Katuschka Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 Having contrasted the book against other recollections, accounts and known facts I would say he has a penchant for embellishment and dramaticization. Precision is not a strong suit, but all in all he can and does tell a fascinating tale of what it was like to have lived it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillian Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I think Mr Cole gives himself to much credit in the book, and regardless of why he wrote it, there is still something to say about loyalty even in this day and age. That's just my personal opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelmon Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I think Mr Cole gives himself to much credit in the book, and regardless of why he wrote it, there is still something to say about loyalty even in this day and age. That's just my personal opinion. Loyalty can lead to a form of censorship. Restriction. And yes, in some circustances should be maintained. I'm thinking the main issue in this thread is credibility of the content of the book. Of which, he definately revealed stuff loyalty would've prevented. Fun reading anyway... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blimp Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I bought Hammer Of The Gods when it first appeared at the booksellers, and quite enjoyed reading it. I re-read it a few weeks ago, and i still enjoyed reading it, as i love accounts of bands on the road in the USA. Ian Hunter's Diary Of A Rock 'N' Roll Star was something in the same vein, but although a decent read, is far inferior to HOTG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gervox Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I bought Hammer Of The Gods when it first appeared at the booksellers, and quite enjoyed reading it. I re-read it a few weeks ago, and i still enjoyed reading it, as i love accounts of bands on the road in the USA. Ian Hunter's Diary Of A Rock 'N' Roll Star was something in the same vein, but although a decent read, is far inferior to HOTG. I also enjoyed Hammer of the Gods, and still delve in from time to time, but only as a work of fiction with a glimmer of truth in it.I remember Robert in particular saying that it was a grim read and not the experience that he had.Zeppelin was for him, more about good humour and music and good times. Cole made it seem more like an evil "Pact with the Devil" fantasy gossip orgy, and personified the recollections of a man who took far too many drugs than were good for him. He confused much of his time with Zeppelin with other groups. Surely everyone knows by now that Hermans Hermits were the true followers of the Great Beast Crowley;they did more drugs and abused more groupies in a week than Zeppelin did in 12 years! Oh, and don't get me started on the London Symphony Orchestra! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I tire of the bad side of "boisterous Bonzo" getting all the press. From all I've spoken to who actually knew the man, he was the sweetheart of the group. Books like Hammer of the Gods and Stairway to Heaven focus in such a trashy, tabloid fashion on things. What makes these books garbage IMO, is the total disregard for the man Bonzo was the other 99% of the time. Yeah, there was craziness and chaos, and moments of acting out. But as I understand from the people who actually met him, and had nothing to gain by discussing it, John Bonham was a dear, sweet man. They leave that out of those books. That's why they don't receive my endorsement. That and the whole blood oath shit. Satan. Spare me. Occult? Yes. At least on Jimmy's part. But any student of the occult knows that there are many avenues that have fuck all to do with the Devil. Wise up. Educate yourself and don't let this crap about Satan ruin the beautiful thing that is Zeppelin. Satan wasn't there, okay. Get over it. Magick? Ritual? Sure. But Satan? Only to the uninformed and the misled, and we can lump these books among those of the uninformed, the misled, or in the case of Richard Cole, the sensationalist advantagist (sic). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knebby Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 I bought Hammer Of The Gods when it first appeared at the booksellers, and quite enjoyed reading it. I re-read it a few weeks ago, and i still enjoyed reading it, as i love accounts of bands on the road in the USA. Ian Hunter's Diary Of A Rock 'N' Roll Star was something in the same vein, but although a decent read, is far inferior to HOTG. Probably because his book is the TRUTH as written by the artist himself, not sensationalist shite written by people trying to make money from scandal and gossip. I don't see the two books in the same vein at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllisonAdler Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Having contrasted the book against other recollections, accounts and known facts I would say he has a penchant for embellishment and dramaticization. Precision is not a strong suit, but all in all he can and does tell a fascinating tale of what it was like to have lived it. I think both books are tawdry and nasty myself. But embellishment might be a little mild--Jimmy said STH showed how someone could go into rehab a chronic alcoholic and come out a chronic liar. I think I trust him rather more than Cole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock