Tag: Grand Central Publishing

Book Review: Last Rites By Ozzy Osbourne with Chris Ayres (Grand Central Publishing)

By: Jesse Striewski

When heavy metal icon and all-around music legend Ozzy Osbourne left this world this past summer just days after performing his final concert ever, both as a solo artist and with Black Sabbath, it sent unprecedented shockwaves across the universe like few before him. So to have at least one more thing to be able to connect with him in some way, in this case in the form of his final memoir Last Rites (put together with author Chris Ayers), it almost goes without saying how welcomed it is.

Of course when Osbourne’s first memoir I Am Ozzy initially dropped back in 2009, I was all over that, too, though I actually found it to be a bit on the forced side, as if the powers that be were nudging him behind the scenes to be over the top to coincide along with his popular TV persona. Last Rites still doesn’t hold anything back either, but is presented with a much more open and honest voice than the former was.

Granted some stories from the older book are glossed over here again, but for the most part Osbourne doesn’t dwell on what’s already been said in the past, and instead paints a picture of many of the more recent moments untouched on up until his passing. There’s no real chronological order to things here as subjects are more or less bounced around like thoughts spoken aloud, but there’s deep insight given in many areas of his life, including many of the health issues he endured towards the end.

Indeed, it feels as though Osbourne was ripped away from us all far too soon. But one thing that will surely never die is his legacy, which Last Rites only helps to solidify here.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Book Review: Heartbreaker: A Memoir By Mike Campbell with Ari Surdoval (Grand Central Publishing)

By: Jesse Striewski

Some memoirs can often either come off as just plain bragging, or will simply leave readers wanting more (I’m looking at you, Alex Van Halen). But Heartbreaker from legendary Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (and later, Fleetwood Mac) guitarist Mike Campbell (with the assistance of Ari Surdoval) not only avoids each of these, it goes above and beyond.

I can’t recall the last time I read a life story so in-depth, so well thought out, and so entertaining all in one. Campbell not only uses his time to describe in full detail his own life, but gives insight on late bandleader Petty’s (whose untimely 2017 passing came before he was ever able to put his own words into an autobiography) as well.

It never gets preachy or bores readers with any specific agendas. It’s just straight to the point, this is what happened and why, often giving step-by-step insight on how many of the band’s hits, from “American Girl” to “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” originally came about.

I only had the chance to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers live one time during their forty-plus year career (back in 2003), and I remember someone asking beforehand (with much sarcasm and ignorance I might add) why I would want to do that. The answer was as simple then as it is now; the band was, is, and always will be an American institution. Thank you Mike Campbell for fully putting as much heart into this project as you have with music throughout your lifetime.

Rating: 5/5 Stars