Mud Ride

Really interesting take on the seattle scene, especially when the existing books only cover Nirvana primarily. Looking forward to picking up a copy of this when it's out.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Chronicle Books for an advanced copy of this memoir in music and a look at the Seattle music scene, before, during and after the rise of Grunge Music.

Changes in music happen slowly, with one band coming out with a different sound, or an old sound played a new way. People will like it, other bands will imitate and make the sound different adding something that makes it different. A band might start with 6 fans, who will tell their friends, who will tell their friends. And soon there is a scene, or a genre of music that everyone wants a part of. In the old days the media would try and figure out the good, the bad and the ugly in the scene, selling copies of magazines, the clicks of their day. Record labels appear throwing around per diems, massive advances, huge tours, have a cigar you are going to go far. And later dropping these same bands, leaving them broke, and suddenly not the hot young things they once were. This was Seattle in the early 90's. Movies, documentaries, books, magazines, zines, all discussed the Seattle sound. And Steve Turner was right in the middle of it. Songwriter and guitarist for the band Mudhoney, Turner had been in bands for years with many of the musicians who would later become famous. In his book Mud Ride: A Messy Trip Through the Grunge Explosion written with Adem Tepedelen, Turner tells of his life, his music, the scene that was, and life after Grunge.

Steve Turner grew up in a middle class family near Seattle, with a love for skateboarding, BMX racing, and nonconformity. Music was around, but not that important until West Coast Punk bands start playing the are, making others create bands. Turner seeing other kids his age playing music decided that this was something he wanted to do. Soon with guitar and a Super-Fuzz pedal for that dirty, scuzzy sound that he liked Turner was joining bands, and working with musicians who would later be in bands like Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Turner was there at various shows that became legendary, and around many of those who in a few short years would become idols. Turner's band Mudhoney was becomeing famous, signing to Reprise records and making a name for themselves, just as things were cresting in the Seattle sound. Soon however major label deals end, and troubles began to show in the band, though Turner's love of music never was lost, just changed.

A memoir and look at the birth, rise and fall of a music scene, told with honesty and no attempts to settle scores, or to make Turner look like a rock god. Turner likes music, likes what he does, and is not afraid to work for it, nor tell the truth about what went right, and where the band screwed up. In music that is a rarity. Turner is also a very good writer, never jumping around, but keeping a tight grip on the narrative and making sure everything is clear, and again honest. There are stories about Sub Pop, the music, other bands, Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love, never anything mean or cruel sometimes very sad. There are plenty of photos, and give a nice visual to the story that Turner is telling. Turner seems like a great guy, who has done quite well for himself and the book is a pleasure to read and quite informative.

Recommended for music fans, and for those who are thinking about trying for a career in music. Sometimes being a jukebox hero isn't everything its cracked up to be. Also for readers of cultural history to see how a scene is started, and what can happen to all those who are involved. Read with the stereo on or Spotify playing, because the music really holds up well, and is worth listening to again.