Evenings Empire: A Novel
Contents:
I can't understand how he was able to develop the backbone to finagle all the deals he did for Emerson, because he completely rolled over for Emerson in every way; for Emerson as well as Charlie, Simon and Fin. For instance, the whole African musi I'm not completely sure how I feel about this book. For instance, the whole African music thing, which was ridiculous to begin with because Emerson was a complete idiot, was even worse when Jack got seriously sick but Emerson insisted he go to South Africa on safari with them and Jack, like an abused dog who's regularly beaten by his master, slavishly licked Emerson's hand and went along on the trip.
Emerson, Charlie and Simon were all monsters in their own way; the culture of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll completely destroyed their connections to reality. Emerson was nothing but a childlike, childish little tyrant and it infuriated me to see Jack just go along with everything. Still and all, it was a good read and a lot of fun. Dec 21, Don rated it liked it.
Flanagan manages to touch upon pretty much every aspect of the music business as it has developed since in his novel about a second tier English "British Invasion" band and the subsequent histories of its members from that era to today. He tells the story reasonably well; it's not great literature, but the story moves along and Flanagan fleshes out the characters nicely. I'm not sure how much interest this book would have for someone who is not in this business.
One complaint--at pages, Flanagan manages to touch upon pretty much every aspect of the music business as it has developed since in his novel about a second tier English "British Invasion" band and the subsequent histories of its members from that era to today.
One complaint--at pages, the book is really too long. Flanagan should have been more concise in places and there are a few portions of the tale that could have been edited out. Interestingly, one of the three members of the Ravons, the band that is the center of the story, is named Simon Potts. Potts is the least sympathetic of the principals.
K and ultimately Capitol Records in the U. I believe he eventually became President of Capitol for a brief period. Potts was not a well-liked guy by the end of his time in the record business, and I'm sure that the use of his name in this book is no coincidence. Sep 12, Bryson Kopf rated it liked it Shelves: An fictional account of over four decades in the life of a rock band, which references and parallels many of the notable British bands of the late 60s notably folks like the Yardbirds and Eric Clapton.
What sets this book apart is the perspective of the manager of the band, who sacrifices so much in their name also, profits. I think Flanagan did a good job of doing the evolution of the business of rock and roll very interestingly.
- The Burden.
- Chasing Fireflies: A Novel of Discovery.
- Evening's Empire!
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- El sexo y los políticos (Historia) (Spanish Edition)?
There is a lot about how music is packaged and resold which s An fictional account of over four decades in the life of a rock band, which references and parallels many of the notable British bands of the late 60s notably folks like the Yardbirds and Eric Clapton. There is a lot about how music is packaged and resold which serve as a nice primer on the music business and how musicians can make gobs of money even when they fail to record successful albums. There is a bit of a predictable rise and fall of each band member which dips into some cliche, but there are also some nice weird and dark side avenues that show up, notably the bit with shooting a MTV with a little person that goes off the rails is hilarious.
Recommended for fans of late 60s music, as you'll get most of the references, and those who don't mind seeing celebrity lives go to ruin. Apr 26, Michael rated it it was amazing. I think this novel is among my favorites. Love my local library in Redondo Beach for staying so current and bringing these stories in front of me. Bill Flanagan is a music industry veteran, and even though this is fiction, it seems to me that he must have seen a lot for real.
He wrote another book I think this novel is among my favorites. It is funny, insightful, even wise. I found myself laughing out loud and alternately made very sad by events in this story. Not just about music, this is a book about life. From the back cover it looks like Bob Dylan liked it too. Which makes me feel like I have good taste. Highly recommended for all my concert friends, or anybody.
The Widespread Panic crew especially.
Evening's Empire: A Novel [Bill Flanagan] on www.farmersmarketmusic.com *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Spanning more than forty years of music history, Bill. Evening's Empire: A Novel [Bill Flanagan] on www.farmersmarketmusic.com *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. THE YEAR IS In England, and around the world, rock.
