Buy This Book: 'Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal'

Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal by Jon Wiederhorn and Katherine Turman is out now. All the genres of metal are covered in the book's nearly 800 pages including our beloved Glam. There's a crazy excerpt on LA Weekly and the post is called "The Time Axl Rose and Steven Adler Nearly Killed Each Other." Well that only sort of narrows it down, but the excerpt is really good.

People commenting in the excerpt include Vicky Hamilton, Riki Rachtman, and gunners Izzy Stradlin, Slash, Axl Rose, Duff McKagan and Steven Adler.

Here's the beginning of the excerpt from Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal:

Early on, one of Guns N' Roses' favorite haunts was the weekly rock club Cathouse.

RIKI RACHTMAN (DJ, VJ, Cathouse nightclub founder): The very first live performance at Cathouse was Guns N' Roses, Jet Boy, LA Guns, and Faster Pussycat, all taking turns playing acoustic; nobody had record deals. We probably had five hundred people there. Nobody knew Guns N' Roses would become the biggest band in the world.

VICKY HAMILTON (ex-Geffen A&R, manager): [GN'R] ended up living with me because Slash called one day and said, "The police are looking for Axl [on rape charges]. Can he come sleep on your couch for a couple of days?" This was before I was their manager. Axl moved in, then a few days later they were, like, "The police are still coming around. Can we move in?" So the rest of Guns is living with me, with the exception of Duff, who always lived with his girlfriend. I felt like I was having a heart attack every day because there was always something going on--the cops were beating at my door, or whatever. At one point, Howie Hubberman, who backed me on Poison and Guns N' Roses financially, said, "Here's a few hundred dollars. You and [roommate and concert promoter] Jennifer [Perry] need to go check in a hotel. I think you're gonna have a nervous breakdown and die." [The rape charges against Rose were ultimately dropped.]

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Comments

[Red6ixx]

i feel a new purchase coming on.

[Brian L]

I agree. I may buy this one

[dj]

sounds cool, i never read biographies, just the autobiographies, but this sounds kind of cool i might buy it and give it a chance. of course gnr is in it and faster pussycat, i love both!

[Ace Steele]

Katherine Turman is an excellent writer who has always been a big part of the journalistic side of the L.A. Rock Scene since the late 70's/early 80's. If Katherine wrote it, you can be sure it's accurate & without imparting her own opinions. Which is to say, reading her book will be like you were there, seeing the truth with your own eyes.

Congratulations to Katherine for finally getting it released.

[Gary]

This will be in my possession by the weekend at the latest,

[Katherine Turman]

Thanks for the kind words, all! Twas a blast writing the LA metal chapter, I must say. Missing my hometown out here in Brooklyn! \m/

[Metalboy!]

So cool. I'll be reading it soon, as well.

Katherine, if you're checkin' back here, did ya ever hit the scene in NYC? The Cat Club, etc.? Those were my old stomping grounds. The reason I ask is because you mention your hometown, Brooklyn. I look forward to reading your book. Thanks!