Jack Bruce Composing Himself: The Authorized Biography
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'Cream bassist Jack Bruce has revealed he saved the life of Ginger Baker when the drummer overdosed on heroin following the band's 1967 Top of the Pops debut...Bruce told Harry Shapiro, who interviewed him for the upcoming biography, Jack Bruce: Composing Himself, that he and Clapton were concerned when Baker failed to meet them after the show. He said: "I went back into the dressing room and found Ginger stretched out on a narrow wooden bench. He was green and he was rattling. I knew immediately he'd overdosed."...'
--Daily Express, January 11, 2010
'Old rock stars never mellow, they just carry on fighting...Composing Himself, an official biography that Bruce has written with the blues writer Harry Shapiro... It's a story which traces the British rock-star arc; a loner in post-war Britain in seduced by the sexual and consumerist glamour of America and sets out to secure a reliable supply of both via music. Singing was his way in; even with Cream, Bruce's soulful, honeyed Glaswegian tones were his trademark...'
--The Sunday Times/Times online, February 14, 2010
--Daily Express, January 11, 2010
'Old rock stars never mellow, they just carry on fighting...Composing Himself, an official biography that Bruce has written with the blues writer Harry Shapiro... It's a story which traces the British rock-star arc; a loner in post-war Britain in seduced by the sexual and consumerist glamour of America and sets out to secure a reliable supply of both via music. Singing was his way in; even with Cream, Bruce's soulful, honeyed Glaswegian tones were his trademark...'
--The Sunday Times/Times online, February 14, 2010
Product Description
When Cream broke up in 1968 it was by no means a foregone conclusion that it would be Eric Clapton who would enjoy continued commercial success. After all, it was Jack Bruce who had the looks, and who co-wrote and sang all the band's major hits, including "Sunshine of Your Love", "I Feel Free" and "White Room". But he was a singular talent who wanted to be a pioneer, not just a pop star, and he was never happy resting on his reputation. Cream split in their prime but their influence endured, and when they reformed in 2005 tickets were selling for nearly GBP 2000 on e-bay. In the 40 years since Cream split Bruce has continued his musical adventures with the likes of John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Carla Bley and Mick Taylor, never quite achieving the success and recognition he deserves. It has been an often troubled life - heroin addiction, management rip-offs, family tragedy, and a failed liver transplant, all of which he speaks about frankly in this book, telling a story that is sometimes funny, sometimes bleak, and always honest. Jack Bruce on Later with Jools Holland 2010 http://jawbonepress.com/index.php?id=54
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30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another first rate biography from Shapiro!,
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This review is from: Jack Bruce Composing Himself: The Authorised Biography (Paperback)
Harry Shapiro has maintained his high standards with this excellent biography of Jack Bruce, who co-operated fully throughout. In addition, there are many comments and insights from the vast number of top musicians Bruce has worked with during his long and varied career.
The book charts not just his music, but also his rock star lifestyle, and how it almost destroyed him, as it resulted in a liver transplant from which he very nearly did not recover. Amazing to think that only 1 year after staring death squarely in the eye he was back on stage with the reformed Cream. Interesting to read the Jack Bruce side of the so-called Baker - Bruce feud (having read Ginger's version in his autobiography last year). Perhaps suffice to say that whilst they would not necessarily choose each other as best friends, when it comes to working together as a rhythm section, they are virtually joined at the hip most of the time. I guess that many people, like me, got a little lost from his music after the breakup of Cream, his early solo albums, and the short stint with WBL. However, reading this book has encouraged me to delve once again into the Bruce back catalogue. Like most of Shapiro's books, once you pick it up, it is very hard to put down. All in all, a worthy subject, and a book that does the monumental talents of Jack Bruce justice.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Who is Jack Bruce??,
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This review is from: Jack Bruce Composing Himself: The Authorised Biography (Paperback)
As a fan of Jack Bruce for many years, I really looked forward to the publication of this authorised biography. I have been quite disappointed by it however, as it is really light on any kind of insight into Jack Bruce - the person. The book includes lots of impersonal details about who recorded what and when, and who stood on stages where and when; but it is sadly lacking in any insights into the personality of Jack Bruce. For all Jack's grumbles about the other biography - "Jack" by Steven Myatt, I think this is a much better book for anyone trying to find out about what makes this great musician really "tick". Real Jack Bruce fans will buy this authorised biography anyway, and enjoy the window into this master musician's life - but, I fear they will be left none the wiser as to the thoughts of the man. As a fellow Scot, I can understand Jack's reticence but I wish he had opened up a bit more!
Al F
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good account of the man and his music history,
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This review is from: Jack Bruce Composing Himself: The Authorised Biography (Paperback)
I think that Harry Shapiro and Jack Bruce have worked well together on this biography and have struck a good balance where each of them can hold their head up and feel proud of the outcome.
Harry because he has obviously researched well and widely and has told the story as it pretty well must be in reality. Jack because he has had the courage to permit the author to allow us to see both good and bad about him.In other words it doesnt give the impression that it has been overly sanitized for the public's consumption! The book was well written and quite a pleasure to read compared to a previous well intentioned but very poorly written effort released by another author about 5 years ago.
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