Like a Rolling Stone

As a huge fan of the magazine’s glory days, I enjoyed this as a reminiscent “just for fun” read. HOWEVER, I found it ironic and ANNOYING to hear warnings about climate change and increasing income inequality from a multi-millionaire (billionaire?) who owns multiple huge homes, has lived an excessively elitist lifestyle, and has flown all over the world in his personal Learjet to rendezvous and frolic with other rich people. So yeah, take this book for what it is: a rich guy basking in his glory (some of which is rightfully deserved), while also shamelessly namedropping and showing his fixation on celebrity and money. (Don’t expect to feel an authentic modesty coming through, except from maybe Bruce and Bono.) And finally, I mean really, how many rich and famous godparents do Jann’s kids really need?

I’m 50, and growing up, I was always a fan of Rolling Stone. After being sucked in month after month at the news stand by the glorious covers, I finally succumbed and bought a subscription. So how cool this was to go into the life of its’ creator, and wow! What a life. Living through Jan’s life through these pages was like being in all the coolest rooms, in the coolest parties, with some of the biggest names in pop culture, rock and politics. It was being the cool guy on a ride through memorable/culturally significant parts of history of the 60s-2000’s, with a glimpse into the deeply personal life and business acumen of a publishing icon. Thanks Jan for the ride, it must have been moving personally to get all those incredible memories and share the incredible friendships onto paper after all the years.

Jann Wenner deserves credit for launching Rolling Stone and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but this bio isn’t quite as interesting as you’d think it would be. Stories go nowhere. He glosses over seminal events like 9/11, while spending entire sections on global warming. By the way, he actually has the sickening gall to applaud the “courage” of the 9/11 terrorists. Interspersed are his private jet trips around the world and his many skiing and beach vacations. He spends a lot of time insulting his own staff and belittling the Right, whom he caricatures as all demonic. But that’s not surprising, since Rolling Stone is one of the most blatantly biased and partisan publications of all time. Oh, and he lambasts Paul Simon for giving him a curt response after a gushing letter to him about his music. Anyone who doesn’t bow down before Wenner gets blasted here.

All in all, the only interesting and really redeeming sections are about his dealings with the crazy Hunter S. Thompson. The rest is largely forgettable, with the occasional amusing passage or anecdote. He name drops constantly and boasts of access to the inner circle of music and celebrity. The lasting impression is that of an egomaniac who loves the high life and spending big money, while conveniently “lamenting” the plight of those less fortunate.