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I think people are grading this book on emotion, not content. LS is one of my favorite bands and this book offers zero insight into the personalities involved, or the daily touring, or inter-personal relationships. Gene Odum may have been RVZ's childhood friend, but the fact is he was NOT there for the last 5 of 6 years of the band before the plane crash. He was hired for "security" for the last tour. That is a huge problem because in this book he sums up touring with Skynyrd in perhaps two sentences and says "if you want to know what it was like, see the movie 'almost famous'". I am serious that was actually written and that is the extent of the author's insight! The few other stories are related from Roadies, one of whom was fired so his view is slanted.A secondary issue is the author seems to have been really, really jealous of RVZ. He calls him a drunk in every chapter, strongly hints RVZ was more lucky than talented, and in short implies Van Zant beat up Allen Collins and Gary Rossington while they were middle schoolers, and got the more talented guitarists to "make" Skynyrd. Ronnie's vision and songwriting genius is never mentioned. The book is in most part Odum reviewing LS songs as if an art critic. Which is absurd, people are buying it for the authors supposed knowledge of the band. Besides song review, Odum starts off slowly bashing Ronnie, by the end of the book he is in full swing.It gets intolerable. His personal knowledge of the band begins at the end of the book when he states- "this is when they called me to save the band" paraphrased.It's pure BS. Yes Ronnie needed help controlling the band's substance abuse,but RVZ hired Odum as a favor,the author needed a job. He wasn't a real security man.The author was on the plane crash but doesn't remember anything substantial that hasn't already been told(seems none did as expected).There is no untold insight into the last day, or touring, or even Ronnie Van Zant or other band members really. It's just Odum playing song critic, intermixed with an unexpected bashing of Van Zant, with stories that have already been told by these same two roadies. I would recommend Ron Eckerman's book, he talked to Ronnie nightly the last couple years being their tour manager. This book is really a disgrace, written in the guise of a friend. With friends like gene odum who needs enemies!Since Skynyrd was touring 300 days a year for the last 5 years,the author did not know RVZ as an adult that well and wasn't around the band except for the last tour. Odum is a childhood friend who now has a "career" as a Skynyrd expert, except it's really not true as you will find out if you waste your money on this trash.Read full review
This book helped me to understand the songs and members of this short lived band. Prior to reading my only real knowledge of LS wqas the songs and names of the guys in the band. I'd heard a couple of stories but always kinda got the feeling a lot of what I'd heard was mosty publicity crap. Written in a straight forward honest style by an insider and long time personal friend of Ronnie LS is presented here in all their glory worts & all. I do wish the book would have been a bit longer. But I gotta admit in all honesty we could have had LS with us a bit longer too!
A must read for any Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. Tells the story of the band from Ronnie's long-time friend Gene Odom's perspective. I learned a lot of stuff about the band and past members that I wasn't aware of. I don't have much time to read too many books, but this one was an easy read and hard to put down. This book deals with the pre-crash band and it's members and family.
THIS IS A GREAT BOOK, MAYBE NOT THE BEST, BUT AT LEAST I READ IT. backupscs DID NOT READ IT, OR DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. GENE ODOM WAS NOT JEALOUS, HE WAS THANKFUL. MY MOM DIED ON 10/13/77, WORST DAY OF MY LIFE. I TURNED TO MY FAVORITE BAND LYNYRD SKYNYRD TO GET ME THOUGH. I BOUGHT THEIR NEW ALBUM, STREET SURVIVORS( EVEN GOT ONE WITH THE FLAMES), STILL HAVE TODAY. ON THE DAY THEY BURIED HER 10/20/77, RONNIE, STEVE AND HIS SISTER DIED. WORST WEEK EVER. HIS SONG WRITING CHANGED ME. I NEVER WOULD HAVE MADE IT WITHOUT HIS MUSIC. READ THIS BOOK, AND PRAY THEY MAKE A GOOD MOVIE ABOUT SKYNYRD, NOT A DOCUMENTARY, SEEN ALL THEM. A REAL MOVIE, LIKE THEY DID FOR FAKE BAND (SPINAL TAP) AND FRINGE BAND (ANVIL), THEY OWE US A GOOD MOVIE. ANY RATING LESS THAN 4 STARS ON THIS BOOK IS WRONG. TRY IT AND SEE FOR YOURSELF. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I don't read many books but I read 1/3 of this book the day I got it. Always been one of my favorite bands and I just love how Gene explains it. It's like I'm sitting taking to him. Highly recommend it to any Skynyrd fan.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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