terrancestamp
Well-Known Member
I have just finished the book in two days time. The book is a very easy read and I recommend for anyone who is a friend of the band. It was obvious in the interviews before he even wrote the book that is was going to be a "set the record straight" affair. As true to character he does not rip into anyone and if something negative is said then he doesn't even mention the persons by name. Exactly what I was expecting based on several meetings with Johnny and reading his interviews.
The Smiths section is the largest with the other bands taking as many pages as years he spent with them. He tells the Smiths story as more of a document of the facts of what happen and when it happen. He very clearly states that Mike and Andy where offered 10% and took it. Mike later lied and said that that was not the arrangement. Andy settled out of court long before and really seem to feel bad about what Mike was doing. Johnny backs Morrissey up in the court case and even defends him. It is clear that he has taken the high road. Even if he has not read the Morrissey book he has been told of Morrissey's feeling about the trial. He gets some facts mixed up just a couple of times (the US "Meat Is Murder" does not start with "How Soon Is Now" it was track 6) but Morrissey did the same thing. Memories sometimes change it happens to us all.
I have seen reviews where people are upset that Johnny doesn't talk more about his feelings, but he does throughout. I think they are mad because he did not talk about his anger or be nasty about someone. It does tend to seem like a whitewash if you are always happy with things. He did leave the band because he was upset. Johnny was certainly more positive than negative and zero axes to grind.
Again the book is an easy read and you know the stores but they are told with more detail behind them from someone who was there and lived it. Like Johnny had a friend with him when he went over to Morrissey's house for the first time. That fateful meeting was a three person meeting not a two. This goes on through out the book of telling the stories we have heard before but with more detail. I found it to be an inspiring book and an interesting read.
The Smiths section is the largest with the other bands taking as many pages as years he spent with them. He tells the Smiths story as more of a document of the facts of what happen and when it happen. He very clearly states that Mike and Andy where offered 10% and took it. Mike later lied and said that that was not the arrangement. Andy settled out of court long before and really seem to feel bad about what Mike was doing. Johnny backs Morrissey up in the court case and even defends him. It is clear that he has taken the high road. Even if he has not read the Morrissey book he has been told of Morrissey's feeling about the trial. He gets some facts mixed up just a couple of times (the US "Meat Is Murder" does not start with "How Soon Is Now" it was track 6) but Morrissey did the same thing. Memories sometimes change it happens to us all.
I have seen reviews where people are upset that Johnny doesn't talk more about his feelings, but he does throughout. I think they are mad because he did not talk about his anger or be nasty about someone. It does tend to seem like a whitewash if you are always happy with things. He did leave the band because he was upset. Johnny was certainly more positive than negative and zero axes to grind.
Again the book is an easy read and you know the stores but they are told with more detail behind them from someone who was there and lived it. Like Johnny had a friend with him when he went over to Morrissey's house for the first time. That fateful meeting was a three person meeting not a two. This goes on through out the book of telling the stories we have heard before but with more detail. I found it to be an inspiring book and an interesting read.
