From the mid 1960's to the present day Phil Kaufman has been many things: a road manager for the likes of The Rolling Stones, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Marianne Faithful, Frank Zappa, Etta James, Joe Cocker, The Byrds, Rosanne Cash, The Everly Brothers, Elizabeth Ashley, The Divinyls and many others. He's also been a bar owner, The Demonstration Fleet Manager for Harley Davidson UK, a failed drug smuggler, the guy who stole and burned Gram Parsons' body in Joshua Tree national park and the friend and record producer of Charles Manson. His many stories and exploits are recounted in this colourful and humour-filled memoir of his eventful life. An irreverent read like no other. - BH.
This book is so much rock n' roll fun! And look at the cover ... How could you not love a book with a cover like that!? This is the story of Phil "Mangler" Kaufman, the legendary road manager who worked with The Rolling Stones and a whole slew of rock & country greats. From being tangled up with Charles Manson, to being the man who inspired Frank Zappa's song "Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?", he is perhaps most famously known for stealing the body of Gram Parsons and cremating it in Joshua Tree.
Gotta love Mangler! (So many of us in Nashville do!) Truly one of the great characters of our time, Phil’s stories about how his life intersected with some of the most famous and infamous people in history are fascinating and funny. We are lucky that he got out of the 60s alive to tell his tale in his own words. A fabulous read!
Extremely entertaining about one of the few people behind the scenes in the music business who can actually claim to be as much of a legend and rock star as the actual performers themselves. In his own words and others'.
Interesting, humorous, informative read. I was lucky enough to meet Phil once with my dear friend Larry Robinson. Ever since then I think of Phil every time I have ice cream.......so glad I read this book.
I was hoping it would provide me more of a insight into the life of a road manager and how one gets there and that kind of thing while it did a little bit it was mostly stories about drugs and very depressing things. I could not finish it it was depressing. If you're into story's about sex drugs and rock and roll, always being broke running from the law and all kinds of other negative stuff you like this if you're looking for something positive this isn't it.
What a character this guy is. Tons of good little ancedotes, mostly about Gram Parsons. Who can resist the story about how he stole Gram's body, then tried to cremate it at Joshua Tree National monument?
What a character! He is a great friend of friends, who can make them laugh at a funeral! I hope to meet him one day, but, in the meantime, I have an affectionately inscribed copy of his book in my shelf. (Rating is for literary quality only. For storyline it would get 5)
This is Gram Parson's road manager's, (i.e. the guy that stole his body and burned it in Joshua Tree)autobiography and one of my favorites. Its filled with all kinds of crazy.