One Train Later: A Memoir
by Andy Summers
List Price:
Our Price: $6.69
You Save: $8.26 (55%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.68 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Andy SummersIntroduction: The Edge
Edition: Paperback
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2007-05-29
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 368
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Book Reviews of One Train Later: A Memoir
Book Review: Dazed and confused
Summary: 2 Stars
If you know that people took drugs in the 60's for spiritual awakening, and that rock stars live their lives like, well, rock stars, then you pretty much know everything about what Andy Summers considers memorable in his life.
It's difficult to tell what Andy is trying to say in his memoir. Most of the time he comes across as proud, happy, arrogant about his blessed life being a rock and roll superstar guitarist, doing lots of drugs along the way, cavorting with friends like Belushi based on a common drug induced experience, untold numbers of sexcapades with fans, and the ruination of his marriage. Did I mention he apparently has done a lot of drugs over the years? Then there is the apparent bitterness that has not gone away over the dissolution of The Police by Sting. It is hard to tell though, after reading about all of Andy's adventures being a "rock god" (Andy's words) whether he is bitter about not having the creative outlet of The Police, or the success and all the good stuff (like drugs) that came as a result.
Andy's early years playing in London are interesting, but the book seems to be in a rush to get to The Police years. And then as fast as we transported to those days, they are over, and apparently Andy thinks everything that happened after 1983 has been so unremarkable that there is no need to write about them, so you really learn nothing about Andy that you didn't already know if you were a fan back in the day.
Mostly the book comes across as depressing. Andy states that "the music" is the most important thing but doesn't mention one bit of what music he pursued, played, or was interested in after 1983. Should we care that he is also into photography and took pictures of ashtrays? The breakup of The Police is something Andy apparently can't get over, and yet not once did Andy mention that he actually misses Sting or Stewart Copeland. They are never described as friends and they apparently did nothing outside of the band together, except perhaps drugs in the hotel rooms. To me that is the saddest part of the entire book.
Lennon was quoted once as saying "You have all the (Beatles) records if you want to reminisce." That would probably be the best thing any Police fan could do - listen to "the music", and not bother with this depressing book.
Cheers Andy.
Rock Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Rock Books
All Yesterdays' Parties: The Velvet Underground in Print, 1966-1971by Clinton Heylin
Da Capo Press; Published: 2006-02-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.61
Price in other shops:
Whores: An Oral Biography Of Perry Farrell And Jane's Addictionby Brendan Mullen
Da Capo Press; Published: 2005-04-26; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $22.14
Price in other shops:
Clapton: Edge Of Darkness, Updated Editionby Christopher Sandford
Da Capo Press; Published: 1999-06-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.22
Price in other shops:
Renegade: The Lives and Tales of Mark E. Smithby E. D. Smith
101 DISTRIBUTION; Published: 2009-03-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops:
The Lennon Companion: Twenty-Five Years of CommentSchirmer; Published: 1990-10-01; Paperback; Book
The Paul Simon Companion: Four Decades of Commentaryby Stacey Luftig, Stacy Luftig
Schirmer Trade Books; Published: 1997-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.95
Price in other shops:
Complete Idiot's Guide to Elvisby Frank Coffey
Alpha; Published: 1997; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.99
Everybody Wants Some: The Van Halen Sagaby Ian Christe
Wiley; Published: 2007-08-27; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Cobain (Rolling Stone)by Rolling Stone Press
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 1997-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.21
Price in other shops:
Deborah Harry: Platinum Blondeby Cathay Che
Andre Deutsch; Published: 2006-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $297.69
Similar books summaries and other product reviews
Bill Bruford The Autobiographyby Bill Bruford
Jawbone Press; Published: 2009-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.62
Price in other shops:
The Police: Certifiable - Live In Buenos Aires (2-DVD 2-CD Set)Published: 2008; DVD
Best price: $7.59
Strange Things Happen: A Life with The Police, Polo, and Pygmiesby Stewart Copeland
It Books; Published: 2009-09-29; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $1.00
Price in other shops:
I'll Be Watching You: Inside the Police, 1980-83Taschen; Published: 2007-09-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.22
Price in other shops:
Strange Things Happen: A Life with The Police, Polo, and Pygmiesby Stewart Copeland
It Books; Published: 2010-09-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.56
Price in other shops:
Broken Musicby Sting
Dell; Published: 2008-12-30; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
Andy Summers: Guitar (DVD / Booklet)Hot Licks; Release date: 2006-01-31; DVD
Best price: $13.60
Price in other shops:
Broken Music: A Memoirby Sting
Dial Press; Published: 2005-01-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops:
The Police - Everyone Stares: The Police Inside OutUniversal Studios; Release date: 2006-09-12; DVD
Best price: $5.98
Price in other shops:
Strange Things Happen: A Life with The Police, Polo, and Pygmiesby Stewart Copeland
It Books; Published: 2009-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops: