A fun book which offers a glimpse into the lives of some famous rock stars. Aimed at the gift market, I think.

The essence of people reflects in their domicile and how they function. of course if you are a rock star you tend to think of privacy but also creative textures. “Rock Stars At Home” [Chris Charlesworth/Apollo Publishers/176pgs] is a fascinating insight into people and how they live without being too intrusive. Complimented by interesting photos and very detailed descriptions at least of layout but also of design selections and landscapes within the houses, one gets a perspective of the people that lived in them, even for a short time. The most specific in the book that are detailed are The Rolling Stones and The Beatles for the most part. In watching how The Beatles struggled and then grew apart but also the balance really gives a perspective into what happened. Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon seemed to get along and even bought each other’s houses at times. Paul McCartney, even though some of his homes including a farm are discussed, really seems according to the book at times to be the odd man out which, as always, is a matter of perspective. The house where “Imagine” was filmed and which Ringo eventually bought gives a perspective into Lennon as does a lesser point The Dakota in NY. For The Stones, the infamous houses of Keith Richards and one of the early members that died before the advent of the 70s really give a perspective of how out-of-control those times were but never fully grotesque. Later in the book which is more in prose than visual form, the beginning lives of Motley Crue and Guns N’ Roses and their almost scavenger techniques are described on Sunset Blvd. years and above all really shows the underbelly of rock n roll as compared to the British Invasion. The stories are told from a multitude of perspectives of people who were around. Some of the more interesting takes are those rockers who definitely had a sense of real estate tactic to them, most specifically Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Though he seemed a little disheveled in the early 80s after the breakup of Zeppelin (mostly it seems also because of the OD of Bonzo [drummer John Bonham], his specificity to detail seems undeniable and plays into his current methodical element of remastering (which is why one more Zeppelin show per se especially considering his penchant for detail would be great). Robert Plant’s motivations might be different but his home is not shown in this book. Their planes and the charters that were used for many in the early 70s tours were interesting but it seems as if the plane wasn’t ownedd in comparison to today where celebrities own smaller G5s which cost infinitely more. The interesting aspect is that the perspective can be show for the older crowd. Granted certain stories of Sonny Bono & Cher’s as well as Barry Gibb, Neil Young and Bob Dylan among others really paint an aspect of idyllic elements but also of isolation and connection. The unassuming shots of Young and Dylan and how these places (like Johnny Cash’s home) truly enhance the creative properties but almost the internal vision of “the voice of a generation” (when they themselves privately integrated and debated thoughts of who they were and the stories they would tell) is fascinating. “Rock Stars At Home” is a undeniable look without pretentiousness (despite a bit of detail) that gives an interesting look into who these people are and were. Even though they might not say anything, their choice of details and of lifestyle speaks in many sectors to their aspect of being.

A

By Tim Wassberg

I can't beat around the bush with this one. I was so excited to read this and see photos of musicians in their homes, but I was so disappointed. If I had bought this from the store, I would have taken the time to return it. It's just a bunch of "The story goes..." retellings and hardly any of them actually had to do with the homes of musicians. The photos were terrible and there weren't that many of them. What was there, they were so small, the only way I could imagine deciphering any information from them would be if the book was coffee table size, which would be a mistake. I am not even going to review this one on my blog, I think it is hugely misleading.

I can't believe some of these folks actually gave tours of their homes to fans! lol! Too funny! I was really hoping for more pix, but it was a fun read and I enjoyed the tales of these folks. It covers quite a bit and not only the rock stars of the 70's-80's, Frank Sinatras in it, as is Tina Turner... neither I consider rock stars. Anyway, I can't wait to checkout the book! Fans will love it.

Wonderful, quick read. This book has something for anyone whether you dig architecture, celebrity culture, or musical history.

With brief descriptions of their lifestyles, Rock Stars at Home offers an inside look at lives that can only be dreamed of by regular folks.

Starting with Frank Sinatra’s famous Palm Springs home all the way to Noel Gallagher from Oasis, this book has a chapter for fans of all ages. It also goes outside the rock genre with Ike & Tina Turner, Johnny Cash and Michael Jackson. Some of the stories are familiar like Neverland Ranch—others not like Blondie’s start in the 1970s Bowery slum. There are separate features on the rock lifestyle like chartered jets and rock hotels.

Overall, a good choice for rock (especially in the 70s and 80s) fans. I would have enjoyed more pictures. 3 stars.

Thanks to Apollo Publishers and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

:I loved this book.. Great pics and the stories to go along with them. Very interesting and a nice peek into thie homes of rock starts. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Although I received the book in this manner, it did not affect my opinion of this book nor my review.

This book wasn't exactly as I expected it to be. I thought there would be more information and pictures on - - well - - the homes! But there are lots of stories about lots of 'stars' -some more famous than others - and that in itself is a fun read.

The pictures included were small and not always about the homes; I imagine the hardback version of this book will give the reader a better look at the pictures. Descriptions of some of the homes that were basically trashed by their inhabitants have the 'euwwww' factor and make one see those stars in a different light.

Anyone who enjoys reading about 'the real lives' of famous people, will like this book. It's an easy read and a peek inside the stars' real lives.

A fun book that provides insight into your favourite musicians.
Highly recommended as a gift. would be perfect for Christmas or Father's Day.
Enjoy

This wonderful book explores the homes, hotels and family lives of many beloved rock stars, from Frank Sinatra to Led Zeppelin. The writing comes from many different journalists, who give us juicy details of the not so private lives of cultural icons. The photographs are fascinating and show the good, bad and the ugly of these celebrity homes.

When i saw this book i wanted to read it. I like reading rock musicians life and this book is about their homes. I enjoyed reading it. I wish i could see more pictures about their homes - more details - and less stories and some pictures were really blurry. That was a bit dissapointed. But overall it is a good book to read.

If you like reading stories about rock musicians, this book has lots of them. From Johnny Cash to Jimmy Page to Freddy Mercury, there are lots of stories of their careers and the places they lived. But, if you are looking for a lot of visuals of those places they lived, I think you will be disappointed. First, the photo quality in the pre-release copy I received to review was really poor. I got eyestrain just trying to focus on most of the photos. Maybe this was intentional to prevent people from copying them--we can hope. Second, the proportion of photos that actually show features of the homes is pretty small. Often, there is more emphasis on the stars, rather than their houses. For example, a photo of Chuck Berry takes up an entire page, while showing very little (just the upper edge of a sofa and a wall) of his home. The article on Elvis describes the Meditation Garden, where Elvis is buried, but doesn't show a photo. Instead, the authors chose to show a photo of Elvis, Priscilla and their daughter in their yard. In the article about Johnny Cash's house, there are some good photos of the home's exterior.

So, this is a book about celebrities, not one about architecture or interior design. If you like reading about celebrity lives, then maybe you'd enjoy this book. But, don't get it for the houses.