One Train Later: A Memoir 
asked by porsche on October 31, 2006 5:08 PM
In this extraordinary memoir, world-renowned guitarist Andy Summers provides a revealing and passionate account of a life dedicated to music. From his first guitar at age thirteen and his early days on the English music scene to the ascendancy of his band, the Police, Summers recounts his relationships and encounters with the Big Roll Band, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, the Animals, John Belushi, and others, all the while proving himself a master of telling detail and dramatic anecdote. But, of course, the early work is only part of the story, and Andys account of his role as guitarist for the Police -- a gig that was only confirmed by a chance encounter with drummer Stewart Copeland on a London train -- has been long-awaited by music fans worldwide. The heights of fame that the Police achieved have rarely been duplicated, and the bands triumphs were rivaled only by the personal chaos that such success brought about, an insight never lost on Summers in the telling. Complete with never-before-published photos from Summerss personal collection, One Train Later is a constantly surprising and poignant memoir.
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The one thread that connects all of Andy Summer's varied projects is that each one of them is consistantly brilliant. Guitarist for The Police, jazz guitarist, photographer, and now author - you know that you will be getting a product that is of the highest quality. The book gives you the expected rundown of his Police years, but many people do not realize his rich experience in the music business long before that band came along. He was an exceptional guitarist long before Sting and Stewart met up with him. Summer's has a very snappy and enjoyable writing style which matches the wonderful guitar lines that made The Police songs so memorable. If you are a Police fan you will become an Andy Summers fan as well after reading this book. Well done Andy, what's next ?
reviewed by markymark on November 15, 2006 7:26 PM
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When I saw this book, I couldn't resist it and picked it up. Andy Summers was always the "shy" one in the Police, and I couldn't help but wonder whether Andy had anything interesting to say about his adventures in the Police. Little did I know that Andy had a lot more in store than that!
In "One Train Later" (354 pages), the author brings us his memoirs, and not just of his years of the Police. I knew Andy was a bit older than Sting and Stewart Copeland, but didn't realize that it was a full 10 years, so that when Andy joined up with the Police, he was well into his thirties already, and over 40 when Sting broke up the Police in 1983. But I digress. In fact by far the better part of the book is the first half, in which Andy tells us how he became a musician, how he found some early and promising success in bands like the Big Roll Band, Dantalian's Chariot, the Soft Machine, and the Animals, only to then falter and not "making it". It leads to a "lost weekend" period in California lasting almost 5 years, mostly away from music but for some private music lessons to anyone who wanted to pay up. All along the way, Andy shares many entertaining stories of what things are like in the late 60s and early 70s.
Compared to that, the story of how the Police got together (the title of the book refers to an accidental meeting of Andy and Stewart on the subway in London, and but for "one train later", the Police might not have happened), struggled for success (Andy's description of their first show at New York's CBGB is hilarious), only to then rocket to world stardom. There are too many "and then we went on tour again" moments in the latter part of the book. You can also sense Andy's slight envy of Sting's songwriting obviously great capabilities, and it's pretty clear to me that Andy and Stewart did not want the Police to break up. But Andy does not come off as a 'negative jealous', in fact he demonstrates a lot of dry wit throughout the book, which makes this a very easy and entertaining read. Obviously essential for any Police fan, but certainly also recommended for music fans in general.
In "One Train Later" (354 pages), the author brings us his memoirs, and not just of his years of the Police. I knew Andy was a bit older than Sting and Stewart Copeland, but didn't realize that it was a full 10 years, so that when Andy joined up with the Police, he was well into his thirties already, and over 40 when Sting broke up the Police in 1983. But I digress. In fact by far the better part of the book is the first half, in which Andy tells us how he became a musician, how he found some early and promising success in bands like the Big Roll Band, Dantalian's Chariot, the Soft Machine, and the Animals, only to then falter and not "making it". It leads to a "lost weekend" period in California lasting almost 5 years, mostly away from music but for some private music lessons to anyone who wanted to pay up. All along the way, Andy shares many entertaining stories of what things are like in the late 60s and early 70s.
