Rock Roadie: Backstage and Confidential with Hendrix, Elvis, the Animals, Tina Turner, and an All-Star Cast

by Rod Weinberg and James "Tappy" Wright

Rock Roadie takes you on an exclusive all-access tour of more than thirty years on the road with the biggest names in rock 'n' roll. As a roadie for some of the world's greatest music stars, James "Tappy" Wright has seen and done it all. He was there at the beginning when The Animals were formed and when they recorded their anthem, "The House of the Rising Sun." He was there when an unknown guitarist called Jimi Hendrix played to a handful of listeners...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031264664X
• ISBN13: 9780312646646
• Release Date: August 2010
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 236 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.6" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Looking forward to a second book!

While I did not experience the '60s myself, this book was written in a manner that made me feel as though I could have. I found the Prologue intriguing, encouraging me to read more. The Introduction demonstrates the author's clarity and understanding of who he is as a person. The book provides details only someone who had these experiences could have written. A mix of humorous, serious, and unfortunately also tragic stories round out this book. I felt a heartfelt appreciation from the writer of having lived the life he did, being fortunate enough to have first-hand encounters with names such as Hendrix, Elvis, the Animals and Tina Turner. Overall, I found it enjoyable and look forward to reading more in a second book.

Amazing unique insight into some of music's greatest stars

As a long term fan of rock and soul music and especially Jimi Hendrix I was eagerly looking forward to this book and was not disappointed. The book is completely full of great little anecdotes and stories - some are a different view on well known rock events (like Hendrix burning his guitar at Montreux, where Tappy was the person who handed him the lighter fuel!), others are enthralling accounts of spending time with some of the greatest musical acts such as John Lennon, Elvis, The Animals, Tina Turner, Little Richard and of course Jimi Hendrix. It's important to view this book in the correct light - as I've come across some reviews that appear to have missed the point. This is not supposed to be some sort of great literary work of art looking for a Nobel prize for literature. Rather, it's an honestly written first person account of fascinating experiences with some of the world's greatest ever music stars. For those of us who are really huge Jimi Hendrix fans there's something special in this book. I don't want to spoil it but let's just say you'll find out the real reason Hendrix parted with his manager Chas Chandler - and you'll also find out the incredibly explosive truth about how and why he died! So, look beyond the writing style and the gratuitous sex and drugs (there's a lot of that ) and instead see, laid bare, the amazing life and times of someone who really was there at the birth of rock 'n' roll, through the 60s and 70s and who recounts everything from accompanying Hendrix on his first flamboyant shopping trips in Carnaby Street, to catching him in bed with Brigitte Bardot! One other unique aspect to this book is the insight to one of the most secretive characters in rock - (aside perhaps from Elvis's manager The Colonel) Michael Jeffery. Tappy recounts working with Jefferey's through many projects and bands and sheds light on one the shadiest characters in the music business. There's a treasure trove of amazing stories in this book - so enjoy it!

To be a fly on the wall

Awesome book and an great look into rock and roll history. What great memories good or bad. What a fabulous story life is, thanks for sharing it with the world.