The Boy Who Cried Freebird - April 1 Release On Paperback
Released on: February 22, 2008, 5:22 pm
Press Release Author: Gorgeous PR, Inc.
Industry: Entertainment
Press Release Summary: ROCK RACONTEUR MITCH MYERS RELEASES THE BOY WHO CRIED FREEBIRD: ROCK & ROLL FABLES AND SONIC STORYTELLING APRIL 1 ON PAPERBACK
Press Release Body: ROCK RACONTEUR MITCH MYERS RELEASES THE BOY WHO CRIED FREEBIRD: ROCK & ROLL FABLES AND SONIC STORYTELLING APRIL 1 ON PAPERBACK
February 22, 2008
Dear pop culture enthusiast:
When THE BOY WHO CRIED FREEBIRD: Rock & Roll Fables and Sonic Storytelling (Harper; Trade Paperback; On-sale date: 4/1/2008; ISBN: 9780061139017) by esteemed writer and radio commentator Mitch Myers was first published, Associated Press hailed it as, "funny and insightful, bizarre and bewildering, but totally enthralling," while filmmaker Cameron Crowe called it "rich with truth, soul and music."
Ranked on several "best of" lists for 2007, Myers' collection of essays, anecdotes and tall tales has been universally lauded by critics and music fans. A year later, THE BOY WHO CRIED FREEBIRD continues to intrigue and excite, with book celebrations featuring readings and new spiels by Myers, as well as inventive collaborations with special musical guests.
Myers' book is a freewheeling collection of music-oriented parables, serious artist profiles, and offbeat essays as Myers incorporates factual reporting, oral storytelling and comedic spritzing-blending social satire with historical fact in creative, literary fashion.
Stories such as Black Sabbath saving the world from alien infiltration, a classic update on the legend of John Henry, Allen Ginsberg meets Harry Smith, Albert Ayler sees ghosts, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention freak out - are all within the pages of THE BOY WHO CRIED FREEBIRD.
A popular contributor to NPR's All Things Considered, Myers has been published in numerous publications including Rolling Stone, The Village Voice, High Times and DownBeat. Da Capo Best Music Writing 2003 featured his Magnet Magazine piece on Doug Sahm, which is included in this book. Myers is creative consultant of to the Shel Silverstein estate and directs the Silverstein Archive in Chicago. In 2007 he coordinated the publication of Playboy's Silverstein Around The World (Simon & Shuster), which features a comprehensive introduction by Myers and a foreword by Hugh Hefner (and is available for review).
THE BOY WHO CRIED FREEBIRD explores classic examples of rock & roll, blues, jazz, gospel, beat poetry, minimalism, modern classical, soul, avant-garde and electronic music. In addition, Myers offers insights on the peripherals of 20th Century music: record collecting, bonus tracks on CDs, rock concert decorum, dope-smoking, 60's nostalgia, obsessive music geeks, Deadheads, the business side of rock and roll, music journalism itself, rock in film, and other related pop-phenomena.
This is the real rock snob's dictionary-and don't you forget it!
THE BOY WHO CRIED FREEBIRD showcases more than 40 entries that will captivate fans of contemporary music and pop culture, including the following five never-before-published stories:
. Who Will Save The World? (Black Sabbath): Writer Dave Marsh said this political piece was Myers'.\"Masterpiece. Lester [Bangs] is drooling with envy in Hell.\"
. Back to the Fillmore (The Grateful Dead): Back to the Future meets Hunter Thompson\'s Hells Angels and Tom Wolfe\'s Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.
. The Ballad of John Henry and the Wheels of Steel: As told by Myers on NPR, this is a classic update of a timeless American folktale.
. Tie-Die! (A Demonic Tale of Psychedelic Possession): A rock & roll Twilight Zone featuring Freebird's ubiquitous hero, Adam Coil.
. The Mix-Tape Murder Mystery: A classic police-buddy whodunit in the tradition of Nick and Nora, Charlie Chan and Dragnet...with a soundtrack.
For lovers of music and the written word, THE BOY WHO CRIED FREEBIRD is dissident pop journalism from an evocative and mature literary voice.
I look forward to hearing from you to discuss review, excerpt, and interview possibilities.
2022
