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List Price: $8.00 | | Publisher: Dorrance Pub Co
Salesrank: 6425133
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
"The power of music is unique in its ability to transform our senses," says Sal Nudo, who chronicles the music of his youth and its effect on his life in 'Nevermind: It's Only Rock of Ages (Featuring Def Leppard and Nirvana)'.
In an intelligent, humorous, and creative commentary, Nudo examines and compares the rise and fall of slick metal bands like Def Leppard against the raw, unprocessd energy of later groups like Nirvana. In so doing, Nudo reveals a slice of his high school and college life -- a time when pizza and loud music meant everything. We witness an entertaining transformation and maturation of his musical tastes, from bang-your-head music with heavy sexual innuendos to the genuine, unpolished passion of independent, alternative rock.
'Nevermind...' is a thoroughly enjoyable commentary on rock music, as well as a discussion of a young man's coming of age.
Nevermind : It's Only Rock of Ages (featuring Def Leppard and Nirvana) Reviews:
Chock full of inaccuracies and downright lies. 
2004-05-30 - This is an awful book, and is chock full of inaccuracies and downright lies. The hack, um, I mean "author" claimed that Nirvana and Def Leppard toured together, which is a complete lie. Cobain despised hair metal bands. He made it very known that Def Leppard was one of those bands at the top of his hit list, and he set out to dethrone the spandex-lovin', womban-demeaning mysoginists from mainstream America's listening preferences. Nirvana always toured with Alt bands that shared the same views as themselves, like STP, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Tad, Love Battery, L7, The Gits, and Beat Happening. What's more, Cobain openly professed how much he hated the way metal bands objectified women, sex, and their own "manly" machismo, and named Def Leppard in interviews, by name, as a band he couldn't stand. Cobain loved Punk and quirky bar bands; NOT former-Rock Arena hasbeens like Leppard. Why this author is attempting to draw comparisons between the two bands is beyond me. Why he was even allowed to get this published was even more puzzling, but I recently found the answer: Nudo had to fund the publishing fee himself because nobody wanted to be associated with such a lie-filled book. Nudo hasn't even met not even one member of either band! All he does is recount such "fascinating" stories as how he and his friends would listen to CDs all day until they grew bored of it! What a waste. Too bad nobody hasn't wasted Nudo yet.
An enjoyable diversion! 
2002-04-13 - In "Nevermind: It's Only Rock of Ages," Sal Nudo has published an engaging memoir of his life as a rock fan. He reminisces about the heyday of big hair bands in the 80s, and presents his own analysis of the cultural forces that brought about the musical revolution of the early '90s. Leppard and Nirvana are effective focal points for his narrative, as he traces their history and the intersection of their musical careers in 1992, when both groups released new albums.
Nudo's writing is strong overall, though *occasionally* choppy. And I'm still undecided about the fictitious Leppard/Nirvana concert he wrote about in the last chapter... it presents an interesting juxtaposition of the two bands, but it felt pretty unconvincing.
His memoirs in Chapters 1-6 are, however, excellent reading. The book itself is only 31 pages long, plus a 4-page forward, and I read the book easily on one Saturday morning. It was relaxing and enjoyable -- time well-spent. Some examples: His commentary in Chapter Four on the incredible popularity from '89-'91 or so of the Doors, Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd definitely hit home. Didn't we all go through that phase? Moreover, 14 years later, I'm COMPLETELY envious that Nudo saw Leppard live in concert in their 1988 heyday. (*I* had to make due with "Live in the Round -- In Your Face," recently re-released on DVD. A cool video, but it would have been SO much cooler to BE there.)
On a personal level, it was gratifying to read a work by an independent author who has taken the initiative to publish a work about his experiences as a rock fan, which were so similar to my own. I too owned Damn Yankees, Motley Crue, G'n'R, and Poison cassettes and, like him, felt embarrassed by their existence in my collection when the mid-90s rolled around.
Of course, as Nudo notes, the 80's are back in style, and so are our music collections! Therefore, if you were a child of the 80s, remember MTV as a station that actually played music videos, and were still an active music fan when Nirvana changed everything, this is the book for you. And if you're a young adult who enjoys 80s music even though it predates you, then you'll enjoy the context with which this book provides you.
Happy reading!
Not owning this book is like pooping your pants.
2000-10-29 - In regards to the last review- Anyone interested in books about arms should check out 'The Arm Show' by Jim Hooper. It's a touching coming of age novel about a young man and his arm. No he doesn't play drums or lose his arm, he... well, I don't want to give away the story, just read it and find out for yourself. Also, if you're a rock fan you might like the band Mudhoney, they're singer's name is Mark Arm, and they even knew Nirvana I think. Oh by the way, if you're a fan of Nudo's work, be sure to check out a short film he made called 'Night of the Living Bread'. It's very funny.
Straight From The Mouth .....
2000-09-28 - Anyone who can beat the hell out of his wife with one arm deserves a book about them. Um... this isn't the one. THERE ARE VERY FEW mentions of Ric Allen's only havign one arm! That is the ONLY reason anyone ever listened to Def Leppard in the first place. One arm! At least he could have gotten a phony one! I have to be one of three people in the world who own this book. Actually I gave mine away. Actually I made a paper mache arm out of it and sent it to Ric Allen. I have YET to see him wear it. THAT is why I stopped listening to Def Leppard.
Love Letters To Yourself
2000-01-06 - Kurt Cobain is rudely referred to many times in this book and the references to him are insulting. I only saw this book because some guys is passing the book (and the address of THIS feature on Amazon.com) around amongst our circle of friends. Even though I paid nothing for it, it was a terrifyingly tedious read. Nirvana fans steer clear.
