BOOK REVIEW: Eddie Trunk’s Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

EDDIE 1

Eddie Trunk’s Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal

by Eddie Trunk, 2011, Harry N. Abrams publisher

Here is a book that I heartily endorse — for beginners.  I bought my best bud Peter a copy of this for his birthday a couple years ago.  For a guy like Peter, a general survey book like this is perfect.  It’s boiled down to the essentials, by a guy that many trust:  Eddie Trunk.

I normally don’t go for this kind of book, because what can Eddie Trunk tell me about Judas Priest in three pages that Martin Popoff didn’t in his excellent book, Heavy Metal Painkillers?  So this book is for the people that just want the facts, ma’am.  Anybody who’s listened to Eddie Trunk’s show on Sirius XM knows that this guy is the real deal — he knows his stuff, he knows the bands personally, and he doesn’t pander. He has a genuine love for the music, all of it. His personal touch helps make his radio show that much more enjoyable. Same with this book.

After Rob Halford’s forward, Eddie presents his essential hard rock and heavy metal bands, in alphabetical order. AC/DC, Aerosmith, and all the way down the line. You may take exception to some of the bands that he skips over (I read on a message board that Quiet Riot were ticked that they’re not in here) but I think by and large he hit the nail on the head. The bands that he does include…well, it’s hard to argue against them, and you only get so much page space, right? And this is a gorgeous book. Full colour photos, every page. Beautiful. Lots from Eddie’s personal collection, you’ll see a very young Eddie Trunk meeting the bands as a kid!

In addition, Eddie gives you a discography for each band (not perfect, there are a couple errors here, as in inevitable in a book like this). He also lists the members of the bands, and the most important ex-members and sidemen. So when you get to Queen (and yeah, you may argue that Queen is not a hard rock band) you’ll see the four original members, and Paul Rodgers listed beneath them. Finally, Eddie gives you his list of his ideal mix CD for each band. Go ahead and make your own, and see if you agree!

As a gift to Peter who likes the music but doesn’t know the details, he gleaned plenty from this book.  Before reading it, he only knew of one Billy Squier song. Eddie Trunk got him up to speed. Thanks Eddie!

5/5 stars

For a guy like me, and quite possibly you as well:

2.5/5 stars

Added note:  I know there is a Part II as well, but I have not checked it out.

22 comments

  1. I borrowed this one from the library. Some interesting insights and I liked the mix tapes and lists he put in it but… like you say, a better book for beginners. I can’t say I got much out of reading it.

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    1. For guys like us, I’d prefer books more in depth to the specific bands, or even a book that’s more an autobiography of Eddie Trunk.

      For beginners though, just because I know from gifting this book, it’s a great kickstart.

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  2. I remember flipping through this book. It looked cool. I never actually sat down and read it though. A quick look… and yes, my library has it. I can go sign it out right now! Neat.

    HMO, for your TV show, your first music guest has to be Party Cannon!

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  3. The pics of Priest from the Point Of Entry Tour are worth the price alone!
    That is my fav album of Priest ,well also Screaming…but POE has been always not documented as much as I liked via recordings, stories etc….

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    1. Interesting choice, Deke. I like POE a lot but I would put Defenders over it. I think POE had a great side one but kind of slowed down a bit on side two. I do love the song “You Say Yes”…it’s sassy!

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  4. Sassy..hahahaha…actually I like the melodic tone of the second side..my quirk plus I always liked some bands least sold releases better,one that comes to mind is Flick Of The Switch,that next to Powerage is my fav ACDC release…..

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    1. Yeah same here. I love some of the underdog album! Motley Crue self-titled…Extreme III…Sabbath’s Born Again, Maiden’s X Factor…

      And I too love Flick of the Switch, although I put High Voltage or Dirty Deeds as my #1 AC/DC album.

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    1. POE was one of my first Priest albums, I had it before I had British Steel. I’ve owned it on vinyl, CD and cassette.

      The CD was a weird thing. You know that picture on the back cover of the 5 white boxes in the desert? This weird crackhead guy that I bought the CD from had a little note inside the CD, explaining what he thought the white boxes were. I WISH I didn’t throw that note out! I looked everywhere and I cannot find it. If I had it, that would be a PERFECT record store tale.

      All I can remember is that one of his ideas was that the boxes were graves.

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  8. Following up on a previous comment re an Ozzy question: I could certainly see myself buying this book and I do enjoy Eddie Trunk on TV and radio, but I could also get all the knowledge (and more!) by just launching queries out to folk like Mike and HMO and waiting 30-40 seconds. So, I’ll probably do like many above and head over to the library for this one…

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    1. 30-40 seconds? You flatter me! I do sleep from time to time. (I used to rock and roll all nite, but not anymore!)

      Thanks for the compliment though. I think this book would be a sound investment for you, very enjoyable, and very visual.

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