The Rock Musician: 15 Years of Interviews

This collection of 12 interviews and profiles from the past 15 years of Musician magazine doesn't emphasize biographical depth so much as explore the creative process. Thus, a 1981 piece by Dave Marsh--among several noted music writers featured--emphasizes Bruce Springsteen's play-all-night ``bar band'' consciousness; Springsteen explains how he mixes careful planning and ``tightrope'' instincts onstage. A pugnacious Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders claims to be derivative even as writer Charles M. Young proclaims the genius of her discography. Mark Rowland probes the outlaw appeal of Guns N' Roses, meeting the ``deceptively dissolute'' guitarist Slash and, after several false starts, finding volatile lead singer Axl Rose ``thoughtful and amiable,'' explaining how he ``reacts to everything.'' Others in the book are George Clinton, U2, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Johnny Rotten, Paul McCartney, the Allman Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Earl Palmer. Keeping with the magazine's focus, each piece ends with a short sidebar on the equipment band members use. Scherman is a former senior editor at Musician . Photos not seen by PW. The Jazz Musician (edited by Tony Scherman and Mark Rowland, St. Martin's, $12.95 *