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Book Review: Non Fiction
by Lang Reid
 Chuck
Palahniuk’s collection of what are claimed to be true stories was
published this year in paperback format by Jonathan Cape (ISBN
0-224-06302-2) with the title of Non Fiction. Palahniuk has written
several novels, including the Fight Club, and that was made into a movie,
though he did not actually write the screenplay.
Palahniuk comes from what might be called a
dysfunctional family by some psychologists, and his writing is similarly
inclined. Some reviewers have referred to it as ‘black humor’ but I
did not see much humor in this book, be that of any color. If a humor
label must be applied, I would consider it closer to Jewish humor in its
genre.
Basically the book is made up of short stories, or
episodes, that reflect some parts of his life. These include when he
worked as a volunteer escort for a hospice, or when he took steroids to
attempt to bulk up. He does not indulge in self-glorification in any of
these episodes, in fact quite the reverse, showing self deprecation to the
stage of mental self degradation. A disturbing revelation of the
writer’s angst.
Each episode is reputedly true, or Non Fiction, as the
book’s title proclaims, though I had a little problem getting my head
around an event called the Rock Creek Lodge Testicle Festival. However, my
trusty Google found 553 references to this bizarre event featuring
unbridled public sexual perversity in the country that swooned after Janet
Jackson’s “wardrobe accident”. No wonder America has its problems
dealing with these two extremes.
When one of the characterizations in the book reveals,
“I used to be envious of people who were positive (for HIV). Because I
felt like they were living in some enhanced way that I had not yet been
able to achieve. This is where sanctity comes in. The whole definition of
a saint is somebody who lives as if they’re going to die tonight,” I
wonder. All very Freudian, Jungian or whatever psychological dictum you
would like to follow. But does it make it great reading? Not in my library
for sure.
Palahniuk has the status of a cult writer in the US,
but I doubt very much if I would be prepared to queue to listen to his
readings on tour, at which, if you believe the spin, scores of people
faint at his literary imagery.
There were other problems I had with this book, not the
least of which were the quality and the price. The paper stock is around
one grade better than a KFC single ply serviette, the jacket appearance is
‘grubby’ (and yes, I know this is deliberate, before his army of fans
write in) and finally, at B. 795 this book is hardly a bargain read.
Towards the end of the book, Palahniuk writes of his
anguished choices after the murder of his father, “Or will I sit at
home, like the police want, take Zoloft and wait for them to call.”
I would suggest the dose he is taking is not enough, and certainly he
should not sit by the phone waiting for me to call.
Mott’s CD review: Joan Jett and The Blackhearts – Notorious
Drooled by Mott the
Dog
Freshened up by Ella Crew
 5
Stars *****
Anybody who dismisses Joan Jett and her band, the Blackhearts, as just
some little pop band has either never met the lady, never heard one of her
albums, never seen the band live, or does not know anything about music.
Tommy Price, the band’s drummer, has been with the band for over
eighteen years, and you do not get a musician of that quality staying
unless something is going on.
Way before joining the Blackhearts, Tommy was a top
session drummer who actually played on all of Joan’s early work, but was
never a Blackheart till later. Then he joined Blue Oyster Cult, Roger
Daltrey, and was with Billy Idol for many years. Tommy finally accepted
the gig with Joan after seeing them from backstage at some American
festival. He concluded that the band was the equal of the Who live. There
is no finer compliment than being compared to Shepherd Bush’s finest.
Many other fine musicians have been in the Blackhearts
over the years, to name a few, Kenny Aaronson, ex Bob Dylan; Sammy Hagar,
now with John Eddie; Ricky Byrd, ex Ian Hunter Band; Tommy Burns, now the
axe player for Billie Joel; and of course long time friend, manager, and
mentor Kenny Laguna, ex Martha and the Mandels, who had the original hit
which Joan later covered and had another hit with ‘Crimson and
Clover.’
But never let it occur to you that Joan Jett is
anything less than a one-hundred percent rock ‘n’ roll star. There are
the obvious early paying of dues. Joan Jett, together with Lita Ford, was
originally a member of the all girl band ‘The Runaways’, put together
by Kim Fowler. When that finally imploded in 1978, Joan went across to
London, England, to see what was happening. At first she hitched up with
the remnants of the Sex Pistols, Steve Jones and Paul Cook (they actually
made a demo of ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll). But things were not really
happening; the Sex Pistol boys had management hassles, and really were not
that keen to get out on the road again after their last depressing
experiences. So Joan came back to the American home of rock ‘n’ roll,
New York, and hooked up with Kenny Laguna and his wife Meryl.
While Joan was in England and on the final tour with
the Runaways, she saw a little known band called the Arrows playing the
B-side to their latest hit on a kid’s T.V. show lift off - that song was
‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’. They wouldn’t let Joan record it with
the Runaways. Once in the studio with the Lagunas, all that changed. An
album was recorded, a red hot young band was put together to go out on the
road, and, as they say, the rest is history.
By the end of 1981 ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’ had
been a number one hit all over the world with an eight week stay at the
top of the American charts. For the next eight years Joan toured the world
to sell out audiences, each album charted, and the hit singles just kept
on coming. She formed her own record label called Blackheart Records -
naturally.
Until in 1988 she released the ultimate Joan Jett and
the Blackhearts album and single. Both went top five across the world. The
album ‘Up Your Alley’ is crammed full of Blackheart anthems, whilst
the single ‘I Hate Myself For Loving You’ is up there with ‘Brown
Sugar’ by the Stones to guarantee to get your party going.
Three years after the release of ‘Up Your Alley’
came this great collection of rock ‘n’ roll, ‘Notorious’ (1991).
It opens up with the first single from the album ‘Backlash’. The
guitars just jump out of your speakers and the music immediately makes you
want to clap along with the band. The lyrics are a tribute to Joan’s
heroes of the past, perhaps herself admitting that it was time to take a
less forward seat. The girl does have a wicked sense of humor though, when
she dumps her man in ‘The Only Good Thing’. You can’t help but feel
a little sorry for the poor bloke being shown the door after a poor one
night stand performance.
Joan can show that she doesn’t always want the truth
herself. In ‘Lie To Me’ she pleads for someone to be kind to her just
for one night. But Joan also shows her strong, serious minded side with
the song ‘Don’t Surrender’, a touching tribute to her friend Jill
Ireland, who had succumbed to the dreaded cancer that year.
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts still play over 150
concerts a year. Joan has also branched out into film work, starring in
‘Light of Day’ with Michael J. Fox, and still finds time to write
smash hit singles like ‘House Of Fire’ for Alice Cooper. So do not be
surprised if you suddenly see Joan Jett and the Blackhearts crashing back
into the charts any day now, and if you have the chance to see them live
in concert, do not miss it.
Musicians
on Notorious
Joan Jett - Guitar and Vocals
Ricky Byrd - Guitars
Tommy Price - Drums
With additional help from The Uptown Horns, Manny, Caiati, Phil Feit,
Paul Westerberg, and the Federal Strings
Songs
Backlash
Ashes To Ashes
The Only Good Thing (You Ever Said Was Goodbye)
Lie To Me
Don’t Surrender
Goodbye
Machismo
Treadin’ Water
I Want You
Wait For Me
A
To contact Mott the Dog email: [email protected]
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