Rebel Yell

This is a great book for fans of "southern rock" bands (a term many band members did not like) like the Allman Bros., Charlie Daniels, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cowboy, Marshall Tucker, etc. The author, Michael Buffalo Smith, has gathered (literally) a book full of quotes from band members and others and has woven an insider's look at the music from that region and era. This is an oral history of both the bands and their music that's been put together by someone who obviously loves the music. This would be a good book to sit alongside the illustrated book on southern rock, "Southbound: An Illustrated History of Southern Rock", by Scott Bomar.The many quotes from band members are almost always interesting and sometimes informative, no matter if you read this book from beginning to end, or just browse different parts of the book. This history centers mainly on the areas of Georgia, and Florida where so many bands (like those mentioned above) were formed and played. Besides musicians, you hear from roadies, record industry people, fans, and others, but all who were there when it all happened. Plus, there's some good period photographs--some never seen before--that help focus the written history.Smith has taken the best parts of hundreds of hours of interviews from the past 25 years (some published, some not until now), and has put together an interesting and just plain fun to read book on this music. If you like the above bands and that entire era of music, this is a book worth reading. Page after page you're privy to the thoughts on the music, the musicians, and the era from those same people. This book is a labor of love and it shows on virtually every page of this intelligent, well laid out book. For fans a worthwhile read.

I have been a fan of Southern Rock since 1983 when I first heard Molly Hatchet's debut album. I have read one previous book about Southern Rock and this "Rebel Yell" feels more like you are in a room with all of these great musicians since it is all from their own mouths. The whole book is taken from interviews and it is refreshing and fun read. I kniw more about Toy Caldwell's thumb than I ever needed to haha

This oral history of Southern Rock is a must-have book for fans of that genre of music . The author who has published several on-line magazines including KUDZOO his current endeavor , has conducted hundreds of interviews with southern rock luminaries to gather the material for the book. A great insiders account of what happened and what the arists's thought about it along the way . I think everyone would agree that Michael Buffalo Smith is the right person to write this story about southern rock given his long association and his passion for the music ---detailed in the book Prisoner of Southern Rock also published by Mercer Presshttp://www.amazon.com/Prisoner-Southern-Michael-Buffalo-Smith/dp/0881463817/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418563562&sr=8-1&keywords=prisoner+of+southern+rockAlthough I believe unintended this book comes on the heels of Scott Bomar's Southbound : An Illustrated History of Southern Rock which is also an excellent book on this topic . That book gives a history of what happened chronologically whereas this one tells you what the artists had to say in their own words . I really enjoyed both of them but especially "Rebel Yell "

Fantastic southern rock book! One of the better southern rock books out there!

Compared to Scott B. Bomar's "Southbound: An Illustrated History of Southern Rock," this book just doesn't hold up. It's okay - mostly a collection of loosely organized quotes from musicians - but I can't rate it higher than 2 stars. I am a Texas-born guitar player, so called me biased. But it's inexcusable that Texas acts like ZZ Top, Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Johnny Winter, and Point Blank (among others) are virtually ignored here. Any "history" of Southern bands should at least acknowledge those people. This book leaves the impression that Texas bands and musicians had little to do with Southern music. The few references included here are in the "Top 10" and "Top 25" lists in the back of the book, pretty much as an afterthought.

This book is by the people that lived during the time the bands were around. The author has taken many interviews and has arranged them to reflect the band that part of the books is about. It covers all the major Southern Rock Bands, very informative and educational. Loved it.

Know what you're buying here and you will be pleased. This book costists mostly of interviews with band members, managers, and others associated with Southern Rock. Parts of it reminded me of listening to old jocks reliving their glory days on the playing field, but it is what it is.

For a fan of Southern rock history, this is great book full of small details. Great work by Michael Buffalo Smith. I've got it signed by almost everyone mentioned in the book.

Quel livre passionnant que ce Rebel Yell. Et dire que j'ai failli passer à coté, croyant qu'il s'agissait d'une bio de Billy Idol..........Oui, oh ça va, ça arrive non? Toujours est il que ce livre est une compilation d'interviews, à la fois thématique et chronologiques, de tout le gotha sudiste depuis la fin des années 60 à nos jours. La construction permet de puiser au hasard dans tel ou tel chapitre, sans être perdu et sans perdre le fil d'une quelconque trame. Les débuts de Medlocke avec Skynyrd à la création de Gov't Mule. PASSIONANT !

brilliant book