Unchained : The Story of Mike Starr and His Rise and Fall in Alice In Chains

Rating:
Summary: All fans of rock should read this book
Review: Unchained gives an in depth look at one of the more overlooked rock bands of the last decade. I found the book to be enjoyable to read and very interesting. Even if you are not a big fan of Alice in Chains or their music, you will find this book interesting and very informative. Definitely a must read for any rock fan.

Rating:
Summary: Nice idea....horrible execution
Review: With great anticipation I ordered this book as soon as it became available. Finally! I thought, a book to explain the mysteries of Alice in Chains and the lives and whereabouts of it's members. How disappointing to find that John Brandon apparently doesn't know how to use an editor. This book is choppy, poorly written and composed of third and fourth hand accounts of the band and it's trials. For being the main subject of the book, Mike Starr is barely heard from. Outrageous claims and assumptions are put forth in mere sentences then quickly forgotten and left unexplored. Some of the assertions are undoubtedly based in truth, others are ridiculous enough that even the casual AIC fan can see right through them. Jerry Cantrell is a dopehead who'll never be heard from again?? As a muscian himself I'm surprised to find that Brandon doesn't read guitar mags. Jerry was featured just last month in Guitar One with a very coherent and informative interview detailing his soon-to-be released double album. Missing and/or exaggerating the facts to the point of insanity quickly disolves any semblance of reliability this book has to offer. I hope that someone with a little more writing skill (and an editor) picks up this dropped ball and does justice to a great subject (and greater band) by writing a book worthy of Alice in Chains and the great influence they had (and still have) on music today. I recommend this book only to the diehard AIC fan who can see through the misinformation and not to the casual fan looking for a definitive expose on a phenominal band. Still, a poorly exectuted book is better than no book at all and I'm glad Brandon was able to get it published. I just wish he would have spent more time polishing it up.

Rating:
Summary: Get real!
Review: You know, a real artist would have more to talk about than getting laid. Mudslinging is rampant in this book. It seems like stabs from a desperate soul who could no longer play with the bandmates he cherished. I don't think this book is accurate. Even Mike Starr himself pulled out at the last minute on this one. I don't think we'll ever know the realtory on this great band.

Rating:
Summary: Get real!
Review: You know, a real artist would have more to talk about than getting laid. Mudslinging is rampant in this book. It seems like stabs from a desperate soul who could no longer play with the bandmates he cherished. I don't think this book is accurate. Even Mike Starr himself pulled out at the last minute on this one. I don't think we'll ever know the realtory on this great band.