Official Truth, 101 Proof

After loving Duff McKagan's biography, my brother suggested that I read Rex Brown's Official Truth: 101 Proof next. I was a huge Pantera fan back in the 90s, so when he lent me the book I knew I had to read it!

If you were a fan back in the day, you probably recall that Brown never had much to say during interviews. Turns out he has a LOT to say in this biography. I never would have thought that this guy was so full of himself, or that he would piss on a lot of people, especially his own drummer.

To hear him talk, it's almost as though Rex Brown was the best thing since sliced bread. Now, I'm no pro, but none of his basslines were ever memorable and I can't really name one song in which he truly shines. He's a far cry from Steve Harris from Iron Maiden or Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers, and yet he seems to consider himself one of the very best bassists to ever walk this Earth.

One of the main problems with this biography is that it's not that insightful. I was hoping for more regarding Pantera's creative process for each album and the history of the band. But it was not to be. Moreover, several sections are poorly written and repetitive. The book was supposedly cowritten with Mark Eglinton, but it seems evident that certain chapters were done by Brown alone.

In the end, especially since we're only getting one side of the story, there's not a whole lot to like about this biography, even for long-time fans. It's okay, but nothing you should be rushing to read. RIP Dimebag.

Here's the blurb:

Few heavy metal acts survived the turmoil of the early 1990s music scene. Pantera was different. Instead of humoring the market, the band instead demanded that the audience come to them by releasing a series of fiercely uncompromising, platinum albums, including Vulgar Display of Power and Far Beyond Driven—two #1 albums that, like Metallica’s And Justice for All, sold millions of copies despite minimal airplay.

Rex Brown’s memoir is the definitive account of life inside one of rock’s biggest bands, which succeeded against all odds but ultimately ended in tragedy when iconic lead guitarist Darrell 'Dimebag' Abbott was murdered mid-performance by a deranged fan.

This is a lucid account of the previously untold story behind one of the most influential bands in heavy metal history, written by the man best qualified to tell the truth about those incredible and often difficult years of fame and excess.

For more info about this title, follow this Amazon Associate link.