Rating: Summary: Harrowing tale of descent from the heights Review: Having personally known friends who were heroin addicts, this is a story that speaks to my heart, and should be a "must-read" for all who dabble in designer drugs and such. Negron was at the top of the world with one #1 song after another, but in the end, the gutter was his home. This is a story that (at the moment) has a happy ending, and credit should be given to the woman who stuck by him, and to Chuck himself for turning his life around. This story transcends music, although fans of Three Dog Night will find interesting tidbits. In truth, it's a book that's hard to put down, and has all the ingredients of a gripping novel, and yet it's all true. Read this book!! Especially if you know someone who is "in trouble" or just read this book to see the full range of human depravity AND human resiliance and perserverance.
Rating: Summary: Three Dog Nightmare is a great read Review: The sad story of rock and roll excess, the life of Chuck Negron, former lead singer of Three Dog Night is a must read for rock and roll fans everywhere. Three Dog Night burst on the music scene in the late 60's, when I was 9 years old, and I remember listening to their albums late at night, and loving the vocals. I did not know the names of the singers, but even at that young age, I knew how talented they were. I sometimes wondered what happened to Three Dog Night and this books tells it all. Negron spares no details in detailing his rise to stardom and the horrible fall after becoming addicted to drugs. Sometimes it was a difficult read, his descriptions of his abuse of drugs, and the toll it took on his body, friends, and family was heartbreaking, yet at the same time when he finally gets clean and sober, it is very uplifting. It makes you realize that the will to survive, love of a good woman, and God are all we need in life. Not money, not fame. I have immense respect for Chuck Negron, and wish him continued good health and success. Read this and try to remain unmoved.
Rating: Summary: Great book for 3DN Fans, but Read Carefully Review: Three Dog Night was the first band I called "my favorite" and I collected their albums and singles. The music means a lot to me. I read Jimmy Greenspoon's book recently and now Chuck's. There is enough overlap to feel the basic story of the band is true.Chuck arguably had the best voice and picked the best songs. I saw him in concert last year and he was fabulous. He and Jimmy talk about the incredible ovations of their first fans and I fully believe it -- I wish I could go back in time and be there. As a dyed-in-the-wool Three Dog Night fan, I loved getting the inside scoop. It really is a must-read. But a few days after finishing it (in one day), there are disturbing parts to the writing. Clearly, Chuck wants to assassinate Cory Wells' character (and Danny's to a lesser extent) while appearing "above the fray", clean, sober, etc. It's a tricky job but for many readers, he probably achieves it. But, according to Chuck, who for years bailed on their gigs and created chaos in all the band members' lives -- for years on end -- it's really Cory's fault... It goes on and on if you think about it. Maybe some of it is true -- but in the end, I cannot reconcile the reborn drug-free fresh-air-smelling thankful Chuck of 1998, and the author who set out to smear his former bandmates who put up with years of Chuck's unreliability and finally had to move on. There are a lot of stories out there of band members who got kicked out -- in this case the reasons were pretty valid, don't you think?
Rating: Summary: Excellent Book!!! Review: I grew up to Three Dog Night and was always a big fan. In addition, I used to drink and take pills, too. So I could relate to his story. Chuck gives an inside look at the music business and all of the things connected with it, both the good and bad. In addition, he also tells the pitfalls of alcoholism and drug addiction that go on in the industry. So many people in the entertainment field had fallen prey to alcohol and other drugs. And sadly, many of them died from the effects of it. As Chuck says himself, he should have died numerous times. But, he lived to get straight and sober. His story of recovery is one of hope that will inspire anyone who struggles with substance abuse or for those that love someone that has problems with addiction. Thanks for sharing your story, Chuck. The world needed to hear it. Praise God for you!
Rating: Summary: Totally Hooked on Chuck! Review: I also could not put this book down. Went to a concert in Durham NH in November 2000. Didn't know about Chuck or his comeback. Was never really a TDN fan back then. Chuck's performance flooded me with all my childhood memories. The concert (and his voice) was truly entertaining. My friends and I got backstage to meet him and then I found out about the book, ran to the bookstore the next day and bought it. Read it in a day and a half. His life and this book inspired me, something I cannot explain. I am now a devoted Chuck Negron fan and his story changed my life forever. You don't need to be a drug addict or a recovering one, his story provides many inspirations. IT IS A MUST READ! AND THEN GO SEE HIM PERFORM! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! Perhaps he can change your life like he did mine.
