Head East: A Labor of Love

A long time ago I was (probably the only) UK member of the Head East fan club. The "classic" line-up (with John Schlitt) was my favourite band. I've still followed them, but not as devoutly. Subsequent albums had only a few gems here and there, and the band members (whilst undeniably excellent) are little more than a touring "oldies" outfit these days.I was very excited when I heard about this book coming out (totally unexpected for me!) but oh, what a disappointment.It starts with a totally unnecessary foreword by one of Huston's friends. Why? To "prove" to the reader that he's a good guy? Even worse, Huston prefixes the forward with a pre-foreword of his own! Gimme a break!In fact, the whole book is built around preambles to describe what each chapter is going to be about. Instead of "just getting on with it", he builds up and builds up, only for the actual anecdote itself to be a huge disappointment!He says at the start that the book is going to be a random collection of incidents rather than a chronological history, but why the deuce not? Fans WANT to know the background stories and trivia behind band decisions, songs, albums, etc. There are anecdotes even *I* know from those years (through being in the fan club and getting loads of memorabilia) which are missing, and which would have been much more interesting. Instead, we get lengthy drivel such as what models of cars he likes. Also, the time devoted to the road crew throughout the years beggars belief. Why couldn't he have given us such detail about his band mates?!In fact, the fact that he jumps around so much means that he repeats himself (as another reviewer noticed), explaining terms that he's already explained else where.Several times he leaves us hanging, e.g. we'll have to seek out some guy Baxter (who's apparently hard to find anyway) to ask him where the name "Head East" comes from. Why not just tell us? Or the time some "wise" drummer gave him useful tips about looking after his kit. He'll let us "speculate" who. Why not just tell us? It's hardly the coup of the century! Oh Steve, you're SUCH a teaze..... NOT!He seemed hell bent on paraphrasing left, right and centre, for no other reason I can think of but "padding" and making sentences, paragraphs and ultimately the book, longer. E.g. instead of saying "nothing" he says "zip. zilch. nada". Instead of saying "rare" he says "rare, not impossible but rare". All superfluous words. It's draining. Laughably, he often inserts "fast forward...." or "long story short".... as if knows he's dragging things out!I found it amusing how he played up to the standard sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll cliches, making out he was some kind of stud (hardly, mate!), and even once asking Karen Carpenter out on a date. The nerve! Ever heard the expression "punching above your weight" Steve?!I actually wondered who the book was intended for. At the start, he says "If you've never heard of Head East, then read this book!" Who on earth is going to buy a book abut a band whose music they aren't familiar with? It's a bizarre thing to say, and it did actually make me wonder if he was the "full shilling".All in all, I came away feeling I'd learned absolutely nothing about John Schlitt and Mike Somerville, only a few snippets about Roger Boyd, and several facts about Dan Birney (r.i.p.), even though most of his escapades could be filed under the standard "funny - but only if you were there at the time" category.A poor self-indulgent effort, which could have been so much better.

Awesome book! Loved the stories of a real rock n roll band. Steve Huston did an awesome job writing his memoir during his band days!

A must read. Mr.Huston makes you feel as if your having coffee and telling you stories about being on the road.

Head East is a hard workin' band that never amazed you .... but rarely failed to entertain you .... this book is much the same.

I like the band Head East so far its been talking about the drummer more then any thing!