Albert Goldman (1) (1927–1994)

after getting past the author's obvious contempt for what Lennon became, there is a lot of history here on not only Lennon but Yoko, The Beatles, rock and pop, and more. some and even much here may be trash talking and rumormongering, but it is an antidote to hagiography out there - no doubt Lennon gave into drugs, lazy reclusion, and profligate excess, the details of that are fairly irrelevant. Was May Pang a Yoko-assigned assignation? Julian and Sean unloved children? Lennon bisexual? Yoko show more and Lennon junkies floating at sea on an ocean of cash and sycophants? I think there is truthiness there. show less

Goldman has been exposed by more than one reviewer of his "work" as essentially a turd. The "1,200 interviews" he alleged conducted did not include any of the principles in Lennon's life -- that is, those who actually knew him. Instead, regardless whether he conducted "1,200 interviews" with 1,200 people, or "1,200 interviews" with one, those alleged interviewees include the person who stole Lennon's diaries, and more, immediately after Lennon was assassinated, and one who was an opponent of show more Yoko in a law suit -- hardly the sort of sources one would consider unbiased or credible.

Goldman first did the equivalent to Elvis -- who was, of course, dead, therefore unable to answer back -- so the credible who knew Lennon wouldn't talk to him, because they saw what he was about.

In short, Goldman essentially interviewed those who, if they knew Lennon at all, had ulterior motives in their relationship with him -- spell it C-A-S-H -- and were willing to say anything for loot, or out of sheer nastiness for not getting from Lennon what they'd hoped to get.

And note that none of these alleged "facts" came out while Lennon was alive -- and could talk back. It's interesting the number of knives-out biographies of Lennon were written by individuals who waited until he was dead and couldn't answer them. Or sue them for libel, and demand that they put up or pay up.

If you read only one biography of Lennon, don't make it this piece of trash. show less

If I had to choose my all-time favorite book -- biography or otherwise -- this would probably be it. Certainly, the fact that it's about a Beatle automatically moves it toward the front of the line. But why choose this particular book -- which I've re-read more times than I can count -- when there are so many other Beatle bios out there? Simple: this one's terrible.

No, really. This is a train wreck. Goldman has a major axe to grind, and over the course of 700-plus pages, he grinds his axe show more to iron powder. Lennon comes across as a mainly lucky, mostly untalented, naive bisexual musician with serious mother issues. It's Character Assassination to the Extreme -- of Lennon, Yoko Ono, and almost everyone but Paul McCartney -- and you'll find yourself marveling at the body count Goldman leaves behind. Every page contains one cynical, sneering appraisal of Lennon and his work after another, with Goldman trashing Lennon's motivations and so often rooting for him to fail that it begs the question of "Why in the world would you devote 700 pages and seven years of your life to a subject you obviously can't stand??"

I don't know the answer, but I'm glad Goldman did it anyway -- because this one is so gawdawful that it's terrific. show less

While Bruce is a big enough character to fill these eight hundred pages, we also get such colorful cats as alto saxophonist Joe Maini, dopeman cum informer chic Eder and cameos by Phil Spector and others. (Reading of Phil's late career business and logistical support for a Bruce mad with legal minutiae and yellow pads prompted me to reread this.) While Grossman is often maligned for quasi-gonzo fanboy salacious approach, this book really moves in its depiction of the rise and destruction of show more this innovative comic. show less