Glenn Dixon

Famous Almost YA
Review of the Simon & Schuster Canada paperback edition (April 2021)
[TW: Drug use, self-harming behaviour, foster home upbringing]

I wanted to love this first novel by a Canadian author as it is in one of my favourite historical fiction genres of the imagined 1970s/1980s rock or jazz group e.g. such as Adrianne Geffel: A Fiction, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, Daisy Jones & The Six etc. The marketing seemed to point in the direction of Daisy Jones, but the final product is in a much lighter YA direction. That is fine, I love good Young Adult fiction at times as well. But Bootleg Stardust wears its influences a bit too broadly and there was a distinct whiff of poor editing (e.g. we hear a few times that protagonist Jaxon loves the letter x in a name, we hear a few times that band member Miguel has named his accordeon, etc.). Anyway, it all combined to make it a 2 rating on the 'it was ok' scale.

When it became evident on how the book was going to proceed, the main game was to spot the real-life influence behind the fiction, the following were my main tick-offs. I don't know how to insert a table in GR, so this has to be point form (BS = Bootleg Stardust, IRL = In Real Life). Some might consider these spoilers although I don't give away any major plot points, so I've blocked it accordingly.

• (BS) An extra guitarist is hired to cover for an erratic band member = (IRL) Similar to David Gilmour being hired to fill in for Syd Barrett in Pink Floyd.
• (BS) Manager Bobby “Surly” Malone = (IRL) probably lots of managers, but Peter Grant of Led Zeppelin comes to mind the most.
• (BS) Labyrinth Records (reggae beginnings) = (IRL) Island Records
• (BS) Sir Charles Blackmore = (IRL) part Chris Blackwell of Island Records (reggae beginnings/same initials) + part Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Records (the Sir).
• (BS) Signing away your music rights on a contract = (IRL) much too widespread
• (BS) Closeted musicians = several examples e.g. Elton John, Freddie Mercury.
• (BS) Photographer girlfriend with a monied background = (IRL) Linda Eastman (of Eastman-Kodak), later Linda McCartney
• (BS) Elton John song as background (“Candle in the Wind” on the tour bus) = (IRL) Elton John song as background (“Tiny Dancer” on the tour bus in the movie “Almost Famous”)
• (BS) Band members having a physical fight on stage = (IRL) Only backstage as far as I know, but the Gallagher brothers in Oasis apparently had a few physical dustups.
• (BS) Recording an album in a villa in Southern France = (IRL) The Rolling Stones for the album Exile on Main Street at Nellcôte on the Cote d’Azur
• (BS) Crashing a bus through gates = (IRL) Similar scene in the movie "Almost Famous"
• (BS) Greek Island retreat on Naxos = (IRL) Leonard Cohen on Hydra

Trivia and Link
Several of the 'fictional' songs performed and recorded by Downtown Exit have been written and recorded by the author Glenn Dixon and his band the Barrel Dogs and you can hear them on Soundcloud.

There is an article about the recording here from the Calgary Herald, July 3, 2020.… (mehr)

This true story is about one man's search for love and happiness. Glenn doesn't have the best luck in relationships and spent many years with an unrequited love. Seriously, your heart breaks for him when you read his story.

He is a man who believes in love. He teaches Romeo and Juliet to highschool kids for goodness sakes.
As an intellectual, he has also researched different theories on love.

He goes to Verona to answer letters people have written to Romeo's Juliet. He hopes that he will find his own answers there. Glenn really wants to believe he will find real love.

Very likable person, very sweet story.

Don't look at the pictures in the book too early or you'll spoil the ending for yourself.… (mehr)

A high school English teacher, Glenn Dixon spends his summer volunteering in Verona, Italy as one of Juliet's secretaries, responding to the letters from individuals all over the globe who send letters to the iconic lover. In trying to gain a better understanding of the context of the play he teaches his students every year and also searching for wisdom for his own love life, Dixon's memoir details both the universal experience of love and his own journey that took a dramatic turn shortly after that trip to Italy. A fun read, particularly for Shakespeare nerds and those who enjoy a good relationship memoir.… (mehr)