The Big Wheel â€” worth reading?

American Without Tears · Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:25 pm

Is The Big Wheel worth reading?

migdd · Post by **migdd** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:28 pm

If you're looking for an interesting account of life on the road with EC and the Attractions - no.

American Without Tears · Tue Aug 14, 2007 4:51 pm

So what's it like?

johnfoyle · Post by **johnfoyle** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:42 am

Total saddo Costello fans ( uh, me) will find it a endlessly fascinating read , trying to spot the actuality behind the fiction and so on. As a reader in general , The Big Wheel ( and it's 'sequel'' On The Road...Again') are rather tiresome , the author making his point and becoming repetitive and boring. Bruce's general air of smugness ( still evident in a recent interview ) makes you understand why he tended to drive Elvis mad. Elvis is no saint , of course ; maybe they deserved each other.

See also -

http://www.elviscostellofans.com/phpBB2 ... ames+bruce

kilburn_bhoy · Post by **kilburn_bhoy** » Wed Aug 15, 2007 7:33 am

I liked it. I read it in one sitting, it was easy-going, held my interest and it only cost me three quid. I would definitely pick up On the road...Again if I saw it on the cheap.

American Without Tears · Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:24 pm

Reading it now. Pretty interesting so far...

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:48 am

You must have finished it by now! It's not exactly taxing.

It's an entertaining light-hearted read. Unless you're The Pod of course.

American Without Tears · Wed Aug 22, 2007 3:51 pm

I thought it was a pretty good book. Funny and always interesting. He writes well. There's very little about Elvis Costello in it (which bits did Elvis take offence at?), but as an account of the highs and lows of life on the road with a pop group, it's well worth reading.

I'm surprised it isn't more highly rated on this site.

wardo68 · Post by **wardo68** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 5:35 pm

I agree. I thought the worst thing Bruce said about EC was that he didn't like flying.

Lester Burnham · Post by **Lester Burnham** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:56 pm

Also the resemblance between Elvis and a pod person from Invasion Of The Body Snatchers. But that wasn't really all that bad anyway...

Mikeh · Post by **Mikeh** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:05 am

I recall a bit about The Singer sweating a lot and flapping his arms like a seagull as a signal for the band to play quieter. Oh, and I wouldn't bother with On the Road Again. No EC & A content at all!

American Without Tears · Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:37 pm

Mikeh wrote:I wouldn't bother with On the Road Again. No EC & A content at all!

He's a good writer, though. So worth reading, however little EC content.
If I see On The Road Again, I'll buy it.

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:05 am

I think he also accused the singer of being a hypochodriac and of changing his accent depending on which location he was in.....still true today in my book, but very evident on youtube if you dig out some old clips! I used to find his mock Dublin accent really embarrassing when he played in Ireland.

As for the flapping like a seagull bit - that was definitely the case and i saw him do it a lot when he played with the Rude 5. The allegation that he looked like the Pod in bodysnatchers was also true in my view.

So there you have it.....Elvis may not like it...because it was all true.