Rating: Summary: The Full Circle Review: With talent and perseverance, Chuck Negron reached the pinnacle of success with the band Three Dog Night, as well as the depths of despair- longer, harder and deeper than the rest of them in his quest for the fullfillment of 'the good time'. At his fingertips were all the luxuries and vices fame has to offer, and with open arms he embraced them with a gluttony that would be hard to imagine, let alone believe if he hadn't detailed them with an openness and candor that makes his survival a realization of power of the love, fortitude and willingness of others to help even the most finally downtrodden to survive. When I opened this book, I didn't know what to expect. I had just seen Mr. Negron perform at a charity fundraiser in my hometown and like the rest of the audience, was enraptured by The Voice that flowed over us and transported us to another era of simpler times. I was appalled and at times horrified at what his life became thru the excesses of stardom, and could only be amazed that he survived to once again return to, and share, the music that created so much good feeling. That he regained his life, health, voice, the love and gradual acceptance of those hurt along the way, is a bright ray of light that he realized he couldn't have done it without all of them- too, and he knows it. I'm glad I bought the book.
Rating: Summary: The Living Nightmare and Horror of Addiction Review: Chuck Negron's autobiography starts off as simply the story of a classic rock & roll band that had great hits like "One" and "Joy to the World". Then he, because of the superstardom, got introduced to heroin, and became a hardcore smack addict, and lost it all, and several times hit rock bottom. The things this man goes through, and puts his lover-wife through must be read to be believed. But anyone whos ever lived with and loved an addict knows exactly what he put his old lady through. To the signifigant other of an addict, this book is like living a day in their life. It gives great insight to the nightmarish world of drug addiction, and the "Drug lifestyle" complete with vicious drug dealers, seedy crackhouses, gangs, jail, and relapses, over and over again...one gets so into the book that at some points you want to strangle Negron for relapsing and letting down his family over and over again. But the book hits home as far as realism, and Chuck Negron pulls no punches and leaves no stone unturned...a must read for anyone who has suffered the hell of addiction, or the hell of loving an addict, and also for hardcore Three Dog Night fans...highly recommended.
Rating: Summary: It's all in the title! Review: A very personal, compelling expose of the Hollywood rock 'n roll scene of the 60's and 70's, how easy it is to get "sucked in" and how hard it is to climb out! But then the Three Dog Nightmare becomes the personal nightmare of Chuck Negron. His willingness and ability to expose his own personal degradations and shame over his heroin addicted behavior makes the book more than a condemnation of the drug culture. The reader gets insight into the physical addiction of heroin and the all-consuming need to "score". We begin to understand that heroin addiction is not about "feeling good", it's about "not feeling bad". We also understand that it's not a simple matter of just wanting to get off the drugs, but a soul searching, bottom of the dung heap decision that requires faith, work and an openness to the possibility of miracles. A must for Three Dog Night fans, rock 'n' rollers, addicts and the people who live with them and work with them, and maybe Robert Downey, Jr. Congratulations Chuck....for a wonderful book, the willingness to call it the way you saw it, and on turning your life around!
Rating: Summary: I Couldn't Put It Down Review: This is a really good book. I was really hooked just from the first sentence, and if I didn't need to go to work, I would have finished the book in one sitting. Chuck doesn't try to make anyone look bad, nor does he blame anyone except himself for his choices. You can really feel his anger and rage come through when he talks about getting his fix, and you can feel his laughter and joy as he talks about putting a quarter outside Cory's door three days in a row. I've always liked Chuck Negron, but with this book, I now respect him, and I like him even more! This is a great read, with a great ending, that could so easily have been a tragedy. I wish Chuck all the best!
Rating: Summary: FROM THE HEART Review: I have been involved in law enforcement for over 25 years. I even worked in undercover narcotics. No one has ever shared their life story in this fashion. This was the first time I have been able to hear the true story from someone who has been there with no strings attached. Mr. Negron doesn't pull any punches. If anyone ever wanted to know what heroin does to a person this is the book to read. I find myself using stories from this book in the Substance Abuse class I teach at a local college. Many thanks to Mr Blatchford and Mr Negron. All the best
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