REVIEWS
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| Jan 2005 - Houston Press (Texas) |
| What a trip in time! .....
what a memory, I had forgotten some of these details, others could be seen only from your
angle, and others ....I never knew about! such as the drug stories with the crew, border
crossings etc. You write well... it is captivating! Jean-Luc Ponty ponty.com |
| I have read your book and it's
funny as hell!! Well done. Steve Smith http://www.vitalinformation.com/steve/index.htm |
| As a former baby boomer and almost famous rock and roller let me congratulate you on your wonderful book. You have captured the spirit of the golden days of rock and roll more effectively than perhaps any writer or journalist. Your book is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the fun, feelings, fantasy and personalities associated with the business of rock and roll. Please consider racking your partially burnt out memory bank and producing a sequel with more stories! Paul Karasik - Author |
| I got your book 2 days ago and had read third part of it already. All things are really true and fun. I found this book very interesting and useful for everybody, who just started in this biz and for real roadie. Great book, which reading on one breath. Will be wait for parts you don't remember :) Thanks a lot for sign, my friends are bursting with envy :) And who knows, may be we'll really meet in America or Russia. Andy RFL |
| The show must go on....I thoroughly
enjoyed Roadie: A True Story (at least the parts I remember). I have been in the
business for over twenty years, and Karl took me back behind the soundboard, on the bus
and every where else one must go to keep a band on the road. The book has lots of laughs, and is a must for fans of the music business, especially roadies-in-waiting. Karl reveals what really goes on behind the smoke and mirrors called show business. And reaffirms the fact that you can't do a show without good roadies! Susan Masino - 94.1 JJO www.wjjo.com Madison, WI |
| I have a Major problem,... I finished the book and I want more!!! The book is great, the stories remind me of some gigs I did., I wasn't all over like you was but I see similarities in some stories. Simply great, when is part II due??? Keep on doing the right thing, and thanks for writing the book. - Jakob-Jan |
| I got the book on Wednesday. Thanks for
the great autograph, it was very cool. I'm almost finished with the book, I started it
last night and couldn't put it down. Very good reading!!! Thanks again for everything, Mike |
| "I kept on laughing and laughing
knowing that this is only a small part of what is really going on out there!"
We've all "been there, done that, but KK still blew me away with his sharp and
hilarious description of the road!" Peter A. Mankowski |
| I read your entire book in less than 5
nights this week. Once I started I became absolutely hooked. Your stories are
extremely entertaining, and if you ever get more inspirations do write more! Your style of writing is both entertaining and easy-going. Exactly what we need to take out minds off day-to-day stress! Thanks for the wonderful reading! Roy |
| The stories are stranger than fiction,
more addictive than caffeine, and more enticing than a groupie (Ok, well ALMOST more
enticing) Ron Schreiner RFL |
| Karl's book is one of the
most entertaining true stories I have ever read. His self imposed "Two Step
Program" for walking away from the negative influences in his life is an inspiration
to us all. His transformation into one of America's great businessmen and
entrepreneurs is a story unto itself. I challenge each and every reader to examine his or
her life and where appropriate, follow in Karl's footsteps. Richard Tyler Richard Tyler International |
| I just finished the book..and I wanted to
say Thank You!. I enjoyed it from start to finish..it was nice to read the road
stories(looks like we have a few people in common)...but my favorite parts were towards the end..nice to know there are other people out there..who have come face to face with their demons and conquered them,since this is no easy chore and are willing to share it. Patrick Rossi |
| I've been enjoying the book,
what fun. I was pleasantly surprised to get to the Dr. Hook content fairly early in the
book...I am one of the many who always harbored a secret wish that I had done a few years
as a roadie, and now I'm living vicariously, Thanks! Regards, Mike P |
| Got your book yesterday and finished it
last night.... I am 47 years old, and I went to shows many of the shows you talked about when they came through the SF area. I was a big Jean-Luc Ponty fan, as well as Supertramp (saw the "Crisis, What Crisis", "Even In the Quietest Moments", "Breakfast In America", and the final show with Roger Hodgson (at Irvine Meadows). I saw Ponty several times and may have been at a show that your worked. I have continued to follow Joaquin Leviano's work as well as many of the others you spoke of. Because of Ponty, I became a big Dixie Dregs/Steve Morse fan. Anyway, reading your book was great fun and very enlightening... It is hard to believe I lived through everything I did. Funny how we change as we age. Thanks for sharing your memories. Alan G |
|
Let me just say your book kept me
going in college because it was the only thing worth reading :)
Some of the stories you have are genius! I can totally relate
because I did a tour in '00 with a metal band in Europe for a month
and a half. It absolutely killed me but had so much fun.
