2006-11-19 Talent & Tragedy

A book with real & very personal insights into one of the great American bands & surely the kings of "Southern Rock".I found this to be engrossing from start to finish.
The author's close relationship with the band & with Ronnie Van Zandt in particular, makes for a truly intimate book. Although they were obviously close friends, the author does not describe Van Zandt in sickly sweet terms - he includes the bouts of temper, the tendency towards violence & the heavy drinking.
The book charts the childhood of Van Zandt, the early lives of the band members, the rise of Skynyrd as a major force in rock music & the terrible & tragic plane crash which decimated the band. It also touches on the other tragedies which impacted on a band who were a different class but who had more than their fair share of misfortune.
It isn't the greatest piece of literature but it does deliver the goods - it doesn't need to be written like a classic novel to tell a fascinating story.Skynyrd had bucket loads of talent & this book shows how this was honed & realised through the force of Van Zandt's personality. If you are a fan, this book is surely a "must have".
I was left with a lingering feeling of sadness & a bout of the "what if's..." after reading this book mixed with an increased admiration for the band & its members.
A book about one of the best bands America has ever produced.