New Mick Wall book, "Last Of The Giants"

[6lake sa66ath]

This kind of came out of nowhere, but has any one bothered with it yet?

A couple of excerpts:

http://mickwall.com/2016/11/last-of-the-giants/

http://mickwall.com/2016/11/last-of-the-giants-2/

Thoughts?

[TyRod Tulip]

I haven't read the book, but I dig those excerpts.

[6lake sa66ath]

Contrary to appearances I have only previously written one book on GN’R: my 1991 expanded collection of early magazine interviews with them: The Most Dangerous Band In The World. Then, in 2006, I wrote a biography of W. Axl Rose, titled simply: W.A.R.

For those of you not paying attention, I have since publicly denounced the latter book, taking it out of circulation. Why? Because it was written with hate in what was left of my heart. And anger and betrayal and a number of other things that have absolutely nothing to do with Axl and everything to do with my own deeply troubled childhood and subsequent life.

 

[Blackstar]

It covers the whole story, from the members' backgrounds to the reunion and AXL/DC, including a chapter on Velvet Revolver. I read the second part (post UYI tour on) and some random pages from the first part. Information wise there isn't much stuff we don't already know from autobiographies, other books, interviews etc. Although I haven't read his (now denounced) Axl biography, the chapters on the CD era in the new book are likely an improved (ie. somewhat more objective) version of the book on Axl. There's some quite interesting stuff though, coming from Alan Niven and Doug Goldstein, either not known stories or known events from their POV.

Edited November 23, 2016 by Blackstar

[aranrod]

I definitely want that book! I always loved Mick's first one - of course I still got it - The most Dangerous Band in the world. To me that is the best Guns' book ever. Now I really want this new one!

[cremefraiche]

15 minutes ago, Blake Sabbath said:

Contrary to appearances I have only previously written one book on GN’R: my 1991 expanded collection of early magazine interviews with them: The Most Dangerous Band In The World. Then, in 2006, I wrote a biography of W. Axl Rose, titled simply: W.A.R.

For those of you not paying attention, I have since publicly denounced the latter book, taking it out of circulation. Why? Because it was written with hate in what was left of my heart. And anger and betrayal and a number of other things that have absolutely nothing to do with Axl and everything to do with my own deeply troubled childhood and subsequent life.

 

Is that a legit quote? 

[Blackstar]

Just now, cremefraiche said:

Is that a legit quote? 

Yes. It's from Mick Wall's blog.

The post in which he denounced the book:

http://mickwall.com/2016/04/getting-out-of-the-ring/

[Gordon Comstock]

I read his Axl biography years ago. It was so bad that I still chuckle when I see "written by Mick Wall" on anything, so no, I haven't read the new one  never knew he denounced it, that's alright, but it's not like I can un-read it....

Edited November 24, 2016 by Gordon Comstock
auto-corrected to 'autobiograpgy'

[cremefraiche]

1 hour ago, Blackstar said:

Yes. It's from Mick Wall's blog.

The post in which he denounced the book:

http://mickwall.com/2016/04/getting-out-of-the-ring/

cheers mate

[MrSoftie]

Yeah, WAR was pretty bad. I mean there was good parts, but it felt like after everything good he had to follow it with a dig at Axl - it's like yeah, I get it, you don't like the guy. Would be interested in picking this up to see how it differs.

[wasted]

Oh I see, he wants to write a new GNR book so he has to denounce WAR to have a shot. 

Can't disagree with the sentiments...

[double talkin jive mfkr]

the 2nd excerpt is very well written and seems to be from the heart and in all honesty its very true - when axl decides to fold up it up - the last true and best ever rock star will have left us and there will be no one else that will arrive 

[sanity_lost]

1 hour ago, Gordon Comstock said:

I read his Axl biography years ago. It was so bad that I still chuckle when I see "written by Mick Wall" on anything, so no, I haven't read the new one  never knew he denounced it, that's alright, but it's not like I can un-read it....

