BOOK - CHEETAH CHROME: A DEAD BOY'S TALE
BOOK - CHEETAH CHROME: A DEAD BOY'S TALE
Here is the no- holds- barred autobiography of Cheetah Chrome, lead guitarist of the Dead Boys, one of the greatest punk bands ever. It's a tale of success and excess -- amazing music, legendary antics, epic drug use, and eventual resurrection -- that only a true rock and roller could deliver. Rising from the projects of Cleveland, Ohio, the Dead Boys took the New York punk scene by storm in the mid 1970s. Now, for the first time, Cheetah dishes on those notorious days: taking the stage at CBGB's, recording at Electric Lady Studios, fist- fighting with Iggy Pop, roller skating with the Rolling Stones, partying with John Belushi, playing with Nico, and tearing it up with Stiv Bators and the Dead Boys as they traveled to clubs and dives everywhere, spreading the gospel of punk rock. Straight from the man, these are the untold backstage stories that every punk fan will want to hear. Never mind the Sex Pistols, here's Cheetah Chrome! Foreword by Legs McNeil.
“Cheetah Chrome is one of the true icons of rock and roll. And the sooner more people get that through their f***ing heads the better.” - Slash
“A Dead Boy's Tale is a highly entertaining account of Chrome's experiences, and you can practically smell the stale beer and vomit along the way...a n invaluable trip through some of punk's most important years.” - Under the Radar
“A Dead Boy's Tale is a fascinating read, not just revealing about the author's life but also informative about the music industry in general and this genre in particular. While there have been great books - especially the oral histories - describing the advent of punk music this memoir provides a fascinating more personal approach and it works well.” - BlogCritics.org
“Xmas Gifts That Don't Suck... a wild, and at times poignant, ride that fans of American music history and reckless behavior will treasure.” - My Old Kentucky Blog
“The Dead Boys have always been the Rodney Dangerfield of punk rock. They had the chops, but never really got the respect or credit they deserved for their role serving on the front lines of the New York punk scene in the late 70's... [In Cheetah Chrome] The Dead Boys are finally getting some of the credit they deserve.” - Examiner.com
“From the day I received this book every open opportunity I had, I buried my face in its pages! This book combines some of my favorite things in books, autobiographies, punk rock, and graphic detail of life wrecking adventures. The book starts with an endearing forward written by Legs McNeil leading to Cheetah Chrome's brutally honest assessment of his life and its affects on others. Like many people in the world of punk rock, I look at the name Cheetah Chrome as a piece of MY history. His name ranks up there with the immortals of punk rock such as The Ramones (All of them), Iggy Pop, Sid Vicious, Johnny Rotten, Johnny Thunders, Stiv Bator, etc? This book not only mentions those legends of punk, but also great personal stories and interactions Cheetah had with each. When the cliche, sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll I normally roll my eyes and groan. However, in this situation that is truly the only way to label Cheetah Chromes life, but particularly in that order. Cheetah has lived a life that many have tried, but not many have succeeded to live as long as he has. Never in a book have I felt so connected to a character, let alone a true to life person who wrote an autobiography! I would recommend this book to not only the Punk Rock historians & punk rock enthusiasts, but to anyone who roots for the underdog.” - Punk Rock Review
Cheetah Chrome is a founding father of punk rock and was heralded as one of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time by Musician magazine. A former member of the Dead Boys and Rocket From The Tombs, Cheetah currently plays guitar in the Batusis, a band he founded with former New York Doll Sylvain Sylvain. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife Anna and son Rogan.