Monday, December 25, 2017

What I'm Reading Now

Sticky Fingers: the Life and Times of Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone Magazine 

Like many of us, Jann Wenner, or "Mr. Rolling Stone" as he is sometimes referred, is something of a mixed bag, and as such is perfectly suited for a juicy, warts-and-all biography. Journalist Joe Hagan does not disappoint, working with complete cooperation (and later denunciation) from his subject. Leaning heavily on my three favorite topics, sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, Hagan unpeels all the layers from his famous subject. Unsurprisingly, Wenner is a fan first and likes to surround himself with whoever the leading rock icon of the moment is (both Bono and Bruce Springsteen are listed as godfathers to Wenner's children). He also seemingly thrives on feuding. Among the boldface names listed in the index as having had rifts with Wenner are the following: Bob Dylan, David Geffen, Ralph Gleason, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Annie Leibovitz, Paul McCartney and Hunter S. Thompson. In addition, Hagan also shows the relevance of the magazine that Wenner founded, Rolling Stone either being the first to uncover, or bring new light to, the Patty Hearst saga, and the Silkwood case, among others. They were also the publication that serialized both The Bonfire of the Vanities and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. By far my favorite factoid that emerges from this book, however, is that Wenner apparently belonged to a book club with David Bowie. Their read? Let the Great World Spin.

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