I think you all would like it. Jun 21, Brian rated it it was ok. I started this book with high hopes no pun elocuted , expecting a portrait of the 60s that would follow through and help elucidate how the promise of those years got derailed at times. After the first pages or so, I knew that the author had set less ambitious goals for the book. Still, an award for the title--a wonderful snatch from Dylan's "Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man" also, note p. Mar 16, Roger rated it liked it.
As an old '60s rocker who played in two original music, this book rang true, very true. The personalities in the Ravens, the massive ego of Emerson, the leader of the band and ultimate solo artist, were all pieces of guys in my bands. Flanagan has a real ear for the business, too.
Evening's Empire - Wikipedia
The compromises a manager has to make, how he handles his clients, the cutthroat nature of the business But if you want to read a book that is a true story of what can happen to a band from the '60s, don't miss "Without You: Unlike the Ravens, the splits in Badfinger were fatal for two if its members. Truth can be stranger than fiction. Mar 05, Steve rated it really liked it. The story of the rock band Ravons, founded in the early 60s, puts out 3 albums, and what happens to the group and its members over the next 35 years.
Told from the point of view of a young attorney, hired to spy on the wife of the lead singer, but who becomes their manager. Flanagan knows a lot about rock history and the different styles and circumstances that happened to various groups over the time, and he brings it all to bear here. At times I was afraid that the book was sinking into cliche, The story of the rock band Ravons, founded in the early 60s, puts out 3 albums, and what happens to the group and its members over the next 35 years.
At times I was afraid that the book was sinking into cliche, but he avoided that well, and it's also the case that the characters aren't direct versions of any specific people. It turns out to be quite a good book, memorable in a lot of its details. That's the last of my rock reading for a while; I have a book on Jerry Lee Lewis at the bedside, but other books are beckoning me first.
Feb 21, Margo rated it it was amazing. It was so well written and interesting, a must for any music fan of the bands of the 60's and especially if you have any interest in a behind-the scenes look at the music recording and promotion industy I loved how he followed the band over 30 plus years and also included what was going on personally his own life that of the narrator. The characters were realistic and while it was a ficticuous band, he added in all the "real" music stuff and band If I could, I would rate this book a "TEN" The characters were realistic and while it was a ficticuous band, he added in all the "real" music stuff and bands that was happening to the industry at the time, so it seemed so real!
We can only wonder where the music will take us from here. Jun 30, Rchoffman rated it it was amazing. This is quite simply the best rock 'n roll novel ever written. More than that, it's a hilarious romp through the debased values of our times. I kept thinking of J.
Flanagan knows the music scene inside and out but so do a lot of people — this guy can write!
Each chapter ends with a droll reflection from the beleaguered narrator who manages a band through the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90' This is quite simply the best rock 'n roll novel ever written. Each chapter ends with a droll reflection from the beleaguered narrator who manages a band through the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. Rock and roll history comes alive as each of the band members discovers more deeply the real nature of his character. So does our narrator. The result is funny and wise, clear-eyed and resigned. I'm going to wait a year, let it cool off, and read it again.
Jul 07, Chris rated it it was amazing Shelves: I read this novel four years ago but I think about it a lot. Evening's Empire is one of the most satisfying books I've read.
It combines passionate storytelling with an unparalleled love of music. It's a combination that I can't turn away from much less dislike. I felt immersed in the story of this band and the people in it. I wanted to believe that it was real, that I could open up my laptop and download the songs, the albums that were chronicled in this book. I think that's the greatest triump I read this novel four years ago but I think about it a lot.
I think that's the greatest triumph of a great novel - convincing the reader to believe that the story should be real. Evening's Empire did just that. Jun 15, Lauren Proctor rated it it was amazing. I hadn't heard of this book until I received it as a gift, and settled into it knowing not much more than the fact that I very much enjoy Bill Flanagan on CBS Sunday Morning. With every page I fell more and more in love with the characters, and every once in awhile there's a laugh out loud moment you'll want to share with whoever happens to be near you at the time.
Evening's Empire goes down on my shelf of fame right alongside Herman Wouk's Don't Stop the Carnival as one of my favorite fun, irre I hadn't heard of this book until I received it as a gift, and settled into it knowing not much more than the fact that I very much enjoy Bill Flanagan on CBS Sunday Morning.
