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Art & Books Books

Lives of the poets (with guitars): thirteen outsiders who changed modern music by Ray Robertson

LIVES OF THE POETS (WITH GUITARS): THIRTEEN OUTSIDERS WHO CHANGED MODERN MUSIC by Ray Robertson (Biblioasis), 272 pages, $19.95 paper. Rating: NNN


Ray Robertson may have missed his calling. The novelist could easily have made his mark as a skilled music critic, though “music criticism” might seem a lofty term for a series of essays on a bunch of (mostly) stoned musicians.

When he describes the art and craft of these 13 artists, including Ronnie Lane, the Ramones and Townes Van Zandt, you can hear the tender vocals, the searing guitars, every one of their creative idiosyncrasies. And you can feel Robertson’s passion for the material in every word.

He’s done meticulous research to learn their life stories and delve into their personal peccadillos, except in his piece on Willie P. Bennett, which seems slapdash – ironic, since Bennett’s the only artist with whom Robertson had a personal connection.

If there’s a problem, it’s that the essential fuel is testosterone. Only one female is covered here, the astonishing Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Otherwise, women are either used and used up or forbearing supporters of not very nice guys and thus appear to be not very emotionally developed.

Except for Tharpe and Little Richard, Robertson’s subjects had problems with alcohol and drugs. Though he occasionally describes their addictions in ways that resemble cautionary tales, most of the time he either laughs off or romanticizes their epic substance abuse. 

Which is a drag, because almost all of them had moments in the sun and then wasted their prodigious talents. Robertson can’t come out and say that outright because he’s too admiring of his idols.

But, boy, can he write.

Robertson launches his book Tuesday (March 8) at the Garrison. See Readings.

susanc@nowtoronto.com | @susangcole

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