“Axl said I made a great cup of tea.”
If you’re looking for a book that actually tells it like it is instead of some coked-up fantasy written by someone who wasn’t there in spirit, then this is the book for you: an honest, open book about a man, a roadie, someone with vision and integrity, there is a lot more to Joel Miller than his tea-making skills.
So for the February spotlight, I'm going to look at a band called Cellar Darling. The band are from Switzerland, and grew out of a band called Eluveitie, which has been around since 2002, mixing folk, symphonic metal, rock and death metal.Think All About Eve combined with Killswitch Engage, singing in a language you've never heard before, and you'll be close. Memoir of a Roadie is the 2020 autobiography of Joel A. Memoir of a Roadie is currently the #1 best selling New Release in Biographies and Memoirs (Arts & Literature) on Amazon, available on Kindle and paperback: Joel Miller is an ex- roadie for Guns N’ Roses, Poison, Stone Temple Pilots, & The Cranberries. The book is an often-hilarious personal account of a young man in his early 20’s trying.
Joel Miller author of Memoir of a Roadie, joins Bill on episode 544 of the Pennsylvania Rock Show to talk about his experiences as a Roadie and his newly released book. Bill’s Review of the Book Featuring Music from: Corners of Sanctuary, Illusions of Grandeur, & The Nied’s Hotel Band How quickly did the chapter titles come to you? Memoir of a Roadie by Joel Miller My rating: 5 of 5 stars Early on, I figured out that Joel and I are relatively the same age. This and my involvement in my local music scene made it very easy for me to relate to the stories and adventures that Joel has recounted in this phenomenal work.
From working with the Stone Temple Pilots to Guns N’ Roses during the mystical and mythical Chinese Democracy era, this is a book that every music fan should read. Littered with fascinating stories and an abundance of photographs, the book highlights a time gone by, when Rock stars were Rock stars and gave the next generation something to aspire too.
Memoir Of A Roadie Trailer
This book has everything: danger, glam, rock star roadie moments, a sense of gratitude, and a vibe that I don’t think has been captured before. There is only so much that Nikki Sixx, Slash or Duff can remember during the hazy days, but Joel is able to offer the perspective of what actually happened. The pictures emphasise the story and are a great addition into this ‘behind the scenes’ tale of rock. I also love the ‘Roadie Rambling Moment’s scattered throughout the book because they add an insight and even more humour to the compelling and already funny stories.
Joel doesn’t just give us stories of being on the road, he offers us a look into his life, telling us of his shift from wanting to be an attorney to venturing onto a very different path, a path that went from working on movie sets with David Schwimmer and Cameron Diaz to making the move into the music industry working with Keanu Reeves’ band, Dogstar. Being the new guy in the job and surrounded by people who already know what they are doing can be quite daunting. The difference between being in the office and being on the road is that in an office you get a second chance. Rock n’ roll is fast paced – there is no room for mistakes at a live show. Joel conveys an enthusiasm that holds no boundaries and because of this, it’s a refreshing read, and he captures the excitement of being a fan, a roadie and a musician.
Memoir of a Roadie will help any musician learn more about the guys who truly make the rock stars stars. A must not only for any fans of Stone Temple Pilots and Guns N’ Roses, this memoir of life on the road is a journey that should be taken by any and all music fans. As Miller says, ‘So, what happened to everyone? Well, life isn’t a book. The pages continued to turn on. The roadies that aren’t dead are still on tour.’
Memoir Of A Roadie
This book is well worth a read and you can buy it here.
Memoir Of A Roadie Review
- Note: the front cover art is by Raymond Pettibon, famous for his artwork for such bands as Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, and of course, Black Flag, for whom he designed the distinctive ‘four bars’ logo.