What do you think?
Rate this book
Are you ready Steve?
The story about The Sweet. Written by Steve Priest the bass player.
- GenresMusicAutobiography
186 pages, ebook
8 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 18, 2019
As an avid Sweet fan, I have been wanting to read Priest's book for a long time. I purchased it in eBook form directly from the band's North American website, and immediately got down to reading the text! Are You Ready, Steve? is a ferocious page-turner of a book from beginning to end, jam-packed with facts, rare photos and candor. It is a brutally honest account from the insider's point of view. It's not an obnoxious brag-fest or a "poor me" dirge; Priest has an open, gregarious style that pulls the reader in right away. You could imagine having a pint with him at the corner pub as he regales you with his memories of the past. He is utterly without pretense of any kind and he shoots from the hip; as with Marilyn Manson in his autobiography, it doesn't always put him (or his bandmates) in the best light. However, his earnest delivery and bravery encourage us to take up the flag and fight alongside him. His can-do attitude is contagious, and it makes the reader want Priest to "win"...and I believe that he has! This book details the journey of a young rock god who has fought bravely for every honor bestowed upon him and has emerged from the battle a beautiful phoenix, scarred but ultimately triumphant. Well done, Mr. Priest!
June 25, 2020
Steve Priest, bassist and a founding member of the British band ‘SWEET,’ lets us have a realistic look at a band that set the sparkly, sequined standard for what became known as ‘glam rock.’ We get to understand the hazards musicians face, from self-induced to problems with managers, audiences, and of course, the media.
As Steve himself warns in the foreword of this book, it’s definitely NOT for children. I found it not as graphically racy as some out there, but it is a very open and blatantly honest look at the lifestyle of rock and rollers in the 70’s. Steve does give a very honest and open account of the band and himself. In fact, he was a self-proclaimed “almost serial shagger.” As Steve once told the Guardian, “If it breathed and was female, it was fair game,” going on to say, “The 70’s were magical. They were like the 60’s only crazier. God knows how we got away with it.”
Honestly, if they pulled some of their antics today, the keys would have been thrown away. Motley Crüe thinks they were bad... hah!
Steve’s glam rock persona was hilariously, playfully campy with his own inimitable style. His sense of humour was probably misunderstood by many, as the majority seemed to think the entire band were gay. In fact, if Steve was approached and asked if he was gay, he had a tendency to answer, “would you like to find out?!” Mischievous to a fault! “Milky skin, wavy red hair, puckered lips....’I looked like a 12 year old girl,’” he once stated.
His writing style is as openly gregarious as he is, and you almost feel as if you’re kicking back having a chat. This is an ebook worthy of an attentive read - and if you are so lucky as to be able to get your hands on a hard copy, well then cherish it!
Steve handled some pretty fun lyrics, you’ll pick him out in Blockbuster (we just haven’t got a clue what to do), Ballroom Blitz (oh, I see a man at the back as a matter of fact, his eyes are as red as a sun, and a girl in the corner let no one ignore her, cause she thinks she’s the passionate one, oh yeah), and Fox on the Run (Foxy on the run), among numerous others. He had a great time, and that really comes across to his fans.
Sadly, as many readers will already know, Steve Priest passed away June 4, 2020. The cause is undisclosed, however it was reported that he went into the hospital in March and didn’t leave again. Steve leaves behind a wife and 3 daughters, and 3 grandchildren. He was predeceased by bandmates Brian Connolly (1997) and Mick Tucker (2002).
As Steve himself warns in the foreword of this book, it’s definitely NOT for children. I found it not as graphically racy as some out there, but it is a very open and blatantly honest look at the lifestyle of rock and rollers in the 70’s. Steve does give a very honest and open account of the band and himself. In fact, he was a self-proclaimed “almost serial shagger.” As Steve once told the Guardian, “If it breathed and was female, it was fair game,” going on to say, “The 70’s were magical. They were like the 60’s only crazier. God knows how we got away with it.”
Honestly, if they pulled some of their antics today, the keys would have been thrown away. Motley Crüe thinks they were bad... hah!
