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Working for the Man, Playing in the Band: My Years with James Brown
A white rock ’n’ roll guitarist on stage with the Godfather of Soul
In this unvarnished account of toiling under one of popular music’s most notorious bosses, Damon Wood details his six years spent playing guitar for James Brown’s Soul Generals.
In a memoir certain to fascinate Mr. Dynamite’s millions of fans, as well as musicians and industry insiders, Wood recalls how a chance encounter with James Brown led him to embrace soul and funk music under the tutelage of its greatest progenitor. Numerous interviews with bandmates provide multiple perspectives on James Brown’s complex character, his leadership of his band, the nature of soul and funk, and insights and sometimes harsh lessons learned along the way.
This is a sideman’s story of the gritty reality of working close to the spotlight but rarely in it. Damon Wood describes life on the road — often on James Brown’s infamous tour bus — with one guitar, a change of clothes, and two dozen comrades-in-arms as they brought the funk to clubs, theaters, and the biggest music festivals on earth. Working for James Brown could be fear-inducing, inspiring, exhilarating, and exasperating — all in the space of a single performance.
In this unvarnished account of toiling under one of popular music’s most notorious bosses, Damon Wood details his six years spent playing guitar for James Brown’s Soul Generals.
In a memoir certain to fascinate Mr. Dynamite’s millions of fans, as well as musicians and industry insiders, Wood recalls how a chance encounter with James Brown led him to embrace soul and funk music under the tutelage of its greatest progenitor. Numerous interviews with bandmates provide multiple perspectives on James Brown’s complex character, his leadership of his band, the nature of soul and funk, and insights and sometimes harsh lessons learned along the way.
This is a sideman’s story of the gritty reality of working close to the spotlight but rarely in it. Damon Wood describes life on the road — often on James Brown’s infamous tour bus — with one guitar, a change of clothes, and two dozen comrades-in-arms as they brought the funk to clubs, theaters, and the biggest music festivals on earth. Working for James Brown could be fear-inducing, inspiring, exhilarating, and exasperating — all in the space of a single performance.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2018
3 people are currently reading
311 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 29, 2018
This is an entertaining book by a guitar player who gets called up to play for James Brown's band the Soul Generals at a moment's notice halfway around the world. Damon Wood goes on to chronicle what it's like to play as a side man for "the hardest working man in show business" for the next 6 years. The good, the bad, and the not so great times of traveling with a large group of musicians, much of the time on a band bus. There were other times spent hustling onto planes to rush to buses then to a venue to barely have time for a sound check, then back to a hotel. to grab a quick shower and iron your costume for the show and relax a bit before going on. But when the music was good it would make you forget all of that stress, especially when James Brown was happy and showing it. When he'd point to you and have you do a solo and you'd hit it just right and make him proud. Nothing could top that feeling, ever.
James Brown was also notorious as a boss at times, and not in a good way. If he were in a particularly bad mood for some reason, he could fire the whole band. But Damon endured, grew as an artist, and he learned a lot in his years there, and he made a lot of friends among the other Soul Generals members. An advance digital copy was provided by NetGalley and author Damon Wood for my unbiased review.
ECW Press Publication: May 1st, 2018
James Brown was also notorious as a boss at times, and not in a good way. If he were in a particularly bad mood for some reason, he could fire the whole band. But Damon endured, grew as an artist, and he learned a lot in his years there, and he made a lot of friends among the other Soul Generals members. An advance digital copy was provided by NetGalley and author Damon Wood for my unbiased review.
ECW Press Publication: May 1st, 2018
January 28, 2018
Most books about musicians, performers, entertainers, attempt to be almost encyclopedic in their descriptions of every aspect of the entertainer's biography, including detailing every tour date, every record, and every contract, often ending up being over 600 pages. That's not this book. Instead of giving us such a complete unedited historical narrative, Working for the Man offers us a shorter glimpse into a period of a star's career and from a unique perspective- that of a member of the band. Damon Wood worked as a guitarist for nearly six years towards the end of a James Browmpn's storied career and from that perspective - Damon's perspective- gives us the lowdown on that experience of working in an often 30 piece band that was run by a charismatic but often mercurial general, the hardest working man in show business - or do they say. Towards the end, the book might be a little longer than necessary, but it's all fascinating.
