Book Review: "Billion Dollar Baby" by Bob Greene (1974)

This hidden classic, first published in November 1974 (when I would have been anywhere from four to eight weeks of age), is a first-person account of life in a top rock n' roll band by a newspaper reporter who was brought along to be part of the on-stage show during Alice Cooper's December 1973 jaunt across selected markets in eastern North America.

The deal was that he wouldn't be paid but would have full access and creative control to document what he saw, and Greene takes full advantage of it, in effect recreating the scene where the drape is pulled back in "The Wizard of Oz" but with America's most controversial artist as the subject.

Things begin in Manhattan where Greene is brought in to the studio to sing backup on tracks for the follow-up to "Billion Dollar Babies", which is followed by the launch of the tour in Nashville. All of the monotony, excess and logistical nightmares are brought into full view. In fact, it's so detailed and personal an account that to refer to it as a "tell-all" would almost cheapen it.

I'm totally surprised that this addictive read isn't better known by fans of the rock memoir genre, as the first I'd heard of it was on a metal discussion board this week. Even more disappointing is that it's now out of print and not even to be found within the entire Ottawa Public Library network. So how did I get a hold of it? Right here, baby. A word of warning, however: if you download this while at the office, you won't be getting a lot of work done.

Fascinating.

Overall rating: 9/10