Compared to that, the story of how the Police got together (the title of the book refers to an accidental meeting of Andy and Stewart on the subway in London, and but for "one train later", the Police might not have happened), struggled for success (Andy's description of their first show at New York's CBGB is hilarious), only to then rocket to world stardom. There are too many "and then we went on tour again" moments in the latter part of the book. You can also sense Andy's slight envy of Sting's songwriting obviously great capabilities, and it's pretty clear to me that Andy and Stewart did not want the Police to break up. But Andy does not come off as a 'negative jealous', in fact he demonstrates a lot of dry wit throughout the book, which makes this a very easy and entertaining read. Obviously essential for any Police fan, but certainly also recommended for music fans in general.
reviewed by redryder on November 20, 2006 6:20 AM
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So, I'm on the road myself, on my own book tour stuff. Oddly, I haven't got anything of my own along for the trip; the bookstores in question can hand me a copy to read to the people who come along.
What I have got with me to read - the only thing - is Andy Summers' memoir. After the first couple of chapters, I've made myself a deal: I can pick it up anytime I like, except at bedtime, because if I try reading it then, I won't sleep. The book is so there, so real, so honest, and so damned evocative of a world I've spent some time in, that reading it before sleep is like conjuring ghosts.
It's also happens to be gorgeously written. Summers neither demonizes the darker patches of his world, nor glorifies them - the world of a professional musician making music, from session work to the old Speakeasy club in London in the sixties to the top of the world at Shea Stadium, is simply what it is. Pure musicians are born, and the music is not merely what they do, it's what they are. The music industry is the environment in which a consummate guitarist does what he does, and is what he is; the pitfalls and prizes are part of that environment.
The story of the Police is a fascinating read, but truth to tell, I was fascinated by every word of "One Train Later". I know the England he writes about, felt some serious pangs of memory as he described various smaller, quieter moments of life as a guitarist in the sixties, tasted the familiarity of California in the seventies and eighties.
If you're looking for dirt or canonisation, this may not be the perfect book for you. Any dirt in here is the dirt of a musician's daily grind, and he's not interested in beatifying his fellows, or demonizing them, either.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a stellar memoir by a world-class player about his life and work in the rarified and highly controversial environoment that is rock and roll?
Settle in for a killer good read. Just - don't do it at bedtime. You won't want to stop reading.
What I have got with me to read - the only thing - is Andy Summers' memoir. After the first couple of chapters, I've made myself a deal: I can pick it up anytime I like, except at bedtime, because if I try reading it then, I won't sleep. The book is so there, so real, so honest, and so damned evocative of a world I've spent some time in, that reading it before sleep is like conjuring ghosts.
It's also happens to be gorgeously written. Summers neither demonizes the darker patches of his world, nor glorifies them - the world of a professional musician making music, from session work to the old Speakeasy club in London in the sixties to the top of the world at Shea Stadium, is simply what it is. Pure musicians are born, and the music is not merely what they do, it's what they are. The music industry is the environment in which a consummate guitarist does what he does, and is what he is; the pitfalls and prizes are part of that environment.
The story of the Police is a fascinating read, but truth to tell, I was fascinated by every word of "One Train Later". I know the England he writes about, felt some serious pangs of memory as he described various smaller, quieter moments of life as a guitarist in the sixties, tasted the familiarity of California in the seventies and eighties.
If you're looking for dirt or canonisation, this may not be the perfect book for you. Any dirt in here is the dirt of a musician's daily grind, and he's not interested in beatifying his fellows, or demonizing them, either.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a stellar memoir by a world-class player about his life and work in the rarified and highly controversial environoment that is rock and roll?
Settle in for a killer good read. Just - don't do it at bedtime. You won't want to stop reading.
reviewed by perfectjen on November 23, 2006 4:01 AM
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Out of all The Police guys, Andy had the most wicked sense of humor. He saw, and still sees, things a tad differently than the rest of us. Having chatted with him a few times in person, I can say he is a most interesting man. I had no idea he wrote so well. I was a bit surprised when I heard this book was coming out. Andy, despite his mischief in The Police, always seemed the most private of the three. I also learned a few things I didn't know. And,to me,that's incredible. I have listened to his music since I was a teenager. Part of his appeal as a guitarist is his love for his instrument, of course. But Andy is also one of those rare performers that thinks more of "the song." He's not a flashy-solo kinda guy. The song is more important than any one member's part in it. A highly enjoyable read to be sure.
reviewed by shirley49 on November 26, 2006 5:53 AM
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When I was in junior high, The Police was one of the biggest bands in the world and I was a huge fan. I had grown up listening mainly to sixties music like the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, etc. The Police was the first band I came to on my own and from my own era. No music group before or since has meant as much to me.
