The history of Ferry and the influential English glam rock group Roxy Music, like that of many innovative rock bands, is one of charismatic musical exploration fraught with problems: revolving-door musicians, financial arguments and futile attempts to break into the American market. (Roxy Music had only one major U.S. hit, 1975's "Love Is the Drug.") At the center of both the iconoclasm and conflict stands Ferry, the group's founder, lead singer, primary songwriter and image dictator. While Buckley (David Bowie) clearly loves the music and admires Ferry's creative skill, he also points out the musician's flaws: an inability to deal with direct confrontations, micromanaging recording sessions, and being less than generous with the press. This book isn't just for hard-core Ferry fans-Buckley explores the history of 1970s British rock using Roxy Music as a core, explaining how innovative original Roxy member Brian Eno's sound-altering experiments were; how Ferry chose to market the group like a product, rather than depend on concert touring; and how infatuated British youth became with Roxy's nouveau glam rock concept that image/style was just as important as the music. This is a thorough if unevenly presented history alternately page-turning, tedious and gossipy. Photos. (June) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Reviews

The history of Ferry and the influential English glam rock group Roxy Music, like that of many innovative rock bands, is one of charismatic musical exploration fraught with problems: revolving-door musicians, financial arguments and futile attempts to break into the American market. (Roxy Music had only one major U.S. hit, 1975's "Love Is the Drug.") At the center of both the iconoclasm and conflict stands Ferry, the group's founder, lead singer, primary songwriter and image dictator. While Buckley (David Bowie) clearly loves the music and admires Ferry's creative skill, he also points out the musician's flaws: an inability to deal with direct confrontations, micromanaging recording sessions, and being less than generous with the press. This book isn't just for hard-core Ferry fans-Buckley explores the history of 1970s British rock using Roxy Music as a core, explaining how innovative original Roxy member Brian Eno's sound-altering experiments were; how Ferry chose to market the group like a product, rather than depend on concert touring; and how infatuated British youth became with Roxy's nouveau glam rock concept that image/style was just as important as the music. This is a thorough if unevenly presented history alternately page-turning, tedious and gossipy. Photos. (June) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Buckley's latest book (after David Bowie: The Complete Guide to His Music) should be a triumphant hagiography: working-class lad forms band, makes brilliant music, joins high society, and courts beautiful women. But it isn't, because singer Bryan Ferry won't let it. Informed by original interviews with Ferry, his bandmates, and their associates, this biography of Roxy Music recounts the band's arrival on the British glam scene of the 1970s as outrageous and thrillingly weird style- and musicmakers. The world was theirs for the taking-until Ferry sabotaged his career with self-doubt. He became a prisoner to his exacting ideals of beauty; nothing ever measured up. Despite Buckley's efforts to spin the 21st-century Roxy reunion as Ferry's vindication, readers are left hoping Ferry doesn't end up the Charles Foster Kane of glam. Fortunately, this sour puss doesn't deter Buckley, who analyzes music, performance, and image changes and doesn't skimp on the personal turmoil; his interviewee choices are beyond comprehensive. This is the best Ferry/Roxy read yet, supplanting Paul Stump's Unknown Pleasures. Recommended for larger public and academic libraries.-Matthew Moyer, Jacksonville P.L., FL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.