New Book: Gold Dust Woman, A Biography Of Stevie Nicks. Due Oct. '14

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by RavenOfRhiannon

This is the same guy that worked with Mick on his book.

Maybe something will be revealed that'll finally
breakup this band for good.

No Band.
No Tour.
No Music.

Something to think about.

Curious timing huh?

[bombaysaffires]

this is the guy who wrote a bio of Carly Simon that was about as "original" as Mick's book. I would not count on Stevie having cooperated with him in any way and I wouldn't expect it to be anything new or good.

http://troubadourtribune.com/2012/01...-broken-heart/

Carly Simon disputes authenticity of new bio More Room In A Broken Heart
Posted on January 5, 2012 by Corey Blake

More Room in a Broken Heart: The True Adventures of Carly Simon by Stephen Davis is slated for a release soon. But the subject of the new biography is not impressed.

Carly Simon sent through her email list and posted to her website the following message yesterday:

We have been receiving a lot of questions regarding an Unauthorized biography of Carly Simon, that is coming out this month: More Room In A Broken Heart, The True Adventures of Carly Simon by Stephen Davis.

Carly wants to be sure that her fans know that, regardless of what the publisher of the book is advertising, she had nothing to do with the creation of this book and she does not support it in any way. She was not interviewed for this book. There are numerous factual errors, fictional stories, made-up quotes, and “clipped” stories from other books and magazines.

Questions about the integrity and accuracy of the book were initially raised December 11, when author Sheila Weller (Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon – And the Journey of a Generation, which was made with Carly’s cooperation and promoted on her website when it was originally released in 2008) posted on her Facebook page a link to a story previewing content from More Room in a Broken Heart that directly used an exclusive story in her own best-selling and critically acclaimed book. Regarding Davis’ book, she wrote:

What do we do with these unabashed clip-jobbers? Just roll our eyes and shake our heads, I guess. This anecdote was lifted whole (quote, verbatim) from exclusive (though, dare I say, far more nuanced) material in my book. Davis has no source notes, no bibliography, not one single author/journo acknowledgement in his whole book. Disdainful bemusement for a Sunday morning…

She later added that she reached out to the publisher Penguin/Gotham suggesting they add some kind of bibliography but simply got back a “snippy reply,” at which point she let the matter drop.

Jim Morrison’s widow Patricia Kennealy-Morrison experienced similar problems with Davis when he published Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend in 2004. In a response to Weller’s post, Kennealy-Morrison wrote:

Davis is a hack of the worst sort. Did a clip-job bio of my husband some years ago and never bothered to talk to ANY primary sources, not just me.

Several days later, entertainment journalist Roger Friedman posted an article on Showbiz411 that went into greater detail about the problems with the book. He writes, in part:

Davis makes some serious mistakes and I’d say possibly commits plagiarism. Some mistakes I’ve checked with Simon and her staff. Others I have first hand knowledge of. Davis, for example, liberally quotes from lots of interviews Simon has given over the years without ever giving proper credit or citation. Penguin Books should be ashamed of itself for not asking Davis for research attribution.

[...]

I found at least three instances of my work from pieces I’ve written about Simon in Davis’s book, without credit or attribution. I can tell you that anecdotes [...] were lifted directly from an article I wrote in 1989 for Fame magazine. Davis has simply taken the quotes either verbatim or interpolated them. There are no citations.

In addition to the ethical and potentially legal implications, the book is said to contain glaring errors and false assertions about Carly’s personal life and embarrassing problems with spelling and grammar.

Whether the author or publisher will reconsider releasing the book remains to be seen but from initial response, it appears doubtful. The Boston Globe followed up with Stephen Davis on these issues, and his response failed to address concerns over his integrity as a journalist and author:

I haven’t read [Friedman’s] insipid twaddle and don’t intend to. Any accusations of inaccuracy are agenda-driven rubbish and must elicit no further comment. Carly’s father, the founder of Simon & Schuster, understood that in publishing there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Just spell the name right.

Additionally, posts made by some Carly Simon fans to the More Room in a Broken Heart Facebook page with concerns about the book were quickly deleted and the users removed. Similar emails to Gotham Books have gone unanswered.

A preview of the book can be read at Google Books, where it currently has an average of 1 star from reviewers.

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by bombaysaffires

this is the guy who wrote a bio of Carly Simon that was about as "original" as Mick's book. I would not count on Stevie having cooperated with him in any way and I wouldn't expect it to be anything new or good.

