So, who's read _Heavier Than Heaven_?

It is on my too read shelf. 5th in about 10.

This is aimed at me, right?

I preferred CC when he was president of the Bruce Springsteen Fan Club (he went skinny dipping with The Boss once, and no I don't make this shit up). At least then, he was writing about music he liked. (The Rocket NEVER paid attention to Nirvana until at least one English music paper had shoved them on their front cover, and the reason for this was cos CC hated all the Sub Pop crap. I don't make this up. Phone Sub Pop and ask an old-timer. They still hate him, too.) Still, a dislike for a band's music is no reason not to write an autobiography on them - right? That way you get impartiality.

Maybe his new book is good? I have no way of judging, because the fucker has upset some personal friends of mine by printing private correspondence without permission and hence I'm too biased to judge already. (I make a lousy journalist. I already know that. That's why I've always referred to myself as a critic instead.) I did a great comic strip on this subject incidentally, w/Pete Bagge, that I'll happily send to anyone with a sense of humour.

MA is just a rock bore who got lucky by kissing corporate rock management ass at the right time. He's quite companionable actually, as long as you don't talk about music.

I wouldn't object except that when MA writes about music I love he makes it sound as dull, and I don't understand why anyone would want to do that. Maybe his new book is good? I have no way of judging because I don't want the music I love to sound dull.

Maybe you should buy my book instead: it makes no pretensions to be a historical document or gossip-filled charter. I don't have the arrogance to presume to tell you what KC or CL or any of those other fascinating alterna-rock stars are like (because I don't know). All I want to do is write about stuff that I recognise.

?? What's this book? Who is CC? etc.

I was actually tempted to pick up yer book over in the UK, Jerry, but I gather it's being/been published over here as well and the exchange rate means I should stick with the American edition. And I admit I was interested in hearing your reaction -- and would love to see the comic you and Bagge did! I knew wossname was a Springsteen fan, but skinny- dipping? EW EW EW. Sick.

To Tom -- _Heavier Than Heaven_ is the allegedly important new bio of one K. Cobain, published ever-so-conveniently to coincide with the tenth anniversary of a Certain Single's Release. It's getting a lot of attention because of the author (CC, aka Charles Cross) having gone through Cobain's journals. You can read some puffery from Cross here:

http://www.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/16/kurt.cobain/

I just checked that link Ned, and it seems CC was a massive KC fan.... hmmm, funny how history can play selective tricks on people's memories, isn't it? (I was aware of the diaries too, but I refused to look at them when given the opportunity.)

Speaking of links, here are a couple of my own:

http://cycletheory.tripod.com/images/nirvanapb.gif (this is for the Peter Bagge comic strip)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0753505584/qid=99 8245640/sr=1-1/ref=sr_sp_re/026-1036078-2574837 (this is for my book and apologies for the crap Virgin blurb). There should be an interview appearing any day now on amazon, too.

Yeah, I was about to say, seems like somebody's been carefully dusting up his credentials. "Oh, always loved them, why I visited Aberdeen at every opportunity when not searching down Boss bootlegs from 1981..."

As for that comic -- EVIL! And therefore utterly fucking funny!

just read the book. Not much in it about music, really. Lots about drugs and amateur psychology. And some very very very corny & cliched writing. Not the worst rockbio i've ever read (There's Something About Jonathon takes that prize), but not much good, either.