Book Reviews

Steve Miller – Detroit Rock City: The Uncensored History Rock ‘n’ Roll In America’s Loudest City (Da Capo Press)

Detroit Rock City book reviewScores of raw interviews tell the story of the rock scene in Detroit, often touted as the most influential rock & roll city on earth. Miller paints Detroit as the home of working class music, where a 15-year-old worked in a factory in the motor city before getting serious about music. The auto factories were where you could make good money, with no education necessary. Bob Seeger, Ted Nugent & the Amboy Dukes, MC5, and Iggy Pop are the main focal points as the story unfolds in the mid 60’s. Iggy Pop’s nauseating stage antics, which include spitting in girls mouths to crapping on stage are recounted in this “Uncensored History.”

Though some stories are hilarious such as the time in NYC when the Amboy Dukes and Led Zeppelin were staying in the same hotel, Nugent put a Fender Twin in the window & started screaming at the top of his lungs, “I’m the greatest guitar player in the world! Jimmy Page sucks!” and started playing his guitar as loud as he could facing Page’s room. John Sinclair’s response: “Ted Nugent is an asshole, he always was.”

Pre-Eagle Glenn Frey, Grand Funk Railroad, the Grande Ballroom, and Creem Magazine are all documented right up to Kid Rock, Eminem, and Jack White.

– David Kramer

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