I know! That book was awful. I actually started laughing when it approached fanfiction level with Axl staring into the mirror in the deep dark night feeling jealous and scared toward the end of the book. I am hesitant to pick up this one because of it. I know that Mick Wall denounced the last book, but did he do it because he really felt that way about it or because he wanted to sell this book? On the other hand curiosity is nearly overwhelming. The only reason I don't already own it is because there appears to be no e-book version.

[Gordon Comstock]

2 minutes ago, sanity_lost said:

I know! That book was awful. I actually started laughing when it approached fanfiction level with Axl staring into the mirror in the deep dark night feeling jealous and scared toward the end of the book. I am hesitant to pick up this one because of it. I know that Mick Wall denounced the last book, but did he do it because he really felt that way about it or because he wanted to sell this book? On the other hand curiosity is nearly overwhelming. The only reason I don't already own it is because there appears to be no e-book version.

Yea, I mean the book sucked but the last chunk was particularly cringe-worthy.
I can honestly say the only GNR books I'd be interested in now are an Axl autobiography or another book from Slash (about the HOF, reunion, new music etc.)

[DieselDaisy]

Mick Wall discusses ''many new revelations'' however I have a feeling it will be cobbled together from old interviews, the majority of which can be pulled from the internet; this tends to be the case with these terrible band biographies. His description of the Sunset Strip scene is quite well written albeit pertaining to the hyperbolic a bit too much. Perhaps then we should give it a chance?

[wasted]

I want real insight into the reunion or CD though. Not him rehashing the old days. 

[double talkin jive mfkr]

7 minutes ago, wasted said:

I want real insight into the reunion or CD though. Not him rehashing the old days. 

only axl knows that 

[wasted]

3 minutes ago, double talkin jive mfkr said:

only axl knows that 

This book will probably be worse than W.A.R. then for me. He's just cashing in on the reunion without any new access to the band. 

But I appreciate what he's saying. So I might get it on kindle. I haven't finished Black Days yet though. 

Most Dangerous Band in the World was my favorite book growing up. The only book I'd read outside of school. 

[Evil Doer]

that 2nd excerpt regarding axl is something else.  people have spent 25 years being critical of axl showing up late for shows and thinking he's the biggest asshole ever.........now during the reunion tour, he's showing up on time, not causing any problems, he's been in a great mood and putting on killer shows...........all the sudden mick wall wants him to show up late and cause problems everywhere he goes.  axl can't win.

[sanity_lost]

1 hour ago, DieselDaisy said:

Mick Wall discusses ''many new revelations'' however I have a feeling it will be cobbled together from old interviews, the majority of which can be pulled from the internet; this tends to be the case with these terrible band biographies. His description of the Sunset Strip scene is quite well written albeit pertaining to the hyperbolic a bit too much. Perhaps then we should give it a chance?

Apparently he did interviews with Alan and Doug? So if they are willing to tell more stories it might be interesting. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[Jane M.]

6 minutes ago, sanity_lost said:

Apparently he did interviews with Alan and Doug? So if they are willing to tell more stories it might be interesting. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

From the women's thread. Credit goes to @Blackstar.

On 22/11/2016 at 3:07 PM, Blackstar said:

I browsed through Mick Wall's new book on GnR and read a few pages. It covers the whole history, from the beginnings to the recent developments (the reunion and AXL/DC) including VR and solo projects, with an effort of a more objective take compared to the book on Axl (which Mick Wall recently denounced as having been biased against Axl). From what I can tell there isn't much in the book we don't already know, except for a few bits from Alan Niven and Doug Goldstein which, apart from some new information, give more insight on what kind of people these two were/are and their role in the band (especially Goldstein's).

As we have suspected (I think it was @Frey who had pointed it out), Niven wasn't less paranoid than Axl. He thought that Axl, Goldstein and Yoda were sending "psychic forces" to destroy him and he used black magic against them

.......

......

Niven says he went to a place in New Orleans he had visited before with Izzy and recruited a black magic specialist "monk":

Same old shit but now they're getting Izzy involved too. Most of it sounds like fan fiction to me.

