Such a great book! Niven says in the beginning of the book, that this is like sitting around his table with a few drinks and letting him tell his stories. That is exactly what this feels like. Is it factually perfect? No, but no one’s stories are in that situation. Is it a fun read? Hell yeah!

It’s a short, easy read. The stories are wonderfully juicy and what you’d expect from Niven. For years, his interviews have been some of the best around. He calls it as he sees it and is always funny and sarcastic. I’d been waiting for his book forever.

I recommend it to everyone! I’ve preordered 3 copies already for gifts!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed getting into rock n' roll stories and was invested in what was happening, I enjoyed how each anecdote was and worked in this collection. It was written well and enjoyed how good Alan Niven's writing was.

This is a collection of "war stories" and all sorts of business dealings involving the rock bands Great White and Guns N' Roses. Both of these bands were managed by the author, Alan Niven. The bulk of this memoir centers upon the outrageous antics of GNR lead singer Axl Rose, who caused a continual nightmare scenario to his band and manager. It's a wonder that the band ever rose to worldwide recognition with this hybrid wacko/incredible performer known as Axl Rose threatening to put each gig in jeopardy.

There were a lot of business negotiations discussed like records, touring, and merchandising in which he painted himself as a mastermind of these deals, never letting his bands be abused with crappy contracts. I'm a creative person and hate lingering too much on business and numbers, so didn't particularly enjoy large passages discussing these machinations. If you're a Guns N' Roses fan- even a moderate one like me- you might find some interesting kernels of information here.

Thank you to ECW Press for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Alan Niven, the former manager of both Guns N’ Roses and Great White, presents a captivating collection of anecdotes that slide into the spotlight of rock history. While he managed Great White through their rise to fame, he was thankfully not associated with them during their tragic incident. This book is filled with intriguing tales about a plethora of iconic musicians, weaving narratives that feature legends like The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith.

For someone like me, who thrives on insider stories and the behind-the-scenes workings of the music industry, this book was an absolute treasure trove. Niven doesn't present himself as a monumental figure of genius—though there are occasional hints of that—making his storytelling feel authentic and relatable.

One minor drawback is the non-chronological order of the tales, which at times can lead to a bit of confusion, but this small quibble hardly overshadows the enjoyment. It's a delightful way to spend a few hours, immersing oneself in the colorful world of rock ’n’ roll.

As someone who grew up with an all-consuming passion for Guns N' Roses, I remember the countless hours spent lost in their music, captivated by their electrifying videos, meticulously dissecting the lyrics of every song, and eagerly consuming interviews, articles, and anything that celebrated these rock gods. Naturally, the moment I learned about "Sound N' Fury," I didn’t hesitate to download it and immerse myself in Niven’s storytelling.

He did not disappoint. This book is bursting with insider anecdotes that you won’t find in magazine articles or those polished, authorized biographies. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who shares a love for the glam rock, hair band, and heavy metal scenes!

My thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for an advance copy of this memoir/ stories shared over the kitchen table about a man, the entertainment industry, creating music, making the trains run on time for bands, the art or creation, and how it all can break a person in so many ways.

I have read a lot of books about the entertainment industry. Media, publishing, movies, music, even self-publishing. The one thing that I have learned from all of these is mama don't let babies grow up to be a part of it. One either loses their soul, there heart or their morals. Even their life. For every success their are many who never make it, because of a media company's incompetence, or because a company can make more by never releasing something as a tax write off. Lies are accepted, and truth is a rarity. And yet. Art is created. Songs, books, poems, movies, touch lives, become important milestones to people Make people want to create, even want to live when all hope is gone. And yet it entertainment, especially music can be a horrible business. Alan Niven has been in music for a long time, from picking up albums, to picking up rock stars, Niven has seen it all, done it all, and had it all done to him, and now he shares it with us. Sound N' Fury:Rock N' Roll Stories is a story of excess, stupidity, bad guys, good singers, and lots of music, some famous, some forgotten, but always interesting.

Alan Niven grew up in England and got a taste for not liking authority early in school. Music was important to him, something that made him happy and something he wanted to be a part of. Niven got his first job at Virgin Records by willing to do whatever they wanted him to do. Pick up these boxes and bring them there. Go to Sweden as a sales rep. Pretend to be an importer and fool a group of record pirates, sure whatever. Coming to the States, Niven made in roads in music by hosting a radio show that he choose the music for, something that was becoming rarer and rarer in the music industry. Moving to LA Niven kept up with his credo, agree to do something, and figure out how to do it later. Starting a small label he soon began to help bands like Great White and Motley Crüe, getting them deals, and helping to craft their most popular songs. However it was a little band with an appetite for self-destruction that Niven made his biggest claim to fame. Something he is still recovering from.

