Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music: The Thrill of It All

by David Buckley

Book Overview

Roxy Music, one of the first and best art-rock bands of the 1970s, is chronicled in this account of decadent glam-rock excess. Included are accounts of Ferry's affair with supermodel Jerry Hall and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0233051139
• ISBN13: 9780233051130
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Not Avail
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

oh mother of pearl I wouldn't trade you ....

I am not through with the book yet (I am up to THE BRIDE STRIPPED BARE): this is very thorough and SLANTED - but that's okay. I purchased the entire Roxy/Bryan remasters and Buckley's harsh assessment of some of Ferry's solo work has made me play his solo recordings OVER and OVER and they only get better and better. He is a CRITIC so he is CRITICIZING - and a gushing book over the brilliance of Bryan would probably not work; I believe this author - being of course, very British, had his view which is what makes the reading so enjoyable. However as he states over and over - that Roxy/Bryan were too smart for the U.S, audience is so apparent I can almost shed Bryan's tears. If you have had the luck to see them live (especially their recent "reunion" tour of @ 3 years ago that was so amazing I can still lose my voice just thinking of the screaming) - you know the genius of these men (and their darling Roxy Tottsies). A treasure.

Assertive Views and Strong Research Make This Book Fun

This in-depth, enjoyable book took me back to the college days when my roommate converted me to being a life-long Roxy Music fan. No mere recorder of events, author Buckley is a man with attitudes, and his views give this fun narrative its spark. He offers a coherent thesis of Roxy front man Bryan Ferry as a talented and innovative artist who remains dissatisfied and melancholy despite his talent and success. Buckley offers other controversial views: that none of Ferry's solo work matches his work with Roxy, that Roxy inaugurated "the true beginning of rock-as-art," that Ferry's cover improves on Dylan's song "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall" (I disagree, but the debate is fun). Buckley is also a master researcher. He appends an 11-page bibliography, which seems to include every press mention of Roxy and Ferry. Thus Buckley can reference in detail critical responses to the albums and tours. And Buckley willingly hands over big block quotations to some key figures, such as early Roxy guitarist David O'List and post-Eno keyboard man Eddie Jobson, who offer multiple and contrary versions of the carreer. However, except for a 1999 interview (when Buckley was researching David Bowie), Buckley could not speak with Ferry. So he has to rely on Ferry's published interviews. And Buckley was unable to get many insights from Roxy mainstays Phil Manzanera and Andy MacKay. So while Buckley does a good job on the Eno-Roxy break-up, he cannot offer much insight on relationships among the bandsmen. What accounts for the striking long-term loyalty among Ferry, Mackay, and Manzanera, loyalty which survived the Eno crisis (Mackay had brought in Eno)? What accounts for drummer Paul Thompson's changing status with the band? Because these musicians are so reticent with writers, Buckley has to remain on the outside. Someday, perhaps Ferry and Mackay and Manzanera will open up with a writer and allow an in-depth biography of the band. But even if they do, Buckley's book should remain a valuable resource in the history of rock.

Essential Reading for Roxy Fans, Old and New

I first learned of the existence of this book from a passing reference in a Sunday New York Times Book Review magazine; it was given a left-handed compliment (something to the effect that should you want to know all the minute details of the band's history, it could be found in this book). That's pretty much the sum of it - this is a great book about one of the greatest (and most under-rated) bands in music history. However, the author does not ignore the members' flaws and shortcomings; this is a very objective look at a band who was responsible for its limited commercial success. However, Roxy's influence on contemporary music can not be denied, far ahead of its time.

Comprehensive, gossipy and fun

I just finished reading this and was very impressed. The author gives the British perspective on the band. While the focus is on Ferry, the rest of the band is adequately covered. You can tell that he did a lot of research. I agree with much (but not all) of his musical critique. There is gossip and Bryan is disected a bit but you will still like him at the end. I am a fan of music books and a big fan of Roxy Music and this book is more than very adequate.