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List Price: $14.95 | | Publisher: Grove Press
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Editorial Review:
The life of Jerry Lee Lewis is one of the most dramatic and tormented in rock 'n' roll history. "Hellfire" remains one of the most remarkable biographies ever written on Lewis . . . "nothing else comes close. . . . Sooner or later, "Hellfire" will be recognized as an American classic" (Greil Marcus).
Hellfire: The Jerry Lee Lewis Story Reviews:
3 1/2 stars: pretty informative and engaging, but... 
2009-10-22 - Nick Tosche's HELLFIRE is probably the best biography devoted to Jerry Lee Lewis hence far. Whereas other books tend to dwell far more on the scandal which ruined his reputation rather than the talent which built this reputation in the first place, this book also provides a fair amount of information about his recording sessions, performances, as well as pretty little-known facts about this and that (did you know Jerry Lee appeared in a production of MACBETH in -68?). Especially of interest to me was to read about Jerry Lee's parents and grandparents, giving a fairly good picture of what it was like to grow up in the Lewis-family, and how their cultural traditions largely shaped the man's onlook on the world. As for the scandal, Tosche manages to illustrate that Jerry Lee marrying his underage cousin was the result of his cultural background; it was still pretty common practise where he came from, a fact which the film GREAT BALLS OF FIRE! (and several books) never cared to point out.
Yet, despite the insight displayed into Jerry Lee's work, talent and past, HELLFIRE disappoints in the way that it has a definite sensationalist feel to it. Other reviewers have praised Tosche's writing, but I think his talent in this field may be one of the problems with the book. His writing is indeed crisp, and could be close to stunning in an appropriate context; a fictional story, that is. By frequently using metaphors involving the devil and God in a biography, Tosche's purpose may be to display an understanding of Jerry Lee's inner feelings as he kept doing things which, as taught during his upbringing, were opposed to his religious beliefs (like playing the "Devil's music"), but it is distracting; surely a biography should be engaging, but not to the point that it shifts from prose to fact throughout the book.
My other main objection is that HELLFIRE badly needs an update. Originally written in 1982, it ends with Jerry Lee having almost killed himself due to alcohol and drug abuse. As any fan of Jerry Lee would know, much has happened since then; he managed to outwin his demons and is still performing. I bought the version of this book released by Penguin in 2007, hoping for it to include at least a new afterword to fill in the gaps. Unfortunately, it didn't. I suspect this to be a result of the author's "crisp writing;" it isn't preferable to mention that Jerry Lee came to himself as that wouldn't be an exciting enough conclusion for his book.
Despite my negative sentiments, I should stress that I enjoyed reading HELLFIRE. Having been a big fan of Jerry Lee's music for several years, it was enlightening to be accorded access into the story of his music, performances, associates and personality. Just keep in mind that there is a lot more to his story, which this book doesn't touch.
The Whore of Fame 
2009-09-24 - Hellfire is the second Nick Tosches book I have had the pleasure of reading, the other book being Unsung Heroes of Rock and Roll. Both books are laced with black humour, both have soundtracks, and both have elements of mammon's struggle between fame and salvation.
Hellfire drops you deep into Jerry Lee Lewis' psyche, his conflicts, his sins and his internal agony.
It contrasts the three cousins whose fame made Ferriday proud, Jerry Lee, Jimmy Swaggart and Mickey Gilley. The book was written in 1982 and does not reach the calamities of Swaggart's downfalls or the suspicious deaths of two of Lewis' wives, or Gilley's ten number one country hits and subsequent decline and financial crisis. Nonetheless it is a riveting read written by a talented stylist whose biblical prose evokes the fire and brimstone puritanism of old backwoods Louisiana where the Spirit possessed and spoke in tongues, and where the devil growled in the darkness beyond.
In dirt farming Ferriday the poor were succoured by the Holy Ghost and the Hidden Hooch and enticed by the Lure of The Devil, and you were hot or cold, never lukewarm, and Jerry Lee became seduced by the Whore of Fame. I recall Little Richard had the same conflict (refer the entertaining Life and Times of Little Richard by Charles White) and doubtless they had philosophical discussions when they played together... Jerry Lee was convinced that his way was the way of the Devil and that he was leading his fans to Hellfire. This was the flame of his fame, his agony which he doused with drugs, booze and women, a similar platter to that which served his perceived arch rival Elvis.
