one of my periodic music vacations. Of prime importance for this trip was to see the fabulous Bakersfield Sound exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, whose extended run will end this Dec. 31.

For decades, Nashville sniffed at the raw music coming out of Bakersfield but these days, but these days The Bakersfield Sound is riding high thanks to the open minds at the Country Music Hall of Fame. The show’s formal title is “The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and California Country” and it is a tour de force for music fans. For decades, Nashville sniffed at the raw music coming out of Bakersfield but these days, but these days  The Bakersfield Sound is riding high thanks to the open minds at the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

I’ve posted dozens of photos and notes in a separate photo gallery but here are a few tips on places of interest for  music lovers. My visit was relatively quick so the recommendations below are by no means thorough for hardcore visitors who want a well-rounded view of what is a great American city: 

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