June 30, 2018
This is a book of the highs and lows of Damon Wood’s 6 year stint as a guitar player with James Brown’s Soul Generals. Wood chronicles the difficult traveling conditions of a forever on the move band and the rush of a perfectly executed, performance.
The author and the other guitar player were young guys in a band and support team dominated by senior citizens. The announcer, the road manager, drummers and others had 20, 30 years or more with Mr. Brown, the Man. That both guitarists were white doesn’t seem to be a factor, but this is a white man’s recount of the experience.
A lot of pettiness went into keeping the band in line. Wood gives examples of the mind games and power trips. There were two musicians for each instrument so that Brown could fire at will and have a spare; this is both how Wood got his job and precipitated his departure. In the short course of this book there were two pay cuts, one of 27%. Hard to figure when the band pulled so many gigs and reliably filled the house.
Wood shows reverence for the Godfather of Soul. He devotes considerable space to how much he learned from Brown, his remarkable genius and stamina. He recounts both excellent and humorous advice, the good times and bad, but the pace of the gigs, the chintzy treatment of the band and Brown’s authoritarianism ate at Wood. It wore away the fun, exotic travel, bonds with great musicians and the pride of creating a growing, but still iconic, sound. For me, the image of the beat up old bus with very talented musicians paired two by two taints the music. It shows Brown’s lack of respect for his crew.
This is not a typical roadie memoir; it is not a sex drugs and rock and roll experience. (A hint of drugs or some forms of public drinking, or even wearing blue jeans could get your fired. Despite the enforced decorum, it’s logical to conclude that Brown is beating up his wife.) The book gives you an inside look at this musically influential star and his touring organization. It deserves recognition for documenting the “James Brown Experience” before the old-timers, who have not otherwise come forth, leave the scene.
It is not really a 4 star book, but I’m giving it 4 stars because it may be the only glimpse we get of this unique piece of American culture.
The author and the other guitar player were young guys in a band and support team dominated by senior citizens. The announcer, the road manager, drummers and others had 20, 30 years or more with Mr. Brown, the Man. That both guitarists were white doesn’t seem to be a factor, but this is a white man’s recount of the experience.
A lot of pettiness went into keeping the band in line. Wood gives examples of the mind games and power trips. There were two musicians for each instrument so that Brown could fire at will and have a spare; this is both how Wood got his job and precipitated his departure. In the short course of this book there were two pay cuts, one of 27%. Hard to figure when the band pulled so many gigs and reliably filled the house.
Wood shows reverence for the Godfather of Soul. He devotes considerable space to how much he learned from Brown, his remarkable genius and stamina. He recounts both excellent and humorous advice, the good times and bad, but the pace of the gigs, the chintzy treatment of the band and Brown’s authoritarianism ate at Wood. It wore away the fun, exotic travel, bonds with great musicians and the pride of creating a growing, but still iconic, sound. For me, the image of the beat up old bus with very talented musicians paired two by two taints the music. It shows Brown’s lack of respect for his crew.
This is not a typical roadie memoir; it is not a sex drugs and rock and roll experience. (A hint of drugs or some forms of public drinking, or even wearing blue jeans could get your fired. Despite the enforced decorum, it’s logical to conclude that Brown is beating up his wife.) The book gives you an inside look at this musically influential star and his touring organization. It deserves recognition for documenting the “James Brown Experience” before the old-timers, who have not otherwise come forth, leave the scene.
It is not really a 4 star book, but I’m giving it 4 stars because it may be the only glimpse we get of this unique piece of American culture.
January 12, 2018
Awesome book about the author's playing for the "Godfather of Soul", James Brown. What an honor and experience. The author takes us righ there with him during the good, bad or indifferent. I truly enjoyed this book and I wish the author the best. Thank you so much for insight on your experince with Mr. Brown. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
September 8, 2024
I'm sure Wood is an excellent musician. A writer, he is not. A few good anecdotes, but too much listing of entire itineraries and dates. Also the photographs looked to be color photos reproduced very poorly in greyscale, making it hard to make out what you were looking at. There are so many books on JB out there, no need to spend your time on this one.
June 14, 2018
5 stars.
Fantastic. This is a great read for any one who is interested in a first-hand, behind the scenes look into the world of the talented musicians who shared the stage with the iconic James Brown. Extremely well written and entertaining.
Fantastic. This is a great read for any one who is interested in a first-hand, behind the scenes look into the world of the talented musicians who shared the stage with the iconic James Brown. Extremely well written and entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews