Keith Elliot Greenberg
Where You Goin’ With That Gun in Your Hand?: The True Crime Blotter of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Published by Globe Pequot Press/Backbeat
May 27, 2019
Web Exclusive
Keith Elliot Greenberg has written true crime books on John Lennon and James Dean, among others. With Where You Goin’ With That Gun in Your Hand?, he compiles the stories of 21 different rock and roll tragedies, many which you know and some which you probably don’t. Starting with the mysterious drowning death of The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones and ending with the suicide of Kurt Cobain, Greenberg succinctly summarizes the famous demises with engaging storytelling style.
While many of these stories may be familiar-Greenberg tackles the deaths of such greats as Jim Morrison, Michael Jackson, Sam Cooke, Selena, Tupac and Biggie Smalls, Marvin Gaye, and John Lennon, among others-the author’s text typically renews the tales with details or perspective that one may have initially missed. And the more obscure stories herein, such as that of Mountain bassist/vocalist Felix Pappalardi, and actress Marie Trintignant with her rock star boyfriend Bertrand Cantat, provide interesting diversions from the more well-known stories.
Ultimately, Where You Goin’ is a primer of sorts. It doesn’t delve deeply into any one of these tragedies but it summarizes in a fashion that refamiliarizes and fleshes out what you already knew about these stories while presenting some completely new tales. If you are interested in mysterious and salacious rock star demises, you’ll be happy to work your way through Greenberg’s compendium.
Author rating: 6/10
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June 18th 2019
8:52am
Truth is always stranger than fiction. As a criminal law specialist at http://www.donahuedefense.com, I have witnessed firsthand the human condition play out in odd and tragic ways. Simple cases of drunk driving sometimes contain an unbelievable backstory. As people vacation in NC’s Outer Banks, they bring not only swimsuits and hopes for fair weather, the also carry their demons. A day in the life of a criminal defense lawyer is never boring.