Action Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Whew...this turned into yet another can of worms. I'll simply say that I found Cole's book very entertaining. Totally factual or not. It beat the crap out of Davis' pile of bullshit. With that said, I'm fully aware that both books contained tons of hyperbole and other assorted "stories". Most books of this nature are, unless written by the musicians themselves. And even that is no guarantee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonightflyer Posted January 11, 2008 Share Posted January 11, 2008 Would anyone care to nominate which is the best book about Led Zeppelin's career disregarding these two involving input from Cole? I saw a bunch on Amazon but would appreciate if someone could sort the wheat from the chaff. Thanks in advance if anyone can help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franco Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Would anyone care to nominate which is the best book about Led Zeppelin's career disregarding these two involving input from Cole? I saw a bunch on Amazon but would appreciate if someone could sort the wheat from the chaff. Thanks in advance if anyone can help. For all out there, The authorized version and only book that Led Zeppelin has endorsed is "LED ZEP" "LED ZEP" an autobiography by Ritchie Yorke. It is old and may be out of print by now; but as my manager and friend Ritchie, like the remaining member's are my friend's. I would say that for all the wackiness that they went through I can tell you if I were coming off stage and I needed anyone to kick somebodies ass for getting stupid Richard Cole might be the man. So if you can find it and I think Ritchie wrote one more book on the Zep go out and give it a whirl it will make that old Aussie happy and pay him back for a bath incident so long ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 1976 Yorkie, Ritchie LED ZEPPELIN - THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY Metheun Publications 1993 Yorkie, Ritchie LED ZEPPELIN - THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY Underwood-Miller 1999 Yorkie, Ritchie LED ZEPPELIN - THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY From Early Days to Page & Plant Revised edition Virgin Books 1976 Yorkie, Ritchie LED ZEPPELIN - THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY Japanese edition Shinko Music Pub. Co. Ltd. 1983 Yorkie, Ritchie LED ZEPPELIN - THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN Japanese edition Shinko Music Pub. Co. Ltd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 1976 Yorkie, Ritchie LED ZEPPELIN - THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY Metheun Publications 1993 Yorkie, Ritchie LED ZEPPELIN - THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY Underwood-Miller 1999 Yorkie, Ritchie LED ZEPPELIN - THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY From Early Days to Page & Plant Revised edition Virgin Books 1976 Yorkie, Ritchie LED ZEPPELIN - THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY Japanese edition Shinko Music Pub. Co. Ltd. 1983 Yorkie, Ritchie LED ZEPPELIN - THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN Japanese edition Shinko Music Pub. Co. Ltd. Yes I am following You Steve but It's time to call it a night. I've got the original 76 book. Was it the first biography about the band ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Yes I am following You Steve but It's time to call it a night. I've got the original 76 book. Was it the first biography about the band ? I believe it was, although the American rock magazine 'Circus' published a Robert Plant biography titled 'Robert Plant - Led Zeppelin's Golden Boy' (written by Michael Gross) around the same time (perhaps 1975). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 I believe it was, although the American rock magazine 'Circus' published a Robert Plant biography titled 'Robert Plant - Led Zeppelin's Golden Boy' (written by Michael Gross) around the same time (perhaps 1975). Michael Gross. I'm surprised it wasn't Lisa Robinson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonightflyer Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Thanks for you input Franco and Steve... much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supraphonic Posted January 12, 2008 Share Posted January 12, 2008 Author Stephen Davis only paid Cole a meager $1,500 for his contributions to Hammer of the Gods, which is why 7 years later he republished his tales in 'Stairway to Heaven', a book of his own. I enjoy both books, but the second one is more comprehensive. once again mr jones has it right and in perspective i totally agree with him on coles book,the only thing i find hard to believe is bonzo drinking a two magnums of champayne and carrying onto the stage and then playing(anyone who plays knows you cant drink & play in time,dosent matter how good you are),the book does explain his eventual self destruction in a way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 14, 2008 Share Posted January 14, 2008 the book does explain his eventual self destruction in a way? I've always viewed his loss as a tragic accident as opposed to self-destruction. It could happen to anyone who falls asleep so intoxicated. Never took it to be a Presley-esque end -- years of abuse to the point of destruction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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