Jerry Lee Lewis was a product of his time and location with it's attendant racism, sexism, wife bashing, violence, and yea religion - all those good ole black and white values. This book does not dwell on goodness; there is little grace, comfort or light. It is not an uplifting read but it is fascinating and well written. The soundtrack is Lewis's Live At The Star Club, Hamburg, a 1964 gig where the Killer is absolutely manic, growling and speaking in tongues. It is astounding. It's energy is unrelenting in fact I can't think of anything which comes close, unless there is a good Little Richard live album. Mmm, must suss that out. Nick Tosches is gifted and I'll read more of his output, maybe Dino or Country, sometime later.
Great Read! 
2009-09-13 - If you are interested in the early days of rock-n-roll or complex personalities - If you want to know more about what shapped the man that became Jerry Lee Lewis - this is a must read. I found this to be one of the most intersting and colorful biographys I have ever read.
The book will give you a different view and perhaps an undestanding of the comlexities that formed public and private Jerry Lee Lewis, his rise to fame, his fall from fame, his rise to fame again, and how he came to be a grandfather of rock-n-roll.
Hellfire! The Killer on the Loose!
2008-02-12 - Hellfire: The Jerry Lee Lewis Story
"Best rock 'n' roll biography ever written." says Rolling Stone AND Newsday. Who am I to argue with both of them at the same time? If you expect to get "Jerry Lee Lewis was born in Farriday, LA in 1935." Do not buy this book! This book will burn your fingers with literary magic and the strange tale of a sinner wrestling with his God. The book opens with Elvis dreaming and Jerry Lee Lewis waving a .38 derringer and banging on the gates of Graceland to talk to Elvis only to be arrested. Jerry Lee is a strange and conflicted man. I asked Jerry Lee how long it took him to learn to play the piano. "It was a gift of God, man. Gift of god. Two weeks and I could play like I do now." I have no doubt that Jerry Lee got gifts from God, but he also got a few from the Devil. Nick Touches weaves us through the life of the Killer like nobody else could. This is the definitive work on Jerry Lee Lewis.
A haunted, unsettling tale of a great artist
2007-10-05 - Out of the many biographries I've read, outside of Marilyn Monroe's life, this was one of the most unsettling stories I have yet to read. The book takes us back to the roots of the Lewis family, the depression era, and gives a highly personalized look into this man's life. I believe this to be an excellently written work, very stylized, enthrawling and informative. I feel that Jerry Lee was victimized by the press. His rival, Elvis, seemed to have gotten away with much as everyone turned a blind eye. After all, Elvis brought home a 14 year old girl from Germany and horded her away for a few years like a big fat surprise mushroom for 'some day.' How unsavory was that?
I think much could have been done to protect Jerry from the sufferings he had to endure, including the IRS cleaning him out, and as Nick puts it, 'left him like a wolf in a burnt out woods.' Where were the accountants and the attorneys and what bar were they sitting in?
It seemed the Lewis family had one tradgety after another, as Elmo Lewis was run over by a drunk driver at the age of nine (Jerry's older brother) and later the grievious event of losing his son Steve Allen to the swimming pool. The photo of his tombstone with the little lamb atop is a heartbreaking, chilling scene, and it emitts a lonely sadness that certainly will touch even the most coldest of readers.
The story tells of all the struggles Jerry Lee had with trying do what was right, or what others 'thought' right, but in the end, he did do the right thing. He played his music. The struggles headed off the 'y' path of right and wrong toward his sheer persistance playing trashy clubs and cutting records until his big day came.
The story leaves room at the end for many questions...what became of Myra after they divorced? What happened to Jerry Lee after the night we leave this wonderful yarn, as he glazes out the window of his empty house? I think there should be a follow-up novel, because the story is not over!
This was a very interesting and entertaining read about one of century's great piano playing talents and I highly recommend it as a very gripping tale you won't want to put down, and just enough pages it can be read in 2 nights!!Loved it!
