viewThe Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, the MC5, and My Life of Impossibilities Wayne Kramer 2018, read by author
Note: Part of my ongoing #AudioMemoir series reviewing author-read memoirs. Previous: Neko Case, Cameron Crowe. and Evan Dando. Coming: Larry Charles.
The late Brother Wayne Kramer's narration of his life was a liminal listening experience for me. Hearing his voice made him alive, even though I knew he wasn't. The back-from-the-grave narration started with a Michigan youth and ended in L.A. as a father and Punk icon.
Kramer laid bare addictions, crimes, and failures while celebrating resilience as a guitar gunslinger. The MC5 saga was covered, as was prison time with Jazz musician Red Rodney, and too much junkie business with Johnny Thunders. His reflections on being a roofer and woodworker balanced the Rock 'n' Roll excess.
Listen to it.
#books #MusicChannel #AudioMemoir #MC5 #Punk #WayneKramer #MusicMemoir #100WordReview #Larrys100 #100DaysToOffload
All reviews on Larry's 100 are exactly 100 words. Read why →
viewThe Uncool: A Memoir, Cameron Crowe, Audiobook Read by author (2025)
Note: This is part of a series on memoirs read by their authors. #AudioMemoir
Previously in this series: Neko Case
Coming soon: Wayne Kramer, Evan Dando, Larry Charles
Listening to Crowe’s warm narration as he mines his teen music journalism years for laughs and tears, it felt like Almost Famous: Writer's Cut.
A love letter to the 1970s, with Rock Stars galore, from Lou Reed to Dicky Betts. Tales of long tours, late nights, and chance encounters. All guided by mentor Lester Bangs.
Light on movie career, but has choice Fast Times stories. Even winning an Oscar is quick business.
Not the box set of his life, rather a double album. But in the end, it is a story about a family in San Diego.
Listen to it.
#Audiobook #AudioMemoir #CameronCrowe #Memoir #Bookstodon #FediBooks #MusicMemoir #RollingStone #70sMusic #Larrys100 #Drabble #100WordReview #100DaysToOffload #books #MusicChannel
All reviews on Larry's 100 are exactly 100 words. Read why →