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Somebody to Love? a Rock and Roll Memoir / Abridged

Somebody to Love? a Rock and Roll Memoir / Abridged

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Entertaining and readable
Review: A good book - light and entertaining. I enjoyed it a lot; though, I must confess, after I started the chapters about the Jefferson Starship period I kind of lost interest. I was more interested in the 60s Woodstock adventure . . . having not lived through it myself I found Grace's stories really personal and and it gave me a good idea of what times must have been like then. Made me sorry I missed it!
I recommend this book if you're looking for a first-hand account of the evolution of the 60s told by someone who is really down-to-earth. You can't help but love Grace!
The book was full of little inside moments too, such as the meaning behind "Our House" by Crosby, Stills, and Nash. It made the songs seem more real to me after I heard stories of the people who had written them.
Pick it up sometime and browse through it - you'll find some great inside scoop; read the whole thing, however, and you may find your mind wandering a little.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Truth....what she could remember!
Review: As an avid reader of all things dealing with the music industry, both artistic and business oriented, I have seen many different ways of describing the turbulent lifestyles of the stars. While I know some people criticize this book for not going into enough depth regarding the recording process, or the business relationships the band was involved in, I think these people are being a little unfair to Grace. Let's face it, people intimately involved in situations are usually the least likely to give you an in-depth analysis of that situation. Consider the following: Parent: What did you do in school today? Child: Nothing.

An outside observer could likely make a huge list of all of the child's accomplishments, and talk about the development of social skills, intelligence, and creativity. But to the child, it was just another day spent trying not to get picked on by the bully.

What does strike me about this book is how unfazed by her success Grace has managed to be. While too many stars from that era still pretend they are still IN that era (see also, her bandmates!) she is much more in tough with reality. This book seems to focus, in its own way, on how that came to be. I loved it.

And it is a really quick read too.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Rock and Roll's ORIGINAL acid queen lives to tell all!
Review: Grace Slick - that laser-eyed, siren voiced dark haired beauty (the psychedelic "Madonna" of the late 1960's generation and beyond) is back with a candid, sobering, and hilariously funny book that showcases her oddball sense of humor while reviewing highlights of her (and the Jefferson Airplane/Starship's) rock and roll career.

Ranging from her early days in Palo Alto (where she lost her virginity), up to the "bitter end" of her 18 year marriage to Skip Johnson, Grace chonicles the years of drugs, sex, politics, rock and roll - and of course - doses the reader with her own special brand of high intellect that perceived it all as it happened.

Any child of the '60s will want to read this book; if you can remember it - you MIGHT have been there, but one thing is for sure: Grace might be pushing 60 now, but she reads like a young girl in her prime!

Mike Giamo, Philadelphia, PA

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Somebody to like a lot in any case!
Review: Grace Slick was always one of the more quotable rock stars. Even well past the point where Rolling Stone would even consider giving one of her records (solo or with Jefferson Whatever...) anything remotely like a positive review, they'd still run little blurbs on her from time to time, usually with one or two "outrageous" quotes.

She could be counted on for that. Funny, sarcastic, but also endearingly self-deprecating, her take on the world in general and the absurdities of rock stardom in particular were always worth a look. Once when asked about all the attention she received as the sole female member of a six-"man" band, she pooh-poohed it all by saying, "Well, if you had five cows and a pig, you'd look at the pig, right?" Well, yeah, although Grace was scarcely a pig, and I don't know about how her bandmates may have felt about being called cows, but you get the idea.

Often described by people as an "ice queen"--at least by people who had never heard of Nico--Grace was actually pretty down to earth and anything but self-serious. On the other hand, her penchant for wisecracking and sheer outrageousness often detracted from her more reflective, artsy side. Her own compositions, with their often elliptical lyrics and exotic arrangements, hinted at an artistic ambition that was very real--if never fully realized. Still "rejoyce," "Two Heads" and "Hyperdrive" remain real dazzlers, suggesting that if Grace had been less given to epataying the old bourgeoisie (and ribbing the counter-culture too, much to her credit) she might have pulled off something even more remarkable than what she (with and without her various bands) actually did achieve.

The book is, for the most part, a fun breezy read, the funny, quotable, outrageous Grace. No, it's not all it might have been, but it was pretty much what I expected. This is one of those odd books, where you suspect that the narrator's apparent "frankness" actually serves as a kind of defense. Don't let's dig too deep, God forbid. One can read between the lines a bit, especially in the brief early chapters that describe her childhood and adolescence, and maybe conclude that there are some conflicts there above and beyond what she's willing to reveal. And well, that's OK. Really, most of us are not THAT nosey. But the tone is an odd juxtaposition of self-disclosure and self-protectiveness. "Odd"--but not really all that surprising. Honesty--or as we said in the 60s, "righteousness"--was a counter-cultural value, but you couldn't get too "corny" about the whole thing either.

I could have done without another re-hashing of the "plot to dose Nixon" co-starring Abbie Hoffman. Despite Grace's protestations to the contrary, I don't believe she ever intended to get any further than the White House gate--you don't bring Hoffman as your escort if you really want to get in and wreak a little psychedelic havoc on the President of the United States. It's a wild tale, but it was more theater and self-mythologizing than anything else.

Nor do I particularly care about the Jim Morrison episode (the strawberry jam session). It seemed like a pretty meaningless encounter for both participants, but someone (co-writer Andrea Cagan, perhaps?) must have thought it merited a chapter of its own. It's disappointing that this kind of tale-telling is given more focus than on the music itself. In one revealing passage, Slick talks about her compulsion to be as well rehearsed as possible. That kind of professionalism may seem antithetical to "hippie" ideals of spontaneity and improvisation. But that was one of the little contradictions that made Slick a compelling figure to begin with. Too bad that same level of care didn't really make it into the autobiography.