Evening's Empire goes down on my shelf of fame right alongside Herman Wouk's Don't Stop the Carnival as one of my favorite fun, irresistible reads. If you like music and good characters, this is a novel you can't miss. Aug 14, Erin rated it liked it. Entertaining at times but entirely too long. Bill Flanagan uses the fictitious rock band "The Ravons" as a vehicle to share his stories or any story he's ever been told it seems from decades in the music biz.
He also uses this book as a way to explain cultural, political and technological influences on music and the industry from - There are fun, classic rock myths and tales of excess recapped that are worth sifting through if you are a music nerd.
Evening's Empire: A Novel
Otherwise the pages come off a Entertaining at times but entirely too long. Otherwise the pages come off as indulgent. Aug 29, Evan rated it it was ok. Fluffy, trashy, catty fun: Flanagan was a music journalist for many years and then a bigshot at MTV and VH1 when they still played music videos, and he seemed to most enjoy showing off his inside music-biz knowledge and shoptalk skills.
He got both Bob Dylan and Bono to blurb the thing, for whatever that's worth. Apr 26, Joeydag rated it liked it. The author knows his rock and roll from the inside out and top to bottom. This story of a Brit band manager follows him and the band members from to the present. There are some very sentimental and moving moments, and the author can hide behind the pretense that the narrator was a solicitor and is self described as distant at times to blame the episodic and limited emotional range of this effort.
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I'd be willing to read more by Bill Flanagan, he knows what he's talking about. Oct 10, Itasca Community Library added it Shelves: Feb 02, Clare rated it really liked it. A sprawling, anecdotal journey through rock-and-roll history through the eyes of Jack Flynn, the manager of the influential Ravons, a man now writing his memoirs and reflecting back on his life. While its distinctive characters, interesting setting, and melancholy, but ultimate hopeful, outlook make it engaging, the anecdotal sprawl can spread the suspension of disbelief a little too thin.
Aug 18, Jeannine rated it really liked it Shelves: A highly entertaining and multi-leveled tale of 40 years in the rock 'n' roll business. The narrator is the manager of a lightweight 60s pop band that almost makes it big in its first incarnation. Four decades of incarnations follow, with a wide range of personal and professional successes and failures. Flanagan makes the world real, a possible roman a clef, although he drops perhaps a few too many names. May 07, Vic Ing rated it really liked it. The tapes get worn and other recollections bleed in. The way we tell the story begins to change the story.
Compounding the confusion, we translate our experiences of long ago into the currencies of who we are today. At the End of the Road. The story is told through the eyes of savvy rock manager Jack Flynn. Flynn has a spectacular, turbulent career and through a combination of luck, unflappability and talent, he always manages to be in the right place at the right time. Unfortunately, Flynn is far less successful in his checkered personal life which is repeatedly subsumed and sacrificed to career demands.
This is a bitter-sweet, witty and cynical story of an incredible life flavoured with regret for some of the choices made along the way. This assignment—to take compromising photos of the adulterous wife of a rock musician—is the death knoll for one career but the genesis of another.
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Flynn is soon employed as the legal advisor and then the manager for the Ravons. While charismatic Emerson Cutler emerges as the most successful member of the Ravons, he also morphs from being a fairly decent human being into an isolated, selfish, shallow star. This is a novel of ideas, and these ideas are explored through the backstabbing and the fierce competitiveness of the ever-changing face of the music industry.
It fills him with confidence in his own power, it makes him glib and cocky, it loosens his tongue and his libido. Give him half an audience and he will climb up on a table and declaim. But there is a worm in the bottom of that bottle. And the more you drink the mescal of fame, the deeper the worm burrows into you.
EVENING’S EMPIRE by Bill Flanagan
The worm crawls up your spine and settles at the base of your skull and whispers…. The bigger you get, the more of that mescal you drink, the louder the worm in your skull starts to sound. So you begin hiding from people, trying to protect yourself from being exposed.