On the other hand, my brand of fandom mainly centered around playing my LPs over and over and over. I didn't care much about the personalities. Other than a few magazine interviews, I never knew much about the three musicians in the band and I don't read much in the way of exposes or biography. I will, however, read the occasional autobiography and when I saw this one by Andy Summers, I couldn't resist.
There was so much I didn't know about Andy that every page seemed a revelation and I was fascinated. I gained a lot of respect for this musician who went through the rigors of learning the guitar and held to his own musical tastes through the ups and downs of the business of music. I was also surprised to learn of Andy's close connections to so many other musical greats even before he was world famous himself--he gave Clapton one of his best guitars, he jammed with Hendrix, he played with the Animals. Wow.
Less interesting to me was the continual stories of drugs and drunkenness. I suppose it's part of his life and part of the rock `n' roll legend, but I quickly grew weary of the inebriated craziness and trippy observations. I, for one, actually am disappointed when I find out a musician has played a concert drunk and/or stoned, no matter how well he might feel he pulled it off. Of course, it wouldn't surprise me to be in the minority here.
Anyway, one of my disappointments in Sting's recent memoir was that he didn't talk about his time in The Police at all. Andy takes us through all the highs and lows of superstardom with what feels like a very refreshing honesty. It may be his point of view only (I'm sure Sting and Stewart would have things to say about some of Andy's observations) but I liked the fact that he was up front about the egotism that all three of them shared which made the band create great music but also blew them apart.
Overall, this is a very good book. Andy is a good writer and his prose is very dynamic though I would have dumped the recurring story of "August 18, 1983." It didn't add anything to the book and seemed twisted to unfold in a way that allowed him to tell the rest of the story. Still, anyone who liked The Police would be crazy to pass this up and anyone interested in the history of rock `n' roll will find a lot of great stuff here.
On the other hand, my brand of fandom mainly centered around playing my LPs over and over and over. I didn't care much about the personalities. Other than a few magazine interviews, I never knew much about the three musicians in the band and I don't read much in the way of exposes or biography. I will, however, read the occasional autobiography and when I saw this one by Andy Summers, I couldn't resist.
There was so much I didn't know about Andy that every page seemed a revelation and I was fascinated. I gained a lot of respect for this musician who went through the rigors of learning the guitar and held to his own musical tastes through the ups and downs of the business of music. I was also surprised to learn of Andy's close connections to so many other musical greats even before he was world famous himself--he gave Clapton one of his best guitars, he jammed with Hendrix, he played with the Animals. Wow.
Less interesting to me was the continual stories of drugs and drunkenness. I suppose it's part of his life and part of the rock `n' roll legend, but I quickly grew weary of the inebriated craziness and trippy observations. I, for one, actually am disappointed when I find out a musician has played a concert drunk and/or stoned, no matter how well he might feel he pulled it off. Of course, it wouldn't surprise me to be in the minority here.
Anyway, one of my disappointments in Sting's recent memoir was that he didn't talk about his time in The Police at all. Andy takes us through all the highs and lows of superstardom with what feels like a very refreshing honesty. It may be his point of view only (I'm sure Sting and Stewart would have things to say about some of Andy's observations) but I liked the fact that he was up front about the egotism that all three of them shared which made the band create great music but also blew them apart.
Overall, this is a very good book. Andy is a good writer and his prose is very dynamic though I would have dumped the recurring story of "August 18, 1983." It didn't add anything to the book and seemed twisted to unfold in a way that allowed him to tell the rest of the story. Still, anyone who liked The Police would be crazy to pass this up and anyone interested in the history of rock `n' roll will find a lot of great stuff here.
reviewed by costa on November 27, 2006 9:28 AM