Whiskey Bottles and Brand-New Cars

The Fast Life and Sudden Death of Lynyrd Skynyrd

By: Mark Ribowsky

Narrated by: Jeremy Arthur

This intimate story of Lynyrd Skynyrd tells how a band of lost souls and self-destructive misfits, with uncertain artistic objectives, clawed their way to the top of the rock 'n' roll world. Based on interviews with surviving band members, Whiskey Bottles and Brand-New Cars shares how lead singer and front man Ronnie Van Zant guided the band's hugely successful five-year run and, in the process, created not only a new country rock idiom, but a new Confederacy in constant conflict with old Southern totems and prejudices.

Placing the music and personae of Skynyrd into a broad cultural context, this book gives a new perspective to a history of stage fights, motel room destructions, cunning business deals, and brilliant studio productions. It also offers a greater appreciation for a band whose legacy, in the aftermath of their last plane ride, has since descended into self-caricature.

©2015 Mark Ribowsky (P)2015 ListenUp Production, LLC

Wow great book

As a fan for 40 years this book was a real eye opener. It seems the only "nice " guys were Steve Gaines, Billy Powell and Leon Wilkinson. The author seems to have no hidden agenda, just tells it like it is. Ironically that's the way Ronnie would have liked it...warts and all. If you love Skynyrd music, you have to read/hear this book. You will a new appreciation for the band and the music.

Moving Story of the Group that Gave Us Free Bird

Any additional comments?

A quite moving account of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the trials and tribulations, the mercurial rise to fame from obscurity and the subsequent tragedies of the group that sang the music of a generation. Jeremy Arthur is a compelling storyteller (one of my favorites!) and is masterful at bringing the listener into the story...I would often forget I was listening to an audiobook so immersed was I. For any Skynyrd fans, or fans of music in general, I would highly recommend a listen to Whiskey Bottles & Brand New Cars.

Great book.

I found this to be very interesting and learned some new things about the band. Narrator was excellent.

This author has NO clue on MANY things...

Would you try another book from Mark Ribowsky and/or Jeremy Arthur?

doubtfully

Would you be willing to try another book from Mark Ribowsky? Why or why not?

not really

Which character – as performed by Jeremy Arthur – was your favorite?

na

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

probably

Any additional comments?

For this guy to not know that Zakk Wylde was NOT the guitarist for Black Sabbath in the 70's (or ever for that matter) is a literal sin. Zakk was maybe 8 or 9 years old when the author had him with a quote about a Skynyrd gig. Amazingly bad info in this one. So many more things, though to much to list here. AT least the narrator was fair.

great book so full of information

lends another look at a very complex band and the man Ronnie Van Zant ...and brings home the songs he wrote