Wow, I'm actually stoked to read this. Anyone read it yet? Barry Miles' McCartney biography was really great. He was the guy who ran the Indica book shop in London in the '60s and was one of the guys behind the International Times. He's also written books on Kerouac and Ginsberg, I believe.
― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Friday, 24 December 2004 02:19 (twenty years ago)
Sorry to spoil your enthusiasm, but Miles' "Zappa" doesn't come near the enjoyment one would get from reading Nigey Lennon's "Being Frank," which is about one quarter the volume, page size.
Miles' "Zappa" is replete with errors. The man can't get song titles correct or spell names. A good copy editing would have forgiven these sins but, frankly, it's embarrassing and an insult to the intelligence of the reader when a proper name is spelled wrong two different ways in the course of one paragraph.
It is also, quite obviously, a cut and paste word processing job, cobbled together by editors who, perhaps, had to transcribe the confused notes of the author. The introduction appears twice, at the beginning of the book as proper, and dropped in around page 85, so you get to read it twice.
Miles adds nothing to Zappa lore not already known by fans. This wouldn't be important to those coming to Zappa new or as interested everymen. However, the book is not well written -- it's a good example of tossed off hack work -- and wouldn't hold their attention. It's a pure waste of money for Zappa fans and certainly not worth the time of day for anyone vaguely interested in the man. FZ would shit on it if you could even get a comment from him were he still alive.
You want a book on Zappa that's a great read? Get Nigey Lennon's. It's highly idiosyncratic and full of warts but honest and done with clear-eyed critical honor and love.
― George Smith, Friday, 24 December 2004 08:38 (twenty years ago)