Lou Gramm – Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades in Rock ‘n’ Roll
Triumph Books
http://www.triumphbooks.com

Rating: B

Lou Gramm has had one heck of a wild ride in the world of rock and roll.  His story is one of triumph, tragedy, personal setbacks, and self-induced sabotage and, of course, the writing and performing of several iconic rock songs, both as the singer for Foreigner and as a solo artist.

From “Cold as Ice,” to “Dirty White Boy,” to “Midnight Blue” to “Juke Box Hero” Lou blasted out some of the most famous rock and roll vocals that ever hit the FM radio airways.

When Foreigner went soft and started pumping out ballads, including “Waiting for a Girl like You” and “I Want to Know What Love Is” there was trouble in the Foreigner camp. Add to that Lou’s taste for alcohol and drugs and disaster was just around the corner.

What Lou could have never seen coming, however, was a brain tumor. Suddenly, all of his trials and tribulations seemed disappeared. He had to work hard just to stay alive and, once out of the woods, had to overcome horrible side effects from the treatment of his tumor, including damage to his brain, his voice and a huge increase in his physical weight. 

Forced to go on the road while still in the beginning stages of healing, Lou had to; literally fight to save his voice, his self-esteem and his life. 

In Juke Box Hero: My Five Decades in Rock ‘n’ Roll Gramm opens his heart and spills his guts.  He, despite being brutally honest, refrains from throwing anyone under the bus, something that, after reading the book, one discovers there are people that deserve to be tossed! 

Lou is a fighter, a man of God and a true rock and roll warrior.  Part of Gramm’s problem is that he can be too nice a guy.  As it is, however, Gramm tells his tale with class and style. 

This book is an honest appraisal of his five decades in rock and roll, complete with plenty of eye-opening moments.

By Jeb Wright