There Goes Gravity
A Life in Rock and Roll
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4.1 • 78 Ratings
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
From a legendary music journalist with four decades of unprecedented access, an insider's behind-the-scenes look at the major personalities of rock and roll.
Lisa Robinson has interviewed the biggest names in music--including Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, John Lennon, Patti Smith, U2, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Jay Z and Kanye West. She visited the teenage Michael Jackson many times at his Encino home. She spent hours talking to John Lennon at his Dakota apartment--and in recording studios just weeks before his murder. She introduced David Bowie to Lou Reed at a private dinner in a Manhattan restaurant, helped the Clash and Elvis Costello get their record deals, was with the Rolling Stones on their jet during a frightening storm, and was mid-flight with Led Zeppelin when their tour manager pulled out a gun. A pioneering female journalist in an exclusive boys' club, Lisa Robinson is a preeminent authority on the personalities and influences that have shaped the music world; she has been recognized as rock jounralism's ultimate insider.
A keenly observed and lovingly recounted look back on years spent with countless musicians backstage, after hours and on the road, There Goes Gravity documents a lifetime of riveting stories, told together here for the first time.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
During her 40 plus years as a music writer and columnist (New Musical Express, NY Post, Vanity Fair), Robinson has conducted a wealth of high-profile interviews Patti Smith, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, Jay Z, Eminem. These immersive tales from the hotels and backstage rooms of many larger-than-life musicians form a fly-on-the-wall adventure through the last half century of music. Growing up the daughter of a judge in Manhattan, Robinson used to sneak out to hear Thelonious Monk at the Village Vanguard before ending up in the offices of her future husband, writer and music label insider Richard Robinson. At a time when the feminist movement was still in its infancy, Robinson established herself as part of a rarified circle of women who had truly free access. She had early success with interviews because, initially, she didn't see herself as a rock critic (often writing gossip about fashion) and was cautious to judge, leaving the drug exposes to others. Tellingly, although she was entertained by the likes of Jagger and enthrall by Led Zeppelin, when Robinson was in New York she would head straight to CBGB's to see Television and The New York Dolls, of whom she has been a longstanding champion. For Robinson, writing about the scene "felt like a calling'." Whether I was in a private plane with the Rolling Stones or standing in two inches of beer at CBGB's it was exactly where I wanted to be." Her excitement is palpable and will leave you wanting to put your lighter in the air.
Customer Reviews
Unique perspective
I've read several books describing a musician's life on the road, but Lisa Robinson has described it from her unique perspective. Often, the life is described from a detached, jounalistic point of view, but in this case, the details are written so simply that they come across more genuine and real. Ms. Robinson gives us what feels like a true sense of these goings-on and it is riveting. She was, after all, right there...
There Goes Gravity
For anyone interested in rock music from circa 1970 until the present day this author has interviewed EVERYBODY. At least everybody of any interest. Although at times a little fragmented it is a surprisingly intimate view of many of the great bands, singers and acts from the past 4 decades. It's a fascinating history written by someone who experienced much of it first hand.
excellent from start to finish, with thanks to the author for sharing.
if you are a fan of many of the writer’s now-famous music industry friends, rock stars, artists (check the index), you will love
reading this book! Excellent all the way through. Hard to put down and sorry I read it so quickly. just great!