I Gotta Rock

As a Hopkinton, MA native who grew up in the same era (a few years later than Mach), it was intriguing to learn of his adventures trying to grab the elusive golden ring of Rock Stardom. Anyone that ever aspired to being in a band and spiraling to the apex is given a real-life lesson in local and national affairs that invade the music industry. Being in a band can be the most invigorating, frustrating, energy sucking experience you will ever have, and managing everyone’s expectations is truly unrealistic. But I admire Mach’s steadfastness to the cause and determination to make it work. “A man saw a ball of gold in the sky …”Mach describing his old haunts, events, and band mates stirred memories of my own limited experience. The Cricket Lounge down the street from where I lived, the Hungry Lion where I was the parking lot attendant in my teenage years, the Rat where my sister’s band, “Miss Understood” frequented, the WBCN strike, the six degrees of separation from the named musicians in the local area who are somehow all contained in “one big band”.And through this all, he ends up in the circus. What a tale! Truth is stranger than fiction. I hope he’s still doing some form of music. The glory days of Guitar Rock in ‘merca seem to be fading into the west, but it certainly was a time noted in the 70’s and early 80’s.

Mach Bell showed the world his stuff in his last book detailing his time with the Joe Perry Project, this time he fills us in on how he got there in the first place. I've been a fan of Mach and Thundertrain for years, they were playing pretty much the same circuit as a few of the bands I worked for. His stories about his bands and how he started them are great and really got the memories flowing. He has always forged his own path and refused to stop in his quest for Rock and Roll stardom and dam if he didn't do what he set out to do all those years ago. Funny and well written trip down memory lane into the craziest music scene, Boston in the mid 70's to late 80's, characters galore, highly recommend this one as well as his first.

Mach Bell is an amazing storyteller. Loved his first book, "Once A Rocker, Always A Rocker” so I bought this new one "I Gotta Rock" the first day it was out.Mach and I are contemporaries and it seemed like he was recounting MY musical genesis.I devoured the nearly 500 page book in a 24 hour period ! I felt, during that time period, like I was transported to my past. I could not stop smiling the whole time.BTW Mach, I was just contacted by the legal team involved with the Estate of Irwin Allen, producer of "The Time Tunnel", they seemed a bit perturbed and inquired whether I knew your address and phone number.Congrats on another great effort.FOLKS, BUY THE BOOK NOW ... THANK ME LATER !

I have always enjoyed behind the scenes rock and roll band stories. This book takes you all the way back to Mach’s teenage days discovering his love for rock and roll and then on through his musical career to the Joe Perry Project and beyond. I first heard about Mach on the Rock and Roll Geek podcast. The host Michael Butler encouraged Mach to write a book based on his memoirs about the Joe Perry Project. This first book is called Once a Rocker which is also a great read too. Mach has a great writing style with humor interjected into his stories. Hoping there is more to come.

Cowboy Mach gives us another great read, and an awesome trip down memory lane. Thundertrain was one of my favorite local bands, and I loved going to their incredibly energetic and fun shows at the Rat, and all over Greater Boston. Mach has led an interesting life; I enjoyed reading about how his love of music and his persistence led him to become one of the more memorable members of the Boston Music scene of the 70's and 80's. This was an entertaining and easy read, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down! I highly recommend I Gotta Rock to any music fan!