Living The Blues

Rating:
Summary: An honest view behind the curtains of the music biz
Review: "Living The Blues" straight became my No.1 music biography - and, believe me, I've read many of those. A definate MUST BUY for anyone who wants to get to know the truth about life on the road and the merciless music business. This book offers a deep view into the hearts & souls of the musicians as well as an authentic and honest report of a band which survived the psychedelic 60's, the rocking 70's, the waved 80's and the over-technological 90's - well prepared to take the Boogie into the new century. The true story is told in an entertaining manner including a lot of macabre humour (probably that's what one needs at most to be able to still carry on after being on the road more than 35 years). Sex & Drugs & Rock'n'Roll at it's best. Lots of trouble and tragic, lots of crazyness and fun. A deep insight into the legendary band who is responsible for the Woodstock hymn "Going Up The Country". --- They are still on the road, hot like usual: CANNED HEAT! --- "Once you got the Boogie you will never lose it." How true. Thank you, Fito. Hopefully your book inspires other musicians to share their lifes and experiences with the "ordinary world"! ---

Rating:
Summary: Putting the pieces together
Review: A comprehensive review of the life and times of Canned Heat. Adolfo de la Parra, its longterm drummer, notes that the band never broke-up - it just stopped to rest every now and then. Two core founding members died from substance abuse (Henry Vestine and Bob Hite) and one from, ultimately, a broken heart (Alan Wilson).

Fito recounts their bad business decisions, substance abuse and just bad luck. Still, with all of the personnel changes it survives. Fito is a Mexico City university graduate - and as such was an unusual choice for a bandmate. Ironic that he is the one constant link - the other founder, bassist Larry Taylor (who Fito says is the best blues bassist) has been in and out of the lineup numerous times.

If you have kept up with the band - if you want to remember their heyday in the late 60's to early 70's - or are just intrigued, pick up a copy. It'll be a good decision.

Rating:
Summary: IF YOU DON'T BUY THIS BOOK....
Review: All I have to say is that if you don't own this book by now, then you should rush out to the nearest store and buy the newest Creed, Sublime, or some other "Alternative" cd, and worse yet, be forced to listen to it!! I want to say that I finally have defined what they mean by "alternative": an alternative to music! And don't ever talk about "understanding Rock n Roll, Blues and Boogie" again, because Canned Heat WROTE THE BOOK ON THE HARDSHIPS AND HEARTACHES OF BEING ON THE ROAD. This book proves that there could NEVER be another Woodstock after the legendary 1969 gathering, and there WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER BAND LIKE CANNED HEAT. Fito and the Heat are still entertaining audiences with their quality brand of Boogie and Blues. BUY EVERYTHING THEY HAVE EVER RELEASED AND EVERYTHING THEY WILL RELEASE IN THE FUTURE. The Boogie House Tapes...IS ALSO AN ESSENTIAL PURCHASE. DON'T FORGET TO BOOGIE!

Rating:
Summary: IF YOU DON'T BUY THIS BOOK....
Review: All I have to say is that if you don't own this book by now, then you should rush out to the nearest store and buy the newest Creed, Sublime, or some other "Alternative" cd, and worse yet, be forced to listen to it!! I want to say that I finally have defined what they mean by "alternative": an alternative to music! And don't ever talk about "understanding Rock n Roll, Blues and Boogie" again, because Canned Heat WROTE THE BOOK ON THE HARDSHIPS AND HEARTACHES OF BEING ON THE ROAD. This book proves that there could NEVER be another Woodstock after the legendary 1969 gathering, and there WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER BAND LIKE CANNED HEAT. Fito and the Heat are still entertaining audiences with their quality brand of Boogie and Blues. BUY EVERYTHING THEY HAVE EVER RELEASED AND EVERYTHING THEY WILL RELEASE IN THE FUTURE. The Boogie House Tapes...IS ALSO AN ESSENTIAL PURCHASE. DON'T FORGET TO BOOGIE!

Rating:
Summary: Canned Heat Boogie On!
Review: As Fito says, he was "born to play in Canned Heat" and he was also born to keep the band's fires burning. And he's done that with this excellent book. Canned Heat symbolized the contradictions of the Woodstock Nation - obtimism, innocence, excess and debauchery - and Fito is unsparingly honest in depicting it all. And there is a real poignancy and emotion as Fito struggles to keep the band going through deaths, self-destruction, bad management and the changing musical climate. That he has done so, and Canned Heat continues to be a vital musical force in the new century, is a testament to his love of the music and his desire to keep making it. Crammed with pictures and a complete discography, this book is a must-read celebration of a band and one member's indomitable spirit.

Rating:
Summary: Canned Heat Boogie On!
Review: As Fito says, he was "born to play in Canned Heat" and he was also born to keep the band's fires burning. And he's done that with this excellent book. Canned Heat symbolized the contradictions of the Woodstock Nation - obtimism, innocence, excess and debauchery - and Fito is unsparingly honest in depicting it all. And there is a real poignancy and emotion as Fito struggles to keep the band going through deaths, self-destruction, bad management and the changing musical climate. That he has done so, and Canned Heat continues to be a vital musical force in the new century, is a testament to his love of the music and his desire to keep making it. Crammed with pictures and a complete discography, this book is a must-read celebration of a band and one member's indomitable spirit.