I haven't read many "good" biographies about rock stars with
the exception of Peter Guralnick's Last Train To Memphis
and Careless Love. Both of which were critical and commercial
successes.

And even those had inaccuracies. Though I'm sure not intentional
ones. I wish an author the caliper of Guralnick would tackle a
biography about Stevie.

Come to think of it, if we want the truth it might be better if Stevie's
not involved. So Steven/Stephen write on about the Gold Dust Woman.
I'm sure I'll pick up a copy.

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by David

I hope it talks about that gig on the Timespace tour when Stevie made a visual mockery of Sharon and then threw a guitar at her. Stephen Davis always gets to the heart of the matter.

Snoopy chucked a wine glass. He hasn't been asked back since.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

I haven't read many "good" biographies about rock stars with
the exception of Peter Guralnick's Last Train To Memphis
and Careless Love. Both of which were critical and commercial
successes.

And even those had inaccuracies. Though I'm sure not intentional
ones. I wish an author the caliper of Guralnick would tackle a
biography about Stevie.

Come to think of it, if we want the truth it might be better if Stevie's
not involved. So Steven/Stephen write on about the Gold Dust Woman.
I'm sure I'll pick up a copy.

Oh, I have read a good biography about Heart, this one; Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock & Roll by Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson and Charles R. Cross. It was really well written & in the right order in which things happened.

But Steven Tyler's biography, on the other hand, was a mess! I had a hard time following it, it jumped from one year, then back years, then back again. And then you don't know if half the stuff he said in there really happened, with the drugs & everything.

Yeah, you really don't know if the stuff in Stevie's book will be accurate. Perhaps like you said, if Stevie wasn't involved. I may read it.

Lee

[SpyNote]

It won't be an autobiography, given how opposed Stevie is to writing one at this point in his life.

If it turns out to be the same writer as Mick's book, I'd guess that much of the information would be recycled from that book. With Mick's second book coming out in the relative near future, this is probably an attempt to capitalize on that publicity.

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by Lee

Yeah, you really don't know if the stuff in Stevie's book will be accurate. Perhaps like you said, if Stevie wasn't involved. I may read it.

It's funny that some of us think it would be better if Stevie wasn't
involved.

Maybe a few scholars of the Ledge could ask her direct questions.
And when she changed one of her stories she could be zapped with
a taser to keep her honest and on track. Then this information could be
given to Steven/Stephen to complete his book.

If I didn't already have a stack of books to read, the one about Heart sounds
interesting.

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by SpyNote

With Mick's second book coming out in the relative near future, this is probably an attempt to capitalize on that publicity.

Or the publicity from this final tour and album.

[Richard B]

The Amazon listing has been delisted as "Unavailable" and to sign up to be notified (no more pre-order). Also, the listing now shows a release date of October 2015.

[aus_Amanda]

Wish I read this thread before I pre-ordered the book [through fishpond.com.au].
I was so excited, the blurb sounded very interesting and authoritative.
The book was suppose to be published on the 21st of October - now there is no blurb and a "not available" note.
I just checked Amazon and it says it won't be published until March 1st 2016!!!
Maybe I should just cancel my order. Very disappointed.

[SpyNote]

Totally unauthorized, but good press for the band and the tour, which is probably why no one is blocking any of this.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

I haven't read many "good" biographies about rock stars with
the exception of Peter Guralnick's Last Train To Memphis
and Careless Love I wish an author the caliper of Guralnick would tackle a
biography about Stevie.

Come to think of it, if we want the truth it might be better if Stevie's
not involved.

Sometimes autobiographies, even with a co-writer, are self-serving vehicles. It gives the subject the opportunity to document their history as they want it be, not exactly how it really was; smoothing over any ugly incidents or behavior that would blemish reputation. Some others are excruciatingly honest, revealing all their flaws and regrets.

Of course, nobody's life escapes messy situations. I have much respect for those who's autobiographies address those issues with honesty and humility. In the hands of an accomplished writer like Peter Guralnick, we'd get a truly objective biography of Stevie. We might wince a bit if some of the information reveals incidents of less than stellar behavior. But in context, it shouldn't change our perspective. We've all had moments, out of character, that we regret. Stevie is no different.

[David]

Originally Posted by kathy1

I want to get the book. but I won't get it right away.

You should wait a little bit. And then get it.