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When the Devil Smiles the Angels Frown: My Life and Times in Rock 'n' Roll
How a childhood punishment created an impossible dream in the magical world of rock 'n' roll.They were modern-day pirates, banding together with creative revolutionaries who became the voice of a generation. They are the Knights of Rock, regular guys who had the honor and privilege of working with some of the greatest rock stars during an amazing time in the Classic Rock era. Leo Rossi is one of those Knights. A young Italian Catholic boy from the blue-collar Los Angeles port town of San Pedro, he tripped into an impossible dream and helped mega stars such as Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks, The Beach Boys, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Billy Idol, and many more.With a devil and an angel on his shoulders, Leo forged life-long skills while he learned the value of sacrifice, hard work, dedication, loyalty, and passion.Leo’s life story proves that the wildest of dreams do come true.
595 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2019
29 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 14, 2022
Any fan of '70s Rock will LOVE this book!
Full disclosure, my Wife and I met Leo (the author) via his lectures on a cruise ship this past March. Being a big fan of music of the '70s, I found his presentations absolutely mesmerizing. So we HAD to buy his book, in the hopes of learning more about the fascinating world of touring rock bands. It does not disappoint.
For Leo, the book is a trip down memory lane, but for the reader, it's a glimpse behind the scenes of being on the road with rock bands, literally making the magic happen. Though primarily focused on Fleetwood Mac (one of my favorite bands), Leo has worked with many artists. His narrative dives into not only the logistics of touring, but also the daily life of the staff that are needed to support a band on the road. We even get a feel for the actual personalities of the band members themselves (yes, they are real people too).
Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. So many facets of the journey bring back so many memories, like where we were when this or that song was released. More importantly, there are so many songs that I'll never hear the same way again, now that I know the back story (think Joe Walsh, "Life's Been Good"). Who knew?
If you like '70s rock (and even if you don't), this is a very entertaining and informative read.
Full disclosure, my Wife and I met Leo (the author) via his lectures on a cruise ship this past March. Being a big fan of music of the '70s, I found his presentations absolutely mesmerizing. So we HAD to buy his book, in the hopes of learning more about the fascinating world of touring rock bands. It does not disappoint.
For Leo, the book is a trip down memory lane, but for the reader, it's a glimpse behind the scenes of being on the road with rock bands, literally making the magic happen. Though primarily focused on Fleetwood Mac (one of my favorite bands), Leo has worked with many artists. His narrative dives into not only the logistics of touring, but also the daily life of the staff that are needed to support a band on the road. We even get a feel for the actual personalities of the band members themselves (yes, they are real people too).
Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. So many facets of the journey bring back so many memories, like where we were when this or that song was released. More importantly, there are so many songs that I'll never hear the same way again, now that I know the back story (think Joe Walsh, "Life's Been Good"). Who knew?
If you like '70s rock (and even if you don't), this is a very entertaining and informative read.
May 19, 2023
Truly engrossing book! My husband and I had the pleasure of hearing author Leo Rossi tell his story of life in Rock and Roll while onboard the Emerald Princess 5/4-5/20 2023. He spoke at several Enrichment lectures, and we found these to be the highlight of our trip. If you want dirt or gossip, this is not the book for you. If you want to know the inner workings and logistics of touring and RnR, then this is a must-read. Since Fleetwood Mac has always been my favorite band, I appreciate his loyalty and discretion in sharing his stories and not their's. My Grandmother made tour jackets for many bands in the late 70's and 80's and my Fleetwood Mac Far East Tour 77 is one of my prized possessions. Thanks for sharing your story Leo!
June 27, 2023
An amazing tale
I met Leo Rossi when he was doing his Knights of Rock presentations on Princess Cruises. This book is an honest description of the angels and devils that beset rock stars and their support people. The opportunities and perils are clearly described. I was stunned at the level of creativity needed to pull off a successful tour.
I met Leo Rossi when he was doing his Knights of Rock presentations on Princess Cruises. This book is an honest description of the angels and devils that beset rock stars and their support people. The opportunities and perils are clearly described. I was stunned at the level of creativity needed to pull off a successful tour.
November 25, 2025
Being a fan of Rock n’ Roll, I enjoyed the journey of author Leo Rossi from working stage crew at his local high school in San Pedro, Ca to becoming part of the journey and friend to Rock n’ Roll legends Fleetwood Mac and many others in the music industry. Its a look into the world of Rock n’ Roll that few ever see. Truly enjoyed this book.
July 6, 2022
A lot of great insight into not only the Fleetwood Mac machine but a few other bands, too. The warts and all, too, which is always more interesting than everyone getting along. The author has had quite a career in music!
February 1, 2024
I met Leo Rossi on the princess cruise ship & went to his talk that was amazing. The book accents his talk, loved it!
January 27, 2025
I loved hearing Leo’s storying of behind the scenes of touring with some of the biggest names in music. As a musician it was fascinating for me to learn!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews