Woody Woodmansey

This memoir by David Bowie's drummer during his Ziggy phase is friendly and very readable. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that he had a rich career after his days with Bowie and that he is well-regarded as a drummer by his peers in the rock world. The main portion of the book is of course about his Spiders From Mars career, but the remainder of the book is also interesting, with many insights into how tour and recording projects are put together in the music industry. There are a few technical passages about drumming, mostly concerning the Bowie albums, and a few rather muted tales of rock-'n-roll excess, again almost entirely during the Ziggy tours. The author is a generous man who is quick to praise virtually every musician he encounters, and it was intriguing to follow the way his career developed and the people he met along the way.… (más)

Michael Woodmanssey was the drummer who worked and played with David Bowie for four years in The Spiders from Mars band. The memoir begin with boys playing kick the ball in a field. Who would have thought that a ball kicked out of bounds would have such a profound impact on a young boy from Driffield in Yorkshire, England. In chasing the ball, “Woody” stumbled across band rehearsal that awoke his desire to become a musician. This is not an in-depth dissection of writing songs, putting a band together, or getting record contracts. Nor is it an expose of alcohol and drug abuse and wild sexual experiences, although he mentions some incidents. His is a life full of insecurities, risks, and a lot of hard work. His journey drives home the point that being different takes its toll on personal and professional relationships but can result in rock and roll history. “Woody” is an apt nickname for a man who spent a majority of his career using drumsticks. The book is an easy reading long drum solo that carries the reader along. A select discography, acknowledgements, and index are included.… (más)