Now that it's available as a paperback (or as a remaindered cloth-bound edition), the book is well worth picking up--for curiousity seekers as well as fans. Enough of the quotable Grace is there. The mysterioso, orphic Grace is missing in action though. Too bad in a way.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Grace Slick Feeds Our Heads with a look at her life.
Review: Grace Slick, although long retired from the Rock and Roll scene has come up at age 59 with an interesting look at her life, loves, music, and being part of the dynamic Jefferson Airplane. After 1967 the Airplane emerged out the Haight-Ashbury as the leading edge of the San Francisco Sound that included the Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Country Joe and the Fish, and Big Brother and the Holding Company. Grace was viewed as the Acid Queen by psychedelic revelers who would time their peaking to commence with the Airplane set at San Francisco's Fillmore or Avalon Ballroom's. The memoir will have some historical value as an example of life and activities in San Francisco during the 60's and 70's. Some of her memories definately will become Rock and Roll trivia items now that they are in print - some of them are x-rated for sure and not for the timid reader. I guess you will have to read the book to find out more about it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A great story of sex, drugs & rock 'n roll!
Review: Having long been a fan of Grace Slick, I was thrilled to find that she'd written her autobiography. It's all here, from her early childhood interest in the arts to forming the band the Great Society with her then husband, Jerry Slick, to being asked by Jack Casady-bassist for Jefferson Airplane if she'd be interested in joining the band as their lead singer. She more or less said "why not" and it was the beginning of a long & illustrious career in rock. It's fun reading about all the rock stars she hung out with, particularly Jerry Garcia & The Grateful Dead, The Doors(including a one-night stand with the Lizard King himself, Jim Morrison)& other great Bay Area bands. Filled with a self-deprecating sense of humor, she writes of eventually becoming romantically involved with Airplane's resident genius, Paul Kantner, then giving birth to their daughter China. Grace writes with great humor and intelligence, and the book is a must for Jefferson Airplane/Starship fans.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Nice idea, but...
Review: I'm glad Grace wrote this autobiography; she truly is a unique woman and her book attests to it. "Somebody to Love?" is an easy and fast read filled with humor, wit, and honesty. Even though Grace is best known as a rock diva of the 1960's I like that she writes in equal portion about the 70's and 80's as well as the 60's. (Her entire life isn't centered around Jefferson Airplane and the 60's.) Reading this book, it's as if she has written it to you personally; it's like she's just come over to your house and plops down on the sofa, kicks up her heels on the coffee table, and tells you her life story. Grace is not only outrageous, but intelligent as well. She's nobody's fool and she'll let you know it. She has attitude and chutzpah, and that's what I love about her. What's more, Grace is candid in her autobiography with everything, good and bad.

I learned a few things about her that I never knew, such as her fling with Jim Morrison (what heterosexual woman in her right mind wouldn't have wanted a fling with Morrison?), her bout with alcoholism, and her childhood (it was surprisingly normal).

Grace has had her share of ups and downs, and through it all she remains true to herself and others. Although she knocks her age and body, I think she looks fantastic! And her smile still says it all. She is a testament of perseverance. Grace, you go girl!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Interesting, but not enough 60's material
Review: In this autobiography, Grace Slick formerly of Jefferson Airplane, gives an full account of her life in the rock and roll spotlite. She gives up the goods on lots of interesting and famous personalities in one of the most exciting times in rock and roll history.

Although sometimes a bit irritatingly egocentric, Ms. Slick has so many interesting tidbits to disclose that it's easy to forgive her overabundance of self-love.

An interesting, entertaining and often funny book, just wish it had focused more on the 60's.



Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good Weekend Read or Airplane Book for Boomers
Review: In this book, one gets a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the early years of rock music from Grace Slick's perspective. Revealed also is the evolution of a young, pre-Boomer (born in '39, she remembers WWII), raised in an affluent West Coast family, into a rock goddess/acid queen (and, eventually, into a gray-haired, vegan, AA attending animal rights activist). She came through to me as surprisingly likeable and less weird than I used to think. She doesn't make many excuses, clears up a few misunderstandings, makes some apologies, and is generally non-caustic whenever mentioning Marty Balin (Jefferson Airplane and Starship co-vocalist/rival). I suspect this book's main appeal is going to be limited to Baby Boomers who admired/observed figures like this from afar in their formative years, and would like to have a closer inside look. Good stories abound, and all the big moments are there: The Summer of Love, Monterrey Pop, Woodstock, Altamont - as well as characters such as Garcia, Crosby, Morrison and Joplin. There are a few photos. As usual, we also get an extensive pharmacopeia, as well as a detailed sexual history. The book is a little bit dated as it came out in 1998. Also, don't expect a serious music history or in-depth analysis of the cultural phenomenon we refer to as the "60's." It is more like eavesdropping on an old rocker reminiscing about the past. A good, quick weekend or airplane read, if you are in the right mood.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not all that I hoped for!
Review: Overall I'd say this book was mildly interesting. I'd hoped for a lot more discussion and details about rock n'roll in the 60s but what I wound up with was pretty much a hodge-podge of disjointed events. Grace also has a tendency to promote her personal social and political agendas which gets tiring.
Since I picked it up at the local library, at least I didn't have to shell out any cash!


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