Page: 1 2
Rezi
Admin
Global user
Registered: 04-2004
Posts: 9276
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Book review: 'The Next Stage' by Doc Calvison (2007)
This is, I suppose, the book the Blackmore camp said we should wait for instead of reading Jerry Bloom's Blackers biography. Well, I really can't recommend reading this one (the Bloom book I do recommend, highly). It consists of some Blackers related anecdotes, everyone is under a pseudonym (RB is Tom Badger, etc.) for 'legal' reasons I suppose. I suspect the author Calvison is also a pseudonym, but haven't checked.
In her foreword, Carole Stevens says Calvison has worked in music business "as long as I [Stevens] remembers". I wonder how long is that, ten years?
One story is probably about Rainbow (dubbed ‘Illusionists’ here, seems to be the sessions leading to Down To Earth) and the rest from BN era, but everything seems to be quite unaccurate, I spotted some anachronisms, made up or disguised charaters (‘Dio’ became a jockey despite of being 6 feet tall etc.) ...
Add weakish writing and a third-person omniscient narrator (yes, really…) - plus that "Calvison" is nowhere to be seen or heard of - and the unsolved question just what the books title refers to, and you'll get an idea of the quality of the release.
The story about a weird, even schizophrenic BN backup singer was quite amusing, and I don't even bother to think if it's a true story. It really doesn't matter - at least it was fun to read. The last story highlighted the heroical efforts or Mrs. Stevens herself, do demonstrate how hard she works, 24 hours a day. That everyone else in the touring group comes across as child-like and even stupid makes it an odd read (I should mention RB comes across pretty much like he does on any person's accounts - is this so we would swallow everything else, as well?). Especially as the story ends up being a typical slapstick / ‘comedy of misunderstandings’ script, which probably was the idea in the first place.
Things get cheesier as the stories follow each other, with "music idols" Tom and Mandy being recognized by anyone, whereever they roam. Hundreds of fans crowd their whereabouts all the time. They might get second thoughts after reading this book, which probably was, again, one of the points in the first place.
They promise a Vol 2. at some point.
|
|
10/11/2007, 14:16
|
Send Email to Rezi
Send PM to Rezi
|
KillerBananas
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 11-2003
Location: Über alles!
Posts: 4197
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Book review: 'The Next Stage' by Doc Calvison (2007)
In other words, it's crap???
I don't pay any money for anything that fat-cat Carol Stevens are involved in...
---
"It can't be hemmoroids! Everybody knows he's a perfect asshole!" Ian Gillan commenting on Blackmore's mystery illness causing show cancelations...a long time ago!
|
|
11/11/2007, 19:33
|
Send Email to KillerBananas
Send PM to KillerBananas
|
Wott
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 07-2003
Posts: 1171
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Book review: 'The Next Stage' by Doc Calvison (2007)
Besides, who wants to read something that is so sanitised and, worse still, sanctioned by the subjects in question, it makes Blackers and Co look like roving minstrel saints.
Reading a biography is no fun at all if it's a PR exercise devoid of any interviews or research that fails to reveal anything bad to say about the subjects.
All biographies should be written by unscrupulous dirt digging ex gutter press journalists to guarantee readers get a gripping 'can't put it down' read of tantalising gossip about intra-band strife, professional and personal failure and, hopefully, all manner of hideous immoral sexual revelations to get readers' carthartic juices flowing.
Otherwise, what's the point of buying it?
Last edited by Wott, 11/11/2007, 21:01
|
|
11/11/2007, 20:50
|
Send Email to Wott
Send PM to Wott
|
Rezi
Admin
Global user
Registered: 04-2004
Posts: 9276
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Book review: 'The Next Stage' by Doc Calvison (2007)
quote:
KillerBananas wrote:
In other words, it's crap???
I hate to say this, but it has the production values of BN albums of late: to make it adequte lenght and get it out for sale seems to be the imperative matter...