Rating:
Summary: RISE AND FALL OF A ROCK'N'ROLL LIFESTYLE
Review: If you want to enter the world of a R'N'R star and it's entourage this book will open your eyes. Drugs, sex, passion, rage, and... don't forget to boogie. They lived through that sweet magical controversial periode of the late 60's-70's, white trash on it's zenit, wild life, raw r&b encountering psychedelia... and it's all in this book. It's the plain story of a bunch of great R'N'R stars, on the stage and in life.

Rating:
Summary: MostRivetingBook on CannedHeat,Blues,BandOnTour i'veSeen
Review: The Author(Fito De La Parra) has Created a Most Compelling and Heart Warming Story of the members of the Famous Classic Blues Band,CANNED HEAT!! Wow What a story! ,Complete,Honest,Soul Stirring Writing. It's like reading a Rock Stars Diary, and in Essence that is exactly What this book is. Folks ,This is the Book that tells the Total truth of the Music Business,Record Producers,Managers,Groopies,woodstock,recording Studios,You name it it's all here. Fito i am so Glad you got the chance to Set the Record Straight!! You and the Members of this band have always been in my Heart and Prayers. VAYA CON DIOS BABY!!!!

Rating:
Summary: MostRivetingBook on CannedHeat,Blues,BandOnTour i'veSeen
Review: The Author(Fito De La Parra) has Created a Most Compelling and Heart Warming Story of the members of the Famous Classic Blues Band,CANNED HEAT!! Wow What a story! ,Complete,Honest,Soul Stirring Writing. It's like reading a Rock Stars Diary, and in Essence that is exactly What this book is. Folks ,This is the Book that tells the Total truth of the Music Business,Record Producers,Managers,Groopies,woodstock,recording Studios,You name it it's all here. Fito i am so Glad you got the chance to Set the Record Straight!! You and the Members of this band have always been in my Heart and Prayers. VAYA CON DIOS BABY!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Deliciously Sleazy
Review: This is a no-holes-barred account of the very wild lifestyle of our nation's premiere boogie band.

Notice I didn't say "lavish" lifestyle. The story of Canned Heat is anything but lavish!

This is a down and dirty story. For all their fame, Canned Heat never did have a whole lot of money- hence touring in busses rather than planes. And what money they did have was spent on drugs and women. They partied till they dropped, leaving two lead vocalist in their wake.

The sex with groupies is described in lurid detail, but nothing was written to titillate. It's right there, in your face, and it all rings true- but it sounds more empty than exciting. Maybe that's how Fito got by with writing a book describing every wretched excess in exacting detail with nary an apology in sight. He doesn't try to excuse his or his band members behavior. He doesn't have to. Seeing once vibrant men destroyed at the end of their careers, or dead, is warning enough.

Fito is a gifted writer. He paints such a vivid picture of what is like to be a member of the group in it's glory days that not only can you get a picture of what is going on, you can actually smell it.

One band member was sitting off stage when his teeth became to arbitrarily fall out of his mouth, one by one. I guess that's what years of hard drug use and neglect will get you. He goes on to play on stage in a chair- too stoned to stand. He dies shortly thereafter.

The lead singer, the voice you hear on "On The Road Again" and "Goin' Up The Country" was described as being such a stoner, and having such terrible hygiene, that he was the only person alive that could be the lead voice on a number one record and still not be able to get a woman! This same singer opted to sleep outside in the grass by himself rather than join the rest of the band in their Hotel accomadations.

What a great book. The band soldiered on with no original members left except for Fito, the author, who came aboard with their second album. Not an original member, but he did play on the hits. His story is the bands story. One of lost potential. and of wasted talent.

They burned themselves out way too fast, barely existing today. But it sounds like they had a ball doing it. This book has such a "60's" feel to it. But Fito made the wise choice of not looking back on the bands heyday with rose colored glasses. This is a "warts and all" story with the emphasis on the warts.

Also interesting is that the story doesn't end. Fito is still touring and recording with the what seems to be the 750th version of Canned Heat. He laments that the band isn't considered to be vital anymore. (He quotes some magazines, including "Rolling Stone" as saying the band disbanded in the 70's.) Most would agree that the Fito-led Canned Heat hasn't mattered for years. My own feeling is that the band died with Bob Hite, but Fito has conviction in his arguments that the band is still viable.

Even though I recommend this book, I must warn you that you will feel like taking a shower after reading it. It's a raw, dirty and sweaty account of Canned Heat's history- and Fito isn't shy about showing himself or the band in a less than flattering light- but's is also entertaining as hell- and very informative.

It answers some questions, such as how does the ownership of a band name fall into it's drummers possession. How ethical is it to tour under that name with two sound-alike lead vocalists because the original two lead vocalists are dead?

What a great book. Fantastic job, Fito. You sure know how to tell a story!