BOOK REVIEW: IF WE BUILD THE STAGE CAN WE PLAY Part I by Daniel Marmignon-Delmas

BOOK REVIEW: IF WE BUILD THE STAGE CAN WE PLAY Part I by Daniel Marmignon-Delmas
Independent, paperback
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
92%

Sesu Coleman of subterranean cult New Yawk almost-legends The Magic Tramps talks multiple times in a long, rambling interview here about how history is important – and he’s dead right, that is exactly what this book is all about.

Daniel Marmignon-Delmas is a Frenchman who became practically an honorary American by virtue of being a music journalist based out of Portland, Oregon for many years, during which time he conducted countless interviews and wrote a colossal amount of articles for French monthly Rock & Folk – the oldest rock magazine in the world – as their US correspondent.

Here he has raided his interview vaults to produce this wonderfully evocative book about the New York live music scene – volume one of four, no less – which serves as a historical resource as well as an interesting, informative and often wild ride.

A verbal history of sorts, it starts with Coleman’s recollections – as with all the entries, presented as a one sided interview. These discussions cover a lot of territory – and if some, like Coleman’s, do tend to ramble, they’re worth it for their unique perspective and recollections, presented authentically in their own voices as if they were sitting across the table from you puffing on a cigarette (or a joint).

New York Dolls guitarist Sylvain Sylvain’s chapter is another highlight, a fascinating, charismatic and intelligent legend of the scene with an astonishing memory for detail given the sex, drugs and rock n’ roll lifestyle he lived.

There are many more names you’ll recognise – Blondie’s Debbie Harry wrote the foreword, Chris Stein pitches in later, photographer Bob Gruen is there (that’s his photo of Sylvain on the cover), as well as Bebe Buell, Jayne County, Cheetah Chrome of Rocket From The Crypt & The Dead Boys, Runaway Jackie Fox, Velevet Underground’s Moe Tucker, Dictators Andy Shernoff and Handsome Dick Manitoba and many, many more – all describing the New York scene through their own first hand experiences.

If We Build The Stage Can We Play is a fascinating roam through time, a pivotal history committed to paper for posterity, and vital for anyone equally obsessed by those days, the music of which changed the world for all of us who heard and felt it.

If We Build The Stage, Can We Play on Amazon:

 

Category: Book Reviews