Ali (USURPER-WEBMASTER) |
| FINALLY! A realistic look at
the backstage world of the Roadie! If you can bring yourself to put this book down, you cant WAIT to pick it up again! Dave B. RFL Toronto Canada |
| Outstanding!!! Karl has taken
the reader on the road and backstage in a way no journalist or biographer can. ~ Ronnee Ringquist, Musician |
| "For every roadie who's
been out there, reading Karl's story makes you smell it, feel it and hear it. You truly
believe you are there. Once you put the book down and realize you're at home, all you want
to do is pack your bags and get on the first available nightliner." Tatti Ostling RFL the-stage.org |
| I thoroughly enjoyed your book! When I was
in Knoxville recently I visited a Guitar Center and there in the front "vintage
gear" display window was one of those echo thing-a-ma-bobs Jean Luc used... pretty cool! Thump |
| The book has 1 major problem, at the end of the book, I couldn't stop reading and wanted more of these somewhat recognizable stories.. Jakob-Jan v/d Laan Sweden |
| When I read this book I found
someone that knew the true essence of what it meant to be a Roadie. This book was
hard to put down. Stretch RFL |
| I wanted to let you know that
I received the book on Friday and I read the whole thing yesterday--I couldn't put it
down! It really brought back memories of going to a JLP show and made me feel as if I was a roadie myself along with the non-JLP
related experiences. I found out a little trivia such as the motor home being named after
one of Jean-Luc's songs--or maybe it was the other way around. The
chapter about the crew's trip down to Juarez was hilarious! The book also made me realize
that whether it's a jazz or rock tour, the off-duty experiences of the crew and some of
the band members are very similar. I had met Joaquin Lievano and Randy Jackson (the bass
player who took Ralphe's place) back in '82 before a Tom Coster show at Keystone Berkeley.
I brought up the subject of a Ponty show that I had seen a couple of years before at UC
Davis, and right away Joaquin looked at Randy and said "remember that party after the
show?". I never realized what that had meant, but after reading your book I can just
imagine. I was at the '77 show at the Sacramento Community Center Theater that you mention
in the book--it was my first Ponty show and there have been many more since. You really
packed a lot of life experiences into those 4 years and you did it at just the right age.
I'm glad that your life has turned out well and happy, and that things worked out fine
between you and Jean-Luc in the end. I have a JLP Tour Program from the '78-'79 World Tour
and you are listed as the Sound Engineer. I have attached a photo from it that I scanned and was wondering if you are
one the three guys standing next to Jean-Luc at the soundboard. Thanks so much for taking
me along with you on your roadie career--it was alot of fun and I hated for it to end. Take Care, Bob Thanks Bob, Yup, that's me just to the left of Jean-Luc (all of 22 years old in 1978) KK RFL |
| Got your book. Thank you . The stories are hilarious! Miss K RFL |
| I would just like to say THANX the book was fantastic! cant wait for the next one. I don't normally read much but once I picked it up I just couldn't put it down, I even skipped going to the pub to finish it. Thanx loved it Kim |
| You're book is excellent. Well done, my man. Now I have an answer for all the people who ask me, "What exactly do you do for the band?" Instead of saying, "Everything except play onstage," I point them directly to Roadie.net and your book. Your book has earned a place of honor next to my copy of "The Backstage Handbook" in my road case. Thank you. Terry "Ian" Minihan |
| I loved the book. Really did.
Some great stories. Confirming among many things that Patti Smith truly is a nutty bitch and Bonnie Raitt is the coolest chick ever (I love her music)...Anyway, it was a great book. Even gone back and read a couple chapters over again. Keeping it Loud Lewis |
| I just spent the last 4 hours
of my life reading your book ... which leaves me with roughly 37 minutes to take a shower,
and get out the door for work. Thanks :P Jess |
| I'm halfway through your book. It's great! A little bitter-sweet. Some things sound great and others I find myself cringing. I think losing the briefcase with the badges is worse than losing the five thousand inside. What a world we live in. Just wanted to let you know I'm reading and learning- great job. Linda |
| Karl; Very interesting to read
the stories, having been a fan and seen many of the artists mentioned when they've toured
the UK, particularly the Jazz-rock artists. Peter Collinson UK |
| Thank you SO MUCH for your
book! I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, I had a hard time putting it down. So much stuff in such a short time period. And I learned stuff too, like it's called a "monitor mixer" (ha ha) Wendy |
| Just finished reading your
book ROADIE. I enjoyed it very much. You have a nice way with words that made reading very
interesting! I very much appreciated the way you didn't "trash" any of the
singers/entertainers you worked with. That shows me you are a real classy guy! Yes, there
was drug use and lots of encounters with girls (as you mentioned), but you didn't stress
that or just focus on that. I think most of us that love rock and roll know that does/did
go on, but that has nothing to do with the musical talent of these musicians! Selinda |
| The book arrived today, great! I love what I've read so far. Ken |
| I AM A BIG OUTLAWS FAN AND
ENJOYED YOUR STORY ABOUT MOVING THE GIG FROM A OUTDOOR ARENA TO A INDOOR ONE. GARY |
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