Steve’s glam rock persona was hilariously, playfully campy with his own inimitable style. His sense of humour was probably misunderstood by many, as the majority seemed to think the entire band were gay. In fact, if Steve was approached and asked if he was gay, he had a tendency to answer, “would you like to find out?!” Mischievous to a fault! “Milky skin, wavy red hair, puckered lips....’I looked like a 12 year old girl,’” he once stated.
His writing style is as openly gregarious as he is, and you almost feel as if you’re kicking back having a chat. This is an ebook worthy of an attentive read - and if you are so lucky as to be able to get your hands on a hard copy, well then cherish it!
Steve handled some pretty fun lyrics, you’ll pick him out in Blockbuster (we just haven’t got a clue what to do), Ballroom Blitz (oh, I see a man at the back as a matter of fact, his eyes are as red as a sun, and a girl in the corner let no one ignore her, cause she thinks she’s the passionate one, oh yeah), and Fox on the Run (Foxy on the run), among numerous others. He had a great time, and that really comes across to his fans.
Sadly, as many readers will already know, Steve Priest passed away June 4, 2020. The cause is undisclosed, however it was reported that he went into the hospital in March and didn’t leave again. Steve leaves behind a wife and 3 daughters, and 3 grandchildren. He was predeceased by bandmates Brian Connolly (1997) and Mick Tucker (2002).
March 8, 2021
First, know going in that this is a very graphic book. As Rock 'N Roll memoirs go, this book leaves nothing to the imagination. Steve Priest led that life to the hilt, and he spells out in detail what that meant. Having said that, this was a good read. He doesn't apologize for the lifestyle he led, but he doesn't make excuses for it, either. He simply spells out what it was like with a great deal of humor. For the most part, he looks back on his experiences with humor or fondness. He doesn't ignore the parts of his life that were less than merry, he acknowledges them but again usually brings his humor in to the telling. If you're not offended by graphic tales, this might be one of the more honest looks at Rock 'N Roll touring in the Seventies. I found myself laughing out loud at times while reading his stories of groupies and drugs and touring.
March 27, 2021
Just wow. It’s like you are actually there experiencing it all with him. He’s so honest and tells it like it was. Not being all unicorns and pink fluffy clouds. My papa saw them in Aberdeen I think he would be pretty shocked with his female antics. God Bless Steve Priest.
October 6, 2021
I had been looking for a copy of Are You Ready, Steve that wouldn't break the bank and found it to download on the Sweet's band page. I opened it up and got to reading and couldn't put it down. You will laugh, cry, gasp, and shake your head at all that went on. I loved his style of story-telling--it was just like sitting next to him listening to the tales. It sheds some light on what happened with Brian and Andy, but doesn't dwell on it, and my curiosity was satisfied. It's definitely not for young kids, but for older fans of the band. I just recently got into the band, having only known Little Willy (which I went around the house singing at 8 years old) and Love Is Like Oxygen (which was THE song in middle school). I love reading autobiographies of interesting people, and Steve was definitely interesting! The only bad thing (for me) was that there were no dates mentioned of when things happened (record releases were mentioned so for the die-hard fan, they would know), so as a new fan, I was a bit lost at times, but it certainly didn't detract from the story, which is why I gave it five stars.
September 5, 2020
Let's just say, my favorite writer of all time.
I miss you, baby. From the bottom of my heart. When my hands don't play the strings the same way, I know you will still love me the same.
I'll leave it to the reader to figure out what parts are fact and what parts are fiction. His imagination got carried away with him at times.
I miss you, baby. From the bottom of my heart. When my hands don't play the strings the same way, I know you will still love me the same.
I'll leave it to the reader to figure out what parts are fact and what parts are fiction. His imagination got carried away with him at times.
October 9, 2021
Managed to get a personalised copy here, and cheaper!
www.thesweet.com/hsh/books.html
www.thesweet.com/hsh/books.html
November 30, 2024
It's definitley hard core , blood and guts rock of that era. Steve had some real talent that definitley was overshadowed by other groups that were media hyped. Queen was overrated and the Sweet was overlooked. Just listen to some of their tracks.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews