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Appetite for Destruction : Legendary Encounters with Mick Wall

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Libro usado en buenas condiciones, por su antiguedad podria contener señales normales de uso

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

15 people are currently reading
164 people want to read

About the author

Mick Wall

69 books177 followers
Mick Wall is an author, journalist, film, television and radio writer-producer, who’s worked inside the music industry for over 35 years. He began his career contributing to the music weekly Sounds in 1977, where he wrote about punk and the new wave, and then rockabilly, funk, New Romantic pop and, eventually, hard rock and heavy metal. By 1983, Wall become one of the main journalists in the early days of Kerrang! magazine, where he was their star cover story writer for the next nine years. He subsequently became the founding editor of Classic Rock magazine in 1998, and presented his own television and radio shows.

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5 stars
39 (22%)
4 stars
60 (34%)
3 stars
60 (34%)
2 stars
12 (6%)
1 star
5 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Colin.
67 reviews
July 8, 2022
Like use your illusion records. Too long. Full of itself. The author deserves special criticism for stating he didn’t make up a quote and had the tapes to prove it. He transcribes said tapes in book and they don’t include the disputed quote! Talk about undermining your credibility. Then he writes that thin lizzy was washed up and touring on past glories. I’m going to have to re-evaluate how I feel about his other books in light of this one.
Profile Image for Simon Yoong.
386 reviews8 followers
December 27, 2018
Not as interesting as his other books. Mick Wall is the finest rock / metal biographer, but this collection of interviews somewhat lacks the punch.

The rub is that the interview captures the subject at a pivotal time in their careers, usually just before making it big or fading into obscurity. But in retrospect, a lot of had to taken in context of the time, something i may not be too interested to fully understand.
Profile Image for Rod Horncastle.
736 reviews88 followers
August 18, 2014
I do love an in-depth musician biography. This is not really one of those, but it does get to the root of the Rockstar lifestyle and what comes of it. So it was a worthy read.

Since I spent half of my life working in music stores - I'm very aware of all the participants in this book. (Have been for over 30 years...I even lived some of it.) I've even read some of these articles when they first came out. But now that i'm older and much wiser I can see the hypocrisy and general stupidity of these arrogant self destructors. But we all learn and grow (especially when we become loving parents and watch our teenagers pick up where we left off.)

I'm not quite sure if the author of this debauchery "Mick Wall" has fully learned from his King Solomon like escapades? In some ways no. This lifestyle of celebrities and sin is very seductive and promises a HELL of alot of pleasure - soon followed by endless pain and death.
I give this book 4 stars because it seems to show this Rockstar like path and degradation from beginning to nasty death (and forgotten leftovers)bargain bin of humanity. Yes from David Lee Roth and Motley Crue/Poison in their 15 minutes of ecstasy to the dead Rock n' Rollers in the end such as Kurt Cobain, Andrew Wood - and Axle Rose who might as well be dead (I wish him no such ill will - but his career has plunged into Never neverland).

This collection shows me that rockstars seldom find the truth of our existence. God, the Universe, and everything seem to mean little to them. Humanity generally believes that the rich, famous, and attractive don't need a Savior - but this book shows us that even Rockstars have deep needs that this world can't provide for. And to think: The Bible told us this many centuries ago. We humans are a slow witted bunch.

Oh well, again I look for musicians to discuss music. I fully enjoyed the Def Leppard and Kings X chapters. Definitely a good read. Thanks Mick.



Profile Image for Aurélien Thomas.
Author 9 books121 followers
September 2, 2013
A kind of 'best of' Mick Wall's interviews with various legends of rock/metal music and, that were published in Kerrang!, Rock World and RAW during the golden age of hard rock music (the 80's) up to the explosion of grunge. Actually there's more to it than that as, he also review some concerts (Live Aid 1985, Rock in Rio 1985, Moscow Peace 1989), meet the illustrator Pushead and, come back briefly on his collaboration with, for example, the photographer Ross Halfin. That's quite interesting; it surely is an enjoyable read: Rick Allen, Ritchie Blackmore, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Jimmy Page, Lars Ulrich, Dave Mustaine, Axl Rose etc. There's enough to satisfy various musical tastes! I just regret the ending chapters focus too much on grunge and, not enough on extreme metal (only Glen Benton appears here for the release of 'Once Upon the Cross' and, the guy is a pain!).
76 reviews
August 29, 2022
A great collection of interviews from back when 'feature-length' was still a thing, and rockstars were far less guarded with what they said to the press beyond plugging their latest album. I simply could not imagine any of these interviews making it to press today, partly due to content and partly due to the PR-dominated bands keeping everything behind closed doors. The prefaces and codas to each interview add further colour and context.
Profile Image for Laura.
272 reviews19 followers
January 30, 2026
I've owned a copy of this book since 2010 as my present for my 16th birthday, since I'm reading through my physical collection..it's finally getting finished. Not surpised to find a bookmark stuck between 122-123 page.

Appetite for Destruction isn't a traditionally done biography, but rather a collection of interviews Mick Wall did between the 1980s-1990s, with each chapter ending with a reflection in 2009.

Its an interesting slice of history to go through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for David Dewata.
342 reviews3 followers
October 29, 2018
Referensi yang menarik. Belajar cara melempar pertanyaan yang memang buat musisinya —nggak sekedar tanya apakah udah pernah dengerin musik grup lainnya.

Mick Wall was/is a badass journalist.
Profile Image for Jamie Hicks.
165 reviews6 followers
August 12, 2022
If Mick Wall wrote a book of nursery rhymes I'd read it. Rock on!
Profile Image for Randy.
115 reviews2 followers
June 10, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Some chapters were more interesting than other ones. Definitely enjoyed the Def Leppard and Jimmy Page articles. The best parts may have been the “Coda” updates.
Profile Image for Pekka Pietikäinen.
40 reviews
October 19, 2012
Good, not great. In his heyday Mick Wall was practically a drinking buddy to the biggest rock stars on the planet. Of course this sort of rapport tends to produce journalism that's a bit lopsided; the interviews & stories are often suprisingly intimate, but sometimes a bit too "cozy", fawning and verbose (the Def Leppard one comes to mind). Also, if you're looking for suprises, they are practically non-existent (ie. Dave Mustaine is a tool; Scott Weiland is neurotic & insecure; Jimmy Page is God. etc. etc.). Nevertheless, pretty entertaining & easy read.
Profile Image for Marsmannix.
457 reviews60 followers
January 19, 2016
aw man. I LOVE Mick Walls, but this was just ugh. Book consists of interviews from the last 80's to mid 90's (Whitesnake, yes Whitesnake is featured). Formatting is odd, Mick's questions are not noticeably set off from the answers.
I get the feeling this was a knock out book to make some quick cash.
Very disappointed. Mick Walls is an outstanding rock writer, otherwise.
The man can turn a metaphor, however.

SKip this one, unless you want to read about Whitesnake. LOL.
Profile Image for Mancman.
706 reviews3 followers
January 28, 2016
The authors enthusiasm for his subject leaps off the page at you.

A collection of previously published articles, there's a general chronology to the pieces.

It's a difficult job, but someone has to do it I guess. Some of it is insightful, some so shallow, but there's a sense of getting to know the subject matter well.

Most of the bands are well known, but not being a true metal fan there were some new names to me.

A good read, but lacks the depth at times.
2 reviews
February 5, 2016
The name is misleading,Not exactly legendary encounters, just interviews, most of them not involving any Rockstar madness. Still some good interviews here.
Profile Image for Paul Phillips.
96 reviews1 follower
December 26, 2011
Some interesting historical interviews, but otherwise a pretty dull read for the most part.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews

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