[Blackstar]

19 hours ago, sanity_lost said:

I know! That book was awful. I actually started laughing when it approached fanfiction level with Axl staring into the mirror in the deep dark night feeling jealous and scared toward the end of the book. I am hesitant to pick up this one because of it. I know that Mick Wall denounced the last book, but did he do it because he really felt that way about it or because he wanted to sell this book? On the other hand curiosity is nearly overwhelming. The only reason I don't already own it is because there appears to be no e-book version.

I haven't read the other book. There are some examples of this kind of writing in this one, like: "Privately, however, Axl felt more alone than he ever felt before. First Steven, then Izzy ... now Slash? What was happening to him? In the most fragile moment of the night, he blamed himself. That's when Doug would get the calls from Beta, begging him to come over and talk Axl down [*]. Up to face the day, though, Axl would know again that it wasn't him it was them. Fuck 'em all!"

[*] Doug Goldstein says that during that period Beta would call him in the middle of the night because Axl was sitting in his bed with a gun in his mouth crying.

I also noticed some selectivity in the use of sources; he doesn't reference Axl's side of some events as much as other sources.

I bought the e-book version from Amazon US.

17 hours ago, sanity_lost said:

18 hours ago, DieselDaisy said:

Mick Wall discusses ''many new revelations'' however I have a feeling it will be cobbled together from old interviews, the majority of which can be pulled from the internet; this tends to be the case with these terrible band biographies. His description of the Sunset Strip scene is quite well written albeit pertaining to the hyperbolic a bit too much. Perhaps then we should give it a chance?

Apparently he did interviews with Alan and Doug? So if they are willing to tell more stories it might be interesting. But I wouldn't hold my breath.

It seems he interviewed them relatively recently, because they're quoted telling a couple of stories I've never heard before, like Niven putting black magic spells on Axl and Axl putting a gun in his mouth. Another noticeable bit from Goldstein is that he admits he was in Barcelona in 1993, when, according to Duff, they signed the contract which granted the name to Axl. Until as recently as last year Goldstein swore he wasn't there claiming he was in America expecting his child to be born.

But in general, from what I've read so far, there isn't anything I would call a "revelation". It's more well written though compared to Stephen Davis' book.

17 hours ago, Jane M. said:

Same old shit but now they're getting Izzy involved too. Most of it sounds like fan fiction to me.

Goldstein has said before that Niven and Izzy had an interest in black magic and had visited New Orleans. What's new is that Niven thought he was, as he says, under "psychic attack" and used black magic against Axl, but there's no implication in the book or indication that Izzy was involved in that particular "activity".

 

Edited November 24, 2016 by Blackstar

[KiraMPD]

Also from the women's thread...

On 11/23/2016 at 11:05 AM, MillionsOfSpiders said:

@Blackstar Great and interesting post, thank you I have that book on order and it's meant to be delivered today, so I'll let you all know if there's anything else in there we haven't seen before  

Just another little interesting thing, I saw this post on his Facebook...

 

 

 

I take this with a big fucking grain of salt. Does Mick Wall even have any access to the band to be making such claims? 

 

 

[wasted]

It seems like stuff that was concocted by everyone left out of the reunion?

[Asia]

14 hours ago, Blake Sabbath said:

Contrary to appearances I have only previously written one book on GN’R: my 1991 expanded collection of early magazine interviews with them: The Most Dangerous Band In The World. Then, in 2006, I wrote a biography of W. Axl Rose, titled simply: W.A.R.

For those of you not paying attention, I have since publicly denounced the latter book, taking it out of circulation. Why? Because it was written with hate in what was left of my heart. And anger and betrayal and a number of other things that have absolutely nothing to do with Axl and everything to do with my own deeply troubled childhood and subsequent life.

 

With that he committed a suicide as a reliable author. Sorry Mick. It may happen, although shouldn't, that an anonymous person publishes a stupid post on some unimportant message board out of general frustration but reliable journalists signing with their real names do not write full of shit, hateful books about real and living persons just because they have personal problems. Jesus, is this guy even serious? He's fucking Axl, he's fucking every reader who paid their money for this and then he posts about it just like that? Sometimes I wonder if there has ever been a single sane person around this band...