A shame really. The impression given was RB had told stories which would be written and published book. I would have embraced such a book as the man is a great storyteller but his 'voice' is nowhere to be heard in this release. As isn't anyone else's, unless you want to think Stevens' is - the three BN stories pretty much highlight her perspective to the events.
|
|
12/11/2007, 8:14
|
Send Email to Rezi
Send PM to Rezi
|
Wott
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 07-2003
Posts: 1171
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Book review: 'The Next Stage' by Doc Calvison (2007)
quote:
Rezi wrote:
quote:
KillerBananas wrote:
In other words, it's crap???
I hate to say this, but it has the production values of BN albums of late: to make it adequte lenght and get it out for sale seems to be the imperative matter...
A shame really. The impression given was RB had told stories which would be written and published book. I would have embraced such a book as the man is a great storyteller but his 'voice' is nowhere to be heard in this release. As isn't anyone else's, unless you want to think Stevens' is - the three BN stories pretty much highlight her perspective to the events.
I hope you kept the receipt, Rez. Why not pop it back to the store and get a refund or credit voucher? Most shops have a 28 days returns policy
You could spend the money of some new Christmas decorations instead, or a new set of vacuum cleaner bags.
|
|
13/11/2007, 20:56
|
Send Email to Wott
Send PM to Wott
|
Rezi
Admin
Global user
Registered: 04-2004
Posts: 9276
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Book review: 'The Next Stage' by Doc Calvison (2007)
No, it's going to be a collector's item some day!
I just read from the latest issue of More Black Than Purple that "Calvinson" is probably Candice's brother. As I have never heard of Candice's brother being a roadie for BN, or anyone else. By this time you'd think you'd heard about such a thing. So, it's not just an alias but a (another) made-up person.
If all that is true, it's an insult to RB's famous skills as a wind-up artist. They should have consulted him on how do pull these things off. Or has he lost his edge in this field? Who knows.
|
|
15/11/2007, 8:39
|
Send Email to Rezi
Send PM to Rezi
|
spotlight dad
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 02-2007
Posts: 90
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Book review: 'The Next Stage' by Doc Calvison (2007)
this sounds pathetic and insulting....
|
|
7/7/2008, 21:29
|
Send Email to spotlight dad
Send PM to spotlight dad
|
KillerBananas
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 11-2003
Location: Über alles!
Posts: 4197
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Book review: 'The Next Stage' by Doc Calvison (2007)
All I can say is don't buy this crap! It's just womit from the Womit Management by Carol Womit Liar Stevens!
Doc Calvinson? Jeeeezzzz...give me a break!
---
"It can't be hemorrhoids! Everybody knows he's a perfect asshole!" Ian Gillan commenting on Blackmore's mystery illness causing show cancelations...a long time ago... Taken from Metal Hammer's "Motormouth"!
|
|
14/7/2008, 7:55
|
Send Email to KillerBananas
Send PM to KillerBananas
|
Rezi
Admin
Global user
Registered: 04-2004
Posts: 9276
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Book review: 'The Next Stage' by Doc Calvison (2007)
quote:
KillerBananas wrote:
All I can say is don't buy this crap! It's just womit from the Womit Management by Carol Womit Liar Stevens!
Doc Calvinson? Jeeeezzzz...give me a break!
Have you read the book, KB? Any specific insights?
|
|
15/7/2008, 6:27
|
Send Email to Rezi
Send PM to Rezi
|
Wott
Purple fan
Global user
Registered: 07-2003
Posts: 1171
|
|
Reply | Quote
|
|
Re: Book review: 'The Next Stage' by Doc Calvison (2007)
quote:
Rezi wrote:
quote:
KillerBananas wrote:
All I can say is don't buy this crap! It's just womit from the Womit Management by Carol Womit Liar Stevens!
Doc Calvinson? Jeeeezzzz...give me a break!
Have you read the book, KB? Any specific insights?
The only insight you're likely to get from KB is this: 'it's crap, whether i've read it or not'
|
|
21/7/2008, 15:34
|
Send Email to Wott
Send PM to Wott
|
Add a reply
Page: 1 2
Link to us
- Blogs
- Hall of Honour
- Chat
|
You are not logged in (login)
Board's time is: 26/11/2009, 13:30
|
|
|
