The Band That Time Forgot: The Complete Unauthorised Biography of Guns N' Roses

Rating:
Summary: weakly written, but fascinating nonetheless
Review: First of all, the author has a very weak writing style and the book is laced with enless gramatical errors. The author's analysis is weak, his humor is not funny. When analyzing Axl's psyche, which he attempts, he never touches on psychological theory (for example, Axle Rose most certainly suffers from Narcissitic Personality Disorder as defined by the DSM IV, stuff like that the author just can't summon) and dosen't even do a job a an ameuteur psychologist. My biggest complaint with the book is that it never achieves any literary 'Magic.'
That aside, I couln't put the book down--I read it all the way through in one session. The Gun'N'Roses story is just fascinating and this book tells the story effectively. (there was another book I read called "Appetite for Destruction" which was just absolutely terrible, literally unreadable. Half of that book wasn't even about guns'n'roses. Band that Time Forgot is the best GNR book so far) Most of the book's info is taken from articles and iterviews that are available elsewhere on the net, but still there's lots of stuff I hadn't read before, and it's nice to have it in chronologically in a story. This book is reasonably priced and well worth the money for a Gun'N'Roses fanatic.

Rating:
Summary: This P.O.S. really sucks
Review: I am a pretty big GNR fan and am appauled that anyone found that "book" to be even readable. I thought it could be good untill i opened it up. Spelling mistakes, grammer mistakes, random quotes, and a chapter on "Axl." Axl is an upset to anyone who truely likes guns n' roses. He FORCED the rest of the band to sign over the name and he has ruined what good name they had. Now guns n' roses is just Axl McFat and the guys who aren't Slash. And for everyone that thinks Axl is guns n' roses then why hasn't chinese democracy come out yet. because when push comes to shove he can't sing, write, produce, or even buy his way out of it.

Rating:
Summary: Barely Rewritten Old, Well-Worn Material
Review: I didn't see any new information here at all, not one sentence. It's all old material, the author doesn't seem to have bothered even rewriting the bulk of it, he hasn't even tried to update info that's over a decade old, and he rarely credits the real sources of his quotes. I also didn't notice any photographs I hadn't seen before. I can't recommend this book at all. There's been very little GNR info to be had over the years (especially on Axl), and to only have the best-known parts regurgitated yet again is disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Rip Roaring coverage of the best band in the world!
Review: I wasn't going to review this book but after reading the review below I felt I had to. This reader clearly did not understand the point of the book and also didn't appear to read it properly - the things she says were not covered most certainly are! So there IS coverage of the tabloid articles, the concerts/gigs, the altercations with Vince Neil and Kurt Cobain, the '88 tragedy, the St. Louis riot.. The reader appears bitter because she would LIKE to have written this book but at 16 doesn't know much about anything let alone a band who was around before they were born!

In fact she criticises the "puncuation" which says a lot.

Rating:
Summary: simply awesome!
Review: if you're tired of the Axl bashing from the press read this book - its balanced but respectful of the great front man and flies by because it moves fast - just like the bands career has always done......very considered and thoughtful read from an author i will definitely be reading more by, roll on Chinese Democracy!

Rating:
Summary: g'n'r is NOW only AXL-people GET OVER IT!!!!!!
Review: Ive recently returned from my holiday, where i managed to read this book in only a few days as i couldnt put it down!
Im not professing to be the biggest g'n'r fan but back in the heyday i did like the popular tunes - paradise city, sweet child etc.
Whilst reading this book i found it very informative and easy to read, i enjoyed details of certain stories and the background to the band.
After reading the reviews on here ive really got to say to ALL those people who think g'n'r are still slash,izzy and duff - GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they chose to sell out, they now have a new project and they have moved on, so when people are moaning about the fact that there is a chapter solely on Axl i COMMEND the author because the COLD, HARD fact of life is that AXL IS guns 'n' roses, plain and simple - he bought the name and is the only remaining member!!!
I highly recommend everyone to read this, and yes there are a few spelling mistakes and the author probably bemoaned this when he saw the printed copy - we can but hope there is a revised copy out soon - maybe a chapter on velvet revolver might be nice just to keep certain 'fans' happy!!
well done to Paul Stenning i say and thank you!!!

Rating:
Summary: Good but not a lot new
Review: The Band That Time Forgot: The Complete Unauthorised Biography of Guns N' Roses is a good book.

But for dedicated GnR fans, there is not a lot of new info here.

Rating:
Summary: We love you AXL!
Review: the whole point of this book is to focus on not only the Guns N Roses of the past, but also as it is right now. it is ridiculous some 'fans' complain about there being too much focus on Axl, he IS Guns N Roses now.

however this book does indeed focus on the earlier days of the band and does it fairly, never underestimating the contributioon of the other ex members. it seems it was too early to focus much on Velvet Revolver, but not only is that band crap - this is a book about G N R!!!

i recommend this for both casual observers and true fans, there is simply so much information in it and i just couldn't put the book down. Guns' is my favourite band and i know a lot but there was still information i hadn't heard. the author backs it up well also, so it seems very plausible.

he also goes very far into Axl Roses' psyche which makes for an entertaining, if often distrubing read. simply, if you ever want a book on Guns N Roses make it this one!

Rating:
Summary: stop moaning!
Review: this is all about AXL cos AXL is G N R! enjoy, its utterly fantastic!!!!

Rating:
Summary: What went wrong?
Review: When I was deciding on presents I would want for Christmas, I came across this book. Ignoring the terrible reviews, I recieved this book as a present on Christmas day. Axl...if you are reading this review, please sue the author of this book. Not only did I not know what the heck the author was talking about, he does a crappy job of telling the tale of this popular band.
For one thing...there are way too many typos. When I read a book, I hope to God the editor can actually read what the author wrote. The author, in this case, is either at fault big time or it's his editor's fault. The typos are just terrible. At one point, Stenning says something about selling 12 million copies of an album. That would be normally ok, if it wasn't for the fact that it read something like this "G N' R sold about 12twelve million copies of (said album)." Stenning also needs to learn how to use commas. One of my friends also types things like this...its so cryptic I can't even decipher the text.
What makes the text even more odd is the fact that Stenning throws in quotes made by various band members every so often. But as far as I tell, only about 5 quotes actually applied to what he was trying to get across. Not only are the quotes odd, but they also distract the reader from the book. He also reuses quotes over and over again.
His telling of the tale of Guns N' Roses is just plain terrible...he goes to great lengths to describe Axl's childhood, yet only passes over the rest of the band's. I would have liked to learn more of Slash or Duff...most of the book is focused on Axl. At one point in the book, he stops telling the story of Guns N' Roses and trys to review the Use Your Illusion albums, then trys to compile all the good songs on one cd.
Mr. Stenning has not done a very good job in writing this book and it shows. I'll probably have to buy another book on Guns N' Roses just so I can get the story straight. And if you buy this book and think it's great...read a good band bio and you will be surprised...I recommend Saucerful of Secrets: The Pink Floyd Odyssey by Nicholas Schnaffer. Well good luck.