Stephen Davis Writing SN Biography

[michelej1]

The Boston Globe 10/7/2015

https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2015/10/07/the-time-teamsters-tangled-with-led-zeppelin/AVYSjBlVi4ywe1DKKvPqNM/story.html

The time the Teamsters tangled with Led Zeppelin

The indictment last week of five members of Teamsters Local 25 on federal extortion charges got us thinking about, of all things, Led Zeppelin. Why? Because the allegations against the Teamsters, who are accused of harassing and intimidating the “Top Chef” staff, including the TV show’s host, Padma Lakshmi, are reminiscent of a story Stephen Davis tells in “Hammer of the Gods,” his best-selling book about the British rock band. Davis, who lives in Milton, was music editor at The Real Paper in 1973 when he found himself backstage at Led Zeppelin’s concert at the Boston Garden. He recalls: “In Boston, the Zeppelin roadies went into action against a Teamster union goon squad that had appeared backstage in an attempt to shake down Led Zeppelin. Peter Grant [the band’s manager] and his private army bloodied the Teamsters faces, knocked out a few teeth, and sent them packing.” When we called Davis Wednesday to talk about the incident, he chuckled. “A bunch of young guys, South Boston and Dorchester types, got backstage and started asking for money. Grant, who was enormous, a former professional wrestler, turned to Richard Cole, who was Zeppelin’s tour manager, and said, ‘Get the lads together and meet me in the loading dock.’ Zeppelin’s roadies were notoriously violent, but only when provoked. They were provoked. And they beat the crap out of the Teamsters.” Davis, who’s also written books about the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Bob Marley, and Levon Helm, is currently working on a book about Stevie Nicks.

[olive]

this one will be worth buying .

[Sanne2]

The world really doesn't need another unauthorized Stevie Nicks biography tbh.

[olive]

The world really doesn't need another unauthorized Stevie Nicks biography tbh.

I highly doubt it will be all rehashed interviews like the others ,
Stephen Davis wouldn't waste his time nor his publishers to put out recycled crap . I would be very surprising if he did

[bombaysaffires]

It could be interesting but not necessarily any more accurate than any other book. See the kerfuffle over his book on Carly Simon.

[olive]

It could be interesting but not necessarily any more accurate than any other book. See the kerfuffle over his book on Carly Simon.

I guess will have to sit back and wait until someone here reads it

[bombaysaffires]

I think we have to wait and see if it even actually comes out at all :laugh:. The Carly book had lots of cooperation-- the author and her brother were decades-long friends, he was also friends with her mother. And he got approved interviews with Carly.

I'll be curious to see if those close to Stevie (still close, not those on the outs now) talk to him. Stevie keeps a pretty close rein on what she wants people close to her to say to the press and makes her displeasure known.

If she does cooperate/let people around her cooperate it could be a fascinating read.

[sorcerer999]

I think we have to wait and see if it even actually comes out at all :laugh:. The Carly book had lots of cooperation-- the author and her brother were decades-long friends, he was also friends with her mother. And he got approved interviews with Carly.

I'll be curious to see if those close to Stevie (still close, not those on the outs now) talk to him. Stevie keeps a pretty close rein on what she wants people close to her to say to the press and makes her displeasure known.

If she does cooperate/let people around her cooperate it could be a fascinating read.

This post has now made me curious as to WHO exactly is "still close" to Stevie and who are those "on the outs"?

[SisterNightroad]

This post has now made me curious as to WHO exactly is "still close" to Stevie and who are those "on the outs"?
I think he's talking about Richrd Dashut

[SpyNote]

If it gets published, I don't think it will be very revealing. These days, management ensures these books are diluted of anything potentially embarrassing (interesting) before they get to press. They serve only to promote whatever band project is happening at the time. The last two snoozers (Play On and Visions, Dreams & Rumors) were published around the start of the On With the Show Tour and the release of 24 Karat Gold.

[PenguinHead]

It could be interesting but not necessarily any more accurate than any other book. See the kerfuffle over his book on Carly Simon.

Kerfuffle? :laugh: kudos to you for employing a rather obscure, very English noun.

What was the issue with the Carly Simon book?

I can't imagine how another book about Stevie can distinguish itself. Perhaps it will reveal insights and perspectives that have never been explored.

[nicole21290]

Kerfuffle? :laugh: kudos to you for employing a rather obscure, very English noun.

What was the issue with the Carly Simon book?

I can't imagine how another book about Stevie can distinguish itself. Perhaps it will reveal insights and perspectives that have never been explored.

Kerfuffle is a GREAT word. Truly.

https://troubadourtribune.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/carly-simon-disputes-authenticity-of-new-bio-more-room-in-a-broken-heart/
https://troubadourtribune.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/annotated-list-of-errors-in-carly-simon-book-more-room-in-a-broken-heart/
http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/12/14/carly-simon-biographer-serious-mistakes-and-possible-plagiarism

[PenguinHead]

If it gets published, I don't think it will be very revealing. These days, management ensures these books are diluted of anything potentially embarrassing (interesting) before they get to press. They serve only to promote whatever band project is happening at the time. The last two snoozers (Play On and Visions, Dreams & Rumors) were published around the start of the On With the Show Tour and the release of 24 Karat Gold.

What management are you referring to?
Authors have the autonomy to write whatever they want.

They usually aren't officially involved in the direct marketing/promotion of the artist's of a tour or album release. However, they may have a keen sense of timing to know when the market is ripe to publish a book of a particular subject matter.

[PenguinHead]

Kerfuffle is a GREAT word. Truly.

https://troubadourtribune.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/carly-simon-disputes-authenticity-of-new-bio-more-room-in-a-broken-heart/
https://troubadourtribune.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/annotated-list-of-errors-in-carly-simon-book-more-room-in-a-broken-heart/
http://www.showbiz411.com/2011/12/14/carly-simon-biographer-serious-mistakes-and-possible-plagiarism

It sounds like a type of food, perhaps a pastry. "I'll have a coffee and a kerfuffle to go!"

[vivfox]

Didn't Stephen co write Mick's first book? If so then it might be likely he is friend's already with the Macsters.

[welcomechris]

Didn't he write some liner notes for the Mac? I think he wrote some review for 88's "Greatest Hits"?

[turquoise5]

Didn't Stephen co write Mick's first book? If so then it might be likely he is friend's already with the Macsters.

Yes he did, and a lot of the material was lifted directly from magazine articles he (Davis) had already written.

[SpyNote]

What management are you referring to?
Authors have the autonomy to write whatever they want.


Not complete autonomy. If a writer crosses the legal boundaries of privacy and libel, publishers can be sued for publishing false and defamatory statements. This is where unauthorized biography writers have to be careful. So publishers will work with an artist's management to ensure the content is indeed accurate.

The one huge example that comes to mind is James Frey's memoir A Million Little Pieces, which was featured in Oprah's Book Club. It was later revealed that the author fabricated a substantial amount of the content. His literary agents ended up dropping him and his publishers were sued for millions.