Description
Book SynopsisMore than 40 stories from the glory days of rock''n''roll, featuring Lou Reed, Elton John, Sting and The Clash.
Allan Jones brings stories many previously unpublished from the golden days of music reporting. Long nights of booze, drugs and unguarded conversations which include anecdotes, experiences and extravagant behaviour.
- A band''s aftershow party in San Francisco being gatecrashed by cocaine-hungry Hells Angels
- Chrissie Hynde on how rock''n''roll killed The Pretenders
- What happened when Nick Lowe and 20 of his mates flew off to Texas to join the Confederate Air Force
- John Cale on his dark alliance with Lou Reed
Allan Jones remembers a world that once was one of dark excess and excitement, outrageous deeds and extraordinary talent, featuring legends at both the beginnings and ends of their careers.
Trade ReviewMusic fans looking for more vintage fare will enjoy
Too Late To Stop Now. * The Independent *
The old-school drinking and industrial drug abuse remain, as does the author's decisive indiscretion... many of the chapters unfold at greater length, leaving room for more nuanced reflection on the consequences of all the excessive ribaldry... But mostly, there is comedy... It's ridiculous fun. * Uncut *
This unputdownable book ... is rammed with finely recounted anecdotes. This is a first-class Rolls Royce Phantom of a book. -- Paul Davies * Hard Rock Hell *
That the book’s subtitle is More Rock’N’Roll War Stories speaks volumes. Because if you want blood, Allan Jones has got it. * The Telegraph *
Jones turns it up to 11 with his latest collection. These are captivating and absolutely delightful tales of rock’s wonder and power. * Library Journal *
There's unexpected music in Jones's sentences. (Genesis reminded him "less of a rock band than the bell-bottomed equivalent of the school chess team on an outing to an owl sanctuary.") Also unexpected: the disclosure that concludes Too Late to Stop Now. It's 2021, and Jones is invited to tag along on one last gig but realizes that, although "[f]orty-five years ago... I would have jumped on the bus without a second thought," he would prefer to go home to his memories. How lucky for rock diehards that he shares those memories here. * Shelf Awareness *
[Jones] knows when to joyfully exploit a glib moment and when to relent to the darkness, like when he goes into extensive detail with Chrissie Hynde about the tragic collapse of the original Pretenders. And there are times when he dead centers the bullseye while taking the measure of his subject. [... If you are looking for a book that gives] a real sense of what real rock and roll was like on either side of the Punk detonation, then look no further. -- Joe Silva * Tracking Angle *
Seldom has a rock ’n’ roll memoir been so falling-down funny. Jones doesn’t sit there politely with his notebook and write down the same rote publicist-approved quotes. He waits until they’re completely sloshed, without inhibitions, and then the truth comes out. -- Jim Motavalli * The New York Journal of Books *
[The book’s best pieces] combine Jones’ intimate interactions with his interview subjects over time with the sodden interviews recounting them to create insightful portraits of individuals and informed histories of their bands. -- Charles Caramello * Washington Independent Review of Books *
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Are We Rolling? Elton John Roy Harper Chris Farlowe Screaming Lord Sutch Little Feat Loudon Wainwright III Peter Gabriel Ian Anderson Lou Reed Wreckless Eric The Damned Peter Cook Guy Clark Joe Cocker Joe Ely Rockpile Juke Box Jury Sting | The Police Bryan Ferry Jerry Dammers Joe 'King' Carrasco Jon Anderson The Fabulous Thunderbirds Nick Lowe And The Confederate Air Force The Blasters The Rolling Stones Captain Sensible John Cale Nick Lowe Dr Feelgood Elmore Leonard Elvis Costello Bob Geldof R.E.M. Lambchop John Carpenter Oliver Stone Chrissie Hynde Robert Plant John Cale Wilko Johnson The Clash The 101’ers The Aftershow
