BACKSTAGE PAST: The High Times of Legendary Rock Promoter Barry Fey

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Category: Books
Published on Wednesday, 21 December 2011 09:45
Written by Janet Walker

BACKSTAGE PAST, the auto bio road trip from legendary promoter Barry Fey, reveals the dressing room romps of Rock n' Roll royalty from a career that spans forty years of music madness.

Fey offers readers an all access pass into the fantasy world of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll with the greatest touring bands from The Rolling Stones, The Who, U2 and Led Zepplin to Bon Jovi, Van Morrison, Cher, Greg Allman, Rod Stewart and even includes encounters with Suge Knight and Snopp Dog.

Fey writes about his humble beginnings, early tragedies and his mom, a typical Jewish mother, who as he stated, "took her cues from the Jewish Mother Handbook." He doesn't hold back about himself or others. He writes honestly about the astonishment that he felt with each accolade and gesture offered by those Hall of Famers who, in reality, were business associates.

BACKSTAGE PAST contains a forward from Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne and Pete Townsend of The Who. To the legends of rock 'n' roll, those who have known him forty years, Barry Fey is an honest, stand up, guy who has principals and ethics. If he gave his word, you could count on it, and according to Townsend, "Nobody could sell tickets like Barry."

Fey, seemed still, after more than twenty-five years, deeply moved and genuinely amazed at Bono's kindness and concern when, as he lie in a New York hospital recuperating from a botched surgery, not only visited but hired a former New York City detective to accompany him home. Home being Denver, Colorado and according to Fey, "had been given strict orders to never leave my side."

BACKSTAGE PAST is sectioned into various stages from the early days to the Super Shows and the All Days Concerts and he openly shares tantalizing tidbits of Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead and their fascination with LSD and desire to "dose" everyone who was on board their long strange trip. As it was 1967, the Summer of Love, Janis, Jimi and Jim Morrison were still sharing their music and are included in Fey's autobiography.

He spoke in length on David Geffen, whom he speaks very highly, and Iriving Azoff, whom he speaks less highly of, and both of whom have entries in the Legends section as well as Eric Clapton, The Eagles, CSNY, Elton John, Bette Midler, The Beach Boys, Leonard Skynard and Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen; All the Rock 'n Roll acts that with the sound of one note transports one to a precious hidden place.

When speaking on David Geffen, Fey adds, "He still takes my calls although, I don't call him if there is nothing to talk about. He's Rock Royalty even though he's far beyond that now."

When Rock music fueled movements and galvanized a generation Barry Fey was there doing what became his calling: to sell as many tickets as possible so to ensure that those who invested their money had the best experience possible. To give the people who trusted him the best experience.

BACKSTAGE PAST contains a reversible jacket cover with a two foot by three feet poster on the inside, a montage of historic concert passes and tickets from the height of his promoting days. The fun, fast read contains a dozen full size photos from home pictures of his famous Luau with Mick Jagger and Keith Moon to what became his second home Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver.

BACKSTAGE PAST is a holiday must have for any hard core rock n' roll library, rock groupie and anyone who ever wanted that precious BACKSTAGE Pass.