If one has an illusions about the music world this slim volume will take them away. A very warts an all look at the industry, certain musicians label owners, and hangers-on. Niven is a very honest writer, as much as he points out the follies and foibles of others, Niven is just as quick to point out himself. The book is a series of stories, told out of order, as if one is having My Dinner with Alan, and different things remind him of stories. My only complaint was the fact that he is so sure that one remembers the names of rock stars and members of the band Great White and Guns n' Roses that no introduction is needed. So their is a little, who is this guy again that sometimes interrupts the flow. The book is loaded with great stories, drugs hidden under hairpieces, Axl Rose being Axl, stories of bands that could have been, and stories about bands that never should have been.

Music fans will like the stories, certain fans will like the excess, others will look for the truth in what is mentioned but not told. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. And as much as I say I am glad I never went into the music business, a part of me is kind of envious of the adventures that Niven had.

Many thanks to the author, Alan Niven, @netgalley, and the publisher, ECW Press, for a digital ARC
of this book, which will be published on 24 June. Niven is a former rock star manager, most
significantly taking on Guns N’ Roses when no other manager would touch them. There’s plenty
about “Guns” in this book, but he also shares stories about other artists he’s managed. Niven was
also a writer and producer, so he has a unique perspective on the industry.

This is a very entertaining book, although it helps to know the names and nicknames of all the members of Guns N’ Roses and Great White going in (Niven sometimes uses their first name, and sometimes their surname, so it can be a little confusing). The author has an engrossing, varied style, and each of the anecdotes he tells is like a short story, complete in itself, but also building up to create a bigger picture. There are fascinating details dotted throughout. (Did you know that there was a wig-maker who used to make hair extensions for rock stars so that they could have the trademark long, flowing hair, even if balding? Or that almost no one wore real leather, preferring an artificial substitute that was indistinguishable from the real thing but could also be thrown in the laundry at the end of the day?)

As in any good rock memoir, Niven throws in some memories that you’ll be surprised made it past the lawyers. (There’s one in particular where Slash appears to be criminally responsible for a death.) Elton John doesn’t come out well, nixing a promising young singer’s debut album so that he can use it as a tax write-off for his defunct record label – she never went on to record another album. However, Niven reserves his greatest venom for Axl Rose, who comes across as an impossibly vindictive prima donna, and a megalomaniac.

This isn’t a book I would normally read – while I like a good music biography, I knew very little about the bands gracing these pages – but it’s definitely worth reading. I’d recommend it if you have an interested in the modern music industry, or are looking for an entertaining book you can dip in and out of.

Firstly, there is not a single photograph in this book, so I'm not sure why it was categorised on NetGalley as 'Arts and Photography' as well as 'biographies and memoirs'. It is, as advertised a bunch of stories from Alan Niven, Guns N' Roses manager. Unsurprisingly, it paints a very flattering picture of Niven, who is constantly saving the day from unreliable and unpredictable rock stars. It's understandable, but it got tired after the second story. There are only so many times I need to know about how he saved the day. There are many stories about band I know behaving badly, but it's mainly about how clever Niven is and I didn't get through it all because my eyes glazed over.
I was provided with a free e-Arc of this book through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Anecdotal stories from the former manager of both Guns N’ Roses (hence the title) and Great White (but not when the terrible tragedy happened.). Includes stories about lots of other famous musicians too, including The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, etc. I love insider stories like this so it was just my thing, YMMV. Niven doesn’t oversell himself as some massive genius (mostly. There are moments….) which I liked. The only down side is the stories are not in any chronological order so sometimes things are a little confusing, but that is a small quibble. A fun way to spend a few hours.

Sound N' Fury is a collection of fascinating storied about some of my favorite bands through the lens of famed Guns N Roses manager, Alan Niven. Growing up, I was obsessed with Guns N' Roses. I spent hours and hours listening to their music, watching their videos, reading the lyrics of every som, devouring articles & interviews, and plastering their faces all over my walls. So, of course, I downloaded Sound N' Fury as fast as possible and started reading immediately. Niven did not disappoint. His book offers insider anecdotes you won't find in magazine articles or authorized ( and sanitized) biographies. Highly recommend for all former glam rock/hair band/heavy metal lovers!

This was such an interesting book for fans of rock n roll. There are such interesting facts, stories, and photos of some of the greatest rock bands of all time.