The Smell of Death

by Bruce Duff, Cheetah Chrome (Introduction), Tony Adolescent (Afterword)

Overview

Musician, producer, manager, rock journalist, indie label executive, Southern California native Bruce Duff has seen and been a part of more rock 'n' roll fantasies come to life than the average guy with long hair and a penchant for living the dream. From biohazardous opening slots with the legendary GG Allin to playing alongside the notorious Jeff Dahl and the Dead Boys' Cheetah Chrome, wearing multiple hats at Triple X Records, and writing for the most acclaimed publications in the genres, Duff remembers things past with The Smell of Death, his ode to the good times and his acceptance of the bad.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781940207094
Publisher:	Rare Bird Books
Publication date:	04/15/2014
Pages:	380
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Bruce Duff is a 30-year veteran of the music business, having worked as musician, producer, journalist, publicist, A&R director, product manager, and artist manager. As player and producer, he’s worked with Jesters of Destiny, Cheetah Chrome, Adz, Circle, Jeff Dahl, Prima Donna, 45 Grave, the Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs, Thor and Simon Stokes, among many others. As a journalist, he's written for LA Weekly, Billboard, Bass Player, Psychotronic, Rip, Creem, and dozens of other out-of-print magazines. He retired from journalism in 2005. Duff lives in the Hollywood Hills with his wife Else aka Evil E, (the official announcer of the L.A. Derby Dolls), and their two cats.

Editorial Reviews

“This book is going to have a lot of humor in it. When you embellish on a story, you can tell if it’s being embellished. When you really tell real stories about real things that happened on the real road, the reality is always so much more funny and so much more interesting to read. This is one of those books. I think when people read it, they really will get The Smell of Death, where you think, ‘we either going to finish this show or we’re going to die.’”
—Alice Cooper, Nights with Alice Cooper

"...a tour memoir minus any glamour, a hard-boiled, hilarious romp through cramped vans, inept promoters, remuneration never delivered, inadequate meals, a distinct lack of groupie sex but myriad broken promises and dashed hopes. Duff's dual life renders the prose darkly humorous and highly readable." - The Austin Chronicle

“The Smell of Death is a laugh-out-loud behind-the-scenes look at the stark realities of touring small town Europe among frozen turds, haunted hotel rooms, questionable promoters and accommodations, hypodermic needles, stalker groupies, and bread and cheese. A lot of bread and cheese.”
—Melissa Webster, Huffington Post

“Here’s a realistic and hard-boiled memoir—conveyed in novelistic style, present-tense—from musician, producer, manager, rock journalist, and indie label executive Bruce Duff. The Smell of Death is an unusually engrossing read from someone who’s lived the life.” —Music Connection

“Bruce Duff has done it all. He was in Twisted Roots with Paul Roessler and Dez Cadena. He jammed with Wayne Kramer of the MC5. He was Epitaph Records’ first publicist. He’s hung out with Bo Diddley. He was the Circle Jerks’ PR man. He recorded a concept album with Finland’s biggest prog band. He’s on Metal Massacre 5. He ran the day-to-day basics of XXX Records. He rocks out with Cheetah Chrome of the Dead Boys on a regular basis. He opened for GG Allin before GG’s main thing was pooping on himself.”
—John Gentile, Punknews.org

From the Publisher